Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972

Variant names

Hide Profile

Patchen and MacLeish, were both American poets.

From the description of [Letter, 19]51 Mar. 12, Old Lyme, Conn. [to] Archibald MacLeish / Kenneth Patchen. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 314411191

American poet, novelist, artist.

From the description of Letter to Julien Cornell, 1951 January 5. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 49380977

American poet.

From the description of Prospectus for "The Dark Kingdom", 1942. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 50248701

Kenneth Patchen (1911-1972) was an American poet, novelist and artist. Patchen was an early experimental poet who began writing and publishing in the late 1930s. He was the first poet to begin reading poetry while accompanied by jazz music, and became a major influence on later Beat poets such as Allen Ginsberg. Patchen also experimented with "picture poems," which were illustrated by his own paintings and drawings.

From the guide to the Kenneth Patchen Correspondence, 1950-1965, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Kenneth Patchen was a writer, poet, and artist. The third of five children, Kenneth was born on December 13, 1911, in Niles, Ohio, to Eva and Wayne Patchen. Writing, a life-long pursuit, began for Kenneth around his twelfth year when he started keeping a diary. Publication of his writing first appeared in his high school newspaper High School Life, in 1928. His scholastic abilities were complimented by his athletic accomplishments in football and track in high school and in college. Patchen worked two summers in the steel mills with his father and brother to supplement his college scholarship. From 1929-1930 he attended the Alexander Meilejohn's Experimental College at the University of Wisconsin. Following his mentor, Meilejohn to the Commonwealth College in Mena Arkansas, Patchen became disenchanted with academics and left after one semester to travel around the country.

Doing odd jobs and traveling in the United States and Canada from 1930-1933, Patchen continued his writing and had two sonnets published in the New York Times. While at a Christmas party in Boston in 1933, Patchen met Miriam Oikemus, and on June 28, 1934, they were married.

Before the Brave, Patchen's first book of poetry, was published in 1936. In 1937, Patchen damaged his back severely while trying to separate the locked bumpers of two cars that had collided. It wasn't until 1950, when he had surgery to fix the slipped disk that he was temporarily relived of this chronic pain. In 1956, a spinal fusion gave Patchen the mobility to tour around the country giving concert performances of poetry and jazz. This activity was unfortunately short lived. In 1959, Patchen was undergoing exploratory surgery when a surgical mishap occurred. Patchen fell off the operating table, permanently damaging his spine, and was bedridden the remainder of his life. This however, did not prevent him from continuing to write and paint.

From 1936-1972, Kenneth Patchen published over 36 books and pioneered experiments in the anti-novel, concrete poetry, poetry and jazz, irrational tales and verse, as well as painting and poetry experiments which he termed painted books, poems and drawings, and picture poems. Patchen's unique work followed no particular group or style, and he wrote and painted for his own pleasure, not for recognition by academics or for commercial acceptance. On January 8, 1972 Kenneth Patchen died from a heart attack.

Richard G. Morgan was born on December 17, 1950. He married Lissa Fischer on May 19, 1975. While writing several books on Kenneth Patchen, Morgan taught English and creative writing at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Morgan is the author of Patchen's Lost Plays (1977); Kenneth Patchen: A Collection of Essays (1977); Kenneth Patchen: An Annotated, Descriptive Bibliography (1978); and Tiger in the Air (1979). Poems and essays of Morgan's have appeared in periodicals in the United States, Canada, England, France, and Australia.

From the guide to the Kenneth Patchen Collection TXRC92-A43., 1929-1978, (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Kathryn Winslow Collection, 1950-1988 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Winslow, Kathryn. Kathryn Winslow collection, 1950-1988. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-1988. Letters to Sanders Russell and other manuscripts : mss., 1938-1944. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Chester Kessler Papers, 1951-1952 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Cage, John. The city wears a slouch hat : for percussion and sound effects / [text by] Kenneth Patchen ; [music by] John Cage. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. "Kenneth Patchen : hurrah for anything" film production records, 1982. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Blair, Edwin J. Edwin J. Blair papers, 1958-1985. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Millen Brand Papers, 1919-1976. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Robert A. Wilson collection, 1906-2011 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
referencedIn Kenneth Patchen Collection, 1977-004., 1934-1976 Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries
referencedIn Patchen, Miriam. Miriam Patchen papers, 1930-2000 (bulk 1972-2000). University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Peter Yates Papers, 1927 - 1976 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Colt Press. Colt Press records, ca. 1941-1942. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Patchen, Kenneth. Kenneth Patchen collection, 1934-1976. University of Houston, M.D. Anderson Library
creatorOf Alicat Book Shop Press. Records, 1945-1966. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Cage, John. [City wears a slouch hat / John Cage.]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Veres, Peter, 1938-. Peter Veres papers, 1973-1977. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Adamic, Louis, 1899-1951,. Letters to Alfred Kreymborg [manuscript], 1921-1956. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Plumley, William. William Plumley collection, 1946-1972 (bulk 1956-1958). University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Marian W. Sinton papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Parket, Beatrice. Alan and Beatrice Parker collection, 1922-1969. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Brand, Millen, 1906-1980. Millen Brand papers, 1919-1976. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Cage, John. City wears a slouch hat / John Cage. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Correspondence, 1938, from Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Davenport, Guy. Papers of Guy Davenport [manuscript], 1947-1987 [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Yates, Peter, 1909-1976. Papers, 1928-1976. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Papers of the magazine Transition, 1933-1941. Houghton Library
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
creatorOf Crews, Judson. Papers, 1935-1981 (bulk 1940-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Prospectus for "The Dark Kingdom", 1942. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965. Notes on Kenneth Patchen's The journal of Albion moonlight, [ca. 1945]. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Zukofsky, Louis, 1904-1978. Louis Zukofsky Collection, 1910-1985. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Camp Waldport records, 1943-1945 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn May, James Boyer. James Boyer May correspondence, 1956-1972 (bulk 1958-1961). University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Poets' Theatre (Cambridge, Mass.) records Houghton Library
creatorOf Kenneth Patchen Correspondence, 1950-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. Papers of Thomas Stearns Eliot [manuscript] 1918-51. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn David Gascoyne papers, 1822-2010, n.d. British Library: Western Manuscripts
referencedIn Louis Zukofsky Collection TXRC98-A11., 1910-1985 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Watts, John, 1930-1982. Fantasy for women's voices / John Watts ; [words] from The childhood of God, Kenneth Patchen. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. [Letter, 19]51 Mar. 12, Old Lyme, Conn. [to] Archibald MacLeish / Kenneth Patchen. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Kenneth Patchen Collection TXRC92-A43., 1929-1978 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Knight, Arthur. Photographic portraits of British and American writers, 1956-1958. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
creatorOf Burnshaw, Stanley, 1906-2005. Papers, 1927-1987, (bulk 1945-1987). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Place-Badarak, Mary Lynn, 1946-. The Patchen songs / [music] by Mary Lynn Place Badarak ; poems by Kenneth Patchen. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf New Directions Publishing Corp. New Directions Publishing Corp. records, ca. 1933-1997. Houghton Library
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Kenneth Patchen papers, 1929-1989, (bulk 1929-1972). University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Additional papers, 1917-1962 and undated. Houghton Library
referencedIn William M. Roth correspondence, 1941-1965 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Cage, John. The city wears a slouch hat : for percussion and sound effects / [text by] Kenneth Patchen ; [music by] John Cage. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Letters, 1929-1939, n.d., to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Duncan, Robert, 1919-1988. Robert Edward Duncan papers, circa 1938-1969. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hugo Manning Papers TXRC91-A13., 1942-1977 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn American authors collection, 1832-1956. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Wright, Fred. Fred Wright correspondence, 1972-1990. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963. Papers, 1921-1963. Indiana University
creatorOf Hemenway, Edith, 1923-. Wonderings : 7 songs on poems by Kenneth Patchen. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1938-1941. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1938. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Manning, Hugo. Papers, 1942-1977. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Civilian Public Service. Camp #56 (Waldport, Or.). Camp Waldport records, 1943-1945. University of Oregon Libraries
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Letter to Julien Cornell, 1951 January 5. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Fantasy Magazine papers, 1929-1979 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn T. C. Wilson Papers, (1928-1947) Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn City Lights Books Records, 1953-1970 Bancroft Library
referencedIn William Plumley collection, 1942-1972, (Bulk 1956-1958) University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Mitchell, Stewart, 1892-1957. Papers, 1839-1957. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn Tom and Rita Bottoms collection, 1946-1958 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Diane Di Prima Papers, 1948-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Wilson, Theodore Carl, 1912-1950. T. C. Wilson Papers (1928-1947). Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Mullane, William E. Kenneth Patchen Festival records, 1927-1991 (bulk 1989-1991). University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Rosenberger, Francis Coleman, 1915-. Papers of [Francis] Coleman Rosenberger, 1946-1952. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf St. Clair, Richard, 1946-. Six songs for soprano and piano, opus 28 / [music by] Richard St. Clair ; on poems by Kenneth Patchen. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Roth, William M. (William Matson), 1916-. William M. Roth correspondence, 1941-1965. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Leon Trotsky exile papers, 1929-1940. Houghton Library
referencedIn Johnny Wittwer papers, 1959 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Gardiner, Charles Wrey, 1901-1981. Charles Wrey Gardiner papers, 1918-1981. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Patchen Administrative Records, 1974- University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Wheelwright, John, 1897-1940. Papers, 1920-1940, Part III (Lowell-Z). Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn E. E. Cummings miscellaneous papers, 1957-1962. Houghton Library
referencedIn Schevill, James Erwin, 1920-. Office files of The American Poetry Review, 1973-1976. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Wallace Berman papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf City Lights Books. City Lights Books records, 1953-1970. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Stanley Burnshaw Papers TXRC93-A78., 1927-1987, (bulk 1945-1987) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Manuscripts and proofs of New Directions books, 1937-1997. Houghton Library
creatorOf New Directions Publishing Corp. Manuscripts and proofs of New Directions books, 1937-1997. Houghton Library
creatorOf Patchen, Kenneth, 1911-1972. Charles and Barbara Paine collection, 1957-1983. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Hundley, Richard. Maiden snow / Richard Hundley ; [words by] Kenneth Patchen. New England Conservatory of Music, Harriet M. Spaulding Library
creatorOf Bauer, Marion, 1882-1955. At the New Year : op. 42 / by Marion Bauer. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Bottoms, Tom. Tom and Rita Bottoms Collection, 1946-1958. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
referencedIn Wallace Berman papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Magel and Ruth Patchen collection, 1910-1971 University of California, Santa Cruz. . University Library Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Alicat Book Shop Press Records TXRC96-A29., 1945-1966 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alicat Book Shop Press corporateBody
associatedWith Bauer, Marion, 1882-1955. person
associatedWith Berman, Wallace, 1926-1976. person
associatedWith Black Sparrow Press corporateBody
correspondedWith Blair, Edwin J. person
associatedWith Bottoms, Tom. person
associatedWith Bottoms, Tom and Rita person
associatedWith Brand, Millen, 1906-1980. person
associatedWith Burnshaw, Stanley, 1906- person
associatedWith Cage, John. person
associatedWith Cage, John. person
associatedWith Cage, John. person
associatedWith Cage, John. person
associatedWith City Lights Books. corporateBody
associatedWith Civilian Public Service. Camp #56 (Waldport, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Clodd, Alan person
associatedWith Colt Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Conroy, Jack, 1899- person
associatedWith Cornell, Julien D., 1910- person
associatedWith Crews, Judson. person
associatedWith Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. person
associatedWith Cummings, Marion M. person
associatedWith Davenport, Guy. person
associatedWith Di Prima, Diane, Archives person
associatedWith Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-1988. person
associatedWith Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. person
associatedWith Fantasy Magazine. corporateBody
associatedWith Fantasy Magazine. corporateBody
associatedWith Ferguson, Allyn. person
associatedWith Ferlinghetti, Lawrence person
associatedWith Ferlinghetti, Lawrence. person
associatedWith Gardiner, Charles Wrey, 1901-1981. person
associatedWith Gascoyne, David Emery, 1916-2001 person
associatedWith Hemenway, Edith, 1923- person
associatedWith Hundley, Richard. person
associatedWith Kessler, Chester person
associatedWith Knight, Arthur. person
associatedWith Laughlin, James, 1914- person
associatedWith MacLeish, Archibald, 1892-1982, person
associatedWith Manning, Hugo, 1913-1977 person
associatedWith May, James Boyer. person
associatedWith May, James Boyer, 1904- person
associatedWith McClure, Michael person
associatedWith Miller, Henry, 1891- person
associatedWith Mitchell, Stewart, 1892-1957. person
associatedWith Morgan, Richard G., 1950- person
associatedWith New Directions. corporateBody
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Norse, Harold person
associatedWith Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963. person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Osterlund, Steven, 1943- person
associatedWith Patchen, Kenneth person
associatedWith Patchen, Kenneth. person
associatedWith Patchen, Magel person
associatedWith Patchen, Miriam. person
associatedWith Patchen, Miriam, 1914- person
associatedWith Patchen, Miriam Okemus, 1914-2000. person
associatedWith Patchen, Ruth person
associatedWith Pfeffer, Max. person
associatedWith Place-Badarak, Mary Lynn, 1946- person
associatedWith Plumley, William. person
correspondedWith Poets' Theatre (Cambridge, Mass.). corporateBody
associatedWith Porter, Bern, 1911- person
associatedWith Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972. person
associatedWith Redl, Harry. person
associatedWith Rosenberger, Francis Coleman, 1915- person
associatedWith Roth, William M. (William Matson), 1916- person
associatedWith Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970. person
associatedWith Schevill, James Erwin, 1920- person
associatedWith Sinton, Marian W., 1894-1980. person
associatedWith St. Clair, Richard, 1946- person
correspondedWith Transition. corporateBody
correspondedWith Trotsky, Leon, 1879-1940 person
associatedWith University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965. person
associatedWith Veres, Peter, 1938- person
associatedWith Wallace Berman person
associatedWith Watts, John, 1930-1982. person
associatedWith Wheelwright, John, 1897-1940. person
associatedWith Williams, Jack Eric person
associatedWith Williams, Jonathan, 1929-2008. person
associatedWith Williams, Jonathon, 1929- person
associatedWith Wilson, Robert A. (Robert Alfred), 1922- person
associatedWith Wilson, Theodore Carl, 1912-1950. person
associatedWith Winslow, Kathryn. person
correspondedWith Wittwer, Johnny. person
associatedWith Wright, Fred. person
associatedWith Yates, Peter, 1909-1976. person
associatedWith Zukofsky, Louis, 1904-1978 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Authors, American
American poetry
Poets, American
Poets, American
Christmas
Jazz
Literature
Occupation
Artists
Authors
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1911-12-13

Death 1972-01-08

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ks6rjk

Ark ID: w6ks6rjk

SNAC ID: 32945735