Scope and Contents
The collection contains correspondence, writings, and personal papers documenting the personal and professional life of American poet and author Michael Benedikt. Correspondence in the collection consists of letters to Benedikt from authors and artists, editors and publishers, literary agents and organizations, academic institutions, and others dating largely from the late 1950s to early 1980s. Correspondents include Duane Ackerson, Anna Balakian, Alan Brilliant, A. Poulin, Carolee Schneemann, and others. Writings features annotated printed versions of early works by Benedikt, such as Changes (1961) and The Body (1968), printed versions of essays, and a few drafts and proofs of individual poems. Personal Papers include a curriculum vitae, electronic files, notebooks, photographs, records documenting a dispute with a New York City landlord, where Benedikt resided late in life, and other materials.
Dates
- 1951 - 2002
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Box 4 (computer disks): Restricted Fragile Material. Reference copies of electronic files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 4 (computer disks): Restricted Fragile Material. Reference copies of electronic files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Michael Benedikt Papers 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 Asako Kitaori and Gerard Malanga, 2007.
Arrangement
Organized into three series: I. Correspondence, 1957-1997. II Writings, 1951-1980. III. Personal Papers, 1968-2002.
Extent
1.46 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Collection contains correspondence, writings, and personal papers documenting the personal and professional life of author Michael Benedikt. Correspondence in the collection consists of letters to Benedikt from authors and artists, editors and publishers, literary agents and organizations, academic institutions, and others dating largely from the late 1950s to early 1980s. Correspondents include Duane Ackerson, Anna Balakian, Alan Brilliant, A. Poulin, Carolee Schneemann, and others. Writings feature annotated versions of early printed works by Benedikt, such as Changes (1961) and The Body (1968), printed versions of essays, and a few drafts and proofs of individual poems. Personal Papers include a curriculum vitae, electronic files, notebooks, photographs, records documenting a dispute with a New York City landlord, and other materials.
Michael Benedikt (1935-2007)
Michael Benedikt was born 26 May 1935 in New York City and educated at New York University (1956) and Columbia University (1961). From the late 1950s through 1970s, Benedikt served as an editor and held teaching and writing positions at various publications and instutitions in the Northeast. He served an editor at Horizon Press (1959-1961), associate editor with Art News (1963-1972), poetry editor with the Paris Review (1974-1978), and contributing editor with the American Poetry Review. During this period he taught at Bennington (1968-1969), Sarah Lawrence (1969-1973), Hampshire (1973-1975), Vassar (1976-1977), and Boston University (1977-1979).
Benedikt's books of poetry include Changes (1961), The Body (1968), Sky (1970), Mole Notes (1971), Night Cries (1976), and The Badminton at Great Barrington (1980). Benedikt also authored plays, translations, and edited works on the theatre, and contributed poems, essays, and reviews to journals such as Poetry, American Poetry Review, Iowa Review, Massachusetts Review, Agni, Partisan Review, Ploughshares, and Tri-Quarterly. He died 27 February 2007.
Biographical information taken from "Michael Benedikt." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Biography In Context. Web. 16 May 2013.
Benedikt's books of poetry include Changes (1961), The Body (1968), Sky (1970), Mole Notes (1971), Night Cries (1976), and The Badminton at Great Barrington (1980). Benedikt also authored plays, translations, and edited works on the theatre, and contributed poems, essays, and reviews to journals such as Poetry, American Poetry Review, Iowa Review, Massachusetts Review, Agni, Partisan Review, Ploughshares, and Tri-Quarterly. He died 27 February 2007.
Biographical information taken from "Michael Benedikt." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Biography In Context. Web. 16 May 2013.
- Ackerson, Duane, 1942-
- American literature -- 20th century
- Authors -- United States -- 20th century
- Authors, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Balakian, Anna, 1915-1997
- Benedikt, Michael, 1935-2007
- Born digital
- Brilliant, Alan
- Electronic documents
- New York (N.Y.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th Century
- Photographic prints
- Poets -- United States -- 20th Century
- Poets, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Poulin, A., Jr., 1938-1996
- Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-
- Title
- Guide to the Michael Benedikt Papers
- Author
- by Michael L. Forstrom
- Date
- May 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.