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Mark Pawlak collection on Denise Levertov

 Collection
Identifier: PCMS-0058

Scope and Contents

Consisting primarily of correspondence from Denise Levertov to Mark Pawlak, spanning years 1970-1993, the collection also includes materials from Pawlak’s time as Levertov’s student at MIT, as well as some original typescripts and notes by Levertov.

Dates

  • 1970-1993

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access and Use

The Mark Pawlak collection on Denise Levertov, 1970-1993, is open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Poetry Collection before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Once permission is obtained, most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

Poet, essayist, editor, translator, and teacher Denise Levertov was born in England in 1923 and moved to the United States in 1948. Though not part of any particular school of writing, she became an important voice in the American avant-garde and was particularly involved in anti-war and anti-nuclear activism, co-initiating Writers and Artists Protest against the War in Vietnam. She served as poetry editor of the Nation (1961-1962) and Mother Jones (1976-1978) and taught at a number of universities, including City College (CUNY); University of California, Berkeley; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Tufts University; Brandeis University; and Stanford University. She died in 1997.

Poet, editor, and teacher Mark Pawlak was born in Buffalo in 1948. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1960s, where he studied poetry with Denise Levertov. Like Levertov, he opposed the Vietnam War, leading him to give up his studies in experimental physics. Pawlak and Levertov exchanged correspondence until her death, and she wrote the introduction to his first book of poems, The Buffalo Sequence (Copper Canyon Press, 1977). He has taught mathematics, sciences, and creative writing, and currently teaches mathematics at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Since 1980, he has served as co-editor of Hanging Loose magazine and Hanging Loose Press books, started by several of Levertov’s former students.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 half manuscript box)

Abstract

Poet, essayist, editor, translator, and teacher Denise Levertov was an important voice in the American avant-garde and was particularly involved in anti-war and anti-nuclear activism, co-initiating Writers and Artists Protest against the War in Vietnam. She served as poetry editor of the Nation (1961-1962) and Mother Jones (1976-1978) and taught at a number of universities, including City College (CUNY); University of California, Berkeley; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Tufts University; Brandeis University; and Stanford University. Poet, editor, and teacher Mark Pawlak was born in Buffalo in 1948. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1960s, where he studied poetry with Denise Levertov. Pawlak and Levertov exchanged correspondence until her death. This collection consists primarily of Levertov’s correspondence to Pawlak, spanning years 1970-1993, and also includes materials from Pawlak’s time as Levertov’s student at MIT.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series.

  • I. Manuscripts
  • II. Correspondence
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition

    The materials in this collection were purchased from Mark Pawlak, Levertov's friend and student.

    Accruals

    No further accruals are expected for this collection.

    Separated Material

    Vol. 11, no. 1 (Spring 1968) of Tangent, The MIT Literary Magazine, was removed and added to the Poetry Collection's periodical collection.

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by Marie Elia, Processing Archivist.

    Source

    Title
    Finding aid for the Mark Pawlak collection on Denise Levertov, 1970-1993
    Status
    Completed
    Author
    Finding aid prepared by Marie Elia.
    Date
    2015
    Description rules
    Describing Archives: A Content Standard
    Language of description
    English
    Script of description
    Latin
    Language of description note
    Finding aid written in English.

    Repository Details

    Part of the The Poetry Collection Repository

    Contact:
    420 Capen Hall
    Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
    716-645-2917
    716-645-3714 (Fax)