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Holograph and typescript poems and working notebooks make up
the bulk of the Gregory Corso Collection, 1890-1978 (bulk 1950-1976),
supplemented by prose works and correspondence. The collection is organized
into three series, arranged alphabetically by author or title and
chronologically where possible: Series I. Works, 1950-1975 (8 boxes); Series
II. Correspondence, 1954-1976 (1.5 boxes); and Series III. Third-party Works
and Correspondence, 1890-1968 (.5 box). This collection was previously
accessible through a card catalog, but has been re-cataloged as part of a
retrospective conversion project. |
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The Works Series is divided into four subseries: A. Poetry,
1950-1975 (4 boxes); B. Other Works, 1952-1978, (1 box); C. Notebooks,
1957-1973 (3 boxes); and D. Personal Papers, 1964-1965 (1 folder). The poetry
section contains hundreds of Corso's poems, many untitled and most undated.
Of
particular interest are sections of
The Geometric Poem, a proof copy
of
Selected Poems, and two versions
of
Way-Out: A Poem in Discord. The
other works section includes a quantity of fragments and untitled pieces of
works, essays, and reviews in addition to partial versions and fragments of
The Computer and the Centaur and
J.F.K.: A Little Verse Play. The
notebooks section contains 32 notebooks in which Corso wrote down thoughts and
ideas. They contain numerous drafts of poems and prose works as well as ink and
pencil sketches. The personal papers section has a few items including an
address book and a tax statement. Titles and first lines of untitled poems,
including those in the notebooks, are listed in the Index of Works at the end
of this guide. |
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The Correspondence Series includes a few letters by Corso but
is composed primarily of letters he received. Of particular note are letters
from Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, New Directions (publishers), and
Peter Orlovsky. Individual correspondents are listed in the Index of
Correspondents at the end of this guide. |
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The Third-party Works and Correspondence Series is made up of
a few works by other authors including a partial stage adaptation of Corso's
American Express and two poems by
Allen Ginsberg, and letters between friends and associates of Corso, many
concerning Corso. There is also an 1890 letter from the Russian American
National League to a Mrs. G.A. Frost. Individual correspondents are included
in
the Index of Correspondents. |
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Located elsewhere in the Ransom Center are 123 ink, crayon,
and watercolor images created by Corso. A number of the pictures are in two
sketchbooks and the subjects of the works include self portraits, landscapes,
human figures, nature, animals, and street scenes. Most of the images in the
drawings are abstract; some are illustrations for
Earth Egg, a poem by Corso. Also
located in the Art Collection are several caricatures of Corso and other Beat
poets by several artists. There is also a proof sheet of Corso in twelve poses
located in the Literary Files of the Photography Collection. |
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Other materials associated with Gregory Corso may be found in
the following collections at the Ransom Center:
- Cassady, Neal
- Ford, Charles Henri
- Genesis West
- Ginsberg, Allen
- Lehmann, John
- New
Departures
- Paterson Society
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