Elmslie, Kenward

An American poet, writer and lyricist associated with the New York School, Kenward Elmslie was born in New York City in 1929. The grandson of newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer, Elmslie graduated from Harvard in 1950 with a B.A. in literature and began his writing career as a lyricist and librettist for theatre and musicals, including The Sweet Bye and Bye (1966) and The Glass Harp (1972). He published stories, short plays and poetry in small magazines and collections; collaborated with graphic artists including Joe Brainard, Donna Dennis and Ken Tisa; and served as editor and publisher of Z Press.

BIOGRAPHY

Kenward Gray Elmslie was born in New York City on April 27, 1929, to William Gray Elmslie, a British businessman, and Constance Pulitzer, daughter of newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer. His early childhood was spent in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and he attended preparatory schools in Virginia, Ohio and Massachusetts. He was graduated from Harvard in 1950 with a B.A. in literature and began his writing career as a lyricist and librettist in collaboration with several composers. His published work for the musical theatreincludes THE SWEET BYE AND BYE (1966) and LIZZIE BORDEN (1966), music by Jack Beeson; MISS JULIE (1965), music by Ned Rorem, and three works with composer Thomas Pasatieri, THE SEAGULL (1974), WASHINGTON SQUARE (1976), and THREE SISTERS (1986). He also wrote both the book and lyrics for a musical, THE GRASS HARP (1972) based on Truman Capote's novel.

In 1954 Elmslie began to publish his stories, short plays and verse in little magazines and gather them into collections: PAVILIONS (1961), POWER PLANT POEMS (1967), ALBUM (1969), CIRCUS NERVES (1971), MOTOR DISTURBANCE (1971), ORCHID STORIES (1973), TROPICALISM (1975), TOPIARY TREK (1977), MOVING RIGHT ALONG (1980), SUNG SEX (1990), CHAMP DUST (1994), BARE BONES (1995), ROUTINE DISRUPTIONS (1998). He also began to collaborate with graphic artists, especially with Joe Brainard on THE BABY BOOK (1965), THE CHAMP (1968), THE 1967 GAMEBOOK CALENDAR (1967), and SHINY RIDE (1972); with Donna Dennis on 26 BARS; and with Ken Tisa on BIMBO DIRT (1982) and PALAIS BIMBO SNAPSHOTS (1982).

In 1973 Elmslie became the editor of the Poetry Project's literary magazine, Z, and continued through issue ZZZZZZ in 1978. He was also editor and publisher of Z Press, publishing work by John Ashbery, Bill Berkson, Jean Boulte, Joe Brainard, Ian Finlay, Steve Gianakos, Joanne Kyger, Harry Matthews, Ron Padgett, James Schulyer, Anne Waldman and Marjorie Walish, among others.

Elmslie belonged to the American Guild of Authors and Composers, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the Dramatists' Guild. His "Power Plant Sestina" (1967) received an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. ROUTINE DISRUPTIONS (1971) received the Frank O'Hara Award.

For a chronology of Elmslie's life, full bibliographic information for his work and an extensive interview, see William C. Bamberger, KENWARD ELMSLIE: A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE. Bamberger Books, 1993.