The Register of
Hannah Weiner Papers
1946 - 1997

MSS 0504

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

Extent: 6.30 linear feet (15 archives boxes, 1 cardfile box and 3 oversize folders)

Abstract

Papers of Hannah Weiner (1928-1997), a New York City poet and significant member of the "language-centered" group of writers. The papers, covering the years 1971-1997, contain notebooks (1971-1979, 1984, 1990-1992, and 1997), typescripts of poems, prose works, typed transcriptions of notebooks, audiorecordings, and miscellaneous materials. Included are materials for CLAIRVOYANT JOURNALS 1974: MARCH - JUNE RETREAT (1978), CODE POEMS: FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CODE OF SIGNALS FOR THE USE OF ALL (1982), THE FAST (1992), THE MAGRITTE POEMS (1970), and SPOKE (1984). The papers are arranged in three series: 1) WRITINGS, 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS and 3) AUDIORECORDINGS.

Biography

Hannah Weiner was born on November 4, 1928, in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Providence Classical High School in June 1946. She attended Radcliffe College and graduated with a B.A., magna cum laude, in English Literature in 1950. After a brief marriage, she took various jobs in New York City, and began writing poetry around 1963. Her first book, THE MAGRITTE POEMS, was published in 1966. In the late 60s, Weiner participated in several events within the visual arts scene in New York City. Her most notable "poetry event" was the International Code of Signals. In the early 70s, she commenced her primary body of written work, a series of experimental journals which were in part "clairvoyantly" dictated. I SEE WORDS became both her manifesto and method of composition.

Weiner's CLAIRVOYANT JOURNAL 1974 was published by Angel Hair Books in 1978, followed by LITTLE BOOKS/INDIANS (Roof Books, 1980) and NIJOLE'S HOUSE (Potes and Poets, 1981). She became one of the most prominent individuals involved with the "language-centered" movement of poets and experimental prose writers. Her work was featured in Ron Silliman's anthology, IN THE AMERICAN TREE, Douglas Messerli's LANGUAGE POETRIES, and THE L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E BOOK, edited by Charles Bernstein and Bruce Andrews. She was awarded a creative writing fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1986. Other important collections of her poetry include SPOKE (Sun & Moon Press, 1984), THE FAST (United Artists Books, 1992), SILENT TEACHERS REMEMBERED SEQUEL (Tender Button, 1994), and WE SPEAK SILENT (Roof Books, 1996).

Hannah Weiner died in September 1997 in New York City.

Scope and Content

The Hannah Weiner Papers contain notebooks (1971-1979, 1984, 1990-1992, and 1997) and typed transcriptions from the notebooks which provided the basis for several of her books. Also included are significant unpublished materials in both notebook and manuscript form, typescripts of poems and prose works, cassette audiorecordings of several poetry readings, and a small amount of miscellaneous material. The bulk of the collection dates between 1971 and 1979 with some documentation of the early 1990s and the year prior to Weiner's death. The materials are arranged in three series: 1) WRITINGS, 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, and 3) AUDIORECORDINGS.

SERIES 1: WRITINGS

The WRITINGS series is arranged in two subseries: A) Notebooks and B) Manuscripts. The first subseries contains bound notebooks which are arranged chronologically. There are three primary sequences of notebooks, 1971-1975, 1976-1979, and 1990-1992. These notebooks consist largely of undated entries which document Weiner's creative process. The second subseries gathers typed transcriptions from the notebooks, as well as typescripts of poems published in magazines or anthologies and short prose pieces.

SERIES 2: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

The MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS series contains several versions of resumes and biographical lists of artistic activities and publications. It also includes miscellaneous photographs and memorabilia.

SERIES 3: AUDIORECORDINGS

The AUDIO RECORDINGS series contains tape recordings made of Hannah Weiner's readings between 1974 and 1994. All of the readings occurred in New York City, largely at the Poetry Project, St. Mark's.

Finding aid generated: 2005-10-31