Lee Anderson papers and Yale Series of Recorded Poets sound recordings
Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 402
Scope and Contents
The Lee Anderson Papers and Yale Series of Recorded Poets Sound Recordings document the work of poet and editor Lee Anderson in recording contemporary poets reading from their work and later producing the Yale Series of Recorded Poets. The bulk of the sound recordings consist of poetry readings by various poets and a small number of poets' lectures on poetry. The papers consist of writings, correspondence, contracts, lists, procedural documentation, and printed material relating to the series production and publication. Included among the papers is Lee Anderson's notebook draft of "Memoirs," containing observations of poets reading for the Yale Series of Record Poets. The sound recordings and papers span the years 1951 to 1968.
Dates
- 1951 - 1968
Creator
Language
English
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Boxes 1-16 and 22: (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 1-16 and 22: (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Lee Anderson Papers and Yale Series of Recorded Poets Sound Recordings is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Lee Anderson, September 1974 and Washington University, 1980.
Arrangement
Organized into two series: I. Sound Recordings, 1951-1968. II. Papers, 1951-1968.
Extent
19.86 Linear Feet (23 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The Lee Anderson Papers and Yale Series of Recorded Poets Sound Recordings document the work of poet and editor Lee Anderson with the Yale Series of Recorded Poets. The bulk of the sound recordings consist of poetry readings by various poets and a small number contain poets' lectures on poetry. The papers consist of writings, correspondence, contracts, lists, procedural documentation, and printed material relating to the series production and publication.
Lee Anderson
Lee Anderson was born in Saxton, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh in 1896. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I and spent several years as a self-employed printer and farmer in western Pennsylvania. In 1942, he published his collection of poetry, Prevailing Winds. Anderson became interested in poetry readings and the oral aspects of poetry and began to record contemporary poets reading their work onto audiotape. At first, Anderson kept the recordings for his personal collection but soon he was asked by the Library of Congress to record and submit recorded poetry readings to the library. He submitted approximately 100 tapes to the library.
In 1955, Yale University acquired Anderson's complete collection of more than 500 tapes of contemporary British and American poets reading from their work, including duplicates of recordings donated to the Library of Congress. In addition, Yale hired Anderson as a Research Associate. While at Yale, he helped produce the Yale Series of Recorded Poets, a collection of LP records of poets reading their work which was derived largely from Anderson's tape collection. Anderson made additional recordings of poets reading while he was at Yale. In addition to producing recordings, Anderson edited several books in his lifetime.
After leaving Yale, Anderson taught at several institutions and continued to write and lecture. He continued recording but primarily recorded his work. In the late 1960's Anderson became ill. He died in Florida in 1972.
In 1955, Yale University acquired Anderson's complete collection of more than 500 tapes of contemporary British and American poets reading from their work, including duplicates of recordings donated to the Library of Congress. In addition, Yale hired Anderson as a Research Associate. While at Yale, he helped produce the Yale Series of Recorded Poets, a collection of LP records of poets reading their work which was derived largely from Anderson's tape collection. Anderson made additional recordings of poets reading while he was at Yale. In addition to producing recordings, Anderson edited several books in his lifetime.
After leaving Yale, Anderson taught at several institutions and continued to write and lecture. He continued recording but primarily recorded his work. In the late 1960's Anderson became ill. He died in Florida in 1972.
Custodial History
All sound recordings in this collection are duplicates of sound recordings held by the Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings (HSR). As Lee Anderson made sound recordings for the Yale Series of Recorded Poets in the 1950s and 1960s, he sent the original tapes to HSR for their collection. Anderson's 1974 gift to the Beinecke Library originally included 696 sound recordings. These recordings were sent to HSR for comparison of the material held by HSR. HSR retained the originals, to complete their collection of original recordings, and duplicates were returned to the Beinecke Library. Those returned duplicates comprise this collection.
Processing Information
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call numbers: Uncat MSS 380 and Za Uncat MSS Anderson.
- Title
- Guide to the Lee Anderson Papers and Yale Series of Recorded Poets Sound Recordings
- Author
- by Molly Wheeler
- Date
- October 2010
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository