Register of Charles Reznikoff Papers

Abstract

The papers of a distinguished American literary figure. Reznikoff was a prolific writer of poetry, prose, essays, and chronicler of Judaism and the American Jewish experience. He worked both as an editor and contributing author on The Menorah Journal and Family Chronicle, and was in close association with such noted writers as Ezra Pound, George Oppen, and William Carlos Williams. The correspondence, which provides documentation of the literary community of 40s, 50s, and 60s America, as well as providing insights into Reznikoff's personal life, includes letters from Robert Creeley, David Ignatow, Denise Levertov, George Oppen, John Perlman, Willilam Carlos Williams, and Louis Zukofsky. Also included are the various exchanges between Reznikoff and his numerous publishers. The bulk of the collection consists of Reznikoff's writings, ranging from original source materials up to finished typescripts, and includes thousands of pages of revisions. Most of the materials in the collection date from the 1940's to the early 1970's. The 1989 addition to the Reznikoff papers consists primarily of letters written by Reznikoff to his wife Marie Syrkin between 1928 and 1939. Also included are Reznikoff's letter of will to his wife dated 1961; letters of condolence to Marie following the poet's death in 1976; and several miscellaneous correspondences. In addition, Reznikoff's personal copies (with annotations) of eight of his published works have been included. The 1991 addition to the Reznikoff papers contains personal letters from Reznikoff to Marie Syrkin written in 1930 before their marriage; financial records which detail Reznikoff's activities between 1947 and 1976; and miscellaneous memorabilia.

Biography

Charles Reznikoff's long and productive life began 31 August 1894 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Nathan Reznikoff and Sarah Yetta Wolvovsky Reznikoff, were Russian Jews who had recently immigrated to the United States. Reznikoff's family moved throughout the city, and the anti Semitism which Charles often encountered had a lasting effect on his work. When he was twelve Reznikoff's family moved to a section of Brooklyn that was isolated from the Jewish community; Reznikoff once described it as a place where "the hatred for Israel smoldered." He later wrote that he would have to rush home from high school in order to avoid the taunts of children leaving their grade school.

Despite his self consciousness and feelings of insecurity, Reznikoff was an excellent student. He finished grammar school three years ahead of the rest of his class and graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn in 1909 at the age of fifteen. By the time he was sixteen Reznikoff was already certain that he wanted to become a writer. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri, but soon found that journalists' priorities were different than his -- they were more interested in news than in writing, while it was the writing itself that Reznikoff cared about.

Reznikoff left the University of Missouri after one year and returned to New York. He first worked at his parents' hat manufacturing business. Ten in 1912 he entered New York University's Law School. In 1915 he graduated second in his class, and the next year at the age of twenty two was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York. Although his training as a lawyer proved to be a long lasting influence on his poetry, Reznikoff actually practiced for a very brief period. He once said "I wanted to use whatever mental energy I had for my writing."

Reznikoff's first book of poetry, Rhythms, was published in 1918. It was a small volume that he printed on a press he had installed in the basement of his parents' home. After 1918 he held a number of jobs in order to support himself, but from this time on found ways to devote the majority of his time to writing. In 1919 he privately printed Rhythms II; then in 1920 Samuel Roth published Poems the first of his works to be published commercially. During the 1920's Reznikoff's reputation slowly grew, and he was able to publish some of his work in magazines; he also wrote four plays during that decade.

In 1930 Reznikoff married Marie Syrkin, who later became a distinguished professor at Brandeis University. Although his work still failed to make a commercial impact, Reznikoff continued to gain attention in the 1930's. Along with Louis Zukofsky, George Oppen, and Carl Rakosi, he became known as one of the principal proponents of the Objectivist group of poets. The poets formed the Objectivist Press, with whom Reznikoff published three of his works.

During the late thirties Reznikoff worked as a screen writer in Hollywood. When he returned from the West Coast he again took up his life of free lance writing. Marie Reznikoff has written that she and Charles grew estranged during the forties; when she was hired by the English department at Brandeis University, her husband stayed in Manhattan, and the Reznikoffs usually spent only holidays and weekends together. Charles supported himself by working on a number of projects, many of which dealt with the place of the Jewish community in America.

Reznikoff did not publish any poetry from 1941 through 1959, when Inscriptions: 1944 1956 appeared. Three years later, New Directions published By the Waters of Manhattan: Selected Verse, and in 1965 New Directions published Testimony, which, along with Holocaust, has been called one of Reznikoff's two major works. Marie Syrkin retired in 1966, and the Reznikoffs moved into a luxurious Manhattan apartment. Reznikoff continued to write through these years; the final work to be published during his lifetime was Holocaust. He died on 22 January 1976 after suffering a heart attack the previous day.

Selected Bibliography:

Rhythms (1918), Poems (1920), Uriel Acosta: A Play and a Fourth Group of Verse (1921), Chatterton, the Black Death, and Meriwether Lewis: Three Plays (1922), Coral, and Captive Israel: Two Plays (1923), Nine Plays, Five Groups of Verse (1927), By the Waters of Manhattan (1930), Jerusalem the Golden, Testimony, In Memoriam: 1933 (1934), Early History of a Sewing Machine Operator, Separate Way (1936), Going To and Fro and Walking Up and Down (1941), The Lionhearted (1944), The Jews of Charleston (1950), Inscriptions: 1944 1956 (1959), By the Waters of Manhattan: Selected Verse (1962), Family Chronicle (1963), Testimony: The United States 1885 1890: Recitative (1965), Testimony: The Unites States (1891 1900): Recitative (1968), By the Well of Living and Seeing and The Fifth Book of the Maccabees (1969), By the Well of Living and Seeing: New & Selected Poems, 1918 1973 (1974), Holocaust (1975), Poems 1918 1936: Volume I of the Complete Poems of Charles Reznikoff (1976), Poems 1937 1975: Volume II of the Complete Poems of Charles Reznikoff, The Manner "Music" (1977).

Scope and Content

Accession Processed in 1977

The Reznikoff collection is arranged in six series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) WRITINGS, 3) REVIEWS, 4) PERSONAL ARTIFACTS, 5) MATERIALS RELATING TO REZNIKOFF'S PARENTS, and 6) WORKS BY AND ABOUT REZNIKOFF'S FRIENDS.

SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE

The CORRESPONDENCE series fills five archives boxes and includes letters from such celebrated literary figures as Robert Creeley, David Ignatow, Denise Levertov, George Oppen, John Perlman, William Carlos Williams, and Louis Zukofsky. Also included are the various exchanges between Reznikoff and his numerous publishers. These are revealing of the untiring energy with which Reznikoff pursued the publication of his works -- in both Europe and America -- and include a surprising amount of rejection letters! The correspondence section is in alphabetical order, with each particular correspondent assigned one file.

SERIES 2: WRITINGS

The WRITINGS series is broken into eight subsets: "books," "the idea file," "lectures and readings," "Menorah Journal materials," "miscellaneous notes," "notes on composition theory," "poetry," and "miscellaneous writings. The "books" section includes original drafts, typescripts, manuscripts, carbons, hand-written notes, paste-ups, and reviews; organized according to the title of each book, with the books listed alphabetically. The "books" subset comprises 12 archive boxes, more than half the entire Reznikoff collection. The "idea file" subset was organized by Reznikoff. It is a collection of short sketches, observations, verse fragments, and "situations"; organized alphabetically, with

an index. The "lectures and readings" subset consists of drafts

of public readings of both prose and verse. The "Menorah Journal materials" subset consists of eight short stories written for MJ, as well as an article on MJ written by Reznikoff for Midstream. The "miscellaneous notes" subset is made up of character sketches and other random notes concerning possible subjects for later works. The "notes on composition theory" subset contains notes on some aspects of writing dialogue, the use of rhythm, and the problem of writing history. The "poetry" subset includes finished works, with some corrections, from 1973 - 1975. The "miscellaneous writings" subset includes random unfinished notes for prose and verse from as early as the 1930s. Included in the "Miscellaneous Writings" section are materials concerning Julius Rosenmann, an old man Reznikoff met while walking in New York. Rosenmann provided Reznikoff with much material for writing, along with a $10,000 legacy.

SERIES 3: REVIEWS

The REVIEWS series contains only those reviews not previously listed under their respective titles in the Writings series. Thus all reviews pertaining to Holocaust are listed under Holocaust in the Writings section.

SERIES 4: PERSONAL ARTIFACTS

The PERSONAL ARTIFACTS series contains mailing lists, address books, Reznikoff's law school notes, photos, and other personal ephemera.

SERIES 5: MATERIALS RELATING TO REZNIKOFF'S PARENTS

MATERIALS RELATING TO REZNIKOFF'S PARENTS includes writings by Nathan and Sarah Reznikoff, both of whose memoirs were used by

Charles as the basis of later writings. The original manuscript of Sarah Reznikoff's autobiography is in an extremely fragile condition, and photocopies on acid-free paper have been made for preservation purposes.

SERIES 6: MATERIALS RELATING TO RESNIKOFF'S FRIENDS

MATERIALS RELATING TO REZNIKOFF'S FRIENDS include materials by George Oppen and Marie Syrkin (Reznikoff's wife), as well as reviews of other poets' works.

The Charles Reznikoff papers provide a fascinating look into the

life and writings of an important American author. Perhaps the most useful aspect of the collection is its opening-up for review the very processes by which Reznikoff wrote and re-wrote, for we can here follow his thoughts from early notes and rough drafts up through his multiple revisions. The insights provided by the materials, coupled with the wealth of biographical information contained in the collection, offer the reader a rich source of information on the personal life and aesthetic praxes of this remarkable author.

Accession Processed in 1990

The accession to the papers of Charles Reznikoff processed in 1990 is comprised of two archives boxes and contains two series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE and 2) AUTHOR'S COLLECTION.

In the CORRESPONDENCE series, there are two folders of letters written by the poet to his wife between 1928 and 1939; an informal letter of will dated 1961; several letters written to Marie following Reznikoff's death in 1969; and a few miscellaneous correspondences.

The AUTHOR'S COLLECTION series includes the author's annotated copies of the following published works: Five Groups of Verse (1927); Going To And Fro And Walking Up And Down (1941); By The Waters of Manhattan (1962); Testimony: The United States (1885-1890) (1965); "JOB" in Chelsea 24/25 (October, 1968); Testimony: The United States(1891-1900) (1968); By the Well of Living and Seeing and The Fifth Book of the Maccabees (1969); and By the Well of Living and Seeing: New and Selected Poems (1974). These items were acquired along with the original collection of Reznikoff's papers, but they were previously shelved in the Archive for New Poetry's "Author Collection."

Accession Processed in 1991

The accession to the Charles Reznikoff Papers processed in 1991 contains a significant collection of letters from Charles to his future wife, Marie Syrkin; financial records; and memorabilia. The materials are organized into four series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE; 2) CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS; 3) FINANCIAL RECORDS; and 4) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.

SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE

The most important element in the CORRESPONDENCE series is the strikingly personal collection of love letters from Reznikoff to Marie Syrkin, written before their marriage in 1930. The letters are undated.

SERIES 2: CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

The CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS series contains various personal documents including Reznikoff's high school diploma and his law degree.

SERIES 3: FINANCIAL RECORDS

In the FINANCIAL RECORDS series, a record of Reznikoff's activities between 1947 and 1976 can be traced through entries in income and expense journals and notebooks. Reznikoff meticulously noted all his expenses including income derived from poetry readings.

SERIES 4: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Finally, the MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS contain a photograph of Reznikoff, two poems by the poet, and Al Lewin memorabilia.

Box	Folder	Oversize
1	1		Academy of American Poets. 7 ALs, 22 TLs, 4 D; 8 Rc.
1	2		American Jewish History Center. 10 TLs, 8 D; 8 Rc.
1	3		AMERICAN POETRY REVIEW. 1 TLs; 2 Rc.
1	4		Anonymous. 8 ALs; 2 Rc.
1	5		Auster, Paul. 2 ALs, 1 TLs, 1 D; 2 Rc.
1	6		Axelrod, Susan. 1 ALs, 7 TLs; 4 Rc.
1	7		A (misc.). 1 ALs, 7 TLs; 4 Rc.
1	8		Barnes, Djuna. 1 TLs, 1 D.
1	8		Berg, Stephen. See Box 18, Folder 3.
1	9		Berkson, Bill. 3 ALs, 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
1	10		Buck, Fred (BEZOAR MAGAZINE). 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
1	11		Business. 1 AL, 4 TLs; 7 Rc.
1	12		Business (cont.). 33 D.
1	13		B (misc.). 4 ALs, 1 TLs; 5 Rc.
1	14		Caplan, Ron. 3 TLs, 1 D; 1 Rc.
1	15		Carruth, Hayden. 1 ALs, 3 TLs, 1 D; 6 Rc.
1	16		Chapman, Abraham. 3 TLs, 1 D; 2 Rc.
1	17		Clark, Tom. 1 Rc.
1	18		COMMENTARY MAGAZINE. 1 ALs, 8 TLs; 3 Rc.
1	19		Cook, Albert. 5 TLs; 4 Rc.
1	20		Cooney, Seamus. 4 ALs, 14 TLs, 4 D; 14 Rc.
1	21		Corman, Cid. 4 TLs, 2 PP; 1 Rc; see also 19.1/2/3.
1	21		Creeley, Robert. See Box 19, Folders 1-3.
1	22		Crozier, Andrew. 4 ALs, 8 TLs, 4 D; 15 Rc.
1	23		Cuddihy, Michael. 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
1	24		C (misc.). 6 ALs, 6 TLs; 1 Rc.
1	25		Degnan, June Oppen. 13 ALs, 3 TL, 50 TLs, 32 D, 1 AR, 36 Rc.
1	26		Degnan, June Oppen (cont.).
1	27		Degnan, June Oppen (cont.).
1	28		Deemer, Bill. 1 ALs, 1 TLs; 2 MS; 1 Rc.
2	1		Dembo, L.S.. 3 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	2		D (misc.). 1 ALs, 1 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	3		Enslin, Theodore. 2 TLs; 1 Rc.
2	4		Enters, Angna. 1 TLs, 3 D; 1 Rc.
2	4		Erlich, J. W.. See Academy of American Poets.
2	5		Evanier, David. 8 TLs, 1 D; 7 Rc.
2	6		E (misc.). 1 ALs, 1 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	7		Fagin, Larry. 1 ALs.
2	8		Falk, Marcia. 1 ALs, 3 TLs, 2 D; 2 Rc.
2	9		Faucherau, Serge. 3 ALs, 1 TL; 3 Rc.
2	10		Finley, Ian Hamilton. 1 ALs; 2 Rc.
2	11		F (misc.). 2 ALs, 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	12		Gitin, David and Marcia. 2 ALs.
2	13		Gotham Book Mart. 12 TLs, 13 D; 3 Rc.
2	14		Guedalla, Roger. 5 TLs; 4 Rc.
2	15		G (misc.). 7 ALs, 5 TLs; 9 Rc.
2	16		Halper, Albers and Lorna. 4 ALs, 2 TLs; 1 Rc.
2	17		Halpern, Daniel. 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	18		HARPER'S MAGAZINE. Correspondence concerning Joseph Auslander's plagiarism of CR's "Rashi." 4 TLs; 7 Rc.
2	19		Hays, H. R.. 1 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	20		Heilman, Robert. 5 TLs, 3 Rc.
2	21		Hindus, Milton. Correspondence includes unpublished articles by CR on Ezra Pound and Louis Zukofsky. 11 TLs; 2 MS; 7 Rc.
2	22		Hoffman, Stanton. 5 TLs; 2 E; 3 Rc.
2	23		Hoberger, Eric. 2 TLs, 2 Rc.
2	24		H (misc.). 5 ALs, 16 TLs; 1 MS; 8 Rc.
2	25		Ignatow, David. 1 ALs, 6 TLs; 1 MS; 1 AR, 3 Rc.
2	26		Ishilf, Joseph. 1 ALs.
2	27		I (misc.). 1 TLs; 1 Rc.
2	28		JEWISH FRONTIER. 1 ALs, 3 TLs, 1 D; 2 Rc.
2	29		Jewish Magazines. 2 ALs, 7 TLs, 1 D; 6 Rc.
2	30		Jewish Organizations. 2 ALs, 56 TLs, 11 D; 25 Rc.
2	31		J (misc.). 1 ALs, 3 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	32		Katz, Steve. 1 TLs, 1 D; 4 Rc.
2	33		Kesslar, Milton. 2 ALs, 1 TLs; 3 Rc.
2	34		Kherdian, David. 1 ALs, 1 TLs; 3 Rc.
2	35		Kosakoff, Reuven. 2 ALs.
2	36		K (misc.). 1 ALs, 13 TLs; 2 Rc.
2	37		Laughlin, James. 3 ALs, 6 TLs, 2 D; 5 Rc.
2	38		Levendosky, Charles. 2 TLs; 1 Rc.
3	1		Levertov, Denise. 2 ALs.
3	2		Libraries. 99 D.
3	3		Lopate, Phillip. 2 TLs; 1 MS; 1 Rc.
3	4		Lowenfels, Walter. 3 TLs; 1 MS; 1 Rc.
3	5		Luce, Gay. 1 TLs.
3	6		L (misc.). 5 ALs, 10 TLs, 3 D; 10 Rc.
3	7		Magazines (misc.). 5 ALs, 10 TLs, 3 D; 10 Rc.
3	8		Malanga, Gerard. 5 TLs, 1 D; 4 Rc.
3	9		Marshall, James. 6 TLs; 4 Rc.
3	10		Martin, John (Black Sparrow Press). 33 TLs, 11 D.
3	11		Martin, John. 1 AR, 25 Rc.
3	12		Meltzer, David. 4 TLs; 3 Rc.
3	13		MENORAH JOURNAL by Marie Syrkin. 6 TLsc; 16 Rc; 1 ALs.
3	14		MIDSTREAM. 7 TLs, 1 D; 1 MS; 3 Rc.
3	15		Montgomery, Stuart and Deirdere (Fulcrum Press). 7 TLs, 5 D; 1 AR, 6 Rc.
3	16		Museum of Modern Art (Lita Hornick). 2 TLs, 1 D.
3	17		M (misc.). 1 ALs, 7 TLs; 7 Rc.
3	18		National Institute of Arts and Letters. 5 TLs, 3 D, 3 Rc.
3	19		National Poetry Festival, Allendale, Mich.. 1 ALs, 7 TLs, 4 D; 7 Rc.
3	20		New Directions. 2 ALs, 26 TLs, 34 D; 1 AR, 16 Rc.
3	21		New Directions (cont.).
3	22		New York University Law School. 2 TLs.
4	1		Niedecker, Lorine. 2 TLs; 2 MS.
4	2		N (misc.). 3 ALs, 6 TLs, 2 D; 5 Rc.
4	3		Objectivist Press. 1 D.
4	4		Oppen, George and Mary. 7 ALs, 3 TL, 10 TLs, 4 D; 4 Rc.
4	5		O (misc.). 2 ALs, 1 TLs; 1 Rc.
4	6		Padgett, Ron. 5 ALs, 5 TLs, 3 D; 5 Rc.
4	7		Perlman, John. 2 TLs; 1 MS; 1 Rc.
4	8		Pickard, Tom. 1 ALs.
4	9		Poetry Conference, Readings. 1 ALs, 1 TL, 9 TLs, 4 D; 3 Rc.
4	10		Publishers. 3 ALs, 1 TL, 35 TLs.
4	11		Publishers (cont.). 9 D; 24 Rc.
4	12		P (misc.). 2 ALs, 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
4	13		Rokosi, Carl. 2 ALs, 3 TLs; 1 Rc.
4	14		Reznikoff, Charles (family papers). 2 D.
4	15		Reznikoff, Charles. Letters of condolence and tributes sent to Marie Syrkin on CR's death. 5 ALs, 15 TLs, 5 MS.
4	16		Reznikoff, Charles (cont.).
4	17		Riley, Peter. 2 TLs; 2 Rc.
4	18		Rosenblum, Martin J.. 4 TLs; 1 Rc.
4	19		Rosenmann, Julius.
4	20		Ross, James. 1 TLs.
4	21		Rudolf, Anthony. 1 ALs, 3 TLs, 3 D; 2 Rc.
4	22		R (misc.). 7 ALs, 15 TLs, 4 D; 9 Rc.
4	23		Samperi, Frank. 2 ALs; 1 Rc.
4	24		San Francisco State Poetry Center. 4 TLs, 3 D; 7 Rc.
4	25		Savitt, Lynne. 1 ALs; 1 Rc.
4	26		Schneider, Duane. 5 TLs, 8 D; 4 Rc.
4	27		Seed, John. 6 ALs, 1 TLs, 2 D; 12 MS; 5 Rc.
4	28		Shapiro, Harvey. 1 TLs; 2 Rc.
4	29		Snow, C.P.. 1 TLs; 1 Rc (see also 19.1/2/3).
4	30		Spann, Marcella. 1 TLs; 1 Rc.
4	31		Syrkin, Marie. 11 ALs, 5 D; 2 Rc.
4	32		S (misc.). 9 ALs, 13 TLs, 1 TL; 10 Rc.
5	1		Tarn, Nathaniel. 1 ALs.
5	2		Tobias, Thoma. 1 ALs, 5 TLs; 3 Rc.
5	3		Tucker, Harvey. 1 TLs, 1 Rc.
5	4		T (misc.). 3 TLs, 1 D; 1 Rc.
5	5		U (misc.). 1 TL, 1 TLs; 1 Rc.
5	6		V (misc.). 1 TLs.
5	7		Waldman, Anne. 2 TLs, 1 D; 2 Rc.
5	7		Warshow, Robert. See Box 18, Folder 18.
5	8		WBAI Radio. 1 ALs, 5 TLs, 2 D; 2 Rc.
5	9		Weil, James. 5 TLs, 1 D; 5 Rc.
5	10		Weinberger, Eliot. 1 ALs, 5 TLs, 1 D; 4 Rc.
5	11		Williams, Gil. 4 TLs, 4 D; 1 Rc.
5	12		Williams, Jonathan. 1 TL, 1 TLs; 1 Rc.
5	13		Williams, William Carlos. 1 ALs, 1 TLs, 1 D.
5	14		W (misc.). 3 ALs, 8 TLs, 2 D; 1 AR, 7 Rc.
5	15		YMHA. 6 TLs, 2 D; 2 Rc.
5	16		Y (misc.). 1 ALs.
5	17		Zukofsky, Louis and Celia. 3 ALs, 3 D; 1 Rc.
5	18		Zychlinska, Rajzel. 6 ALs, 3 D; 7 MS.
5	19		Z (misc.). 2 TLs, 1 D.

Box	Folder	Oversize
5	20		By the Waters of Manhattan - Corrected proofs. New Directions Volume
5	21		By the Waters of Manhattan - Corrected proofs (cont.).
5	22		By the Waters of Manhattan - Corrected proofs (cont.).
6	1		By the Waters of Manhattan - Script for dramatic reading. Performed by the Sharon Temple Players, Temple Israel; Sharon, Mass.
6	2		By the Waters of Manhattan - Reviews, general.
6	3		By the Waters of Manhattan - Reviews, general, 1962 - 1963.
6	4		By the Waters of Manhattan - Reviews, general. Circa late 60s and early 70s.
6	5		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Ts of early draft, with corrections. Sections titled: A.) "Notes for an Autobiography", B.) "Notes for a Commonplace Book", C.) " Family Chronicle: Notes for an Autobiography".
6	6		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Corrected 1968 TS.
6	7		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Corrected 1968 TS (cont.).
6	8		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Corrected 1968 TS (cont.).
6	9		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Carbon TS with extensive revisions.
6	10		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Carbon TS with extensive revisions (cont.).
6	11		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Carbon TS with extensive revisions (cont.).
6	12		By The Well of Living and Seeing - TS and paste-ups with corrections. Note from C.R. to publisher entitled "Printing Guide," concerning type, spacing, paper, etc.
6	13		By The Well of Living and Seeing - TS of selected verse. With heavy corrections.
7	1		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Page paste-ups, 1972. Version with corrections.
7	2		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Omitted materials. Materials omitted from 1969 and 1974 versions.
7	3		By The Well of Living and Seeing - "Notes for an Autobiography". Prose TS with corrections of material that later appeared in BTWoLAS. Also find paste-ups with corrections of "From a Notebook," material that appeared in BTWoLAS and was published separately in MIDSTREAM, Winter 1968.
7	4		By The Well of Living and Seeing - Reviews.
7	5		Holocaust - Early draft with corrections.
7	6		Holocaust - Early drafts. Incomplete TS, complete TS marked "second draft" with corrections.
7	7		Holocaust - TS marked "third revision". Also carbon with corrections and paste-ups.
7	8		Holocaust - TS marked "third revision". And arranged as script for dramatic reading.
7	9		Holocaust - TS marked "fourth revision". Also carbon of letter sent to John Martin of Black Sparrow Press concerning proofs.
8	1		Holocaust - Xeroxed transcripts of Nazi War Trials, the basis for Holocaust.
8	2		Holocaust - Notes and news clippings with an "Introductory Note" by C.R. Also NIGHT WORDS; A MIDRASH ON THE HOLOCAUST by David Ruskies.
8	3		Holocaust - Miscellaneous TS and MS notes. Also with a preface to a reading of Holocaust.
8	4		Holocaust - Verse fragments (carbon). Also handwritten notes on chapter organization.
8	5		Holocaust - Reviews.
8	6		Jews of Babylonia - Early drafts, 1969.
8	7		Jews of Babylonia - Completed Portuguese translation. By Maximo Siminovich, published in MUNDO ISRAELITA, Buenos Aires.
8	8		Manner Music - Early drafts.
8	9		Manner Music - Early drafts (cont.).
8	10		Manner Music - Reviews.
9	1		Nine Plays - "Uriel Acosta," paste-ups with corrections, dated 1961.
9	2		Nine Plays - "Uriel Acosta," paste-ups with corrections (cont.).
9	3		Persons and Places - TS with corrections, 1974.
9	4		Persons and Places - Carbon TS with corrections, 1974.
9	5		Rejoice Young Man - original typescript.
9	6		Rejoice Young Man - original typescript (cont.).
9	7		Rejoice Young Man - original typescript (cont.).
10	1		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - TS with preface and corrections.
10	2		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Unmarked carbon of final TS.
10	3		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Final printing version, corrections.
10	4		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Proof sheets, with corrections.
10	5		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Carbon of title page. With notes on page and separate note on "the right of privacy."
10	6		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Outline of sections. Also lists of characters.
10	7		Testimony: The United States, 1885-1890 - Reviews from 60s and early 70s.
10	8		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - First TS with corrections.
10	9		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - First TS with corrections.
11	1		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Carbon of first TS, corrections.
11	2		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Carbon of first TS, corrections.
11	3		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Carbon. Carbon marked "as submitted to New Directions and afterwards revised. "
11	4		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Carbon of TS. Sent to New Directions, with corrections.
11	5		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Early TS draft. With source materials, the "South" section.
11	6		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Early TS draft. With source materials, the "West" section.
11	7		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Early TS draft. With source materials, the "West" section.
12	1		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Early TS draft.. With source materials, the "North" section.
12	2		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Early TS draft. With source materials, the "North" section.
12	3		Testimony: The United States, 1891-1895 - Revision of "South" section.
12	4		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - First draft. Handwritten outline, with xerox of original source materials.
12	5		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Cover, with markings.
12	6		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS. 1891-1895 and 1896-1900 were originally conceived as separate books, this is the first attempt at merger, with corrections.
12	7		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS (cont.).
12	8		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS (cont.).
12	9		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS (cont.).
12	10		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS (cont.).
12	11		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Original MS (cont.).
13	1		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS.
13	2		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS (cont.).
13	3		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS (cont.).
13	4		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS (cont.).
13	5		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS (cont.).
13	6		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Carbon TS (cont.).
13	7		Testimony: The United States, 1896-1900 - Final copy for private printing.
13	8		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - Source materials from law journals. With notes.
13	9		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - Source materials from law journals. With notes.
13	10		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - Source materials from law journals. With notes.
13	11		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - Source materials from law journals. With notes.
14	1		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - TS with numerous corrections.
14	2		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1905 - TS with numerous corrections (cont.).
14	3		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS. First assimilation of materials from 1901-1905 and 1906-1910.
14	4		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS (cont.).
14	5		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS (cont.).
14	6		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS (cont.).
14	7		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS (cont.).
14	8		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbon of original TS (cont.).
14	9		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections. With some carbon and TS pages.
14	10		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections (cont.).
14	11		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections (cont.).
14	12		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections (cont.).
14	13		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections (cont.).
14	14		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Original MS with corrections (cont.).
15	1		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original sent to England for Ferry Press edition (1968) with paste-ups and corrections, pages 1-236.
15	2		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
15	3		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
15	4		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
15	5		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
15	6		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
15	7		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
16	1		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original sent to England for Ferry Press edition (1968) with paste-ups and corrections, pages 238-308.
16	2		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.)
16	3		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910. Carbon of original (cont.).
16	4		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards. Items with corrections.
16	5		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	6		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	7		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	8		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	9		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	10		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	11		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	12		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	13		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	14		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	15		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
16	16		Testimony: The United States, 1901-1910 - Carbons and discards (cont.).
17	1		Testimony: The United States, 1911-1915 - Source materials from law journals.
17	2		Testimony: The United States, 1911-1915 - TS with corrections. Also more law journal notes.
17	3		Testimony: The United States, 1911-1915 - Early drafts and source materials.
17	4		Testimony: The United States, 1911-1915 - Copy sent to Stephen Berg. Copy sent to Stephen Berg of American Poetry Review, letter enclosed.

Box	Folder	Oversize
17	5		Idea File - index.
17	6		Idea File - a.
17	7		Idea File - b.
17	8		Idea File - c.
17	9		Idea File - f.
17	10		Idea File - j.
17	11		Idea File - k.
17	12		Idea File - m.
17	13		Idea File - p.
17	14		Idea File - r.
17	15		Idea File - s.
17	16		Idea File - t.
17	17		Idea File - w.

Box	Folder	Oversize
18	1		American Jewish Historical Society, 1965. Introduction to lecture titled "The Jews in American and English Poetry."
18	2		American Jewish Historical Society. Xeroxes and paste-ups of poems organized with notes as materials for American Jewish Historical Society Lecture Series.
18	3		American Jewish Historical Society. Xeroxes and paste-ups (cont.).
18	4		American Jewish Historical Society. Xeroxes and paste-ups (cont.).
18	5		American Jewish Historical Society. Xeroxes and paste-ups (cont.).
18	6		American Jewish Historical Society. "Introductions," file compiled by C.R. including introductions for readings.
18	7		Sparrow Lecture Series. TS of lecture given as part of series and carbon copy of speach for series.

Box	Folder	Oversize
18	8		Menorah Journal materials. Short stories by C.R. for M.J., including: "Aprocrypha," offprint; "In the Country," offprint; "Meetings and Partings, Friends and Strangers," offprint; Murder will Out," TS; "Nudnik," offprint; "Passage after Arms," offprint; "The Snow on the Garage," TS; untitled story on David Franks, TS.
18	9		Menorah Journal materials. Article by C.R. on M.J. for Midstream, and Reviews of M.J.
18	10		Menorah Journal materials, 1965. "Epitaph for a Jewish Magazine: Notes on The Menorah Journal," from Commentary.

Box	Folder	Oversize
18	11		Notes for a Diary, 1959.
18	12		Notes on "Projects to Finish".
18	13		Notes by C.R. concerning himself, his writings, thoughts, etc.
18	14		Notes and source materials for article on Mayer Sulzherger.
18	15		Notes for prose on Salvador, and Bennetto and Major Noah.
18	16		Notes concerning the Jews of Cleveland. Including letters sent to Sidney Vincent, a Cleveland Jew.
18	17		Notes and TS of historical prose fragments. Prose fragments on a newpaper reporter for the NEW YORK HERALD in mid 1850s.
18	18		Notes and prose fragments, 1946.
18	19		Notes for article on Karl Shapiro.
19	1		Notes on Composition Theory. Articles from THE NATION (1961), with passages underlined with regards to the problem of "writing history," and untitiled poem on the difference between writing prose and verse.
19	2		Notes on Composition Theory. "The Method of Revision," file titled by C.R. with originals and xeroxes of both notes and newspaper clippings; underlined , with notes in margins.
19	3		Notes on Composition Theory. "The Objectivist Press," notes by C.R.
19	4		Notes on Composition Theory. "The secret of effective narrative verse," and "as to method."
19	5		Notes on Composition Theory. "Studies in the Rhythm of Dialogue."
19	6		Notes on Composition Theory - cut out page from book (title?). With excerpts by C.R. on "writing biography."

Box	Folder	Oversize
19	7		Collection of Poetry from 1973-1975, 1973. Items with corrections.
19	8		Collection of Poetry from 1973-1975, 1973.
19	9		Collection of Poetry from 1973-1975, 1973 - 1975. With extensive corrections , including "Incident in Mexico," and "the Good Old Days."
19	10		Curse, poem with corrections.
19	11		Good Old Days: Recitative, Historical episodes in verse. Edited and sent to Stephen Berg of American Poetry Review, May 1975.
19	12		Recitative, carbon.
19	13		Rhythms III: Walking in New York. Marked "sent to Malanga," for inclusion in Autumn 1975 issue of Transatlantic Review, no. 52.

Box	Folder	Oversize
19	14		Character sketches in prose.
19	15		Charleston Jews - Proposal for novel based on life of Frances Marion.
19	16		Charleston Jews - Notes on Charleston Jews. Notes and prose drafts for early history Charleston Jews, also find New York City Public Library receipts for newspapers from the 1830's, presumably check-out by C.R. as source materials
19	17		Charleston Jews - Notes on Charleston Jews - Notes from McCRADY. Book of history of South Carolina, with notes and prose fragments by C.R. drawn from the text
19	18		Charleston Jews - Notes on Charleston Jews - Note on ironical close to. CHARLESTOWN; 1780
19	19		Charlestown: A Historical Novel - TS.
19	20		Charlestown: A Historical Novel - THE PALMETTO FLY. Notes and TS of 2nd version of novel's opening
19	21		Charlestown: A Historical Novel - THE PALMETTO FLY. TS with extensive correction.
19	22		Charlestown: A Historical Novel - Speech, TS. Titled "The Life and times of Early American Jews, 1645-1800, in Charleston, South Carolina, and in the Beginning of the Congregation Beth Elohim."
19	23		Current Prose 1954. File titled by C.R. containing notes for a novel on David Franks and Aaron Lopez, theme of American Jewry
19	24		ENCYCLOPEDIA JUDAICA Materials - MS of article on Irving Kauffman.
19	25		ENCYCLOPEDIA JUDAICA Materials - Collected articles.
19	26		ENCYCLOPEDIA JUDAICA Materials - First There is Need. Xerox with corrections; essay published by Black Sparrow Press as SPARROW 52
19	27		Four Themes for a Novel. Filed titled by figure from Elizabethan history and murder of Pesach Rubenstein, for more on C.R.'s writings on Rubenstein, see Pesach Rubenstein Materials
19	28		Imaginative Prose. File titled by C.R. with: notes and outlines for stories, two poems, and TS for Diaspora; 1st Century B.C.E., ca. 1955
19	29		Julius Rosenmann Materials - In Memoriam: Julius (Judah) Rosenmann (d.1961).
19	30		Julius Rosenmann Materials - Prose concerning Julius Rosemann from diary entry, 1951.
20	1		Man of Honour. Thoughts on Louis Marshal.
20	2		Manuscript of a Novel Never Completed. A folder labeled by C.R., containing short prose from late 30c/ early 40s and verse fragments from the same period.
20	3		Manuscript of a Novel Never Completed (cont.).
20	4		Pesach Rubenstein Materials. Notes and rough draft (ca. 1947-50) on the Pesach Rubenstein murder case, including xerox of pamphlet "Thrilling Mysteries of the Pesach Rubenstein Murder" (1876).
20	5		Story of Old Woman. Based on conversations with Julius Rosenmann, ca. 1951.
20	6		Tales of Benjamin III. TS and notes.

Box	Folder	Oversize
20	7		Black Sparrow Press editions of C.R.'s work.
20	8		FAMILY CHRONICLE, 1968.
20	9		FIVE GROUPS OF VERSE, 1927.
20	10		NINE PLAYS, 1927.
20	11		Poems, 1920.
20	12		Reading in Cleveland, 1969.
20	13		INSCRIPTIONS: 1944 - 1956, in NEWLEADER.

Box	Folder	Oversize
20	14		Address list.
20	15		Addresses, in composition book.
20	16		Addresses/mailing list for FAMILY CHRONICLE.
20	17		Books to Read, list suggested by Kenneth Roxroth, and list compiled by C.R.
20	18		Brief biography of C.R.
20	19		Draft card and autographed copy of the U.S. Army's INFANTRY DRILL REGULATIONS.
20	20		Law School Notes, 1912 - 1916.
20	21		Men of Achievement Award, 1973.
20	22		Photos. Photos of George Oppen, Allen Ginsberg and others from the National Poetry Festival, Allendale, Michigan.
20	23		Xeroxes of biographical information on Reznikoff. Information taken from various anthologies and encyclopedias.
20	24		Things to do today - memo pad..

Box	Folder	Oversize
21	2		Autobiography - TS and TSc.
21	3		Autobiography - TS and TSc (cont.).
21	4		Autobiography - MS.
21	5		Autobiography - MS (cont.).
21	6		Autobiography - MS (cont.).
21	7		Autobiography - MSc, Part I.
22	1		Autobiography - MSc, Part II-III.
22	2		Autobiography - MSc, Part II-III.
22	3		Memoirs, the basis of "Early History of a Seamstress" -- MS. Bound composition book.

Box	Folder	Oversize
23	6		FIVE GROUPS OF VERSE- annotated copy (hard-bound book), 1927.
23	7		GOING TO AND FRO AND WALKING UP AND DOWN -annotated copy (hard-bound book), 1941.
24	1		BY THE WATERS OF MANHATTAN (soft-bound copy), 6219 - 1962. Copy has some missing sections and pages.
24	2		TESTIMONY: THE UNITED STATES (1885-1890) (two paperback books), 1965. Copy has missing pages.
24	3		JOB in CHELSEA 24/25 - annotated copy, 1968.
24	4		TESTIMONY: THE UNITED STATES (1891-1900) - annotated copy (paperback book), 1968.
24	5		BY THE WELL OF LIVING AND SEEING and THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE MACCABEES, 1969. Annotated copies (3 paperback books).
24	6		BY THE WELL OF LIVING AND SEEING: NEW AND SELECTED POEMS, 1974. Annotated copy with individual inserted notes (paperback book).

Box	Folder	Oversize
25	6		Income and Expense Journals, 1947 - 1962.
25	7		Income and Expense Journals, 1948 - 1962.
25	8		Income and Expense Journals, 1965 - 1974.
25	9		Income and Expense Journals, 1968 - 1975.
26	1		Expense Notebooks, 1975.
26	2		Expense Notebooks, 1976.

Box	Folder	Oversize
20	25		Letter to N.R., and prose by N.R.
20	26		Memoirs of Nathan Reznikoff - Yiddish Version.
20	27		Memoirs of Nathan Reznikoff - Original Version.
21	1		Memoirs of Nathan Reznikoff - English Translation. Formed basis of "Early History of a Sewing Machine Operator" (1936).

Box	Folder	Oversize
22	4		Oppen, George, DISCRETE SERIES -- TS of Oppen's first book. Enclosed in boards and titled "1930's" on first page. "Zukofsky" is written on title page, with "George Oppen" written over it in C.R.'s handwriting. TS has numerous revisions and different arrangement than published version.
22	5		Syrkin, Marie, GLEANINGS -- review.
22	6		Reviews and newsclippings relating to other poets.

Box	Folder	Oversize
23	1		Letters from Reznikoff to Marie Syrkin - includes journal entries, 1928 - 1961. AL, TL, typescript carbons.
23	2		Letters from Reznikoff to Marie Syrkin - includes journal entries, 1928 - 1961. AL, TL, typescript carbons.
23	3		Letters to Marie Syrkin after Reznikoff's death in 1976. From Black Sparrow Press, 1976 (TL).
23	4		Letters to Marie Syrkin after Reznikoff's death in 1976. Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1976 (TL).
23	5		Unidentified Correspondence - 16 May 1933. TL.

Box	Folder	Oversize
25	1		Boni, Charles, 1930.
25	2		Syrkin, Marie, 1930.
25	3		Syrkin, Marie, 1930.
25	4		Pool, David de Sola, 1953.

Box	Folder	Oversize
26	3		Al Lewin memorabilia.
26	4		Photograph of Reznikoff.
26	5		Two poems by Reznikoff ("Sonnet I" and "Day by Day").

The Register ofCharles Reznikoff Papers1912 - 1976 MSS 0009

Mandeville Special Collections Library Geisel Library University of California, San Diego

Abstract

Biography

Scope and Content

Accession Processed in 1977

CORRESPONDENCE

WRITINGS

Books

Idea File

Lectures and Readings

The Menorah Journal materials

Notes, Miscellaneous

Poetry

Miscellaneous Writings

REVIEWS

PERSONAL ARTIFACTS

MATERIALS RELATING TO REZNIKOFF'S PARENTS

Nathan Reznikoff

Sarah Reznikoff

WRITINGS BY AND ABOUT REZNIKOFF'S FRIENDS

Accession Processed in 1990

CORRESPONDENCE

AUTHOR'S COLLECTION

Accession Processed in 1991

CORRESPONDENCE

CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

FINANCIAL RECORDS

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

The Register of
Charles Reznikoff Papers
1912 - 1976

MSS 0009

Mandeville Special Collections Library
Geisel Library
University of California, San Diego