Kyger, Joanne

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Joanne Kyger is a West Coast poet who emerged as the Beat movement was beginning to wane in the 1960s. Kyger attended the University of California at Santa Barbara from 1952 to 1956, where she took classes with Hugh Kenner and Paul Wienphal both of whom were important to the development of her poetry. In 1957 she met John Wieners at The Place, a poetry bar, and through him met Robert Duncan and Jack Spicer; it was also during this time that she first met Gary Snyder. Later Kyger moved to the East West House, where such writers as Philip Whalen, Lew Welch, and Jack Kerouac were occasional residents. In 1960 she moved to Japan, where she and Snyder were married. Her life with Snyder in Kyoto and later India is the subject of "The Japan and India Journals, 1960-1964" (1981). In 1965 Donald Allen published her first book, "The Tapestry and the Web." In 1966 Kyger married the painter Jack Boyce. They returned to the San Francisco area in 1967 where they spent the next year. In 1968 the two travelled to Bodega Bay, then to Bolinas in 1969, where Kyger has continued to live. In the 1970s Bolinas was known for being a center for poets, as well as a home for Philip Whalen, Robert Creeley, Donald Allen, Tom Clark, and others.

From the description of Joanne Kyger papers, 1950-2009. (University of California, San Diego). WorldCat record id: 649467824

American poet, born 19 November 1934 in Vallejo, California. An important member of the "post-Beat" West Coast poetry community.

Author of more than 10 books of verse. Married to poet Gary Snyder, 1960-1964.

From the description of Correspondence, 1957-1975. (University of California, San Diego). WorldCat record id: 18494483

Biography

Joanne Kyger is a West Coast poet who emerged as the Beat movement was beginning to wane in the 1960s. The daughter of Jacob and Anne Kyger, she was born November 19, 1934. Her father's career as a navy officer led to a peripatetic early life: by the time she was fourteen she had lived in Vallejo, Ca. (where she was born), China, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois. Her father retired in 1949, and the family settled permanently in Santa Barbara, Ca.

Kyger attended the University of California at Santa Barbara from 1952 to 1956, where she took classes with Hugh Kenner and Paul Wienphal both of whom were important to the development of her poetry. She left the University one unit short of her degree, and the following year moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Kyger soon got a job working at Brentano's Bookstore in San Francisco's North Beach, and she usually spent her nights sharing poems with friends at poetry bars. In 1957 she met John Wieners at The Place, one of the poetry bars, and through him met Robert Duncan and Jack Spicer; it was also during this time that she first met Gary Snyder. Duncan and Spicer were the doyens of a group of poets who would gather on Sundays to read and discuss each other's work. Kyger said of those meetings: "They (Duncan and Spicer) would read what they had written, and everybody else would read what they had written. And you would be severely criticised. A lot of people would be so heavily criticised that they wouldn't come back."

Later Kyger moved to the East West House, where such writers as Philip Whalen, Lew Welch, and Jack Kerouac were occasional residents. In 1960 she moved to Japan, where she and Snyder were married on February 23. There were two ceremonies: one by the American consul and another at the Daitoku ji monastery in Kyoto. Her life with Snyder in Kyoto and later in India is the subject of The Japan and India Journals, 1960-1964 (1981).

Following her divorce from Snyder in 1964 Kyger returned to the Bay Area. She has said about this time, "I just took off on this big energy cruise. I had lots to say to everybody, and it wasn't like playing second fiddle anymore." The following year Donald Allen published her first book, The Tapestry and the Web (1965).

In 1966 Kyger married the painter Jack Boyce, and together they travelled through Spain, France, Italy, and England. Upon their return Kyger and Boyce stayed briefly in New York, and then in 1967 returned to the San Francisco area where they spent the next year. In 1968 the two traveled to Bodega Bay, then to Bolinas in 1969, where Kyger has continued to live (she and Boyce separated in 1970). In the 1970s Bolinas was known for being a center for wandering poets, as well as a home for Philip Whalen, Robert Creeley, Donald Allen, Tom Clark, and others. Kyger has maintained an active presence in the community, and has been particularly concerned with environmental issues. She has also continued to travel extensively including several trips to Mexico while continuing to publish her poetry.

From the guide to the Joanne Kyger Papers, 1950-2009, (Mandeville Special Collections Library)

Biography

Joanne Kyger is a West Coast poet who emerged as the Beat movement was beginning to wane in the 1960s. The daughter of Jacob and Anne Kyger, she was born 19 November 1934. Her father's career as a navy officer led to a peripatetic early life: by the time she was fourteen she had lived in Vallejo, Ca. (where she was born), China, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Illinois. Her father retired in 1949, and the family settled permanently in Santa Barbara, Ca.

Kyger attended the University of California at Santa Barbara from 1952 to 1956, where she took classes with Hugh Kenner and Paul Wienphal both of whom were important to the development of her poetry. She left the University one unit short of her degree, and the following year moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Kyger soon got a job working at Brentano's Bookstore in San Francisco's North Beach, and she usually spent her nights sharing poems with friends at poetry bars. In 1957 she met John Wieners at The Place one of the poetry bars and through him met Robert Duncan and Jack Spicer; it was also during this time that she first met Gary Snyder. Duncan and Spicer were the doyens of a group of poets who would gather on Sundays to read and discuss each other's work. Kyger said of those meetings: "They (Duncan and Spicer) would read what they had written, and everybody else would read what they had written. And you would be severely criticised. A lot of people would be so heavily criticised that they wouldn't come back."

Later Kyger moved to the East West House, where such writers as Philip Whalen, Lew Welch, and Jack Kerouac were occasional residents. In 1960 she moved to Japan, where she and Snyder were married on February 23. There were two ceremonies: one by the American consul and another at the Daitoku ji monastery in Kyoto. Her life with Snyder in Kyoto and later in India is the subject of Japan and India Journals 1960 64 (1981).

Following her divorce from Snyder in 1964 Kyger returned to the Bay Area. She has said about this time, "I just took off on this big energy cruise. I had lots to say to everybody, and it wasn't like playing second fiddle anymore." The following year Donald Allen published her first book, THE TAPESTRY AND THE WEB.

In 1966 Kyger married the painter Jack Boyce, and together they travelled through Spain, France, Italy, and England. Upon their return Kyger and Boyce stayed briefly in New York, and then returned to the San Francisco area. Within a few months they moved to Bolinas, north of San Francisco Bay, where Kyger has continued to live (she and Boyce separated in 1970). In the 1970s Bolinas was known for being a center for wandering poets, as well as a home for Philip Whalen, Robert Creeley, Donald Allen, Tom Clark, and others. Kyger has maintained an active presence in the community, and has been particularly concerned with environmental issues. She has also continued to travel extensively including several trips to Mexico while continuing to publish her poetry.

Selected Bibliography: THE TAPESTRY AND THE WEB (1965), JOANNE, PLACES TO GO (1970), DESECHEO NOTEBOOK (1971), TRIP OUT AND FALL BACK (1974), ALL THIS EVERY DAY (1975), THE WONDERFUL FOCUS OF YOU (1980), UP MY COAST, THE JAPAN AND INDIA JOURNALS 1960-64, MEXICO BLONDE (1981), GOING ON: SELECTED POEMS 1958-80 (1983).

From the guide to the Joanne Kyger Correspondence, 1957-1975, (University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Cope, David, 1948-. David Cope papers, 1972- . University of Michigan
referencedIn Gary Snyder Papers, 1910-2003;, (1945-2002 bulk) University of California, Davis. General Library. . Dept. of Special Collections
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. So still / [Joanne Kyger], 2006. San Diego State University Library, SDSU Library and Information Access
referencedIn Allen Ginsberg papers, 1937-1994 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Koller, James. James Koller papers, 1959-1986. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
referencedIn Larry Fagin Papers., n.d., 1958-1977. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Gloria Frym Papers, 1938 - 2007 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Alternative Press (Detroit, Michigan). The Alternative Press records, 1961-1998 (bulk 1970-1995). University of Michigan
referencedIn Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Unpublished anthology of the San Francisco Renaissance, ca. 1965. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Loewinsohn, Ron. Ron Loewinsohn papers, 1953-1976. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Ann Charters Papers., 1966-1982. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Frym, Gloria. Gloria Frym papers, 1938-2007. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Schaff, David. Poetry and correspondence relating to the publication of Cassiopeia and Ephemeris, 1964-1974. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. Correspondence, 1957-1975. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn James Koller Papers., 1959-1986 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. The white heron. [manuscript] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn John Wieners Papers., 1958-1986. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Christopher Felver portraits of poets, authors, and artists [graphic] / photographed by Christopher Felver. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Loewinsohn, Ron. Papers, 1953-1976 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. The white heron. [manuscript] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Joanne Kyger Papers, 1950-2009 Mandeville Special Collections Library
creatorOf Anne Waldman Papers (1945-2012, bulk 1965-2000) University of Michigan
creatorOf Brainard, Joe, 1942-1994. Joe Brainard letters, 1957-1994. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Donald Allen Collection, 1930-2005 Mandeville Special Collections Library
referencedIn Wieners, John, 1934-2002. John Wieners papers, 1958-1986. University of Connecticut, Homer Babbidge Library
referencedIn Brandi, John. John Brandi papers, 1964-1999. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. The group surrounding Allen Ginsberg : photographs, 1980-1985. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Schaff, David. David Schaff papers, 1965-1978. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Joe Brainard Letters, 1957-1994 Mandeville Special Collections Library
creatorOf FitzGerald, Russell. Russell FitzGerald papers, circa 1952-1993. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. The hindrance of lustful desire ... [mansucript] / Joanne Elizabeth Kyger. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn John Taggart Papers, 1965-1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. Happy birthday to Tom : poem, [n.d.]. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Felver, Christopher, 1946-. Videos, 1982-2000. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Snyder, Gary, 1930-. Papers, 1910-2003 1945-2002. University of California, Davis, Shields Library
creatorOf Joanne Kyger Correspondence, 1957-1975 University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
creatorOf Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005. A symposium on his poetry and his place in American letters : recording, 2005 Nov. 5. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Alternative Press (Detroit, Michigan). [The Alternative Press collection], 1969-1992. Wayne State University
creatorOf Elmslie, Kenward. Papers, 1901-2000. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Eshleman, Clayton. [Audio letter and poetry reading, between 1960 and 1969 [sound recording] / Clayton Eshleman...et al.]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
creatorOf Allen, Donald, 1912-2004. Donald Allen collection, 1930-2005. 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
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. Letter, 1969 Oct. 6, Bolinas, Calif., to Joyce Gitin, San Francisco. Ball State University Library, Bracken Library
referencedIn Gitin, David. Papers, 1968-1993. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Kyger, Joanne. Joanne Kyger papers, 1950-2009. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adam, Helen, 1909-1993, person
associatedWith Allen, Donald, 1912-2004, person
associatedWith Alternative Press (Detroit, Michigan) corporateBody
correspondedWith Berkson, Bill person
associatedWith Berkson, Bill, person
associatedWith Borregaard, Ebbe, person
associatedWith Brainard, Joe, 1942-1994, person
correspondedWith Brandi, John. person
associatedWith Charters, Ann. person
associatedWith Clark, Tom, 1941- person
associatedWith Cope, David, 1948-. person
associatedWith Creeley, Robert, 1926-2005, person
associatedWith Duncan, Robert, 1919-1988, person
associatedWith Elmslie, Kenward. person
associatedWith Eshleman, Clayton. person
correspondedWith Fagin, Larry. person
associatedWith Felver, Christopher, 1946- person
associatedWith FitzGerald, Russell. person
associatedWith Frym, Gloria. person
associatedWith Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997 person
associatedWith Gitin, David. person
associatedWith Gitin, Joyce. person
associatedWith Hejinian, Lyn, person
associatedWith Joanne Kyger person
associatedWith Koller, James, person
associatedWith Loewinsohn, Ron, person
associatedWith Millward, Pamela, person
associatedWith Notley, Alice, 1945-, person
associatedWith Persky, Stan, 1941- person
associatedWith Rumaker, Michael, 1932- person
associatedWith Scalapino, Leslie, person
correspondedWith Schaff, David. person
correspondedWith Snyder, Gary person
associatedWith Snyder, Gary, 1930-, person
associatedWith Taggart, John, 1942- person
associatedWith Waldman, Anne, 1945- person
correspondedWith Warsh, Lewis person
associatedWith Warsh, Lewis, person
associatedWith Whalen, Philip person
associatedWith Whalen, Philip, person
associatedWith Wieners, John, 1934-2002, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California--Bolinas
United States
Subject
American poetry
Women poets
Women poets
Surfers
Surfing
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1934-11-19

Americans

English

Information

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