Duane Locke Papers

Correspondence makes up the bulk of the Locke Papers by far. Much of the correspondence is either from poets sending submissions to the journals that Locke edited, his own poetry submissions to other journals and editors of anthologies, or general correspondence with other poets, several of whom were his former students. The majority of the correspondence is to Locke. His own letters are represented only by carbon copies. The largest numbers of letters are with other poetry editors and publishers: Fred Wolven, editor of the Ann Arbor Review (about 140 items), Harvey Tucker of Black Sun Press (about 65 items), Hugh Fox (Ghost Dance Press, about 45 items), Paul Roth (Bitter Oleander Press, 29 items). Among other poets and former students who corresponded with Locke are Sylvia Krohn Scheibli (36 items), Charles Hayes (35 items), Helene Jarmol (33 items), Leo Connellan (32 items), William Taylor (32), Nico Suarez (31), Gerritt O' Sullivan (24 items), Sam Cornish (24 items), Jane Leonard (24 items), James MacQueen (19 items), Randall Ackley (18 items), and Roger Sauls (18 items). Several of these were former students. Some had worked with him on the Poetry Review.

Among the better known poets included among the correspondents are Robert Bly (13 items), David Ignatow (2 letters), Louis Hammer (3 items), Robert Morgan (6 items), and Diane Wakoski (11 items), all of whom were published in Locke's journals. Several letters and manuscripts of Hans Juergensen are included. Much of the correspondence is signed with only a first name, or in case of Locke's carbons, addressed to only a first name. Much of this correspondence has been tentatively identified from the context, physical placement within the letters, handwriting, or simply the occurrence of the name. Researchers will need to satisfy themselves as to the identification of the writer, or the addressee. A number of letters are arranged simply by first name. Manuscripts are often included with the correspondence.

Other correspondence includes some of Locke's academic correspondence with the University of Tampa and other schools, and his work on a Poetry in the Schools project in Tampa (1972-74).

The Papers also include several short manuscript drafts by Locke and others. The manuscripts by others, usually typed poems, were probably submissions for Locke's journals, sent without accompanying correspondence, or have been separated from the correspondence. Writers include Damon Fazio, Barry MacDonald, and Nico Suarez.