Everson, William, 1912-1994

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American poet, printer, and activist. Everson was a conscientious objector during the later years of World War II, and was associated with Kenneth Rexroth and his circle in San Francisco in the late 1940s. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1949, joined the Catholic Workers Movement, and eventually entered the Dominican Religious Order in 1950, taking the name Brother Antoninus. Everson was associated with the San Francisco Renaissance of the late 1950s. He left the Dominican order in 1971.

From the description of Papers, 1942-1971. (Washington University in St. Louis). WorldCat record id: 26089588

William Oliver Everson was born on Sept. 10, 1912 in Sacramento, CA; attended Fresno State College (1931, 1934-5); was cannery worker and laborer for Civilian Conservation Corps, 1932-3, later working as a farmer; was co-founder of Untide Press, Waldport, OR about 1944; after the war he joined an anarchopacifist group of poets surrounding Kenneth Rexroth in San Francisco; was active in the slums of Oakland in the Catholic Worker Movement before becoming a Roman Catholic monk in the Dominican order and taking the name Brother Antoninus in 1951; left the order to marry in 1969; in 1971 he became a master printer with the Lime Kiln Press, and a poet-in-residence at UC Santa Cruz; won a Pulitzer Prize nomination for The crooked lines of God (1959); his poetry, published under both Everson and Brother Antoninus, also includes These are the ravens (1935), The residual years (1944), The hazards of holiness (1962), The rose of solitude (1964), The blowing of the seed (1966), The veritable years (1978), and The masks of drought (1979); he died on June 3, 1994.

From the description of Papers, 1948-1958. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 40300896

Everson was born in Sacramento, CA, on Sept. 10, 1912; attended Fresno State College, 1931, 1934-35; worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), 1933-34; co-founder, Untide Press, Waldport, OR; staff member, Univ. of California Press, 1947-49; member, Catholic Worker Movement, 1950-51; Dominican lay brother (Brother Antoninus), 1951-69; poet in residence, Kresge College, UC Santa Cruz, 1971-82; founded the Lime Kiln Press at UC Santa Cruz; died June 3, 1994 in Davenport, CA.

From the description of Papers, 1933-1948. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39645765

Writer known as Brother Antoninus.

From the description of The tongs of jeopardy : reflections on the death of President Kennedy : mimeograph copy of typescript, [1963]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270633013

William Everson (September 10, 1912-June 3, 1994), also known as Brother Antoninus, was an American poet of the San Francisco Renaissance, literary critic, and small press printer. He was poet-in-residence at the University of California, Santa Cruz during the 1970s and 1980s.

From the description of William Everson papers : additions, 1897-1995. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 82598098

From the description of William Everson papers, circa 1947-1970. (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 122514727

Biography

William Everson was born in Sacramento, California on September 10, 1912. He grew up on a farm outside Fresno and later attended Fresno State College. Everson was a poet and author, literary critic, and small press printer. During World War II, he was relocated to Camp Waldport (or Camp Angel) located outside Waldport, Oregon -- one of the Civilian Public Service camps for conscientious objectors. While in the camp, he helped found the Untide Press with other objectors. The poetry inspired by his time at the camp, 'The Residual Years' helped start his career in writing. He joined the Dominican Order for a period of time, adopting the name 'Brother Antoninus' which he used as an alternate name throughout life. Everson lived the latter part of his life near Santa Cruz, California (where he was the poet in residence at the University of California, Santa Cruz), and later died on June 3, 1994.

From the guide to the William Everson Papers, 1937-1971, (University of California, Los Angeles. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library)

Biography

William Oliver Everson was born on September 10, 1912 in Sacramento, California, to Louis Waldemar Everson and Francelia Marie Herber Everson. He was the second of three children; his siblings were Vera Louise Everson Shorey and Lloyd Waldemar Everson. Two years later, the family moved to Selma, Calif., where Everson spent the next seventeen years. He entered California State University, Fresno, following his high school sweetheart, Edwa Poulson. A year later, Everson withdrew from college and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, but eventually returned to CSU Fresno. It was in the fall of 1934 that he discovered the poetry of Robinson Jeffers and published his first book of poems the following spring. It was not until 1938 that Everson and Edwa were married, but their marriage did not survive World War II. Everson was drafted as a conscientious objector and sent to a camp at Waldport, Oregon. He continued to write poetry in Oregon and also became involved in Untide Press, the fine printing press at the camp.

After his release from CO camp, Everson settled in Berkeley and became associated with the San Francisco Renaissance. During this time, Everson started the Equinox Press and won a 1949 Guggenheim Fellowship. He also became interested in Catholicism and eventually was baptised into that faith. He began to work in the Catholic Worker Movement and eventually became a tertiary lay brother of the Dominican Order, taking the name Brother Antoninus. Everson remained a monk until 1969, continuing to write and to publicly read his poems across the U.S., as well as involving himself in the press of St. Albert's Priory. He became associated with the Beat poets at this time, and was known as the "Beat monk". It was as a counselor at St. Albert's Priory that he met Rose Moreno Tanlund, inspiration for "Canticle of the Rose", and Susanna Rickson. Everson left the Dominican Order to marry Rickson in 1969, and adopted her son, Jude, the following year.

In 1971, Everson became a lecturer at Kresge College at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He taught his "Birth of a Poet" course, and was master printer for the university's Lime Kiln Press. It was during this time that Everson was diagnosed with Parkinson's. In 1981, he won a NEA grant and retired from both UC Santa Cruz and fine printing. He began to compile the poems from The Residual Years, The Veritable Years, and his "integral years" into "The Crooked Lines of God", working with a local handprinter as The Kingfisher Press, but this project was never completed. Everson continued to write, but almost ceased to appear in public. After his separation from Rickson in 1992, Everson's friends began The William Everson Fund as a means of support for him, as his Parkinson's progressed. It was not until two years later, at the age of 81, that Everson passed away.

From the guide to the William Everson Papers : Additions, 1931-1995, (The Bancroft Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. William Everson papers : additions, 1897-1995. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. The tongs of jeopardy : reflections on the death of President Kennedy : mimeograph copy of typescript, [1963]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. River-root : ms., [ca. 1975]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Griffith, E. V., 1927-. E.V. Griffith papers, ca. 1945-1995. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Teiser, Ruth,. Brother Antoninus : poet, printer, and religious : photocopy of typescript, 1966. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Colt Press. Colt Press records, ca. 1941-1942. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Hawley, Robert L., 1929-. Robert L. Hawley interview : ms., 1981 June 24. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Everson, William, 1912-1994. Letter, [1949, ca.May 12], Berkeley, Calif., to Harold E. Clark. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Angulo, Gui de. Portraits of poets, authors, and artists and miscellaneous photographs [graphic] / photographed by Gui de Angulo. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-1988. Letters to Sanders Russell and other manuscripts : mss., 1938-1944. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Grover, Sherwood,. Sherwood Grover collection of Grabhorn Press materials, 1933-1979. California Digital Library
referencedIn Robert A. Wilson collection, 1906-2011 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
referencedIn Giligia Press. Giligia Press records, ca. 1966-1979. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. William Everson collection, 1960-1994. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. [Letters]. The Sage Colleges Libraries
referencedIn Bruce Reeves Collection, 1944-1946 Lew s & Clark College Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Letters to Marti Hohman, 1983 April 23 and May 21. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Burden, Carter,. Collection of newspaper clippings related to William Everson (Brother Antoninus) and his works, 1962-1970. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Bartlett, Lee, 1950-. Papers pertaining to William Everson, 1977-1987. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Camp Waldport records, 1943-1945 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. William Everson papers, circa 1947-1970. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Approach Archives, 1913-1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Fabilli, Mary,. Mary Fabilli correspondence with Dorothy and Robert Hawley, 1969-2011. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Correspondence with Henry Evans and related material, 1956-1958. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Poetry and other sound recordings from additions to the William Everson papers [sound recording], [ca. 1970-ca. 1975]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Colt Press. Colt Press records, 1920-1973. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Holder, Wayne, 1949-. Letters to Wayne Holder, 1981-1987. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Kenneth Rexroth papers, Bulk, 1969-1981, 1940-1982 USC Libraries Special Collections
creatorOf Civilian Public Service. Camp #56 (Waldport, Or.). Camp Waldport records, 1943-1945. University of Oregon Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Papers, 1942-1971. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Oyez Press Records., 1963-1987. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Letter, [1949, ca.May 12], Berkeley, Calif., to Harold E. Clark. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Eshelman, William R. Materials on the Untide Press, 1944-1948. University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn William L. Kinter papers, Kinter (William L.) papers, 1958-1965 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn The Review of Contemporary Fiction/Dalkey Archive Press : records, 1980-1990 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Flanner, Hildegarde, 1899-1987. Hildegarde Flanner papers, 1924-1984. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Lehman, B. H. (Benjamin Harrison), 1889-1977. Benjamin H. Lehman papers, 1908-1978. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. The excesses of God : Robinson Jeffers as a religious figure : photocopy of typescript, [1986]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Ted Freedman Papers, 1926-1974 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Fredericks, Claude. The Banyan Press archive, 1946-1986. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Gary Snyder Papers, 1910-2003;, (1945-2002 bulk) University of California, Davis. General Library. . Dept. of Special Collections
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Papers, 1948-1958. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Lovelace, Jeff,. Photographs of Brother Antoninus, 1969. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf William Everson Papers : Additions, 1931-1995 Bancroft Library
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Lerner, Abe, 1908-2002. Abe Lerner papers, 1929-2002 (bulk 1957-2002) Grolier Club
referencedIn Oyez Press Records., 1963-1987. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf William Everson Papers, 1937-1971 University of California, Los Angeles. Library. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
referencedIn Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983. Buckminster Fuller papers, circa 1920-1983. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Papers, 1933-1948. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Untide Press. Collection, 1943-1955. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
creatorOf Smith, Murray J. The William Everson-Murray J. Smith collection, 1980-1981. Georgetown University, Joseph Mark Lauinger Memorial Library
creatorOf Carpenter, Frederic Ives, 1903-1991. Frederic Ives Carpenter papers, 1923-1984, n.d. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Coffield, Glen, 1917-. Writings of Glen Coffield [ca.1944-1948]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Grabhorn Press records, 1917-1973 Bancroft Library
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982. Kenneth Rexroth papers, 1940-1982 (bulk 1969-1981). University of Southern California, USC Libraries
referencedIn Literary Correspondence and Manuscripts Collection, undated, 1835-1990 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Carpenter, Kenneth. Kenneth Carpenter papers, 1959-1961. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Sipper mss., 1973-2010 Indiana University
creatorOf Kinter, William L. (William Lewis), 1915-. Papers, 1958-1965. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Benjamin H. Lehman Papers Bancroft Library
referencedIn Ann Charters Papers., 1966-1982. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Donald Allen collection, 1930-2005. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Kinter, William Lewis, 1915-. Papers, 1958-1965. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Freedman, Ted, 1906-. Ted Freedman papers, 1935-1966. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf Primosch, James. Zone of death / [music by] James Primosch ; [words by] Brother Antoninus. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Lime Kiln Press records, 1967-1982. University of California, Santa Cruz, UCSC
creatorOf Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956. Sheed and Ward family papers, 1832-1982. University of Notre Dame, Hesburgh Library
referencedIn Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library) poetry readings, 1931- (ongoing). Woodberry Poetry Room, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Letter to Mary Fabilli : Stinson, Beach : ALS, 1970 Dec. 21. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Redl, Harry. Portraits of Eugene Hilgard, Lawrence Arnstein, and William Everson [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. Everson, William. School of The Art Institute of Chicago, John M Flaxman Library
referencedIn Spanner, Virginia. Brother Antoninus : mystic of the flesh : typescript, [1969]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Grabhorn Press. Grabhorn Press records, 1917-1973. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf University of Connecticut. Libraries. Literary correspondence and manuscripts collection, 1929-1990. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
creatorOf Suckow, Ruth, 1892-1960. Papers of Ruth Suckow, 1887-1988. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Ross, Clif. Clif Ross papers, 1979-1984. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Stanford University Press archival book copies, 1900-2012 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Christopher Felver portraits of poets, authors, and artists [graphic] / photographed by Christopher Felver. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. The hope we have : mimeograph copy of typescript, 1971. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Everson, William, 1912-1994. [Civilian Public Service camp publications] University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Manuscripts and proofs of New Directions books, 1937-1997. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wakoski, Diane. Diane Wakoski letters to John Martin, 1970-2007. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. person
associatedWith Angulo, Gui de. person
associatedWith Approach magazine. corporateBody
associatedWith Bartlett, Lee, 1950- person
associatedWith Blue Oaks Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Burden, Carter, person
associatedWith Carpenter, Frederic Ives, 1903-1991. person
associatedWith Carpenter, Kenneth. person
associatedWith Charters, Ann. person
associatedWith Civilian Public Service. Camp #56 (Waldport, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Clark, Harold E., person
associatedWith Coffield, Glen, 1917- person
associatedWith Colt Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Dominicans corporateBody
associatedWith Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-1988. person
associatedWith Eshelman, William R. person
associatedWith Evans, Henry Herman, 1918-1990. person
associatedWith Everson, William, 1912- . person
associatedWith Fabilli, Mary. person
associatedWith Felver, Christopher, 1946- person
associatedWith Flanner, Hildegarde, 1899-1987. person
associatedWith Fredericks, Claude. person
associatedWith Freedman, Ted person
associatedWith Freedman, Ted, 1906- person
associatedWith Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983. person
associatedWith Giligia Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Grabhorn Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Griffith, E. V., 1927- person
associatedWith Grover, Sherwood, person
associatedWith Hauley, Bob. person
associatedWith Hawley, Robert L., 1929- person
associatedWith Hohman, Marti, person
associatedWith Holder, Wayne, 1949- person
associatedWith Jeffers, Robinson. person
associatedWith Jeffers, Robinson, 1887-1962. person
associatedWith John O'Brien person
associatedWith Kinter, William Lewis, 1915- person
associatedWith Kinter, William L. (William Lewis), 1915- person
associatedWith Lang, Wilfred. person
associatedWith Lehman, B. H. (Benjamin Harrison), 1889-1977. person
correspondedWith Lerner, Abe, 1908-2002. person
associatedWith Lovelace, Jeff, person
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Oyez Press corporateBody
associatedWith Primosch, James. person
associatedWith Reeves, Bruce W., 1918- person
correspondedWith Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905-1982. person
associatedWith Ross, Clif. person
associatedWith Sipper, Ralph B. person
correspondedWith Smith, Murray J. person
associatedWith Snyder, Gary person
associatedWith Spanner, Virginia. person
associatedWith Stanford University. Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Suckow, Ruth, 1892-1960. person
associatedWith Teiser, Ruth, person
associatedWith University of California, Santa Cruz. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Connecticut. Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Connecticut. University of Connecticut Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith Untide Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Wakoski, Diane. person
correspondedWith Wenning, Henry person
associatedWith Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892. person
associatedWith Wilson, Robert A. (Robert Alfred), 1922- person
associatedWith Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library). corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
California--Santa Cruz County
California, Northern
California
California
California--Santa Cruz
California
Subject
Authors, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poetry
Printers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1912-09-10

Death 1994-06-03

Male

Americans

English

Information

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