Hannah Weiner Papers MSS 504

Finding aid prepared by Mandeville Special Collections Library

Mandeville Special Collections Library

9500 Gilman Drive

La Jolla, California, 92093-0175

858-534-2533

spcoll@ucsd.edu

Descriptive Summary

Title: Hannah Weiner Papers

Identifier/Call Number: MSS 504

Contributing Institution: Mandeville Special Collections Library

La Jolla, California 92093-0175

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 6.5 Linear feet 16 archives boxes, 1 cardfile box and 3 oversize folders

Date (inclusive): 1946-2002

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 1946-2002, contain notebooks, 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).

Creator: Weiner, Hannah

Scope and Content of Collection

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 Also included are significant unpublished materials in both notebook and manuscript form, typescripts of poems and prose works, cassette audiorecordings of several poetry readings, and a small amount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 three subseries: A) Notebooks, B) Manuscripts and C) Posthumous Publications. 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. The final subseries contains correspondence sent between Charles Bernstein and various other editors for the posthumous publication of some of Weiner's well-known works, including Clairvoyant Journal and Page. Editor-annotated manuscripts and page proofs are also included.

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.

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 LittleBooks/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). Weiner's manuscript Page, as well as selections from her Clairvoyant Journal and Little Books/Indians have been published posthumously by various presses.

Hannah Weiner died in September 1997 in New York City.

Preferred Citation

Hannah Weiner Papers, MSS 0504. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.

Acquisition Information

Not Available

Restrictions

Original audiorecordings in box 17 are restricted. Users must request that a listening copy be produced.

Publication Rights

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Weiner, Hannah. Clairvoyant journal

Weiner, Hannah. Code poems

Weiner, Hannah. Spoke

Weiner, Hannah -- Archives

American poetry--20th century

WRITINGS

Notebooks

Box 1, Folder 1

Notebook #2 - The Hell Book begins January 24, 1971

Box 1, Folder 2

Notebook #3 - Hell Book II ends ca. 1971

Box 1, Folder 3

Notebook #4 - Hell Book III

Box 1, Folder 4

Notebook #5 - Heaven Book

Box 1, Folder 5

Notebook #6 - Ides of March begins March 15, 1971

Box 1, Folder 6

Notebook #7 - At B Blue's

Box 1, Folder 7

Notebook #8 - Apts for Rent begins March 15, 1971

Box 1, Folder 8

Notebook #9 - The Rose Continued

Box 1, Folder 9

Notebook #10 - The Bus Terminal

Box 1, Folder 10

Notebook #11

Box 1, Folder 11

Notebook #12 - The Loft

Box 2, Folder 1

Notebook #13 - Halfway through

Box 2, Folder 2

Notebook #14 - (No Name)

Box 2, Folder 3

Notebook #15 - New Place

Box 2, Folder 4

Notebook #16 - Orpheum

Box 2, Folder 5

Notebook #17 June 21, 1971

Box 2, Folder 6

Notebook #18 - Toilet Paper

Box 2, Folder 7

Notebook #19 - 4 Days

Box 2, Folder 8

Notebook #20 - Mareng Again

Box 2, Folder 9

Notebook #21 - Country 1

Box 2, Folder 10

Notebook #22 - Country 2

Box 2, Folder 11

Notebook #23 - The Last Week

Box 3, Folder 1

Notebook #24 - Almost

Box 3, Folder 2

Notebook #25 - Capture

Box 3, Folder 3

Notebook #26 - More Country

Box 3, Folder 4

Notebook #27 - More Country 2

Box 3, Folder 5

Notebook #28 - More Country 3

Box 3, Folder 6

Notebook #29 - More Country 4

Box 3, Folder 7

Notebook #30 - Astrology - MC5

Box 3, Folder 8

Notebook #32 - City

Box 3, Folder 9

Notebook #33 - Leap Year

Box 3, Folder 10

Notebook #34 - Potatos [sic]

Box 3, Folder 12

Notebook #36 - E

Box 3, Folder 14

Notebook #38 - Blue Book

Box 4, Folder 1

Notebook #39

Box 4, Folder 2

Notebook #40 - I

Box 4, Folder 3

Notebook #41 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 1

Box 4, Folder 4

Notebook #42 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 2

Box 4, Folder 5

Notebook #43 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 3

Box 4, Folder 6

Notebook #44 - 1972, August

Box 4, Folder 7

Notebook #45

Box 4, Folder 8

Notebook #46

Box 4, Folder 9

Notebook #47

Box 4, Folder 10

Notebook #48

Box 4, Folder 11

Notebook #49 1972

Box 4, Folder 12

Notebook #50 - Funny

Box 5, Folder 1

Notebook #51 1972

Box 5, Folder 2

Notebook #52 - Autumn, 1972

Box 5, Folder 3

Notebook #53 - "no wrong" 1972

Box 5, Folder 4

Notebook #54 November 17, 1972

Box 5, Folder 5

Notebook #55 - Eating November 25, 1972

Box 5, Folder 6

Notebook #56 - Eating 1972

Box 5, Folder 7

Notebook #57 1972

Box 5, Folder 8

Notebook #58 - End of December, 1972

Box 5, Folder 9

Notebook #59 January 1, 1973

Box 5, Folder 10

Notebook #60 January 6, 1973

Box 5, Folder 11

Notebook #66 March 11, 1973

Box 6, Folder 1

Notebook #67 March 21, 1973

Box 6, Folder 2

Notebook #68 April 4, 1973

Box 6, Folder 3

Notebook #73 July 7, 1973

Box 6, Folder 4

Notebook #74 July 31, 1973

Box 6, Folder 5

Notebook #75 August 30, 1973

Box 6, Folder 6

Notebook #77 December, 1973

Box 6, Folder 7

Notebook #80 January, 1974

Box 6, Folder 8

Notebook #81 March - April, 1974

Box 6, Folder 9

Notebook #85 February - March, 1975

Box 6, Folder 10

Notebook #87 April 27, May - June, 1975

Box 7, Folder 1

Notebook #98 - You Scribble in It (Retreat 76?)

Box 7, Folder 2

Notebook #99 - After June Retreat June - July, 1976

Box 7, Folder 3

Notebook #104A - " I Like OK" December 7, 1976

Box 7, Folder 4

Notebook #107 - Gray Book May 13, 1977

Box 7, Folder 5

Notebook #107 - Friday May 13, 1977

Box 7, Folder 6

Notebook #108 - Gray Book May 19 - 22, 1977

Box 7, Folder 7

Notebook #109 - Gray Book July 1, 1977 and February, 1978

Box 7, Folder 8

Notebook #111 - Black Book - Sheets October - December, 1977

Box 7, Folder 9

Notebook #111 - Sheets - I see words (copy) October - December, 1977

Box 7, Folder 10

Notebook #122 - Charlemagne (cover note: father dies dead) June 11, 1978

Box 7, Folder 11

Notebook #123 - Cont June 14, 1978

Box 7, Folder 12

Notebook #128 - I Just Remembered It October 14, 1974(?)

Box 7, Folder 13

Notebook #129 - October 26

Box 7, Folder 14

Notebook #131 - Page 4 October 29

Box 7, Folder 15

Notebook #138 - Silent Cont April 7 - 24, 30, 1979

Box 7, Folder 16

Notebook #142 July 19, 1979

Box 7, Folder 17

Notebook - 1984, July (The Zuo One?) Part 4 - 83 lines

Box 8, Folder 1

Notebook #2 April 23, 1990

Box 8, Folder 2

Notebook #1 June 27 - September 13, 1990

Box 8, Folder 3

Notebook #1 September 14 - October 1, 1990

Box 8, Folder 4

Notebook #3 October 1 - 4, 1990

Box 8, Folder 5

Notebook #4 October 5 - 8, 1990

Box 8, Folder 6

Notebook #5 October 9 - 15, 1990

Box 8, Folder 7

Notebook #6 October 15 - 31, 1990

Box 8, Folder 8

Notebook #7 November 1 - 20, 1990

Box 8, Folder 9

Notebook #8 November 20 - December 7, 1990

Box 8, Folder 10

Notebook #9 December 8, 1990 - January 8, 1991

Box 9, Folder 1

Notebook #10 Jnauary 11 - August 13, 1991

Box 9, Folder 2

Notebook #11 August 14 - October 31, 1991

Box 9, Folder 3

Notebook #12 November 1, 1991 - January 12, 1992

Box 9, Folder 4

Notebook #13 January 13, 1992

Box 9, Folder 5

Notebook #14 Autumn, 1992 (?)

Box 9, Folder 6

Notebook #15 September 29, 1992 - January, 1993

Box 9, Folder 7

Notebook #25 July 15, 1997

Box 9, Folder 8

Notebook #26 November 13, 1997

Box 9, Folder 9

Unnumbered notebook

Box 9, Folder 10, Oversize FB27104

Journal entries in drawing pad, plus artwork. Undated. Oversize

Manuscripts

Box 10, Folder 1

1990 Welcome in Sentences. Typescript

Box 10, Folder 2

Abazoo. Manuscript and photocopy 1988 - 1988

Box 10, Folder 3

All Words are Seen. Typescript ca. 1979 - 1980

Box 10, Folder 4

Article subtitle. Typescript 1990 - 1990

Box 10, Folder 5

Astral Visions. Typescript

Box 10, Folder 6

Book of Revelations. Manuscript

Box 10, Folder 7

Children from the Trees. Typescript published in Little Lights 5. 1982 - 1982

Clairvoyant Journal

Box 10, Folder 8

1973 Original - "Retreat" June, 1973

Box 10, Folder 9

1973 Original - "Original retyped June 1973"

Box 10, Folder 10

1973 Original July - September, 1973

Box 10, Folder 11

1973 Original October - November, Christmas, 1973

Box 10, Folder 12

1973 original (hand-drafted pages) September - November, 1973

Box 10, Folder 13

1974 typsecript

Box 10, Folder 14

1974, March - June retreat. Photocopy of manuscript, stapled, with handwritten notes on final page

Box 10, Folder 15

1974, cuts

Box 10, Folder 16

Clairvoyant Journal typescript. 1975 - 1977

Box 10, Folder 17

Clairvoyant Journal. Published edition used as a reading copy and signed by Steve McCaffery.

Box 11, Folder 1

Code Poem. Visuals and graphics 1968 - 1968

Box 11, Folder 2

Code Poems

Box 11, Folder 3

Complete Edition. Typescript and photocopy 1990

Country Girl

Box 11, Folder 4

Typescript transcription with annotations of notebooks #30 and #31

Box 11, Folder 5

Typescript transcription with annotations of notebooks #21, #22, #26, #28, and # 29

Box 11, Folder 6

Typescript 1971

Box 11, Folder 7

Dear Andrew letter peyote, ... Typescript. Dark Ages Class - the Daisy Root #1 ending 1989

Box 11, Folder 8

Dear Douglas - Merida, Christmas 1964. Photocopy published in El Corno Emplumado #18, April 1966

Box 11, Folder 9

Early poems

Box 11, Folder 10

Explain Yourself and untitled journal entries beginning "A Beautiful Sunday..." Numbered pages 42-145

Box 11, Folder 11

Fast Day (Country Girl?), Sections 1-10

Box 11, Folder 12

Fast Day, Sections 11-23

Box 12, Folder 1

Fast Day, Section 31

Box 12, Folder 2

Feb. 11 (I Ams [sic] Spring) and Feb. 15 (I Ams [sic] a Little Word Book). Typescript

Box 12, Folder 3

Great Me Sentences. Typescript

Box 12, Folder 4

Guatamala photocopy of typescript published in New American Writing #7, Spring 1991

Box 12, Folder 5

Hannah youre scared a little plus subject. Typescript

Box 12, Folder 6

I Believe. Typescript

Box 12, Folder 7

I See Words

Box 12, Folder 8

I See Words. Published in the Ron Silliman issue of The Difficulties, vol. 2, no. 2 (1985)

Box 12, Folder 9

I was awakened this morning by the sound of the train horn. Typescript

Box 12, Folder 10

I don't doubt. Typescript

Box 12, Folder 11

If workshop. Photocopy of typescript

International Code of Signals

Box 12, Folder 12

Script and graphic material 1968

Box 12, Folder 13

Original graphics in black-and-white and colored pencil

Box 12, Folder 14

Slides

Box 13, Folder 1

Art object

Box 14, Folder 1

Jackson Mac Low. Photocopy of typescript

Box 14, Folder 2, Oversize FB27105

Just like Charles likes it / I seem yellow words. Poem composed on six sheets of a watercolor pad

Box 14, Folder 3

Magritte Poems. Published in Poetry Newsletter (Sacramento, Ca.) 1970

Box 14, Folder 4

Many lit let times I counseled you... Manuscript

Box 14, Folder 5

Meaning Bus Halifax to Queensbury. Typescript published in Tuyone (Fall 1990)

Mostly About the Sentence

Box 14, Folder 6

Manuscript

Box 14, Folder 7

Typescript published in Jimmy and Lucy's House of "K" (1986) 1984

Box 14, Folder 8

Mother thinks thats a great / poem but I should cut it out. Typescript

Box 14, Folder 9

My period plus my second line. Typescript

Box 14, Folder 10

Narrative. Typescript collaboration between Abigail Child and Hannah Weiner published in Avec #3 (Fall, 1990) without identifying initials next to stanzas

Box 14, Folder 11

Obligated. A short typescript prose piece about Ted Berrigan

Box 14, Folder 12

Once there was a girl... Manuscript

Box 14, Folder 13

Other Person. Typescript

Page

Box 14, Folder 14

A manuscript dated 1990, June 4. Three sections: Page (44 pages), Articles (53 pages), Same Page (19 pages)

Box 14, Folder 15

1990 manuscript sent to Charles Bernstein

Box 14, Folder 16, Oversize FB27106

Large mailing envelope with handwritten notes

Box 15, Folder 1

Pictures and Early Words. Typescript transcription of notebooks #48, 49, 50, 51, 52, and 55 dated September 1972

Box 15, Folder 2

Radcliffe and Guatemalan Women. Typescript.

Box 15, Folder 3

Remembered Sequel. Photocopy of typescript

Box 15, Folder 4

Research important conflict two obedient. Typescript 1990

Box 15, Folder 5

Returning to the Edge. Typescript published in Gandhabba #4 1986

Box 15, Folder 6

Saturday, May 11. Published in Only Prose (July 1977)

Box 15, Folder 7

Sign Language of the American Indian. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 8

Sins Deadly Some. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 9

Sis explain energy we feel slightly without... Typescript

Box 15, Folder 10

Skies. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 11

Some. Photocopy of typescript published in Acts #3 (1984)

Box 15, Folder 12

Sorry no title. Typescript

Spoke

Box 15, Folder 13

Original - Book 2 of 5 June - July, 1981

Box 15, Folder 14

Original - Book 3 of 5 1981

Box 15, Folder 15

Strict obedience. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 16

Subject. Photocopy of typescript

Box 15, Folder 17

Subliminate. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 18

Ubliminal. Typescript

Box 15, Folder 19

Untitled prose piece ("It is interesting that while my mind was open..."). Read at Symposium on Poetry of the Future, St. Mark's Church 1989 - 1989

Box 15, Folder 20

Untitled poetics statement. Published in The Politics of Poetic Form, edited by Charles Bernstein (Roof, 1990)

Box 15, Folder 21

[Words]. Typescript transcription of notebooks #44, 46 and 47

Posthumous Publications

Box 15, Folder 22

Correspondence concerning publication of Page and other manuscripts 1999-2002

Box 15, Folder 23

Clairvoyant Journal - Two annotated proofs including correspondence concerning their republication 2000

Box 15, Folder 24

Little Books/Indians - Two manuscript copies of selections from the publication, one with corrections

Page

Box 15, Folder 25

1990 manuscript sent to Charles Bernstein by the author. Bernstein sent the manuscript to various editors after Weiner's death; their annotations are on post-it notes

Box 15, Folder 26

Page proofs with August 2000 changes and cover note from Charles Bernstein

Box 15, Folder 27

Page proofs with May 2002 changes

Box 16, Folder 1

Manuscript used for Roof Books' 2002 publication. Annotated by typesetter

Box 16, Folder 2

Start comfort - Proofs of the poem and letter from Sharon Angle to Charles Bernstein concerning its publication 2002

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Box 16, Folder 3

Antin, Eleanor

General note

Invitation to "Portraits of Eight New York Women" (1970, November 21 - December 6): Naomi Dash, Amy Goldin, Margaret Mead, Rochelle Owens, Yvonne Rainer, Carolee Scheemann, Lynne Traiger, Hannah Weiner. Hotel Chelsea, New York City.

Box 16, Folder 4

Awareness and Communication - Instructions to a writing class

Box 16, Folder 5

Biography / Resume

Box 16, Folder 6

Doonesbury cartoon by Garry Trudeau (1982, January 9)

Box 16, Folder 7

High school diploma June 13, 1946

Box 16, Folder 8

Magazine submission list 1974 - 1975

Box 16, Folder 9

Manuscript / book chronology 1966 - 1989

Box 16, Folder 10

Open House: 1969, October 4, 5 and 19

General note

Schedule for "Hannah Weiner's Open House," featuring Vito Acconci, Bernadette Mayer, John Perreult, Arakwawa, et al. Photograph by Jim Stephens.

Box 16, Folder 11

Photograph - Seven people including Hannah Weiner, Anne Waldman, and Bernadette Mayer. Photograph by Robert R

Box 16, Folder 12

Publication and performance list

AUDIORECORDINGS

Box 17, Folder 1

Astral Visions - Reading with L. Brown (1992-1994?). Reading followed by H.W.'s post-reading comments