William Stafford (1914-1993) was one of the most prolific and important American poets of the last half of the twentieth century. Among his many credentials, Stafford served as consultant in poetry at the Library of Congress, and received the National Book Award for his poetry collection
The William Stafford Archives, donated to Lewis & Clark College by the Stafford family in 2008, contain the private papers, publications, photographs, recordings, and teaching materials of the poet William Stafford. The Lewis & Clark College Special Collections actively add to this collection by acquiring unique Stafford related materials.
Stafford wrote every day of his life from 1950 to 1993. These 20,000 pages of daily writings form a complete record of the poet’s mostly early morning meditations, including poem drafts, dream records, aphorisms, and other visits to the unconscious, recorded on separate sheets of yellow or white paper or when traveling, often in spiral-bound reporters’ steno pads. The archive also includes typescripts of poems submitted for publication and for use in readings. Stafford listed where he submitted each poem, and whether it was accepted for publication on the typescript. Each of his published collections, large and small, is represented by its gathering of documentary copies (typescripts), called by Stafford a “put-together.” Unpublished poems, poems published in journals, and reading copies of published poems were also gathered, in a virtually complete record from 1937 to 1993, totaling about 7,000 items. The collection also includes copies of all known Stafford books and translations. Stafford saved correspondence received, with an indication of the date of reply, and sometimes a copy of the reply, from the early 1960s to August 1993. Estimated at 100,000 sheets, the collected correspondence contains some full exchanges of correspondence initiated by WS. One such exchange is the correspondence with Marvin Bell on their sequence
Includes copies, correspondence, certificates, and other assembled biographical content about William Stafford.
Arranged chronologically.
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.
The William Stafford Archives, Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Portfolio diploma declaring William E. Stafford has completed the courses of study as prescribed by the Board of Education.
State University of Iowa portfolio diploma conferring upon William Edgar Stafford the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Citation read to Lewis & Clark faculty at the First Annual Faculty Recognition Banquet, May 14th 1963.
The Poetry Society of America 54th anniversary dinner program and notification letter to William Stafford announcing him as the winner of the Shelley Memorial Award.
Portfolio award for distinguished service presented to William Edgar Stafford from the University of Oregon.
Diploma bestowing William Edgar Stafford the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters [Honorary].
Commencement program and citation conferring William Stafford for an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.
Oberlin College portfolio diploma conferring upon William Edgar Stafford the degree of Doctor of Letters.
Remarks from Governor Tom McCall on the occasion of the presentation of William E. Stafford as Oregon's fourth Poet Laureate, Portland Art Museum.
Election award declaring William Stafford a member of the Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Diploma conferring William Stafford the degree of Doctor of Literature, and copy of speech given by presenter of award.
Lewis & Clark College Board of Trustees, Aubrey R. Watzek citation award presented to William Stafford.
Lewis & Clark College, Aubrey R. Watzek Award statue presented to William E. Stafford.
Award presented to William Stafford from Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh recognizing Stafford's exceptional contribution to the liveliness and quality of the arts in Oregon.
Award presented to William Stafford by Idaho Governor John V. Evans appointing Stafford as a member of the Idaho Poet Laureate Panel.
Seattle Pacific University portfolio diploma conferring upon William Edgar Stafford the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.
Citation award and program conferring William Stafford the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters [Honorary].
Portfolio diploma conferring upon William A. Stafford the degree of Doctor of Letters from Gonzaga University. Included are copies of Gonzaga Presidents speech, and commencement program.
Certificate of merit presented to William and Dorothy Stafford recognizing over 50 years of commitment to the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
Poetry lifetime achievement award presented to William Stafford by the Western States Arts Federation for "My Name is William Tell" [Confluence Press].
Bronze medallion on ribbon awarded posthumously to William Stafford by The Search For Peace group founded in Missoula, Montana, and Portland, Oregon.
Certificate for the most distinguished work of poetry by an American author published in 1962.
Award presented to William Stafford by the Oregon State Poetry Association for his distinguished achievement in the writing of poetry.
Framed certificate from the city of Eldorado, KS conferring upon William E. Stafford honorary citizenship.
Presented at the Eleventh Annual Meeting.
Award presented to William Stafford from the Metropolitan Arts Commission in appreciation for the excellence to the arts in our community.
Mounted plaque on wood base, Edith Knight Hill Award to Dr. William E. Stafford by the Portland Professional Chapter of Women in Communications Inc., for contributions to the state of Oregon.
Diploma conferring William Edgar Stafford the degree of Doctor of Literature [Honorary].
Framed certificate from the city of Dodge City, office of the Marshal appointing William Stafford to the rank of Honorary Deputy Marshal of Dodge City.
Framed recognition award presented to William Stafford by the Butler County Community College for outstanding accomplishments in the field of creative writing.
Mounted plaque on wood base, Lifetime Achievement Award presented to William Stafford from the Willamette Writers.
Mounted plaque on wood base, Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Tom McCall Award presented to William Stafford for outstanding service to the state and nation.