Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996

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New England poet whose work has been acclaimed by such writers as Denise Levertov and William Carlos Williams.

From the description of Letter, to Mark and Becki, 1969 October 18. (Brown University). WorldCat record id: 122639510

American poet.

From the description of Larry Eigner papers, 1937-1995. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 462019406

Poet; b. Laurence Joel Eigner; originally of Swampscott, Mass.

From the description of Larry Eigner papers, 1950-1978. (University of Connecticut). WorldCat record id: 28417781

Born in 1927 in Swampscott, Massachusetts, Larry Eigner is an American poet affiliated with Charles Olson and the Black Mountain College .

From the guide to the Larry Eigner Papers., 1950-1979., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center .)

Poet and author Larry Eigner was afflicted with cerebral palsy resulting from a forceps accident during birth. Confined to a bed or wheelchair, he lived most of his life on the ground floor of his parent's Massachusetts house. Preoccupied with language, Eigner discovered poetry, and began a correspondence with Robert Creeley, who published Eigner's first book of poems in 1953, beginning a long and productive career. Eigner's poems are spare and spontaneous, clearly part of the Modernist movement. His shaping of poems and unique phrasing have been influential, and his insight and perceptiveness are justly praised.

From the description of Larry Eigner letters to Daisy Aldan and Portents offprint, 1958-1968. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 60194701

Reyes is a small press publisher based in Portland, Oregon. Eigner submitted poetry to him.

From the description of Letters (including poetry) to Carlos Reyes, 1965-1966. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122289214

American poet Larry Eigner (Laurence Joel Eigner) was born August 7, 1927 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Although an injury at birth left Eigner palsied, the poet and writer spent his life describing the world around him, first from his glassed-in porch in a small town in Massachusetts and later from his home in Berkeley, California. Although most of his published work is poetry, he has also written a play, short stories and prose.

"Larry Eigner." Contemporary Poets , 6th ed. (reproduced in Biography Resource Center). http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (accessed June 2008)

From the guide to the Larry Eigner letters and poems, 1960-1978, 1973-1976, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

American poet Larry Eigner (Laurence Joel Eigner) was born August 7, 1927, in Lynn, Massachusetts. Although an injury at birth left Eigner palsied, the poet and writer spent his life describing the world around him, first from his glassed-in porch in a small town in Massachusetts and later from his home in Berkeley, California. Although most of his published work is poetry, he has also written a play, short stories, and prose.

"Larry Eigner." Contemporary Poets, 6th ed. (reproduced in Biography Resource Center). http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (accessed June 2008). Biographical information also derived from the collection.

From the guide to the Cleary Outlined : page proofs, circa 1964, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

American poet Larry Eigner (Laurence Joel Eigner) was born August 7, 1927, in Lynn, Massachusetts. Although an injury at birth left Eigner palsied, the poet and writer spent his life describing the world around him, first from his glassed-in porch in a small town in Massachusetts and later from his home in Berkeley, California. Although most of his published work is poetry, he has also written a play, short stories, and prose.

"Larry Eigner." Contemporary Poets, 6th ed. (reproduced in Biography Resource Center). http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (accessed June 2008). Biographical information also derived from the collection.

From the guide to the Larry Eigner stories : eight manuscripts, circa 1968, (University of Delaware Library - Special Collections)

Biography / Administrative History

American poet born in Swampscott, MA, Eigner was confined his entire life to a wheelchair as a result of cerebral palsy. Educated at home by his parents, he lived with them in Swampscott until 1978, when he moved to California. Eigner's writing reflects his special perspective on the world, developing a distinctive style to register his uniquely distanced vision of the world. His first volume of poetry From the Sustaining Air was published in 1953 by Robert Creeley. His steady productivity resulted in numerous subsequent collections, including, Another Time in Fragments (1967), Things Stirring/ Together/ or Far Away (1974), now there's-a-morning-hulk of the sky (1981), and Waters/Places/ A Time (1983). His short stories are collected in Farther North (1969) and his prose writings in Country/ Harbour/ Quiet/ Act/ Around: Selected Prose (1978) and Area/ Lights/ Heights: Selected Writings, 1954 -1989. His latest book of poetry is Windows/ Walls/ Yard/ Ways (1994), but at the time of his death he had just completed work on a new collection Readiness/ Enough/ Depends/ On, now forthcoming.

From the guide to the Larry Eigner papers, 1937-1995, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)

Larry Eigner (1927-1996), was an American poet, short-story writer and essayist, known for spare, passionate poems. Influenced by poets such as Robert Creeley, Charles Olson and William Carlos Williams, Eigner is frequently associated with Olson's Black Mountain Poets, a group known for its postmodern style.

Laurence Joel Eigner was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, on August 7, 1927. Birth injuries led to cerebral palsy, which affected his mobility and speaking ability. Confined to a wheelchair, Eigner watched the world outside his window with profound interest. He was educated at home and furthered his schooling through correspondence courses from the University of Chicago.

In 1949 Eigner heard poet Cid Corman giving a reading of Yeats's poetry on the radio. This moment altered the course of Eigner's life. He wrote to Corman, taking issue with Corman's reading style, and the two began what would become a long correspondence. Corman introduced Eigner to established poets such as Denise Levertov, Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan and Charles Olson.

In 1978, following the death of his father, Eigner moved to Berkeley, California, to be near his brother Richard. There he continued to write prolifically and became an important fixture in the Bay Area poetry scene. He died from complications of pneumonia on 3 February 1996. His final collection, Readiness/Enough/Depends/On, was published posthumously in 1999. His papers are housed at Stanford University, University of Kansas, and Brown University.

Source: Twentieth Century American Poetry, 2nd Edition

From the guide to the Larry Eigner papers, Eigner (Larry) papers, 1958-1978, 1958-1978, (Brown University Library Special Collections)

American poet Larry (Lawrence Joel) Eigner (1927-1996) lived in Swampscott, Massachusetts for the first 50 years of his life and, in 1978, after the death of his father, Israel Eigner, moved to Berkeley, California, where he spent the rest of his life. Largely home-schooled, Eigner also took correspondence courses offered by the University of Chicago.

In 1949 he became interested in poetry when listening to Cid Corman reading Yeats on a radio show. Their ensuing correspondence served as an introduction to Eigner's life work. Eigner's first book, From the Sustaining Air, was published in 1953, and he went on to author more than 40 books and thousands of poems, which also appeared in numerous small press periodicals. Having been influenced by the Beat Poets, Eigner used an open form of poetry, a technique ascribed to the Black Mountain Poets, a group of writers publishing in The Black Mountain Review, an experimental magazine printed by Black Mountain College in North Carolina.

He was admired by his fellow poets and kept up a correspondence with many of them. Eigner also gave readings of his work and participated in the making of a documentary, Getting It Together, about himself with readings of his poems by Allen Ginsberg.

From the guide to the Larry Eigner poems and papers, 1950-1993, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Paul Auster Papers The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Ann Charters Papers., 1966-1982. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Ron Silliman Papers, 1965-1988 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Larry Eigner Correspondence with, The Paris Review, 1964-1966 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
creatorOf Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Donald Allen collection, 1930-2005. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. How many colors are dogs. The lawn to be fresh. Small fires on the sidewalk. Ball State University Library, Bracken Library
creatorOf Larry Eigner poems and papers, 1950-1993 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections
creatorOf Zukofsky, Louis, 1904-1978. Louis Zukofsky Collection, 1910-1985. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn William L. Kinter papers, Kinter (William L.) papers, 1958-1965 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Cid Corman Letters, 1950-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. [Larry Eigner correspondence with the Paris review] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. [Larry Eigner poems and papers] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Typed letter signed to Arnold Goldman, 1966 May 24. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Ott, Gil. Blue Boy : original poetry typescript inscribed for Larry Eigner, 1978 Nov. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Tyson, Ian. Ian Tyson collection, 1967-2006. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. Papers, 1951-1990. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Vincent Ferrini Papers., n.d., 1949-1977. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Larry Eigner letters and poems, 1960-1978, 1973-1976 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Larry Eigner letters to Daisy Aldan and Portents offprint, 1958-1968. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Pierrepont Press. Archives. Washington University in St. Louis, .
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. [Interview, August 8., 1994 [sound recording] / Larry Eigner ; interviewed by Jack Foley]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Gordon Cairnie papers, 1922-1973. Houghton Library
referencedIn Ian Tyson Collection, 1967 - 2006 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Grenier, Robert. [Transcriptions of Larry Eigner poems by Robert Grenier ] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Papers, 1958-1978. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Larry Eigner Papers., 1950-1979. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Larry Eigner stories : eight manuscripts, circa 1968 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
creatorOf Larry Eigner papers, 1937-1995 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Eigner, Larry. Correspondence with Singing Horse Press, 1978-1980. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Anne Waldman Papers (1945-2012, bulk 1965-2000) University of Michigan
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Letters (including poetry) to Carlos Reyes, 1965-1966. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn (Everett) Leroi Jones (aka Amiri Baraka) Papers, 1957-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Larry Eigner papers, 1950-1978. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
referencedIn Film, transcripts and letters relating to, getting it together -- a film on larry eigner poet, 1970-1973 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Stanford University Press archival book copies, 1900-2012 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Cleary Outlined : page proofs, circa 1964 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
referencedIn Finkel, Donald. Papers, 1947-1983. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Griffith, E. V., 1927-. E.V. Griffith papers, ca. 1945-1995. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Henny, Leonard M. [Film, transcripts and letters relating to Getting it together -- a film on Larry Eigner poet] University of Kansas Archives / MSS / Rare Books, Kenneth Spencer Research Library
creatorOf Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. Letter to Larry Eigner : Black Mountain, N.C. : ALS, [1956?] June 20. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Silliman, Ronald, 1946-. Ron Silliman papers, 1965-1988. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Gitin, David. Papers, 1968-1993. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Costley, William K., 1942-. Bill Costley papers, 1968-1988. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
creatorOf Larry Eigner papers, Eigner (Larry) papers, 1958-1978, 1958-1978 Brown University Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Gerard Malanga Papers, 1944-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Foley, Jack, 1940-. Papers relating to Robert Duncan tribute, 1988 April 4. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Swetz van Middhlar, C. Wolfram. C. Wolfram Swetz van Middhlar poetry collection, 1990-1996. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Transcriptions of Larry Eigner Poems by Robert Grenier, early 1980s University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Louis Zukofsky Collection TXRC98-A11., 1910-1985 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Gitin, David. Papers, 1968-1993. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Larry Eigner letters and poems, 1960, 1974. University of Delaware Library, Hugh M Morris Library
referencedIn Ferrini, Vincent, 1913-2007. Vincent Ferrini papers, 1949-1977. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
referencedIn Koller, James. James Koller papers, 1959-1986. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
creatorOf Mac Low, Jackson. Papers, 1923-1995. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Pierrepont Press. Archives, 1968-1969. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Oyez Press Records., 1963-1987. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Finkel, Donald. Papers. Washington University in St. Louis, .
creatorOf Klactoveedsedsteen. Klactoveedsedsteen Records, 1965-1969. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn John Taggart Papers, 1965-1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Larry Eigner papers, 1937-1995. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. Typed letter signed : [n.p.], to Larry [Eigner?], 1955 Jan. 28. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Correspondence, 1969-71. Ball State University Library, Bracken Library
creatorOf Eigner, Larry, 1927-1996. Letter, to Mark and Becki, 1969 October 18. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Weil, James L. James L. Weil papers, 1963-1980. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
referencedIn Diane Di Prima Papers, 1948-1971 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Foley, Jack, 1940-. KPFA interview with Robert Grenier and Richard Eigner : cassette tape, 2001 March. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn James Koller Papers., 1959-1986 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Poetry mss., 1954-2002 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Chris Felver photographs of 20th century American poets, 1981-2003. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aldan, Daisy, person
associatedWith Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. person
associatedWith Andrews, Bruce. person
associatedWith Andrews, Bruce. person
associatedWith Auster, Paul, 1947- person
associatedWith Baraka, Imamu Amiri, 1934- person
correspondedWith Blackburn, Paul person
correspondedWith Blazek, Douglas person
correspondedWith Bly, Robert person
associatedWith Bowering, George, 1935- person
correspondedWith Cairnie, Gordon. person
correspondedWith Caplan, Ronald person
associatedWith Charters, Ann. person
associatedWith Charters, Sam. person
associatedWith Charters, Sam. person
correspondedWith Clark, Thomas person
associatedWith Clark, Tom. person
associatedWith Collom, Jack, 1931- person
correspondedWith Coolidge, Clark person
associatedWith Corman, Cid. person
associatedWith Costley, Bill. person
associatedWith Costley, Bill. person
correspondedWith Costley, William K., 1942- person
correspondedWith Creeley, Bobbie person
associatedWith Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. person
associatedWith Di Prima, Diane, Archives person
correspondedWith Duerden, Richard person
correspondedWith Duncan, Robert. person
correspondedWith Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919- person
associatedWith Felver, Christopher, 1946- person
correspondedWith Ferrini, Vincent. person
correspondedWith Ferrini, Vincent, 1913-2007 person
associatedWith Finkel, Donald. person
associatedWith Foley, Jack, 1940- person
correspondedWith Fowler, Gene person
associatedWith Fox, Hugh. person
associatedWith Fox, Hugh. person
associatedWith Fry, Fred R. person
associatedWith Fry, Fred R. person
associatedWith Gannick, Peter. person
associatedWith Gannick, Peter. person
associatedWith Gitin, David. person
associatedWith Gitin, Maria. person
associatedWith Goldman, Arnold. person
correspondedWith Grady, Robert F. person
associatedWith Grenier, Robert. person
associatedWith Grenier, Robert. person
associatedWith Griffith, E. V., 1927- person
associatedWith Hawley, Robert, 1929- person
associatedWith Hemensley, Kris. person
associatedWith Henny, Laurence. person
associatedWith Henny, Laurence. person
associatedWith Henny, Leonard M. person
associatedWith Inman, Terence. person
associatedWith Inman, Terence. person
correspondedWith Jones, LeRoi person
correspondedWith Kelly, Robert person
associatedWith Kinter, William L. (William Lewis), 1915- person
associatedWith Klactoveedsedsteen. corporateBody
correspondedWith Koller, James. person
associatedWith Koller, Jim. person
associatedWith Koller, Jim. person
correspondedWith Laughlin, James person
correspondedWith Levertov, Denise, 1923-1997 person
associatedWith Mac Low, Jackson. person
associatedWith Malanga, Gerard. person
associatedWith Martin, John. person
associatedWith Martin, John. person
associatedWith Martin, John, 1930- person
associatedWith Mazonson, Anne. person
associatedWith Mazonson, Anne. person
associatedWith McClure, Michael. person
associatedWith McClure, Michael. person
correspondedWith Mead, Matthew person
associatedWith Miller, Hugh person
correspondedWith Millward, Pamela person
correspondedWith Minelli, Frank person
associatedWith Modern Poetry Association corporateBody
associatedWith Montgomery, Stuart. person
associatedWith Montgomery, Stuart. person
correspondedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Olson, Charles, 1910-1970. person
associatedWith Ott, Gil. person
associatedWith Oyez Press corporateBody
associatedWith Peabody, Richard. person
associatedWith Peabody, Richard. person
associatedWith Pierrepont Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Reyes, Carlos. person
correspondedWith Rowan, Stephanie person
correspondedWith Shayer, Michael person
associatedWith Silliman, Ronald, 1946- person
correspondedWith Smith, Alexander D., Jr. person
correspondedWith Snyder, Gary person
associatedWith Sorrentino, Gil. person
associatedWith Sorrentino, Gil. person
correspondedWith Souster, Raymond person
associatedWith Stanford University. Press. corporateBody
correspondedWith Stefanile, Felix person
associatedWith Stephanile, Felix person
associatedWith Swetz van Middhlar, C. Wolfram. person
associatedWith Taggart, John. person
associatedWith Taggart, John. person
associatedWith The Paris Review corporateBody
correspondedWith Turnbull, Gael person
associatedWith Tyson, Ian person
associatedWith Tyson, Ian. person
associatedWith Tyson, Montgomery. person
associatedWith Tyson, Montgomery. person
associatedWith Waldman, Anne, 1945-. person
associatedWith Waylen, Christopher. person
associatedWith Waylen, Christopher. person
associatedWith Weil, James L. person
correspondedWith Welch, Lew person
correspondedWith Whalen, Philip person
correspondedWith Wieners, John person
correspondedWith Williams, Jonathan person
correspondedWith Williams, Terrence person
correspondedWith Wilson, Keith person
associatedWith Wyatt, Andrea. person
associatedWith Zukofsky, Louis, 1904-1978 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Swampscott (Mass.)
New England
Massachusetts
Subject
American literature
Authors, American
American poetry
American poetry
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Poets, American
Fiction
Poetry
Poets
Occupation
Poets, American
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1927-08-07

Death 1996-02-03

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 46107643