Lilly Library Manuscript Collections

WILLIAMS, OSCAR MSS.

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Inventory

I. Correspondence

Arranged in chronological order. An index is available.
  • Box 1:      1927-1949, Mar
  • Box 2:     1949, Apr.-1954, Oct.
  • Box 3:     1954, Nov.- 1958, May
  • Box 4:     1958, June- 1960
  • Box 5:     1961- 1963, May
  • Box 6:     1963, June- 1964, Sept. 15
  • Box 7:     1964, Sept. 16- 1966

II. Dylan Thomas

Box 8
  • Correspondence, 1944-1953
  • "Poem on His Birthday"
  • Fragments of writings
  • Pen and ink drawing by Thomas
  • Photographs

III. Writings by others

Arranged alphabetically by author. A complete list of authors is available.
  • Box 9:    A-Ellis
  • Box 10:    Esty-Maskell
  • Box 11:    Mearns- Sobilof
  • Box 12:    Sobiloff (cont.)- Z
  •                  Uncredited writings arranged by title

IV. Writings by Oscar Williams

Box 12
  • Poems, A -
Box 13
  • Poems, P-Z
  • Folios of writings (2 volumes)
  • Unidentified writings, arranged by first line
  • Unidentified novel

V. Anthologies

Includes typed anthology proposals, contents outlines, permissions documentation, drafts of William, anthology introductions, and annotated galley proofs.
Box 13
  • Record anthologies 1-5
  • Anthologies
  •       An Anthology of Women Poets
  •       The Forties in Poetry
  •       The Handbook of Anonymous [Works]
Box 14
  • Anthologies (cont.)
  •       Immortal Poems of the English Language
  •       A Little Anthology of N.Y. University
  •       A Little Treasury of American Poetry
  •       A Little Treasury of British Poetry
  •       A Little Treasury of Children's Poetry
  •       A Little Treasury of Great Poetry
  •       A Little Treasury of Love Poems
  •       A Little Treasury of Modern Poetry
  •       A Little Treasury of Modern Poetry Proposal
  •       A Little Treasury of the Chief Modern Poets
  •       Corrections for the Rev. Ed. of a Little Treasury
  •       The Major Metaphysical Poets
  •       Mentor Book of Major American Poets
  •       Mentor Book of Major British Poets
  •       The New American Library Ed.
  •       A New Anthology of Modern Verse
  •       The New Pocket Anthology of American Verse
  •       New Poems
  •       The 100 Best Poems of the 20th Century
  •       101 of the Master Poets (4 folders)
  •       The Pocket Book of Modern Verse
  •       The Poems of Emily Dickinson
  •       The Poems of Gene Derwood
  •       The Poet's Choice
  •       Proposals and Suggestions
  •       A Rhyming Dictionary for Modern Poets
  •       The Selected Poems of Oscar Williams
  •       The Silver Treasury of Humorous Verse
  •       The War Poets
  • Account of money paid to poets and critics
  • Acknowledgements for anthologies
  • Various reviews and biographical notices
  • Miscellaneous anthology materials (8 folders)
Proofs
  • Poems of Emily Dickinson
  • College Poems
Box 15
  • Proofs
  •        Major British Poets (4 folders)
  •        The Golden Treasury (3 folders)
  •        The Silver Treasury of Light Verse (4 folders)

VI. Miscellaneous

Box 16
  • Date books, 1941 [?], 1956-1960, 1962-1964 (9 volumes)
  • Notebooks, undated (4 volumes)
  • Guest registry book, 1964, Mar.- 1964, Nov
  • Address book
  • Agreements-permission slips, 1939-1964 (4 folders)
  • Artwork: Paint and ink piece by Ann Truxell, dedicated to OW, accompanied by a letter from Truxell to OW dated Jan. 15, 1951.
  • Materials concerning Gene Derwood burial, etc.
  • Last will and testament of Oscar Williams, 1958
  • Permission/fees
  • Permission slips, alphabetically by author
  • Lists of critics and poets (3 folders)
  • Royalty reports: Charles Scribner's
  • Royalty reports: John Day, Co.
  • Royalty reports: New American Library
  • Royalty reports: Pocket books
  • Royalty reports: Routledge and Kegan Paul
  • Royalty reports: Washington Square Press
  • Royalty reports: World Publishing Co.
  • Royalty reports: miscellaneous (2 folders)
  • Miscellaneous (5 folders)
Box 17
  • Miscellaneous (cont.) (9 folders)
  • Strephon William' school records
  • Printed materials and form letters (6 folders)
Oversize
  • Artwork by Martha Deitch: Letter to OW, Sept. 27, 1961 with enclosed charcoal drawing; letter to OW, Oct. 3, 1961 with enclosures: eight pen and ink drawings, one watercolor and one charcoal drawing
  • Pastel drawing of woman by Shizue Kohda, Summer 1961

VII. Recordings

Recordings are on reel-to-reel tapes of varying sizes and recording speeds.
Box 17
  • Sara Joyce Dorrthit, May 10, 1958
  • Sara Joyce Dorrthit, July 1957, May 1958
  • Roger Hecht, James Wright, Oscar Williams, Tony Stubbing (?), Elizabeth Lambert. Aug. 1962. Side two: Elizabeth Lambert, June 1963
  • Edwina May, Jan. 18, 1964; Marion Buchanan; Ginger (Ruth) McDonald, Feb. 28, 1964
  • Anita Seal, Nov. 1959-Feb. 1961
  • Poetry and its relation to reality, a lecture by Oscar Williams, delivered in the Poetry Room, University of Chicago
  • Oscar Williams talk at Farmville, Virginia
  • Donnell Library, Oscar Williams, Dec. 16, 1960

VIII. Photographs

A complete list is available.
  • Drawer 1:
  • Section A: Individuals: Adams to Schwartz
  • Drawer 2:
  • Section A: Individuals: Seal to Wright
  • Section B: Individuals identified by first or last name only
  • Section C: Miscellaneous photographs taken by OW
  • Drawer 3:
  • Section D: Oversize
  • Section E: Unidentified individuals
  • Section F: Negatives

For more information about this collection and any related materials contact the Public Services Department, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405. Call (812) 855-2452 or send an email using our Ask a Question form.