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Sam Hamill Papers, 1972-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hamill, Sam, 1943-2018
Title
Sam Hamill Papers
Dates
1972-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
25 Linear feet of shelf space, (25 Boxes)
Collection Number
Cage 700 (collection)
Summary
The papers of Sam Hamill consist of documents related to Hamill's own poetry, his role as the editor of other poets' works at Copper Canyon Press, and records of some of his other activities.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Sam Hamill is the author of over 30 books, including original poetry, essays, and translations from Chinese, Japanese, Estonian, Latin, and Greek. Included among his works are Nootka Rose (1987), A Poet's Work: The Other Side of Poetry (1990), Only Companion: Japanese Poems of Love and Longing (1992), Destination Zero: Poems, 1970-1995 (1995), Gratitude (1998), and Dumb Luck (2002).

Hamill received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, a Guggenheim Memorial fellowship, a Pushcart Prize, two Washington Governor's Arts Awards, and many other honors.

Details of Hamill's earliest years are vague. He was born in 1943 to unknown parents. He was adopted from foster care at the age of three by Sam and Freeda Hamill, who raised him near Holladay, UT. He attended Los Angeles Valley College and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has one daughter, Eron, from his first marriage.

Along with being a poet and editor, Hamill is also a teacher: he taught inmates in prisons for fourteen years, and participated in artist-in-residence programs for twenty years.

Sam Hamill, a few fellow poets, and Tree Swenson (who later became Hamill's wife) established Copper Canyon Press in Denver, CO. The initial capital for the press was a five hundred dollar check Hamill had received for "producing the best college or university literary journal in the country" as the editor of Spectrum, a University of California, Santa Barbara, journal. Copper Canyon's first title, Badlands by Gerald Costanzo, was published in 1973.

In 1974 the press was moved to Port Townsend, WA, to Centrum, a non-profit arts center located at Fort Worden State Park, becoming Centrum's press-in-residence. The press became a not-for-profit operation in 1990.

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Content Description

The papers of Sam Hamill consist of documents related to Hamill's own poetry, his role as the editor of other poets' works at Copper Canyon Press, and records of some of his other activities. The collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, Hamill's appointment calendars, and ephemeral items.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1972-2001. Hamill's correspondence includes correspondence with many poets, along with some poems and other related material.

Series 2: Manuscripts, 1972-1998. Includes material from various stages of the publication process.

Series 3: Miscellaneous, 1976-1997. This series includes a wide variety of documents, including correspondence, Hamill's calendars, printed items such as publisher catalogs, articles, and publicity materials, and other items.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Sam Hamill Papers, 1972-2001 (Cage 700)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged in three series, arranged alphabetically within each, reflecting the original arrangement of the collection.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Sam Hamill were purchased from Copper Canyon Press by the Washington State University Libraries in 2002.

Related Materials

Copper Canyon Press Records, 1973-2006 (Cage 708)

Sam Hamill and Tina and Marianne Wolfe Correspondence, 1972-1977 (Cage 5136)

Preliminary Guide to the Copper Canyon Press Records, 1995-2003 (MS 2004-17)

Jerome Gold Publishing Lives Interview Material, 1991-1994 (Cage 666)

Howard McCord Papers, 1953-1979 (Cage 578)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid prepared by Miriam Johnston
2025

CC Attribution
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