Olson, Charles, 1910-1970
Variant namesCharles Olson, the leading voice of the Black Mountain poets, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a notable student at Wesleyan University, where his groundbreaking work on Herman Melville evolved into the highly praised monograph, Call Me Ishmael. Inspired by Franklin Roosevelt, Olson worked his way up through the Democratic Party, but quit after Roosevelt's death, and began a brilliant career as a writer and educator. His manifesto, Projective Verse, influenced a generation of poets with its thesis that traditional verse was artificial; Olson's own poetry was widely praised, and he is seen as the successor of Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams in promoting modern verse.
From the description of Charles Olson letter to Frances Motz Boldereff, circa 1948. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 69937737
Charles Olson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on 27 December 1910, to Karl Joseph and Mary Hines Olson. He attended Wesleyan University where he received a B.A. in 1932 and a M.A. in 1933. He continued his graduate studies at Harvard University from 1936 to 1938. His daughter Katherine was born during his first marriage, to Constance Wilcock. His second marriage, to Elizabeth Kaiser, produced a son, Charles Peter. Elizabeth, or Betty as she was known to her friends, died tragically in a car accident in March 1964. Charles Olson received several prestigious awards during his long career, including two Guggenheim Fellowships, in 1939 and 1948; a Wenner-Gren Foundation grant in 1952; a Longview Foundation award for The Maximus Poems in 1961; and an Oscar Blumenthal Prize (Poetry magazine), 1965. Charles Olson died from cancer on 10 January 1970.
From the guide to the Charles Olson Research Collection., 1910-1970., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center .)
In 1960, Charles Olson's The Maximus Poems was published by the Jargon Society in conjuction with Corinth Books.
From the guide to the Manuscripts Regarding the Publication of Charles Olson's The Maximus Poems, 1959-1976, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rare Book Collection.)
In 1960, Charles Olson's "The Maximus Poems" was published by the Jargon Society in conjuction with Corinth Books.
From the description of Manuscripts regarding the publication of Charles Olson's "The Maximus Poems," 1959-1976. WorldCat record id: 475551224
Poet, theorist, and teacher and rector at Black Mountain College, Black Mountain, N.C.
From the description of Charles Olson papers, ca. 1930-1969. (University of Connecticut). WorldCat record id: 28419698
Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| referencedIn | Gordon Cairnie papers, 1922-1973. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Rich, Adrienne, 1929-2012. Papers, 1927-1999 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| referencedIn | Mary Caroline Richards papers, 1928-1994 | Getty Research Institute | |
| referencedIn | Trocchi, Alexander, 1925-1984. Alexander Trocchi collection of papers relating to the Edinburgh international writer's conference, 1962-1967. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | New Directions Publishing records | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Dorn, Edward. Edward Dorn papers, 1956-1993. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Rich, Adrienne Cecile. Papers: Series I-II, 1933-1999 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
| creatorOf | Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. Robert Creeley papers, ca. 1940-1978. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| creatorOf | Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Donald Allen collection, 1930-2005. | University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library | |
| referencedIn | Lavigne, Robert. Robert Lavigne papers, 1954-1969. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Raworth, Tom. Papers, ca. 1960-1978. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Loewinsohn, Ron. Papers, 1953-1976 | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. Papers, 1951-1990. | Washington University in St. Louis, . | |
| referencedIn | Manuscripts and proofs of New Directions books, 1937-1997. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Economou, George. George Economou papers, 1954-1996. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | George Economou Papers, 1954-1996. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | John Taggart Papers, 1965-1974 | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Rodefer, Stephen. Stephen Rodefer papers, 1955-1994. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| creatorOf | Lowenfels, Walter, 1897-1976. Papers, 1966-1967. | Washington University in St. Louis, . | |
| referencedIn | Catherine Seelye Papers., undated, 1917-1978 [bulk 1973-1976]. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Cid Corman collection of papers, 1941-1983, 1951-1974 | The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature. | |
| referencedIn | New Yorker records | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
| referencedIn | Allen Ginsberg papers, 1937-1994 | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Tom Raworth Papers, 1964-1977 | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Loewinsohn, Ron. Ron Loewinsohn papers, 1953-1976. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Harry Levin papers | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Oppenheimer, Joel. Papers, ca. 1953-1989. | EO Smith High School | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Letter to George Starbuck. Gloucester. [1966] Oct. 7. | University of Iowa Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Michael Lekakis papers | Archives of American Art | |
| creatorOf | Poems and Letters of Charles Olson | University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Dorfman, Elsa,. Elsa Dorfman photographs of Charles Olson, manuscript, [ca. 1970] | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Evans, George, 1948-. George Evans papers, 1931-1991. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| creatorOf | Blackburn, Paul. Papers, 1900-1971, bulk 1919-1971. | University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library | |
| referencedIn | Niagara Frontier Review, Collection., 1964. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | McPheron, William. Research notes and papers pertaining to the prose writings of Charles Olson, ca. 1932-1999. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Gunn, Thom. Typed letter signed : San Francisco, to Lee Smith, 1988 June 21. | Pierpont Morgan Library. | |
| referencedIn | Grove Press Records | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
| creatorOf | Corman, Cid. Cid Corman collection of papers, 1941-1983 bulk (1951-1974). | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| referencedIn | Goliard Press. Goliard Press records, 1961-1970. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Charles Olson Research Collection., 1910-1970. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Mervin Lane Manuscripts | North Carolina Division of Archives & Hist | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Poem on postcard, [ca. 1969]. | Brown University Archives, John Hay Library | |
| referencedIn | Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library) poetry readings, 1931- (ongoing). | Woodberry Poetry Room, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University | |
| referencedIn | Grand Valley State Colleges Oral History Project, 1976-1977 | Bentley Historical Library | |
| referencedIn | Diane Di Prima Papers, 1948-1971 | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Richard Gaither Walser Papers, 1918-1988 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection | |
| referencedIn | New Directions Publishing records | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Stony Brook Poetics Foundation. Stony Brook Poetics Foundation collection. [1961-1968]. | University of Victoria Libraries, UVic | |
| referencedIn | Chase, Richard Volney, 1914-1962. Richard Volney Chase papers, ca.1930-1984. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Engel, Monroe,. Letters from Marianne Moore and Charles Olson, 1947-1962. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Clark, Tom, 1941-. Tom Clark papers, ca. 1965-1990. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Allen Ginsberg papers | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | (Everett) Leroi Jones (aka Amiri Baraka) Papers, 1957-1965 | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
| creatorOf | Manuscripts Regarding the Publication of Charles Olson's The Maximus Poems, 1959-1976 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Rare Book Collection | |
| referencedIn | David Ignatow Papers, 1929-1994 | University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library. | |
| creatorOf | Alternative Press (Detroit, Michigan). [The Alternative Press collection], 1969-1992. | Wayne State University | |
| referencedIn | Wieners, John, 1934-2002. Charles Olson-John Wieners Papers, 1952-1968. | Boston College. John J. Burns Library | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Office files of The American Poetry Review, n.d. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
| referencedIn | Paul Blackburn Papers, 1919 - 1971 | University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library. | |
| referencedIn | Donald Allen Collection, 1930-2005 | Mandeville Special Collections Library | |
| referencedIn | Allen Ginsberg papers, 1937-1994 | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Rumaker, Michael, 1932-. Michael Rumaker papers, ca. 1957-1990. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Letter to Larry Eigner : Black Mountain, N.C. : ALS, [1956?] June 20. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Richard Volney Chase Papers, ca.1930-1984. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Antioch Review mss., 1940-2007 | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
| referencedIn | Brown, William D., 1918-. William D. Brown letters, 1946-1968. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Bronk, William. William Bronk papers, 1908-1999. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Tallman, William,. Poems by students in English 410, summer session, 1963, University of British Columbia, 1963, Vancouver. | Brown University Archives, John Hay Library | |
| referencedIn | Oyez Press Records., 1963-1987. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Robert A. Wilson collection, 1906-2011 | University of Delaware Library - Special Collections | |
| creatorOf | Schaff, David. Poetry and correspondence relating to the publication of Cassiopeia and Ephemeris, 1964-1974. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Charles Olson letter to Frances Motz Boldereff, circa 1948. | Pennsylvania State University Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Joel Oppenheimer Papers, 1925-1988. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. The fiery hunt : a dance-play / by Charles Olson for Erick Hawkins. | New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection | |
| referencedIn | Wodening, Jane, 1936-. Jane Wodening and Stan Brakhage scrapbooks, 1958-1967. | Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Charles Olson papers, ca. 1930-1969. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Ann Charters Papers., 1966-1982. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Robert LaVigne Papers, 1954-1969. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| creatorOf | Abbe, George, 1911-1989. [Free lance archives]. | Washington University in St. Louis, . | |
| referencedIn | Edward Dorn Papers | University of Connecticut. Libraries | |
| referencedIn | University of Connecticut, English Department Records, 1944-1982 | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Vincent Ferrini Papers., n.d., 1949-1977. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Corso, Gregory. Gregory Corso papers, 1949-1996. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Photograph of Charles Olson [manuscript], n.d. | University of Virginia. Library | |
| creatorOf | Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Papers, 1957-1971. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Neville, Tove. Berkeley Poetry Conference photographs [graphic]. | UC Berkeley Libraries | |
| referencedIn | Gerard Malanga Papers, 1944-1971 | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Ossman, David, 1936-. Tape recordings of interviews with poets and poetry readings, 1960-1970. | University of Toledo, William S. Carlson Library | |
| referencedIn | Autograph File, O, 1706-1966. | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Abbe, George, 1911-1989. Free lance magazine archives, ca. 1964-1969. | Washington University in St. Louis, . | |
| referencedIn | Raworth, Tom. Tom Raworth papers, 1964-1977. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Ferrini, Vincent, 1913-2007. Vincent Ferrini papers, 1949-1977. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, [between 1933 and 1947]. | University of Pennsylvania Library | |
| referencedIn | Letters from Marianne Moore and Charles Olson, 1947-1962. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | George P. Garrett Papers, 1929-2008, (bulk 1960-2000) | David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Gregory Corso Papers, 1949-1996. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Gary Snyder Papers, 1910-2003;, (1945-2002 bulk) | University of California, Davis. General Library. . Dept. of Special Collections | |
| referencedIn | Oyez Press Records., 1963-1987. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| creatorOf | Seelye, Catherine. Catherine Seelye papers, 1973-1978. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| creatorOf | Aldan, Daisy. Papers, 1946-1966. | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
| creatorOf | Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Manuscripts regarding the publication of Charles Olson's "The Maximus Poems," 1959-1976. | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
| referencedIn | Oppenheimer, Joel. Joel Oppenheimer papers, 1925-1988. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library | |
| referencedIn | Daisy Aldan Papers TXRC94-A18., 1946-1966 | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
| referencedIn | Joel Oppenheimer Papers, 1925-1988. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| creatorOf | Tallman, Warren, 1921-. Poems by students in English 410, summer session, 1963, University of British Columbia, 1963. | Brown University, Brown University Library | |
| referencedIn | William Bronk Papers, 1908-1999. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
| referencedIn | Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997. Allen Ginsberg papers, 1937-1994. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
| referencedIn | Seelye, Catherine M., 1926-1982. Catherine Seelye - Olson/Pound papers. | University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library |
Bibliographic and Digital Archival Resources
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Aldan, Daisy. | person |
| associatedWith | Aldan, Daisy, 1923- | person |
| associatedWith | Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. | person |
| associatedWith | Alternative Press (Detroit, Michigan) | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Antioch review. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Baraka, Amiri, 1934- | person |
| correspondedWith | Blackburn, Paul | person |
| associatedWith | Blackburn, Paul. | person |
| associatedWith | Black Mountain College (Black Mountain, N.C.) | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Boer, Charles | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Boldereff, Frances M. (Frances Motz), 1905- | person |
| associatedWith | Bronk, William. | person |
| associatedWith | Brown, William D., 1918- | person |
| associatedWith | Butterick, George F. | person |
| correspondedWith | Cairnie, Gordon. | person |
| associatedWith | Charters, Ann. | person |
| associatedWith | Chase, Richard Volney, 1914-1962. | person |
| associatedWith | Clark, Tom, 1941- | person |
| associatedWith | Corinth Books. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Corman, Cid. | person |
| associatedWith | Corso, Gregory. | person |
| associatedWith | Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. | person |
| associatedWith | Di Prima, Diane, Archives | person |
| associatedWith | Dorfman, Elsa, | person |
| associatedWith | Dorn, Edward. | person |
| associatedWith | Dorn, Edward. | person |
| associatedWith | Economou, George. | person |
| associatedWith | Economou, George. | person |
| associatedWith | Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. | person |
| associatedWith | Engel, Monroe, | person |
| correspondedWith | Engel, Monroe, recipient. | person |
| correspondedWith | English Department | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Evans, George, 1948- | person |
| associatedWith | Ferrini, Vincent. | person |
| associatedWith | Ferrini, Vincent, 1913-2007. | person |
| correspondedWith | Garrett, George P., 1929-2008 | person |
| associatedWith | Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997. | person |
| associatedWith | Goliard Press. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Grand Valley State Colleges Oral History Project | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Grove Press. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Gunn, Thom. | person |
| associatedWith | Hawkins, Erick. | person |
| correspondedWith | Ignatow, David, 1941- | person |
| associatedWith | Jargon Society. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Lane, Mervin. | person |
| associatedWith | Lavigne, Robert. | person |
| associatedWith | Lekakis, Michael, 1907-1987. | person |
| correspondedWith | Levin, Harry, 1912-1994 | person |
| associatedWith | Loewinsohn, Ron. | person |
| associatedWith | Lowenfels, Walter, 1897-1976. | person |
| associatedWith | Malanga, Gerard. | person |
| associatedWith | McPheron, William. | person |
| associatedWith | Melville, Herman, 1819-1891. | person |
| associatedWith | Neville, Tove. | person |
| associatedWith | New Directions Publishing Corp. | corporateBody |
| correspondedWith | New Yorker Magazine, Inc | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Oppenheimer, Joel. | person |
| associatedWith | Ossman, David, 1936- | person |
| associatedWith | Oyez Press | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Raworth, Tom | person |
| associatedWith | Raworth, Tom. | person |
| associatedWith | Rich, Adrienne Cecile. | person |
| associatedWith | Richards, Mary Caroline | person |
| associatedWith | Rodefer, Stephen. | person |
| associatedWith | Rumaker, Michael, 1932- | person |
| associatedWith | Schaff, David. | person |
| associatedWith | Seelye, Catherine. | person |
| associatedWith | Seelye, Catherine M., 1926-1982. | person |
| associatedWith | Snyder, Gary | person |
| associatedWith | Stony Brook Poetics Foundation. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Taggart, John, 1942- | person |
| associatedWith | Tallman, Warren, 1921- | person |
| associatedWith | Tallman, William, | person |
| associatedWith | Trocchi, Alexander, 1925-1984. | person |
| associatedWith | University of California Press. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Walser, Richard Gaither, 1908- | person |
| associatedWith | Wieners, John, 1934-2002. | person |
| associatedWith | Wilentz, Elias. | person |
| associatedWith | Williams, Jonathan, 1929-2008. | person |
| associatedWith | Wilson, Robert A. (Robert Alfred), 1922- | person |
| associatedWith | Wodening, Jane, 1936- | person |
| correspondedWith | Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library). | corporateBody |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | |||
| Black Mountain (N.C.) | |||
| Gloucester, Massachusetts. |
| Subject |
|---|
| American literature |
| American literature |
| Publishers and publishing |
| Authors, American |
| American poetry |
| American poetry |
| Poets, American |
| Poets, American |
| Universities and colleges |
| Private libraries |
| Poetry |
| Poets as teachers |
| Occupation |
|---|
| Poets, American |
| College teachers |
| Poets |
| Activity |
|---|
Person
Birth 1910-12-27
Death 1970-01-10
Americans
English
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