Lilly Library Manuscript Collections

WILLIAMS, OSCAR MSS.

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.