Papers of an important editor who has had a significant impact on the development of post WW II American poetry. Through both his landmark anthologies and publication of numerous neglected poets, Allen has almost singlehandly enlarged the canon of contemporary poetry in the United States. The collection consists of four different groups or series of materials: materials pertaining to the editorial work at Grove Press, Four Seasons Foundation, Grey Fox Press, and to special projects Allen did for Penguin and St. James presses; materials produced by and regarding the poet Frank O'Hara, especially his COLLECTED POEMS which Allen edited; papers written by Allen at the universities of Iowa and California, Berkeley; and finally a substantial correspondence with many of the most important writers and editors in America during the last twenty five years, including John Ashbery, Robin Blaser, Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Michael McClure, Gary Snyder, Lew Welch, and Philip Whalen. The addition processed in 1991 contains manuscript and typescript materials related to the Four Seasons Foundation publication of INTERVIEWS (1980) by Edward Dorn and THE GRACES (1983) by Aaron Shurin; and the Grey Fox Press publication of ENOUGH SAID (1980) by Philip Whalen and I REMAIN (1980), a collection of Lew Welch's letters.

Donald Allen, one of the most influential editors and publishers of contemporary American literature, was born in Iowa in 1912. During the Second World War he was a Japanese translator, and then became an editor at Grove Press, where he stayed for sixteen years. Allen has devoted his career to making innovative writing available to the public. He has edited several important anthologies of contemporary American writing and has published the work of many important poets through his two presses.

33.50 linear feet (71 archives boxes, 1 records carton, 1 card file box, 30 oversize folders)

Publication Rights Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.