University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections5733 (Accession No. 5733-001)Corr, Michael WilliamMichael William Corr collection1957-20081960s-1980s37.7 cubic feet (29 boxes)Collection materials are inEnglish.Collection of papers, publications, woodcuts and art suppliesMichael William Corr, born 1940, is a poet and print maker, published in a variety of media. Corr was born in Seattle to socialist activists William and Cecilia Corr, and learned from his mother’s artistic talents as well as his parents' activism. Corr moved to Kyoto, Japan from 1967 to 1969, during which time he taught at Kyoto University and studied block printing with Takeji Asano, noted Kyoto block printer and illustrator. In 1969 Corr moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he met poet Michael Castro, with whom he remained a life-long friend and artistic collaborator. From 1973 to 1977 Corr returned to Japan for a period of great artistic production, as shown by the poetry and woodcuts published in poetry journals, as well as published poetry, art collections, and book cover art. From 1977 to 1989 Corr lived in Seattle, earning two academic degrees and producing essays, travelogues, and poetry, and selling prints. In 1989 Corr returned to Japan, where he teaches at Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan, and continues to write poetry with a focus on haiku, and essays.
The collection documents Michael Corr's poetry, wood cuts, and accompanying prints, as well as art supplies, sketch books, and inspirational materials. Personal correspondence, copies of books and journals containing his work, and his Master's and PhD theses are also included. The collection contains 85 woodcuts and copies of his three publications:
Brooming to Paradise,To Leave the Standing Grain, andCape Alava.Open to all users.
Request at UW
The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Donor: John F. Corr, October 1, 2012.
Processed by Alex Rihm; processing completed in 2012.
7 books were relocated to the Book Arts collection.
The papers of Michael William Corr's parents, William and Cecilia Corr, are also held by Special Collections. These papers are described and indexed in the guide to the William and Cecilia Corr Papers .
Corr, Michael William--ArchivesPersonal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)Fine ArtsLiteratureArtifacts
Personal papers1Correspondence, including letters to parents1960-early 1980s1Legal paperwork, including marriage to and immigration status of Kinuyu Matsuda1960-early 1980s1Papers and journals1960-early 1980s2Block print making supplies, including brushes and mortars and pestlesundated3Personal notebooks, including journals from 1970-1973 and "Ledger of Wins" (1968-1972)1968-19733Poetry drafts1970s-1980s3Ripple anthology, (5 copies)- Featuring poetry, cover, seals, and woodcuts by Michael Corrundated3Photos and negatives of artwork1970s-1980s4Brown Leather book- Dreams III, June 1968-April 19711968-19714Personal photosundated4Sketchbooksundated4Michael Corr’s poetry collectionBrooming to Paradise- 5 copies. Front and back cover feature Corr's woodblock prints. Published by Workingmans Press, Berkeley, CA.19764Notebooks related to personal radio station19574NegativesFall 19724Personal Correspondence: Letters from parents Bill and Cecilia, brothers, son Anders, and friends/artistic collaborators Michael and Jan Castro.1957-1970s5Six woodcutsundated6Ten woodcutsundated7Newspapers featuring Michael Corr poetry, prints, and the occasional letter to the editor.1968-19757River Styxissue 1, featuring Michael Corr poetry, cover art, and glyphs.Spring 19757Moving Through the Desert and Other Poemsby John Levy, art by Michael Corr. Printed in a run of 150 copies, Kyoto, Japan.March 197572 copies ofTransPacificissue 2, featuring ‘center fold’ print by Michael Corr (not listed in table of contents)Fall 19697Sixpackissue 7/8, featuring poems and print (see spine break) by Michael CorrSpring/Summer 19747Alcheringa ethnopoeticsvolume 1, issue 1, featuring print by Michael Corr inside back cover19757Large manila envelope labeled “Mike’s Poetry”1968-19767Iron Without Measureprose issue (November 1976), featuring prose by Michael CorrNovember 19767Mixed personal and professional papers1968-19767Letters1968-19767Curriculum vitae1968-19767Autobigraphy1968-197672 issuesEnvironmentmagazine featuring Michael Corr professional writing1968-19767Various poetry books and journals1968-19768Poetry drafts labeled “Save for perusal of literary executor”1970s-1980s8Copy of PhD thesis on the phyto-geography of Kyoto's Lake Biwa19858River Styxissue 8 with Michael Corr cover art1970s8River Styxissues 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, no Michael Corr poetry or art1970s8Seeds of Changevolume 3, issues 1 and 2 with Michael Corr art1970s-1980s8Seeds of Changevolume 2, issues 1 and 3, no Michael Corr poetry or art1970s-1980s8Various poetry and prose journals and broadsides1970s-1980s8Shin Tarng New China Quarterlyissue 1 with Michael Corr cover artSeptember 19828Dust jacket and cover boards for book by Michael Castro with Michael Corr cover art1970s-1980s84 bookmark sized pen and ink drawings.1970s-1980s9Copy ofCape Alavaby M. Corr, in Brooding Heron Press and Bindery envelope19879Mixed poetry and prose, no Michael Corr, but there is one work by John Corr1980s92 other Brooding Heron envelopes featuring books by other poets1980s9Sketch booksundated102 copiesCape Alavaby Michael Corr, White Pine Press. A book of poems, prose, and illustrations.198110To Leave the Standing Grainby Michael Corr, Copper Canyon Press. 1 hardback copy, one paperback copy. Book of poems and woodcuts.197710Rippleanthology, one copy.undated10Brooming to Paradise2 copies.197610Untitled book of poetry, featuring cover and poems by M. Corr.10River Styxissue 2, featuring art and poetry by M. CorrWinter 197710Greenjournal: “Stamping Meditation” by M. Corr dedicated to brother John197010Box of letters M. Corr sent to brother John2000sPrints that have woodcuts11/1One black and white abstract print, three copies of blue abstract print11/2Early Prints: "Bull Elk", 1963- 4 completed prints, 3 background prints and "Whale Pod with Flying Birds", 19641963-196411/3Untitled (celestial shapes), 1967. Prints 3-6, 8, 10, 11 of 12. 1/12 in PNW curator office196711/4"St Elmo's Fire", 1967, prints 2-9 of 9.196711/5"Eclipse of the Crimson Dipper", 1967- 3 complete prints, 6 incomplete prints.196711/6"Tentacles", 1968- one print196811/7Birds + Beasts prints: Snake, n.d., 2 prints; vulture print, n.d., and vulture drawing; Wall of China with Bird, n.d., 2 uncompleted prints, 1 drawing; Crow, 1967, 2 completed prints; "Point of Arches" (crow/raven)- 1967, 2 complted prints, 1 drawing; "Great Algonkian Bird", 1973- 1 completed print; Black and Brown Bears, 1967- 3 completed prints, 1 drawing; "Wasego" (fish), 1970- one completed print.1967-197311/8Portraits + Figures prints: Stokely Carmichael, n.d., 3 completed prints, 2 drawings, 1 ink transfer backing; Carlos Bulosan, 1967, 2 completed prints- 2 and 6 of 7, different inking; Limoger Bouddhiste…, 1967- 3 completed straight prints different inking and paper; Stench of Vietnam, 1967- 2 completed prints, different inking; Bodhisattva at Daitoku-ji Zen temple, 1968- 1 completed print; Geometric woman, 1967- 2 completed prints (different position and inking), 1 drawing, 3 uncompleted prints; Untitled nude woman, 1967- 3, 5, and 7-9 of 10; Translating Wang Wei (or Greek Dress)- 9 completed prints, 1 drawing; Woman with turtle, 1975, 1 print; Yin Dynasty bear (on other side of block)- 1 print; Solar Boat with Otter Markings, 1975, 2 completed prints (People on shore and boat?).1967-197511/9Misc. prints that have blocks: Sunflower, n.d., 1 completed print; Tang Dynasty Lion, 1967, 1 completed print, 1 drawing; From a Ming Tomb (camel), 1967, 1 completed print, 2 drawings (2 views); Stoneware, 1979- one completed print; Vertical symbology, #7 of 30, 1968. Text based pieces: All Men Are Brothers, 1967- 2 completed prints, 1 drawing; If you have time to read a book, 1971, 1 print (inscribed to Bill + Cecilia- Mom + Dad); I love making brown rice, 1972- one completed print; Anasazi, 1973- 1 completed print, one proof; Alaska Cedar, 1973, one print. Originally commissioned by Sandra Kroupa for the book arts collection.1967-197312Twenty-one wood cuts, various sizes.undated13Prints without corresponding wood cuts13/1Stamp prints: Hindu, Olmec, Hebrew, and Taoist symbols, n.d.; Field of many colored eyes, n.d.; Yashuki Nyorai in the early fall, n.d.; Akagarasu (red crow), n.d.; Multi-colored Buddha figures (black, blue, red and yellow), n.d.; Assorted symbols bordered by orange/red Buddha figures, n.d.; Rows of multicolored Buddhas over white paper with Buddha figures stamped in black, n.d.; Turtle shell with trilobites and foraminifera on fancy Shoji Washi, n.d.; Kamakura Kitishgartha, Kyoto, 1968; The Horyuji-in-butsu collage with yin-yang and fan (title affixed to label on back of print), 1969; Triptych, #1 of 3, 1970; Ching Mandala, 1970; Alpine High Spring I, 1970; Three columns of colored turtles, 1981; Eighth century flutist, 1982.1968-198213/2Misc. prints: bird print, n.d.; Blossoming Lichen, 1967, #1 of 20; Lusty Deer, 1967, #9 of 30; Abstract, 1967; Meditation Mask, 1968, #6 of 30; Abstract black and white, 1969; Tactile self portrait, 1969; "The Silence of Nature", 1974, print with text, Kyoto.1967-197413/3Drawing probably by Corr- Bear + snake. Watercolors by Corr/possibly by Corr: crow: 1 watercolor, 1 print; bear, bear + man, rats, woman, woman + child (2).13/4Misc unidentified watercolors, pastels, and drawings: 2 watercolors by Barclay, 1 watercolor by Waldo Chase, 3 watercolors, 2 pastels, 6 drawings.13/5Misc watercolors and prints by other or unidentified artists14Five wood cuts, various sizes.undated15Six wood cuts, various sizes.undated16Four woodblocks, various sizes, all with corresponding prints:undatedBlocks in this box correspond to the following prints: vertical symbology, "Wasego", vulture with leaves, and "Great Algonkian Bird" and "Solar Boat with Otter Markings" on the same block.
17Miscellaneous personal itemsMiscellaneous art and office supplies1980sPersonal items and identification cards1980s18Correspondence and manuscript draftsPoetry and prose drafts with editsundatedPersonal correspondenceundated19Sixteen wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in collection.undatedWood cuts in this box correspond to tthe following prints: Crow (with "Bull Elk" background on reverse), geometric woman, "Whale Boat with Flying Birds", "Greek Dress", Carlos Bulosan (both), "Stoneware", "All Men are Brothers", Stokely Carmichael, Turtle in Woman, Great Wall with Bird, "Stench of War"/"Limoger Bouddhiste", "Black and Brown Bears" and "Bodhisattva at Daitoku-ji Zen temple"
20Various works1960s20Letters, drawings, prints20/1Cecilia Corr: ink drawing of figures in silhouette on river, 1961; watercolor of men fishing on riverbank, 1962; watercolor of spider in web, 1967; newspaper article "Fish in Art" featuring drawing by Cecilia Corr attached to Corr "Peace" block print. Indian Center news, Nov 2-3, 1968; letter and print from William and Cecilia Corr to Kinuyu and Michael Corr, n.d.; doves/Season's Greetings print and letter from Cecilia Corr to Michael Corr, n.d.1961-196820/1Anders S. Corr: Ink scribble by Anders, done when he was 13 months old.February 14, 197120/1Michael Corr: prints of religious figures and symbols, block print in verso of typewritten statement of problem and hypothesis.1968-197020/1The Corrs: Season's Best Wishes block print with Mr. and Mrs. John Patten typewritten on versoundated20/1Miscellany: "Die Besten Grüsse und Wünsche zum Neuen Jahr" rooster print signed 'für Barbara and Michael von Jörg'; Abstract with 'done by young man from Yamagishi-kai, friend of Tetsuo Nagoruma'.1966-196920/2Additional Miscellany: 1 painting on stiff board, 3 pencil sketches, "May Peace on Earth- Goodwill Prevail- The Corrs", 3 block prints, 1 watercolor (dots), 1 paper sample signed Andy C., and 4 ink sketches.undated21Rolled large scale calligraphy, artist unknown.undated22Rolled large scale calligraphy, artist unknown.undated23Large rolled scroll printed with black overlapping buddhas.undated24Art SuppliesPowdered colors used for ink makingDried lacquer sticks25Magazine Issues70 issues ofBezoarliterary magazineSeptember 1976- July 1981At least one issue per volume from vol. 3 to vol. 21. Includes some unnumbered special issues.
65 issues ofBlue Cloud (Indian) QuarterlyundatedMichael Corr illustrated issues not included (according to tag on original package). From vol. 17 no. 1 to vol. 33 no. 4. Full runs of vol. 20 and 23-33.
26Seven wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in the collection.The woodcuts in this box correspond to the following prints: "Tang Dynasty Lion", "Point of Arches", celestial shapes, sunflower, and untitled nude woman.
27Ten wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in the collection.The woodcuts in this box correspond to the following prints: "Anasazi", "From Ming Tomb", "I love making brown rice...", "If you have time to read a book...", "Tentacles", abstract blue, "St. Elmo's Fire", and "Eclipse of the Crimson Dipper".
28Prints and Woodcuts29Prints, Woodcuts, Drawings and Calligraphy