Finding Aids

1. The bad and the beautiful 6:33
2. A song after sundown 5:35
3. Three pieces for Stan 10:30
4. Where do you go? 2:22

Arrangements by AW
Stereo; 7.5 ips
Reel-to-reel tape, 7″
Provenance: Wilder tapes

1. I’ll be Around – Mills Brothers – Decca 18318
2. It’s so peaceful in the country – Mildred Bailey – Decca 3953
3. While we’re young – Georgia Gibbs – Mercury 5681
4. Blue room (Rodgers, arr. Wilder) – Alec Wilder Octet – Brunswick 8505
5. The children met the train – George Russell Octet – MGM E3321
6. The boy with the wistful eyes (Ray-De Paul, arr. Wilder) – Carol Bruce – Columbia 36471
7. Alec Wilder introducing Frank Sinatra to soldiers – V Disc 635
8. Incidental music, Peter Pan (James Barrie) – Boris Karloff, Jean Arthur, original Broadway cast – Columbia 90097-V
9. Parker’s Lament – Frank Parker – Columbia 40156
10. How lovely is Christmas – Bing Crosby – Golden LP 121
11. Horn belt boogie – Gunther Schuller, John Barrows, Jim Buffington, Ray Alonge; Stan Freeman – Columbia 39727
12. Lullaby for a lady – Marian McPartland, piano – Halcyon 109
13. Children’s plea for peace (excerpts) – Eastman Children’s Chorus, Eastman Wind Ensemble; Alec Wilder, narrator; Milford Fargo, conductor – Turnabout (Vox) 34413
14. The truth about windmills (excerpt) – Irene Stumberger, soprano; Virginia McConnell, mezzo-soprano; Milford Fargo, conductor – Tape
15. Today he’s just a boy (Mountain boy); Did you ever cross over to Sneden’s – Virginia McConnell, mezzo-soprano; Milford Fargo, piano.
16. Alec on Otto Harbach – Informal interview – tape
17. I’ll be around – Diahann Carroll – Columbia 4-44477
                            Includes description of event and concert program.

Half-track monaural; 3.75 ips
Reel-to-reel tape, 7″

Side 1:

Suite for string bass and piano
Suite for string bass and guitar

Side 2:

Suite for string bass and guitar (continued)
Sonata for string bass and piano

Gary Karr, bass; Bernard Leighton, piano; Frederick Hand, guitar
Golden Crest Records: Huntington Station, NY.
Provenance: Margun Music

1. Canone alla terza
2. Improvisation on an air in the Phrygian mode
3. Calliope waltz
4. Lament – for M.L.K. Jr. (English horn)
5. Air pathetique
6. Episode
7. Barcarolle

 Side 2:

1. Three part inventions
2. Petite Suite
3. Sarabande
4. Canone alla ottava
5. Variations on a French folk song
6. Lament – for M.L.K. Jr. (oboe)
7. Sarabande (harpsichord)
8. Canary music

 33 1/3 rpm
Fine recording, Inc.: New York, NY
Provenance: Margun Music

1. I see it now
2. 5/4 dance
3. Love is when
4. Bill’s theme
5. Taylor Mead theme
6. Hat in sky
7. Potted palm #1
8. Potted palm #2
9. Gypsy theme
10. Recorder and bass duet
11. Steak chase
12. Vespa waltz

Side B:

1. Platform dance (Two versions)
2. Astroillogical parlor
3. Chase thru woods
4. Mimosa’s solitude
5. Lonely girl
6. Mimosa and me
7. Unbelievable (two versions)
8. Mimosa’s Paris dance
9. Potted palm #3
10. Dance for B.B.

33 1/3 rpm
Special Pressing
Fine recording, Inc. – Noel Productions: New York, NY
Provenance: Gunther Schuller

Songs

Side 3:
Destruction of the sandcastle
Through
Mabelle’s folk tune
High version

Side 4:
Facing East
Through
Rock and roll fated

33 1/3 rpm
Special Pressing
Fine recording, Inc.: New York, NY
Provenance: Gunther Schuller

Alec Wilder octets

1. Little white samba
2. Little girl, grows up
3. Remember me to youth
4. The amorous poltergeist
5. Jack this is my husband
6. They needed no words
7. Footnote to a summer love
8. The children met the train

33 1/3 rpm
Special Pressing
Mercury Records – MG 25008
Original sleeve included separately

1. I’ll be around (Music & lyrics by Wilder) – Hugh Shannon
2. Everywhere I look (Music by Wilder, lyrics by Engvick) – Anita Ellis
3. Walkin’ sad (Music by McGlohon, lyrics by Wilder) – Mark Murphy
4. If someday ever comes again (Music by Wilder, lyrics by Mercer) – Mary Mayo
5. ’S gonna be a cold, cold day (Music by Wilder, lyrics by McGlohon) – Johnny Hartman
6. Plenty good enough for me (Music by Wilder, lyrics by McGlohon) – Barbara Lea
7. Is it always like this? (Music and lyrics by Wilder) – Bobby Short
8. Soft as spring (Music and lyrics by Wilder) – David Allyn
9. Love all the quiet flower people (Music and lyrics by Wilder) – Marlene Verplanck

Side 2:

1. The winter of my discontent (music by Wilder, lyrics by Berenberg) – Marlene Verplanck
2. Let me stay (Music by Wilder, lyrics by McGlohon) – Ed Montiero
3. We lost our way (Music by Wilder, lyrics by McGlohon) – Barbara Lea
4. All of us in it together (Music by McGlohon, lyrics by Wilder) – Anita Ellis
5. When yesterday I loved you (Music by Wilder, lyrics by McGlohon) – Mark Murphy
6. Baggage room blues (Music by Wilder, lyrics by Sundgaard) – Woody Herman
7. Who can I turn to (Music by Wilder, lyrics by Engvick) – Anita Ellis
8. The lady sings the blues (music by Wilder, lyrics by Engvick) – Tony Bennett
9. Just an old stone house (Music and lyrics by Wilder) – Frank Sinatra (arranged for orchestra by Alec Wilder)

On all other selections – Loonis McGlohon, piano; Terry Lafferty, fender bass; Jim Lackey, drums
33 1/3 rpm
JJA 19795A
In ink written on inside jacket, “For one of the very few friends who makes me feel safe” – Alec Wilder

Alec Wilder [featuring] Eastman School of Music Faculty Members

Side 1:
Children meet the train
Such a tender night
Jack, this is my husband
She’ll be seven in May
Neurotic goldfish
Kindergarten flower pageant
Little white samba 

Cynthia Folio, flute
Judith Ricker, oboe and English horn
Ramon Ricker, clarinet
Andrew Sterman, clarinet
Sydney Hodkinson, bass clarinet
K David Van Hoesen, bassoon
David Ratajczak, drums
Bill Dobbins, harpsichord
David Finck, bass

Side 2:

Suite for flute and marimba
Bonnie Boyd, flute
Chris Norton, marimba

Suite for guitar and bass
Gene Bertoncini, guitar
James Van Demark, bass

33 1/3 rpm
Pantheon PFN-2031
Recorded in the Eastman Theatre and Kresge Recording Studios, Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester
Producer, John Santuccio; recording engineer, Ros Ritchie;
Graphics, Hal Wilson Associates
Liner notes by Mark A Radice, San Francisco State

Children’s plea for peace                       

Side 1:
Children’s plea for peace
Eastman children’s chorus, members of the Eastman Wind Ensemble
Milford Fargo, Conductor
Alec Wilder, narrator
Sponsored by Rochester Association for the United Nations

Side 2:
Beethoven – “Ode to Joy”, Allegro, assai vivace, from Symphony no. 9 in D minor Op. 125 (Choral)
Wilma Lipp, soprano; Elisabeth Hoengen, alto; Julius Patzak, tenor; Otto Wiener, bass
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Jascha Horenstein, conductor
33 1/3 rpm
Turnabout Vox – TV-S 34413 (V-3638)
Produced by Howard Scott; Engineer: H. Ros Ritchie
Cover illustration photograph by Louis Ouzer
Liner notes by Richard Freed
Provenance: Gunther Schuller

Harvey Phillips plays Alec Wilder’s tribute to the Phillip’s family

Side 1:

1. Suite for flute and tuba – Walter S. Hartley
2. Two part invention No. 1 – J. S. Bach
3. Selected movements from “sonatas for flute” – G. F. Handel
4. Suite no 1 for tuba and piano (Effie suite)

Side 2:

1. Song for Carol
2. Suite no. 2 for tuba and piano in four movements (Jessie suite)
3. Suite no. 3 for tuba and piano in four movements (Little Harvey suite)
4. Suite no. 4 for tuba and piano in four movements (Thomas suite)
5. Suite no. 5 for tuba and piano in four movements (Ethan Ayer suite)

33 1/3 rpm
Golden Crest recital series RE-7054: Huntington Station, NY
Photograph by Louis Ouzer
In ink on back of record jacket, “To Marian with great admiration and appreciation for all you do for all musicians – Harvey Phillips
Liner notes from Frederick James and Harvey Phillips
Provenance: Marian McPartland

John Barrows and his French horn

Side 1:
First sonata for horn and piano
Allegro
Andante
Allegra giacosa
Suite for Horn and piano – part I
Dons Quixotic
Slow and sweet

Side 2:
Second sonata for horn and piano
Allegro rithmico
Andante eapizzo
Scherzo fantastica
Allegro Ostenato
Suite for horn and piano – Part II
Song
Epilogue
Suitable for dancing

33 1/3 rpm
Golden Crest recital series RE-7002: Huntington Station, NY
Notes from editor and AW

Marian McPartland plays the music of Alec Wilder

Side 1:
Jazz waltz for a friend
Why?
While we’re young
Lullaby for a lady
Inner circle

 Side 2:
I’ll be around
Trouble is a man
Homework
Where are the good companions?
It’s so peaceful in the country

Side 1: Marian McPartland, piano; Michael Moore, bass

Side 2: Marian McPartland, piano; Rusty Gilder, bass; Joe Corsello, drums

33 1/3 rpm
Halcyon Records – HAL 109
Recorded June 20 and 21 at Columbia Studios
Engineer, Frank Laico; Mixing and editing, Joe Scariza; Mastering, Gilbert Kong; Cover collage and design (framed by George E. Bailey), Joe Hendrick; Liner design, Susan Kemp; Color transparencies, Mel Simon; Inside photo, Katsuji Abe
Liner notes by James T Maher and Marian McPartland
In ink on inside cover, “Jan 1991 For the Sibley Music Library Best Wishes Marian McPartland”
Provenance: Marian McPartland

1. Antoinette the clarinet (clarinet solo – David Oppenheim)
2. Knute the flute (flute solo – Edward Powell)
3. Bobo the oboe (oboe solo – Mitchell Miller)
4. Muldoon the bassoon (bassoon solo – Harold Goltzer)
5. Crumpet the trumpet (trumpet solo – Harry Freistadt)
6. Poobah the tuba (tuba solo – William Bell)
7. Monsieur forlorn the French horn (French horn solo – John Barrows)
8. Mike Malone the slide trombone (trombone solo – William Bradley)

Side B:

9. Lucy Lynn the violin (violin solo – George Ockner)
10. Mello fellow the cello (cello solo – Frank Miller)
11. Nola the viola (viola solo – Bernie Ocko)
12. Lovelace the bass (bass solo – Frank Carroll)
13. Peter percussion (drum solo – Terry Snyder)
14. Max the saxophone (saxophone solo – Don Hammond)
15. Mort the pianoforte (piano solo – Bernie Leighton)
16. Lady harp (harp solo – Myer Rosen)
17. The orchestra (first and second movements)
18. The orchestra (third and fourth movements)

33 1/3 rpm
Golden Records: New York, NY

1. Chick Lorimer (words by Carl Sandburg)
2. Cedars are growing (words by Arnold Sundgaard)
3. Definition (words by William Engvick)
4. Did you ever cross over to Sneden’s? (words by AW)
5. Where do you go? (words by Arnold Sundgaard)
6. The plowman
7. River run (words by Marshall Barer)
8. The Coleen (words by James Stephens)
9. Margaret (words by Gerald Manley Hopkins)
10. Pied beauty (words by Gerald Manley Hopkins)

33 1/3 rpm LP
Riverside Records: New York, NY
Riverside Specialty Series RLP 12-805

1. Suggestion for bored dancers
2. She never wore makeup
3. What happened last night?
4. Walk softly
5. Let’s get together and cry
6. Mama never dug this scene

Side 2:

1. Pop, what’s a passacaglia?
2. No plans
3. The endless quest
4. Around the world in 2:34
5. An unrelenting memory
6. Tacet for neurotics

33 1/3 Disc
Offbeat Records produced by Bill Grauer Productions: New York, NY
Offbeat OLP 3010
Produced by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer; recording engineer, Jack Higgins; album design: Ken Deardoff; back-liner photograph: Lawrence Shustack
Liner note by Frank Sinatra
Provenance: Gunther Schuller

1. Songs for Patricia (Norman Rosten)
2. Four children’s songs
   1. The Golux’s song (James Thurber)
   2. The elephant present (William Engvick)
   3. The telephone book lullaby (Alec Wilder)
   4. The answers (Frank Etherton)
3. The plowman

Side 2:

1. Pied Beauty (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
2. The rose on the wind (James Stephens)
3. Margaret (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
4. The Coleen (James Stephens)
5. A little love song (Brandley Saunders)
6. Chick Lorimer (Carl Sandburg)
7. Did you ever cross over to Sneden’s (Alec Wilder)
8. River run (Marshall Barer)
9. While we’re young (with Morty Palitz, William Engvick)

33 1/3 Disc
Golden Crest Records: Huntington Station, NY
Golden Crest recital series: RE-7079
Liner notes by Shannon Bolin and Milton Kaye
In ink on back of album jacket, “For one of very few [?] loved over Marian M. Alec Wilder”

1. The Japanese sandman
2. Concerning etchings
3. Sweet Sue
4. Blue room
5. Walking home in spring
6. A debutante’s diary
7. Sea fugue Mama
8. Neurotic goldfish (complete)

Centennial concert CD #1

1. Octet: It’s silk, feel it
2. Octet: Such a tender night
3. Octet: Jack, this is my husband
4. Rex Reed talk
5. Gene Bertoncini (guitar) talk;
        Winter of my discontent
        Baggage room blues

6. Sonata No. 1 for flute and piano
7. Did you ever cross over to Sneden’s?
8. Vocalise No. 1
9. Blackberry winter
10. Aaron Gandy talk
11. The churkendoose

 Provenance: Judy Bell, The Richmond Organization

Centennial concert CD #2

1. Tom Hampson talk
2. Rex Reed talk
3. Aaron Gandy introduced Bill Engvick
4. The moon just winked at me; Daddy long legs
5. Footnote to a summer love (clarinet solo)
6. Suite No. 1 for horn, tuba and piano
7. Rex Reed talk re. Jackie Cain
8. Mimosa and me
9. Moon and sand
10. Such a tender night/While we’re young
11. I’ll be around (Bill Mays, piano)
12. It’s so peaceful in the country
13. Rex Reed talk

Provenance: Judy Bell, The Richmond Organization

From: James G. Roy, Jr. – Assistant to Oliver Daniel, Concert music administration, Broadcast music Inc.
To: AW
July 21, 1972
Requesting materials for use in his entry on AW for Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians

From: Harvey Phillips
To: Glenn Bowen
October 24, 1972
Requesting any assistance in having AW properly listed in Grove’s Dictionary
In pencil; note on document states that biography from Bowen dissertation was sent Nov. 1

From: Glenn H. Bowen
To: Valerie O’Donaghue, Asst. Editor at The Instrumentalist
January 3, 1973
Regarding submittal of MS and photographs

From: Valerie O’Donoghue, Asst. Editor at The Instrumentalist
 To: Glenn H. Bowen
January 8, 1973 [postcard]
Acknowledgement of receipt of manuscript with 1 photograph

From: Glenn Bowen
To: F. F. Swift – Editor, Woodwind world
March 2, 1973
Submittal of material for potential publication in Woodwind world

From: Glenn Bowen
To: Warren Harden
April 20, 1972
Re: Harden’s undertaking of a study of AW’s brass music

From: AW
To: Glenn Bowen
April 26, 1973 – Rochester, NY [Envelope only]
May 3, 1973 – Rochester, NY [Envelope only]
June 3, 1973 – N.Y.C., NY
June 27, 1973 – Rochester, NY
AW mentions an article written about himself in The New Yorker from July 6, 1973. Also mentions that Mr. Whittaker secured him a small commission from Benny Beach.

From: Glenn Bowen
To: Marjory Hanson, project assistant in music, National Endowment for the Arts
June 27, 1973
Writing in support of AW’s application for a grant from the NEA

From: AW
To: Glenn Bowen
October 23, 1973 – N.Y.C., NY [envelope only]
February 9, 1974 – N.Y.C., NY
AW thanking GB for commissioning a piece
June 22, 1974 – Rochester, NY
On the piece commissioned by GB [mentions flute, clarinet, bass clarinet]
November 9, 1975 – N.Y.C., NY
AW thanking GB for the tape and requesting more “aggressiveness” in the first and third movements
June 27, 1977 – Rochester, NY
AW on pieces that he has been writing since last December including: woodwind quintet with marimba (inspired by a performance AW heard of marimbist Gordon Stout), woodwind quintet for Art Dedrick (who ran Kendor music and wanted it for the Fredonia faculty quintet), also mentions the flute concerto and a piece for Morrice [sic] Secon in memory of John titled, “John Barrows”
November 7, 1977 – Key West, FL
December 5, 1977 – Key West, FL
AW glad that GB is playing “the duets”

From: Glenn Bowen
To: AW
January 9, 1978
Questions on notes for the “new clarinet duets” GB intends to perform in recital with the clarinet teacher at Lawrence University (Appleton)
In pencil; AW notes throughout page

From: AW
To: Glenn Bowen
[no envelope, postage date or place]
AW praise of quintet performance, thanks Nancy and Dick for performing his duets and mentions his new, in progress orchestra piece he intends to title Music for old fashioned listeners #97

From: AW
To: AW
[undated] – N.Y.C., NY [envelope only]

Alec Wilder: Contemporary American Composer
            A descriptive study in two parts
By Ms. Bone – submitted for M. Mus Ed. To the faculty of The Catholic University of America (April 1, 1968)
Typed; 2 page outline

Taped interviews with song writers conducted by AW and/or James T. Maher
List of 12 interviews

From: Glenn Bowen
To: Desmond
[undated]
GB noticed faint writing in the back of a book from AW that he recognized as a draft of AW’s comments for the record “Tribute to John Barrows”
Xerox of draft on back of letter
Provenance: Glenn Bowen

Correspondence donated by Marian McPartland                        

From: AW
To: Edward
[undated]
Photocopy; 3 pages

From: Ned
To: Marion From: Ned
February 20, 1981
On a meeting between AW friends on February 16, 1981 [after AW’s passing] possibly involving a concert and small gathering for dinner at the Manhattan
In ink; 3 pages

From: Marion McPartland
To: Mary Wallace Davidson
February 7, 1991
Marion McPartland sent along a letter from AW to Bill Hay about AW’s radio series as well as a piece from The New Yorker
In ink; 2 pages

Note in folder from February 12, 1994 notes the removal of an undated letter from AW to Bill Hay
2 pages

Undated correspondence

Petition to the trustees of the University of Rochester
Typed; one page

From AW
To:  Dr. James Sibley Watson, Jr. (J. S. Watson, Jr.):
Tiny card in envelope – undated
[undated letter] – no envelope
AW upset by Mr. Seigel – on AW’s own philosophy of composing with as little analysis as possible
[undated letter] – no postmark
Invitation to performance of AW opera in Kilbourn Hall on Sunday October 14^th after performance in Avon
Written on Algonquin Hotel stationery
[undated letter] – no postmark
Envelope from Sagamore Hotel – Rochester, NY

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson
Undated, no envelope

From: AW [?]
To: Augusta Macomber
Valentine card in envelope

From: “The peach tree” E. + Dr. [Dr. Harry Segal and his wife Evelyn?]
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Sibley Watson, Jr.
“Kindness of Mary Verhagen” [?] written on envelope
On reverse, card reads “on this date August 28, 1976

From: Arnold [Sundgaard?]
To: AW?
Missing first page

From: AW
To: Bill Briggs
[undated letter] Applauding Briggs’ performance as Mr. Lawson

[undated letter] Envelope addressed to John Maloy, Esq. noting to deliver the letter to Bill Briggs. Letter again applauding Briggs’ baritone roll as Mr. Lawson
Provenance: Madge Briggs, widow of Wm. F Briggs MM ‘58

From: Unknown
To: AW
Appears to be voting tally with name and point rating of various pieces, accompanied by manila envelope addressed to AW
Contains votes from George Oppenheimer, Emory Lewis, Gottfried, Simon, Watts, A. Kroll, Leo Mishkin, John Lahn, Herves, John Beaufont, Glover…etc. [some names not legible]

1930s correspondence                                  

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 13, 1930 – postmarked NYC, NY

From: Howard Hanson
To: AW
January 29, 1931 – postmarked Rochester, NY

From: AW
To: Mrs. J. S. Watson
March 5, 1931 – postmarked Rochester, NY

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 2, 1933 – [envelope only]
June 8, 1937 (postcard) – postmarked Rochester, NY
March 2, 1939 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
March 3, 1939 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
May 20, 1939 – postmarked NYC, NY
August 11, 1939 – postmarked NYC, NY
September 11, 1939 – postmarked NYC, NY
October 17, 1939 – postmarked NYC, NY
December 29, 1939 – postmarked NYC, NY

From: George
To: AW
Feb 21, 1938
In ink; 1 page
Includes 2 photocopies

From: AW
To: unknown
1939
In ink; 2 pages

1940s correspondence

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 9, 1940 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
May 16, 1940 – postmarked Rochester, NY
July 25, 1940 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 6, 1940 – postmarked Troy, NY

From: AW
To: Miss Helen Moore
July 23, 1941 – [no envelope, 2 photocopies]
Written on Josef Schiff photography stationery
Letter on AW’s election of Louis Ouzer as super-president of The Bulletin Board

From: Louis Ouzer
To: Miss Helen Moore
July 23, 1941 – [no envelope, 3 photocopies]
Written on Josef Schiff photography stationery
Letter on the upcoming report of company books
August 22, 1941 – [no envelope, 2 photocopies]
On the play reports of AW’s music and on appointing Mitch Miller to the staff
A Thursday in late 1941 – [no envelope, 1 photocopy]
Letter about September 3, 1941

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 13, 1942 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
April 7, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
June 14, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: Dennis Jordan M.D.
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
Dec 7, 1943 [?] – Toronto, ON

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 30, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
July 15, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
August 24, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
August 31, 1943 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
June 14, 1946 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 21, 1946 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
April 29, 1947 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
August 12, 1947 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
November 24, 1947 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
February 17, 1948 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Mentions work on a one act children’s opera
30, July 1948 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
December 6, 1948 – postmarked Rochester, NY
November 2, 1949 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

1950s correspondence

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.

January 5, 1950 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY

Mentions opera – costumes and sets to be done by Lemuel Ayers and Jerome Robbins doing the staging and dances, meeting Henry Fonda that afternoon

February 1, 1952 – postmarked Los Angeles, CA

From: Walter
To: Higgs (Hildegarde Watson?)
October 18, 1954 – Boston, MA

From: Aunt Mary
To: Hildegarde Watson
June 8, 1955

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.

January 29, 1958 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Chapter headings I
Includes photocopy

January 29, 1958 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Chapter headings II
Includes photocopy
February 23, 1958 – postmarked Key West, FL

1960s correspondence

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 13, 1960 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Includes photocopy
[June?] 1961 – postmarked Michigan
October 8, 1961 – postmarked Rochester, NY

“Confession number one”
October 9, 1961 – postmarked Rochester, NY

“Confession number two”
October 9, 1961 – postmarked Rochester, NY

“Confession number three”
October 9, 1961 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

“Confession number four”
October 10, 1961 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

“Confession number five”
October 14, 1961 – postmarked West Palm Beach, FL

“Confession number six”
October 18, 1961- postmarked West Palm Beach, FL

“Confession number seven”
October 19, 1961 – postmarked New Orleans, LA

“Confession number eight”
Willing to take risks, willing to be a neoclassical
October 20, 1961 – postmarked Memphis, TN

“Confession number nine”
October 20, 1961 – postmarked Memphis, TN

“Confession number ten”
October 20, 1961 – postmarked Hot Spring Nat’l Park, ARK

“Confession number eleven”
October 31, 1961 – postmarked Boston, MA

“Confession number twelve”
November 6, 1961 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

“Confession number thirteen”
December 9, 1961 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: Meriline Williams
To: AW
March 28, 1962 – Brunswick, GA [no envelope]

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 29, 1962 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
April 11, 1962 – postmarked Key West, FL

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
April 15, 1962 [no envelope]

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
[Illegible] 1964 – postmarked Rochester, NY
June 23, 1964 – postmarked Scottsdale, AZ
September 19, 1964 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 10, 1964 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
November 21, 1964 – postmarked Los Angeles, CA
March 2, 1965 – postmarked Key West, FL
March 13, 1965 – postmarked Key West, FL
July 7, 1965 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Letter about 167 poems which arrived by mail Aug 14
August 16, 1965 – postmarked Washington, D.C.

From: George B. Baker, a bellboy at the Algonquin Hotel in N.Y.
To: J. S Watson, Jr.
September 7, 1965
Re: Baker’s poems

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
January 6, 1966 – postmarked Key West, FL
January 9, 1966 – postmarked Key West, FL

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
January 10, 1966
On AW’s poetry

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 7, 1966 – postmarked NYC, NY
March 3, 1966 – postmarked Key West, FL

From: Arlene Bouras
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 19, 1966 – Chicago, IL

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 27, 1966 – N.Y.C., NY
April 27, 1966 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 16, 1966 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
December 6, 1966– postmarked N.Y.C., NY
January 18, 1967 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson
February 6, 1967 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr
November 5, 1967 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
November 9, 1967 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Letter w/out envelope 1967 or 68?
March 23, 1968 – postmarked Miami, FL
April 3, 1968 – postmarked Madison, Wisc.

From: J. S. Watson
To: AW
1968 – [no envelope]
Letter re: poems
Card from S.W.  – 1968

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson
September 14, 1969 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
September 14, 1969 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

1970-1973 correspondence

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
[1970?] – [no envelope]

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
[undated] – envelope w/out postmark
[1970?] – [no envelope]

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:|
January 22, 1970 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Accompanied by list of questions for JSW

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 2, 1970 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
On Algonquin Hotel stationery; 2 pages
July 11, 1970 – Winter Park, FL
Telegram

From: Aleck
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 5, 1970
Contains radiologist’s diagnosis from June 30

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 11, 1970 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
On Algonquin Hotel stationery; 2 pages
September 14, 1970 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Followed by note of monetary gift from JSW Jr.
September 30, 1970 – postmarked Rochester, NY
October 4, 1970 – postmarked Rochester, NY
November 16, 1970 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
December 22, 1970 – postmarked Key West, FL
January 11, 1971– postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
[undated] – [no envelope]
Response to AW letter of January 11, 1971

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
[undated] – [no envelope]
January 25, 1971 – postmarked Rochester, NY
February 2, 1971 – postmarked Rochester, NY
July 7, 1971 – postmarked Key West, FL
[2 letters undated] 1972
May 3, 1972 – postmarked Key West, FL
May 31, 1972 – postmarked Boston, MA
June 1, 1972 – postmarked Boston, MA
2 letters dated January 1 included w/envelope
[1972 – w/out envelope]
July 4, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Comments on the trio for clarinet, bassoon and piano
Finishing suites for flute choir, brass quintet and then will work on sonata for viola, French horn and piano
August 16, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Postcard
October 19, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
November 1, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Mentions return to Rochester that Tuesday
November 9, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
November 13, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
November 13, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Postcard
November 20, 1972
Mentions Loonis McGlohon’s setting of Love Song to music
December 1, 1972– postmarked U.S.P.S. MA 012
December 4, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
More on the trio for clarinet, bassoon and piano
February 3, 1973– postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
On the plot and beginnings of The Truth about Windmills
February 15, 1973– postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW’s thoughts on being awarded an honorary doctorate from University of Rochester
February 27, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW agonizing on whether to accept honorary degree

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: Lucille
[March 20, 1973 – w/out envelope]
Condolences for the loss of Aleck from long illness

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 6, 1973 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Requesting monetary assistance on The Truth about Windmills. Includes details of plot, performance plans and est. budget
May 8, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Thanks you letter for offer from JSW to fund The Truth about Windmills
June 12, 1973– postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW on the honorary doctorate ceremony
September 10, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
October 2, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
October 4, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
December 4, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Mentions selling book of letters to Little, Brown

From: unknown [J. S. Watson, Jr.?]
To: unknown
[1973]
“After the eleven flutes, why not a tune for bagpipe..?”

1974-1975 correspondence

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:
January 20, 1974 – postmarked Rochester, NY

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
May 20, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
May 31, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW on his inability to compose and intention to pay back the
federal grant received. Upset by recent passing of John Barrows
July 2, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
July 10, 1974 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
August 10, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
September 14, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW on inability to compose, having a hard time in general, esp. without encouragement of John Barrows. Mentions the upcoming publication of Letter I never mailed
September 14, 1974 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Written on Algonquin Hotel stationery
September 25, 1974 – postmark illegible
AW writes of his few moments of inspiration, fears
September 26, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
On AW’s intention to pay back the CMA for the grant to write an orchestral work for the Rochester Philharmonic
September 30, 1974 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Written on Algonquin Hotel stationery
AW’s plans to go to Santa Catalina Island
October 14, 1974 – postmark illegible
October 16, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW’s decision to write the orchestra piece with the grant fund
In ink; 4 pages
October 16, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
In ink; 1 page
October 27, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:
November 5, 1971? Or 74? – postmarked San Francisco, CA
Written on Sheraton Palace stationery

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
1975
January 13, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Suite for old fashioned listeners #97
January 31, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Suite for old fashioned listeners #97 retitled as Entertainment #6
April 7, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Written on 111 East Avenue Hotel stationery
April 8, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
Midnight ride day [April 18?], 1975 [no envelope]
Typed with additional notes in ink

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
April 20, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
AW mentions key examples in his life: J. S. Watson, John Barrows and Louis and Lavinia Russ
May 9, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Howard Scott, manager of RPO secured NY state grant for AW, as a result AW completed his first composition in over a year

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
May 16, 1975 [no envelope]
Typed letter plus draft copy with edits in ink

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
May 23, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Howard Scott removed from board of directors, Mitch Miller conducting AW orchestra piece
May 27, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
May 30, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
June 29, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW “deliberate ignorance in matters pertaining to my craft”

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
August 12, 1975 [no envelope]

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
August 13, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
18 confessions – AW thoughts on his life and work
August 13, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Labeled “Afterword”
August 15, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Sent in an Algonquin envelope
August 19, 1975
List of all AW compositions written that year
August 30, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW mentions he is about to start work on a western musical w/the orchestra made up of banjo, country fiddle, organ, clarinet, accordion and drums
September 9, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW on his rude behavior to the “successful world”
September 10, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW asking about original paintings from book Jeanne D’Arc in the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester (painter Boutet de Monvel). Asking on behalf of Lavinia Russ
October 1, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. WI 535
AW writing an “Upstairs Downstairs” history of the Algonquin, working on western musical of the era of 1875
October 15, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Re: Miss White and Evelyn

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:
November 24, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr:
December 2, 1975 – postmarked Avalon, CA
Loose envelope – content missing
December 12, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
December 16, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
On the role of anonymity in AW’s composition process
One copy typed, one copy in ink
December 20, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
One copy typed, one copy in ink

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:
December 30, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW living peripatetically and tossing things away

1976-1977 correspondence

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
[undated] 1976? – [no envelope]
In ink; one page
On translating prose to French
[undated] 1976? – [envelope w/out postmark]
[Follow-up on response to above undated letter?] Re: Prose translated into French, Mallarme poem written to Dumas. Mentions upcoming trip to Rochester May 26
January 5, 1976 [?] – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
Rejection from Charlotte [Drum?]
Mentions work on Algonquin book Upstairs, Downstairs and hopeful for trip to Rochester in late February
January 26, 1976 – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
Mentions the new radio series based on his book American popular song
February 13, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Plus 3 photocopies
February 15(?), 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Sent second draft of Upstairs – book about the Algonquin
February 18, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Finished the Algonquin book, intends to write a string quartet for the Guarneri [?] Quartet
February 20, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Turned over Algonquin book to publisher, Hildegarde ill
March 2, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW
Undated 3.37” x 6” card– response to letter from March 2
Contains marking in ink

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 18, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
April 6, 1976 – postmarked Savannah, GA
Written on Sagamore Hotel stationery
In pencil; 5 pages

From: AW
To: Hildegarde Watson:
April 12, 1976 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 10001
Accompanying letter addressed to Sibley

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 2, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
July 1, 1976 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 10001
July 19, 1976 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 10001
AW’s creative process being stifled
October 11, 1976 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Sorrow of Hildegarde’s passing [?]
October 13, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
November 12, 1976 – postmarked Key West, FL
Finished cantata, Mountain Boy, started trio for piano, violin and cello and a few unaccompanied flute pieces
December 3, 1976 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
January 6, 1977 – postmarked Charlotte, NC

From: Clara
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.:|
February 23, 1977  – [no envelope]
Mentions Hildegarde’s passing
Written on Soreno Hotel stationery, St Petersburg, FL

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 29, 1977 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Algonquin book refused by hotel and forbidden from being shown to other publishers
July 23, 1977 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
On composing good music
September 27, 1977 – postmarked Harrogate, North Yorkshire
AW trip to England and Scotland
Envelope from Kingsmill Hotel Inverness
October 30, 1977 – postmarked Columbia, SC
Rumors started by Harry Chapin
Includes poem
November 8, 1977 – postmarked Key West, FL
December 1977 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Postcard
AW names first love as Betty Colfax and second as Charlotte Drum

1978 correspondence

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
January 16, 1978 – postmarked Boston, MA
First mention of Mrs. Nancy Watson
January 24, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
February 4, 1978 – postmarked Charleston, SC
March [?] 1978 – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
June 25, 1978 – postmarked Rochester, NY
AW writing better than ever, but having problems with nerves
Includes poem titled Search
First mention of Nancy in letters

From: AW
To: Dale Wasserman, note for Herbert Kaplan at foot
Late 1978 – no envelope
Accompanied by explanatory note from Herbert Kaplan of circumstances around letter
Provenance: Herbert Kaplan

From: AW
To: Herbert Kaplan
July 1978 – no envelope
Accompanied by explanatory note from Herbert Kaplan of circumstances around letter
Written on Treadway Williams Inn on Williams College Campus stationary: Williamstown, MA
Provenance: Herbert Kaplan

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 26, 1978 [?] – no envelope
Contains poem, “Not eye but my rhyme”
July 26, 1978 – postmarked Bangor, ME
AW listening to recording of a recent brass quintet, more confident in his skills
September 7, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW on “composing by instinct” and considering abandoning composition

From: J. S. Watson, Jr.
To: AW:
September 10, 1978 (ripped in half)
[no envelope]

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 14, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
September 19, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
September 20(?) 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Postcard
September 20, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
One copy handwritten, one copy typed
AW on composing anew after every piece
September 21, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Prose
September 22, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson:
October 2, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
On his isolation
October 4, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 26, 1978 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW going to Florida for an operation

From: AW
To: J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 4, 1978 – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
December 20, 1978 – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands

1979-81 correspondence

From: AW
To: Nancy Watson:
4 undated letters likely from 1979
[without envelopes]

From: AW
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson
January 19, 1979 – postmarked George Town, Grand Cayman Islands
AW interested in lithium carbonate for depression

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
January 23, 1979 – postmarked George Town, Grand Cayman Islands

From: William R. Ploss, M.D.
To: J. S. Watson, Jr., M.D.:
February 8, 1979 – postmarked Gainesville, FL
Medical information regarding AW

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
February 1, 1979 [?]
February 26, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson
March 5, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Medical advice from Dr. Ploss

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
March 19, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Nancy Watson:
March 16, 1979 – postmarked Rochester, NY
March 16, 1979 – postmarked Rochester, NY
Only one envelope

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
April 30, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
July 12, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
July 17, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
July 23, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson
August 14, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
September 12, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Nancy Watson:
September 13, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
September 13, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
October 14, 1979
Original letter plus transcription in purple

From: AW
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Watson
December 10, 1979 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Plus photocopy

From: Susan C. Greene, librarian at Film Art Fund, Inc. Anthology Film Archives
To: Mrs. Nancy Watson
April 3, 1980 – no envelope
About renting Jerome Hill’s film The Sand Castle

From: Robert Freeman, director at the Eastman School of Music
To: Mrs. Nancy Watson
May 8, 1980 – no envelope
Meeting to discuss possible collaboration on the school’s project honoring AW

From: AW
To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.:
July 2, 1980 – postmarked Rochester, NY
AW’s philosophy on non-payment
August 23, 1980 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
AW writes quotes Robert Ardrey and Gunther Schuller
October 1, 1980 – postmarked Rochester, NY

From: AW
To: Bob
December, 18, 1980 – no envelope
AW mentions increasingly bad health and inability to compose a piece for “Freddy” Fennell
Photocopy; one page

From: Robert Freeman, Director, Eastman School of Music
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. Sibley Watson, Jr.
December 31, 1980 – no envelope
On the passing of AW

From: Mrs. Nancy Watson
To: Robert Freeman
February 8, 1981 – no envelope

From: Robert Freeman, Director, Eastman School of Music
To: Dr. and Mrs. J. Sibley Watson, Jr.
February 11, 1981 – no envelope
Discusses recording The Truth about Windmills

From: Zena Collier
To: Mrs. Nancy Watson
July 11, 1981 – no envelope
On the decision not to publish AW’s fiction based on the opinions of Zena and Lavinia Russ

From: “Pat” [Shaw? Olivia Kaul and address on stationary]
To: Mrs. Nancy Watson
July 14, 1981 – postmarked Bluff Point, NY

From: Arlene Bouras
To: Mrs. Nancy Watson
August 27, 1981 – no envelope
On publishing AW’s poems

Miscellaneous correspondence to AW

From J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 25, 1976
October 10, 1979

From Tony Reavell

2. VIII. 78
   Of the Martello Bookshop in Rye, East Sussex England
   Mentions E. F. Benson, Miss Mapp and the Rye Festival

From: TED
May 1979
Poem for AW entitled, “The Star Thrower” after Loren Eiseley

From: Robert Freeman, director – Eastman School of Music
January 14, 1980
Document identifying AW as an honorary degree recipient of the University of Rochester

From: Gordon N. Ray, president
February 23, 1980
Letter regarding interest in AW’s proposed Guggenheim fellowship studies and a request to secure financial details

From Max Presburg
July 5, 1980
Regarding the violin piece written for him

From: G. Thomas Tanselle, vice president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation|
July 8, 1980
Notice of appointment by the board of trustees to a fellowship for the period from June 1, 1980 to May 31, 1981

From: Hugh Martin
November 2, 1980
Addressed to “Uncle Al”

From: LB [Lorraine Bouras – daughter of Harry and Arlene Bouras]
November 25, 1980

From: Lavinia Russ
[undated postcard]
[undated card]

From John and Gloria Kessel
December 13 [no year]

From: Tish [St. Clair?]
[undated]
Mentions daughters Amy and Jane

“You’re sixty-two years old” – [omit] 5/15/64
Typed; one page
Two copies

“I see you doing the quiet things” – [omit]
Typed; one page
Two copies

“The child saw all the grownups” – [omit]
Typed; one page
Two copies

“My dearest enemy” – omit
Typed; one page
Two copies

“Before I figured it out” – omit
Typed; one page
Two copies

“You’d never believe it, Mac” – omit
Typed; one page
Two copies

“Death would have been” – omit
Typed; one page
Two copies

“Communication #1”/”Communication #2” – omit
Typed; one page

One copy of the following poems on yellow paper, second copy on orange paper:

“Mr. Lowell and I” – 1 omit
Typed; one page
Yellow copy contains note from Dr. J. S. Watson

“As you know” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“Some summers ago” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“A lady drew my face” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“As the slender bridge” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“Vacation” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“You with tigress violence” 1 omit
Typed; one page

“Communication #1”/ ”Communication #2” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“Take my hand, stranger” – 1 omit
Typed; one page

“Even Auden is God ‘n’” – 1 omit
Typed; one page
[Second copy of above on orange paper]

“Inadequate animal”
Typed; one page

“Pastorale”
Typed; one page

“It hurts too much sometimes”
Typed; one page

“The marching frieze of conscious days”
Typed; one page

“You have slowed my pulse and deepened it”
Typed; one page

“Pity becomes an inquisitor”
Typed; one page

“Fulfillment is static”
Typed; one page

“Do my ways and words seem real to you?”
Typed; one page

“He tried to laugh cynically about his trembling”
Typed; one page

“Yours is a space problem”
Typed; one page

“Large with calm and instantaneous readjustment”
Typed; one page

“Idyll”
Typed; one page

“There’s a constant risk of more than pain”
Typed; one page

“Slowly am I made well”
Typed; one page

“Rags Dustin made money”
Typed; one page

“Can your disturbing little, sullen little, selfish face soften the rumble of guns”
Typed; one page

“Until it hurts”
Typed; one page

“Flow!”
Typed; one page
2 copies

“Impulse had done almost everything for him”
Typed; one page

“Defeatism”
Typed; one page

“That tree breathes no less for my weakness”
Typed; one page

“Imagine such a device as subtlety”
Typed; one page

“Do not begrudge the sick the sun”
Typed; one page

“No, I am not percussive”
Typed; one page
Note on back about Fire Dept. training school on Genesee St.

“Pallid as the lip of dusk”
Typed; one page

“The bar, waist-high”
Typed; one page

“What a child knows”
Typed; one page

“We do very well with beauty”
Typed; one page
Notes on back, in pencil

It does not seem a man is small”
Typed; one page
Notes on back in pencil

“I am never elated by my success”
Typed; one page

“It must be false”
Typed; one page

“May I value my weakness”
Typed; two pages

“Watch as I write”
Typed; one page

“If it were spring”
Typed; one page

“I find that I’m sharing these things with you”
Typed; one page

“It’s quite safe and social”
Typed; one page

“It isn’t so much that I want to share this feeling”
Typed; one page

“I had left a paper cup on a ledge”
Typed; one page
Notes on the back, in pencil

“Must I relate the perfect warmth”
Typed; one page

“It’s as true as your trying not to stand there”
Typed; one page

“How presumptuous”
Typed; one page

“Skip a stone into the path of the sun”
Typed; one page
Two copies

“When I look upon the evening”
Typed; one page

“I knew when I fashioned my tempo tonight”
Typed; one page

 “Debutante”
Typed; one page
Edits in ink

“Plagal Cadence”
Typed; one page
Originally titled, “Transition”
Edits in ink

“Gregarious one, thrust up until you feel response”
Typed; one page

“Hymn”
Typed; one page

 “Palmistry”
Typed; one page
Edits in pencil; notes in pencil on back

“Just for a moment”
Typed; one page

“Strength is as good as a tree”
Typed; one page

“Maybe your mother was scared by a monk”
Typed; two pages

“It’s wearying to see too much”
In ink; two pages

“It wasn’t books, was it”
Typed; two pages

“Fear is too innate”
Typed; one page

“I did this all alone”
Typed; one page
Edit in pencil

“Who nurses the nurses”
Typed; one page

“What becomes clearer under fire?”
Typed; two pages

“Sacre du printemps”
Typed; one page
Notes in pencil

“It’s good to be with you”
Typed; one page

“A city is unfamiliar in mist”
Typed; one page

“The devil is fair and female”
Typed; one page

“It’s good to have loved”
Typed; one page
Edits in ink

“Would any of you like to know”
Typed; one page
Dated January 22, 1968

“Nature Ombrageuse for title?” [typed at bottom]

“Creatures of habit”
Typed; one page

“Marching about your life”
Typed; one page

“Club Car”
Typed; one page
Title in pencil

“Right now, my very dear”
Typed; one page

“Notice the scent of life?”
Typed; one page

“So I’ve run out of paper, said the word man”
Typed; one page

“You’re wrong!”
Typed; one page

“They’re waiting for you, Mister”
Typed; one page

“This is how easy it is”
Typed; one page

“I’ve tried to track this down”
Typed; one page

To: AW
From: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
Letter from 1976 – JSW Jr. sent typed copy of Upstairs (AW’s book about the Algonquin)

“Let this be a reminder”
 In ink; one page
Written on Algonquin stationary
Notes in pencil on reverse

“Vacation”
In pencil; four pages

“This thing answers me perhaps too much”
In ink; four pages
Written on Algonquin stationary

“I listened to the ruthless repetition of the waves”
In pencil; one page

“So”
In pencil; two pages
Written on Algonquin stationary

“I sit here, loving you”
In pencil; two pages
Written on Red Lion Inn stationary

“Lovely little girl”
In pencil; one page
“For my girl” written in pencil on reverse

“Maybe my health was good”
 In ink; 4 pages

“I live in a world of fools”
In ink; two pages

“My beguiling friend”
 In pencil; 3 pages

“This thing is too beautiful…”
Typed; one page

 “A single brazen trumpet”
In ink; one page

On reverse of “This thing is too beautiful…”

“I am fed by their faces”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on The Sagamore stationary (Rochester, NY)

“Yes, child, the dream had to die”
In ink; 2 pages

“There were slow nostalgic nights”
 In ink; 2 pages
Written on Hotel Seaglade stationary (Palm Beach, FL)

“You have found me”
 In ink; one page
Written on Algonquin stationary

“Understand finality!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Algonquin stationary

“She thinks she is fact”
In ink; 3 pages
Written on Algonquin stationary

“And so I’ve come to the new place”
 In ink; one page

“A wise child in any way”
In pencil; 2 pages

“I have demanded”
 In pencil; 2 pages

“As we stand about”
In pencil; 2 pages

“Youth is the best device”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on the back of Towne Tavern menus

“Anything seen once and without deliberation”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Sagamore Hotel stationary (Rochester, NY)

“Where is the beauty in me?”
In ink; one page
Partially scribbled out with pencil

1. “Do not concern those who sleep with waking”
2. “Heart-breaking towns…”

2 pages typed;
In ink, 4 pages labeled pages 3-6 [pages 1 and 2 not present]

March 23, 1968 – no envelope
“COOL IT, WALTER!”
In ink, 2 pages

To: Dr. James S. Watson, Jr.
April 9, 1968 – N.Y.C., NY
“Why in the name of names…”
            In ink, 2 pages
“I’m much too old…”
            In ink, 1 page

[not dated, not addressed]

• “The lost wallet, glasses…”
  Typed; 1 page
• “March”
  Typed; 1 page
• “Pavane for the U.S.”
  Typed; 1 page
• “Jazz Waltz”
  Typed; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
December 14, 1970 – postmarked Key West, FL
“Golden Wedding”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
December 22, 1970 – postmarked Key West, FL
“Do poets write of pigeon’s feet”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
December 27, 1970 – postmarked Key West, FL
“No matter what you hear me pompously proclaim…”
“The palm has dropped its coconuts” written on envelope in JSW’s hand
In ink; 4 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
December 28, 1970 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I have a hundred homes…”
“I have a hundred friends” written on envelope in JSW’s hand
In ink; 4 pages

[not addressed – no envelope]
1971
“Ideas oeuvres and people rejected…I accept rejection”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
January 3, 1971 – postmarked Boston, MA
“Prose may walk a slack wire”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
January 4, 1971 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“When someone who is closer to the secret than I am…”
 In ink; one page

“I shall resist the growing fever…”
In ink; 2 pages

“That you can face its loss…”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
January 12, 1971 – postmarked Rochester, NY
“I do not admire you for being unafraid…”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
January 20, 1971 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I know you, you heavy breathing lover…”
In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed – no envelope]
1971
“Perhaps posterity is so greedily desired…”
In ink; 2 pages

Poems mailed to friends, 1972

[not addressed – no envelope]
[undated] – loose page
“Precipitate” indeeds the word…”
 In ink; one page

 [not addressed – no envelope]
July 23, 1972 plus variations in October 1972 version
“Love Song”
 Typed; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
1972? – no postmark on envelope
“My fondest wish”
In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed- no envelope]
1972?
“I’m harried and haunted by all that has happened”
Typed; one page
“Did I ever send you this one?” in ink at bottom

[not addressed – no envelope]
1972
“Just now I felt as a slip-coach”
 Typed; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
January 22, 1972 or 4? – postmarked Rochester, NY
“Life exists like shells on sand”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson
January 13, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

“Simply to hold by one’s side”
 In ink; 2 pages

“The arrogance of the living”
In ink; 2 pages

“Failure builds sinew and calluses”
In ink; 2 pages

“The poet bursts from a circle’s center”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 13, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

“I shall continue to cling”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 21, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

“I saw a dozen squills”
In ink; 2 pages

“A poet needs”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 29, 1972 – postmarked Key West, FL

“Profession”
In ink; one page

“Speculation”
In ink; one page

“To a parlor poet”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 12, 1972 – postmarked O’Hare, IL
“The inconsequence of human life”
 In ink; 2 pages

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 14, 1972 – postmarked Chicago, IL
“When swelling buds make a violet haze”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 11, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Before the hand of man”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 23, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Love song” [original version]
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 7, 1972 – postmarked Key West, FL
“The goblins are with us, they’re marching about”
In ink; 3 pages

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 14, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY

“PIBROCH OR DONUIL DHU”
 In ink; one page
Photocopy included

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 26, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Why don’t you stop dressing up in dead animals?”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October, 1972 – postmarked Key West, FL
“In the face of despair”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 17, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“How can the passions of poets”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 19, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
Sent in 111 East Ave envelope

“The dead and the dying”
 In ink; 3 pages

“Beginnings are atlases”
In ink; 2 pages

“Jazz”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 20, 1972 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
Sent in Algonquin envelope

“Once I wrote”
In ink; 2 pages

“One of my few joys”
In ink; 4 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 30, 1972 – postmarked Key West, FL
“Love song” [later version – for original see first document in folder]
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 3, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Fame”
In ink; 5 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 6, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Birds of America”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 6, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

“The questions which have gripped my addled mind”
In ink; 2 pages

“Thoughts on resurrection”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 8, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Just now I felt as a slip-coach”
In ink; 5 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 11, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Sitting by a freshly filled in grave”
In ink; 3 pages

“ I hear the self-elected critics”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 19, 1972 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“To lovers of rhyme”
 In ink; 3 pages

“It’s a cellar”
In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed – no envelope]
1972
“Could Charles Dana Gibson draw Ibsen?”
In ink; one page
Handwriting of Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.

Poems mailed to friends, 1973-1974

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 9, 1973 – postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
“Diary II”
In ink; one page

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 22, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. CA 940
“I hear the merchants plot their bloody, bloodless battle plans”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 31, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“I prefer the quiet time”
In ink; two pages

“As the funnel narrows”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 7, 1973 – postmarked Nantucket, MA
“Travelling salesmen learn to live”
 In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 12, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Recognition”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 26, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144

“Sounds”
 In ink; 4 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
From October 4, 1973 letter [see correspondence box 2 folder 6]
– postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Is it round or as square as a table?”
In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed – no envelope, perhaps also from October 4, 1973 letter]
“Attitudinizing”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 21, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Did you ever see a quiet country town”
In ink; 2 pages

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 15, 1973 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“If there is beauty in you”
 In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed – no envelope, 1974?]
Is the coward more inclined to sadness than the hero?”
In ink; 2 pages

Envelope addressed to J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 20, [1974?] – postmarked U.S.P.S. NC 275
“Such a dark flirtation [sic] with death
“In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 4, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“The poets know”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 26, 1974 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“The white-haired man in the peaked cap”
In ink; one page

Poems mailed to friends, 1975

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
No postmark – 1975
“If I should wake before I die”
In ink; one page

[not addressed, no envelope]
March 6, 1975
“The succulence of Trollope’s scallops”
Photocopy of original in AW’s hand, 2 pages; plus two typed copies, 2 pages

“I love the ladies with gracious ways”
Two typed copies on same page as typed copy of “The succulence of Trollope’s scallops”

 To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 29, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“When the poet ages”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 13, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C.. NY
“I write my private thoughts to you”
In in; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 21, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“In defense of rhyme?”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 19, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Time”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 20, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“The cynic”
In ink; 4 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 12, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“Poets at their business posts”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 16, 1975 – postmarked U.S.P.S. NY 144
“When you start needing the beloved dead”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 18, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Attack!”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 20, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I blossom as I wither”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 20, 1975 – postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Watch them as they seek a substitute for God”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 22, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“In honor of little reason and much rhyme”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 25, 1975 –postmarked U.S.P.S. MA 012
“That Berkshire hill”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 8, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Warning!”
 In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 19, 1975 –postmarked U.S.P.S. NC 280
“Frustration”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
September 24, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“When casual crowds collect”
In ink; 1 page

“Admonition to perennials”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 14, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Odd that one who has moved as much as I”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Hildegarde Watson
October 14, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“It’s sadder than you might believe”
In ink; 1 page
Includes one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 23, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“It’s a long thin lake”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
November 24, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“It can’t be other than sad”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.|
December 1, 1975 [date received per note in JSW’s hand]
“I’m told of a man who sings while he eats”
 In ink; 1 page
Typed copy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 26, 1975 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Upstairs”
 In ink; 1 page

Poems mailed to friends, 1976

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
[“Received unsealed at NY NY 10001” on envelope – sent from NYC, NY]
[no date – 1976]
“I’ve settled my score with the macrocosmic”
 In ink; 1 page

[undated, no envelope]
“Apologia”
1976
In ink; one page
With 2 photocopies

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
January 31, 1976 –postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
“Parable”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 1976 –postmarked NY
“Zen monastery”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 5, 1976 –postmarked Miami, FL
“Upstairs #2”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 6, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Old age is treated like an ailment”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 20, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“In spite of the wine”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 25, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“The last open door”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 1, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“More about age”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 2, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Manic depressive??”
In ink; 2 pages
With one photocopy

To: Hildegarde Watson
March 2, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I fall in love with strangers”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 3, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“As a vulture”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 6, 1976 –postmarked Columbia, SC
“Stop looking for answers!”
 In ink; 4 pages

[not addressed, no envelope]
March 9, 1976
“Did Eith [sic] Cavell ever meet M. Ravel?”
In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 10, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Men of vision walked about Athens”
In ink; 2 pages
With one typed copy

To: Hildegarde Watson
March 11, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I find it strange”
In ink; 4 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 12, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“A stranger, a shy young man”
In ink; 4 pages
With typed copy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 12, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Soothsayers and the tea-leaf readers”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 13, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Dear, dear friend”
 In ink; 4 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 16, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“An adherent of Trotsky I doubt was Blavatsky”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 18, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I try to refuse”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 18, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Men of vision walked about Athens”
Typed, with edits in ink

“Did Edith Cavell ever meet M. Ravel?”
Typed with edits
Accompanied by note in ink from AW noting corrections for J. S. Watson, Jr. to type up for him

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 22, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Does size create more meaning?”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Hildegarde Watson
March 22, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Would you be more impressed”
In ink; 2 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 23, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“My hunger is to prove”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 24, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Apologia #98”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 25, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Professional point of view”
 In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 25[?], 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“If the CIA were to question me”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 29, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Keep thinking of the fingers of the willow”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 1, 1976 –postmarked Jacksonville, FL
“Take your pick”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 14, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“As I and Uta Hagan approach the big toboggan”
In ink; 1 page
With three photocopies of original, one typed copy with, “The Toboggan by Alec Wilder 4- 14-76” written in J.S.W’s hand, and photocopy of typed version

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 17, 1976 –postmarked Madison, WI
“More of you are ghosts to me”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 20, 1976 –postmarked Madison, WI
“Posterity”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 8, 1976 –postmarked Indianapolis, IN
“After I ride on a long distance train”
 In ink; 2 pages
Plus one photocopy and one typed copy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 22, 1976 –postmarked U.S.P.S. MA 021
“Do anything too much except demand”
In ink; 1 page

To: Hildegarde Watson
June 1, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Never fear forgetting!”
In ink; 1 page
With two photocopies

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 5, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Old women praying”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 14, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Acknowledging nettles from old herbacious”
 In ink; 2 pages

“Classroom mid-west Eliot”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 19, 1976 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“When did I discover”
In ink; 2 pages

Poems mailed to friends, 1977                                   

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.|
May 31, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Oh, that long, hooded file of silent choices”
In ink; 1 page
Written on Algonquin stationary
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 5, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“The thunderstorm outside”
In ink; 3 pages
“Once I thought that any tree”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 6, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“A life”
In ink; 3 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 7, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Chatterton wrote and forged”
 In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 8, 1977 –postmarked Rochester, NY
“Upstairs revisited”
 In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 2, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“I love ladies with gracious ways”
In ink; 1 page
With one photocopy

“The succulence of trollope’s scallops”
In ink; 2 pages
With one typed copy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
August 16, 1977 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“My friend”
 In ink; 2 pages

“I was a coward”
 In ink; 2 pages

“Innocent objects, euphonious sounds”
In ink; one page

“Adrenalin”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 30, 1977 –postmarked Kansas City, MC
“Two beginnings”
In ink; 3 pages
With one photocopy

Poems mailed to friends, 1978

[not addressed, no envelope – 1978?]
“Gratitude”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
January 24, 1978 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“The phoenix”
In ink; 3 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 4, 1978 –postmarked Charleston, SC
“Oh the plotted and the planned”
In ink; 1 page
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 6, 1978 –postmarked Charleston, SC
“Well, you idiot!”
In ink; 1 page
“You swore you’d never sit at a bar”
In ink; two pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 12, 1978 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Twentieth Century Eulogy”
In ink; 2 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
February 18, 1978 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Dilemma”
 In ink; 2 pages
With one photocopy

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
March 15, 1978 –postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
“Teapot tempest”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
May 8, 1978 –postmarked Rochester, NY
“Why don’t you two go away together?”
In ink; 1 page
With two photocopies

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 15, 1978 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Mem’ry”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 26, 1978 –postmarked Rochester, NY
“When Tennyson was chosen Laureate”
In ink; 3 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 26, 1978 [?] –postmarked Bangor, ME
“Not eye but my rhyme”
includes letter to JSW
Photocopy; 3 pages
Original in correspondence box 2, folder 9

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 6, 1978 –postmarked Rochester., NY
“Tribute”
In ink; one page

“Once more to prophets”
 In ink; one page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
July 28, 1978 –postmarked Blue Hill, ME
“Shall I ever know”
In ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.|
September 18, 1978 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“The jack-booted tramp of egos”
 In ink; 2 pages

“Group therapy”
 In ink; 2 pages

 “A crownless king”
 In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed, no envelope]
September 22, 1978 –no postmark
“98^th Search”
In ink; 2 pages

[not addressed, no envelope]
October 26, 1978 –no postmark
“Maudlin imagery is for the middle class”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 15, 1978 –postmarked George Town, Cayman Islands
“I don’t mind going into that longest, endless dark”
 In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 14, 1979 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Pubic hair is poison ivy”
In ink; 1 page
Transcribed in purple ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
October 14, 1979 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“You can’t wait; you’re mortal”
In ink; 2 pages
Transcribed in purple ink; 2 pages

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
December 10, 1979 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“The flickering under-water blue”
In ink; 2 pages

One photocopy of poem; 2 pages

Two photocopies of front and back of envelope; 4 pages

Original envelope not present; see correspondence box 2 folder 10

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
April 7, 1980 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“At 73”
In ink; 1 page

To: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.
June 16, 1980 –postmarked N.Y.C., NY
“Putting words to paper”
In ink; 1 page

Miscellaneous poems, manuscript

“Beauty! Art! Wit!” – [undated]
Photocopy; 2 pages

“Would any of you like to know” – January 22, 1968
In ink; 2 pages

“My fondest wish” – [undated]
Original not present
Transcribed in purple ink; 3 pages

“The sexual act at its best” – [undated]
In ink; one page

“I guess that when the end of it” – [undated]
In ink; one page

Written on the back of book jacket for “Wolf to the Slaughter” by Ruth Rendell

“Monkey-shines” – [undated]
In ink; 2 pages

“Some celestial accountant” – [undated]
In ink; 2 pages

Envelope

To: Hildegarde Watson
From: AW

Postmarked April 19, 1976 – Madison WI
No letter accompanying envelope

“Whitman Revisited”
In ink; 3 pages

“Diary”
In ink; 3 pages

“I wrote you once of reverence”
In ink; one page                                               

“To J.S.W. from A.L.C.W.” written in heading
Notes in JSW’s hand on reverse

Miscellaneous poems, typescript                                 

“Introducing A.W.” – [undated]
Typed twice on same page; corrections noted in ink and pencil

On reverse:
“Paging A.W.”                                                

Typed twice on same page; note in pencil
Provenance: Dr. J. S. Watson, Jr.

“I” [and] “II” – March 20, 1966
4 copies of both poems on same page
3 copies of each poem individually

“There’s a marvelous mystery” – May 1966
2 copies; 2 pages each
“From AW 5 ’66” written in pencil in upper right corner

“On showing off” – May 1966
2 copies; one page each
“From AW 5-66” written in pencil in upper right corner

“Why do I steam about” – May 1966
2 copies; one page each
“From AW 5 ’66” written in pencil in upper right corner

“Poor little children!” – [undated]
2 copies; one page each

“Pavane for the U.S.” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“The reassurance that comes” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

 “Please shoot the piano player” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“March” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“Jazz Waltz” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; two pages each

“A ditty” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“In order to speak or write of death” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“The lost wallet, glasses,” – April 25, 1966
2 copies; one page each

“Could Charles Dana Gibson” – March 10, 1976
One copy; one page

“Two poems by A. Wilder” – September 29, 1967
3 copies; one page each

“Would any of you like to know” – January 22, 1968
One copy; one page

“I guess that when the end of it” – July 12, 1968
One copy; one page

“Such a dark flirtation with death” – [undated]
One copy; one page

“That he was thirty five” – [undated]
One copy; one page

“A crownless king” – [undated]
2 copies; one page each

“Group therapy” – [undated]
One copy; one page

“Some new year resolutions” – [undated]
One copy; printed on a greeting card

“The Bird” – [undated]
Excerpt from the Eastman School Magazine

Poems sent by Arlene Bouras to Mrs. James Sibley Watson for AW’s book

 October 1, 1981
To: Mrs. James Sibley Watson
From: Arlene Bouras
Letter sent along with AW poem

All letters in typescript:
“I waited thirty years” – 2 pages
“How extremely good” – 1 page
“How can I boast” — 1 page
“I am a gentleman, gentlemen” – 1 page
“In good time” – 1 page
“Just because the answers” — 1 page
“A entered these doors a mere twenty years ago” – 1 page
“Please tell me, Mr. Know-it-all” – 1 page
“Beverly, or whatever your name is” – 1 page
“Little girl” – 1 page
“True posterity in the mind of a living man” – 1 page
“How guarded are you?” – 1 page
“You truly are actors.” – 1 page
“Goodbye! Goodbye!” – 1 page
“Suzannah, when a child” – 2 pages
“If you want a lot” – 1 page
“If it is at all possible to recognize the miracle of one’s own self” – 1 page
“Poets write before illness and after” – 1 page
“This is the sort of evening” – 1 page
“Shall I take a memory course?” – 1 page
“Certainly you’re good!” – 1 page
“Mr. Lowell and I” – 1 page
“I salute you!” – 2 pages
“We elder lechers” – 1 page
“Lilacs once” – 2 pages
“Agnes day” – 1 page
“Once there was a time” – 1 page
“Right now, my very dear” – 1 page
“Notice the scent of life?” – 1 page
“So I’ve run out of paper, said the word man” – 1 page
“You’re wrong!” – 1 page
“They’re waiting for you, Mister” – 1 page
“You’re sixty-two years old” – 1 page
“I see you doing the quiet things” – 1 page
“The child saw all the grownups” – 1 page
“Before I’d figured it out” – 1 page
“You’d never believe it, Mac” – 1 page
“Death would have been a tougher assignment” – 1 page
“I’ve tried to track this down” – 1 page
“This is how easy it is” – 1 page
“I keep seeking small talk” – 2 pages
“I admit it” – 1 page
“Melange” – 2 pages
“I saw you, you terribly desirable one!” – 1 page
“To the Helen who never launched” – 1 page
“How horrid!” – 1 page
“Propriety” – 1 page
“Dear, dear man” – 2 pages
“For those of us who know” – 1 page
“My dear, I am a dreadful snob” – 1 page
“Sometimes, when your life is motionless” – 3 pages
“My dearest enemy” – 2 pages
“I’ll never forget you” – 2 pages
“Is this birth?” – 2 pages
“I mustn’t dwell on your face” – 1 page
“Fifty years from home” – 2 pages
“‘I’ is not a very familiar word” – 1 page
“Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen” – 1 page
“Listen to the dear” – 1 page
“Let’s get behind everything we sell” – 1 page
“I, the white man, stand dying” – 1 page
Now, about secrets!” – 1 page
“My doppelganger” – 2 pages

“I, the white man, stand dying”
 In ink; two pages
Written on the back of letter to AW from Ernest Williams, Jr. dated May 17, 1964

“How guarded are you?”
In ink; two pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“You truly are actors.”
In ink; two pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Goodbye! Goodbye!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“Suzannah, when a child”
In ink; 2 pages

“Fifty years from home”
In ink; 2 pages

“I musn’t dwell on your face”
In ink; 1 page

“Lilacs once”
In ink; 2 pages

“Is this birth?”
In ink; 4 pages
Written on Golden State Rock Island Southern Pacific stationary

“I’ll never forget you, little big one”
Partial ink and pencil; 4 pages
Written on Golden State Rock Island Southern Pacific stationary

“Agnes day”
In pencil; 2 pages

“I waited thirty years”
In ink; 3 pages

“My dear, I am a dreadful snob” [dated 7/1/64]\
In ink; 1 page

“Sometimes, when your life is motionless”
In ink; 3 pages

“Melange”
In ink; 2 pages

“My doppelganger”
 In ink; 2 pages

“I saw you, you terribly desirable one!”
In ink; 1 page

“To the Helen who never launched”
 In ink; 2 pages

“How horrid!”
In ink; 1 page

“Propriety”
 In ink; 1 page

“Once there was a time”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“Right now, my very dear”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“Notice the scent of life?”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“My dearest enemy”
In ink; 4 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“You’d never believe it, Mac”
In ink; one page

“The child saw all the grownups”
In ink; 1 page

“Death would have been a tougher assignment”
In ink; 2 pages

“I see you doing the quiet things”
In ink; 2 pages

“You’re sixty-two years old”
In ink; 1 page

“I’ve tried to track this down”
In ink; 2 pages

“Before I’d figured it out”
In ink; 1 page

“‘Sleepy, sleep, sleep,’ crooned the mother” [in envelope]
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Algonquin stationary

On reverse: “The calling, the constant calling” [in envelope]
In ink; 2 pages

“We elder lechers”
In ink; 3 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“I salute you!”
In ink; 4 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen”
In ink; 1 page
Written on the back of a paper placemat from the Milwaukee Road railroad

“Mr. Lowell and I”
In ink; 2 pages

“Even Anden is God n’ Even McNeice.”
In ink; 2 pages

“Take my hand, stranger”
In ink; 2 pages

“Communication #1”
In ink; one page

On reverse: “Communication #2”
In ink; one page

“As you know”
In ink; 4 pages

“You with tigress violence”
In ink; one page
Written on unfolded Sheraton Hotel Rochester, NY envelope
Notes in ink on reverse

“Some summers ago”
In ink; one page
Written on back of letter from Howard S. Richmond to AW about  a meeting involving the two of them, Jean Palitz and Bill Engvick, dated August 8, 1963

“As the slender bridge”
 In ink; 2 pages

“A lady drew my face”
In ink; 2 pages

“Had I touched you”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Please, God”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“When I had a garden”
In ink; 2 pages

“You simply won’t believe it”
In ink; 2 pages

“I admit it”
In ink; 2 pages

“From more directions than I can stand”
 In ink; 3 pages
Written on Broadway Limited Pennsylvania Railroad stationary

“I’m harried and haunted by all that has happened”
In ink; 4 pages

“No one fears death”
In pencil; 2 pages

“I, as some worthies are, am an observer”
In ink; 2 pages

1. “Shall I take a memory course” (7/15/64)
   In ink; 2 pages
2. “Certainly, you’re good!”
   In ink; 2 pages
3. “What on earth are you going to do with me?!
   In ink; 2 pages
4. “A love song”
   In ink; 4 pages
5. “Here goes a great big secret”
   In ink; 2 pages
6. “My dear, dear friend”
   In ink; 2 pages
7. “Tomorrow”
   In ink; 2 pages
8.  “In defense of indulgence”
   In ink; 2 pages
9. “My!”
   In ink; 2 pages
10. “Were I one given to prayer”
    In ink; 4 pages
11. “He needs a mite of taking care of”
     In ink; 3 pages
12. “For the frightened man”
    In ink; 3 pages
13. “Have you been for your “mental”, lately?
    In ink; one page
14. “A prayer”
    In ink; one page

“I keep seeing small talk” (7/28)
 In ink; 3 pages

“Sweetie-pie!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Dear wonderer”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Imagine, imaginary reader”
 In ink; one page
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Okay!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“For those of us who know”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Nightmare #1”
In ink; one page

“Nightmare #2”
In ink; 4 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Darling little girl!”
In ink; 2 pages

“My madness is a vaudeville joke”
In ink; 2 pages

“Dear, dear man”
In ink; 4 pages

“Matriarchs of America!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“My darling!”
In ink; 2 pages
Written on Santa Fe Super Chief stationary

“Hey! Old lovers!”
In ink; 2 pages

“Hello, Dolly”
In ink; one page

“Listen to the dear darling scream” [in envelope]
In ink; 3 pages (12.5cm x 7.5 cm)

“This is the sort of evening”
In ink; 2 pages

“Poets write before illness and after”
In ink; 2 pages

“Pavane for America”
In ink; 2 pages

“The reassurance that comes with idle, talk”
In ink; 3 pages

“Please shoot the piano player”
In ink; one page
Dated April 1966

“March”
In ink; one page

“Jazz waltz”
In ink; 3 pages

“A ditty”
In ink; 2 pages

“In order to speak or write of death”
In ink; one page

“The lost wallets, glasses”
In ink; 2 pages

“The reassurance that comes with idle talk”
In ink; 3 pages

“Pavane for the U.S.A.”
In ink; 2 pages

“Why do I steam about looking slightly out of my mind?”
In ink; 3 pages

“Poor little children”
In ink; 2 pages

‘There’s a marvelous mystery”
In ink; 4 pages

“On showing off”
In ink; 2 pages

“Cummings said he’d only met two lemmings”
In ink; one page

“Shrieking” [marked as page 3]
In ink; one page
Written on the back of Hotel Algonquin stationary

“Let’s get behind everything we sell”
In pencil; one page

“Our hope’s in soap”
In pencil; one page

“If it is at all possible to recognize the miracle…” [half-way down page]
In ink; one  page

“If you want a lot” [continued at top of previous page]
In ink; 2 pages

Envelope – postmarked June 15, 1964 – Los Angeles, CA
From: AW
To: Arlene Bouras

“The elegant refuge – Memoir of a life at the Algonquin Hotel” – copyright 1976
Chapters I-III; pages i-104
Dedication to Lavinia Russ
Foreword; pages i-xv
Invitation

1. While we’re young
2. The curtain raisers: Front desk and bellmen
3. The lively artists

Typescript; 122 pages total

“The elegant refuge – Memoir of a life at the Algonquin Hotel” – copyright 1976

Chapter IV – XII; pages 105-233

4. The Strategists
5. “When the spirit moves you…”
6. “Mrs. Russ’s Chair”
7. “Kind hearts and gentle people”
8. Pause for cats
9. Stone-hearted men
10. Kaleidoscope
11. In loco parentis
12.  “Where do you go when it starts to rain?”

Epilogue
Prominent men and women who have come to the Algonquin Hotel
Typescript; 128 pages total