Norman Macleod manuscripts

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0190

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

An autobiography, fifteen poems, one short story, two resumes, a lecture, and several compilations of reviews of his work comprise this collection of manuscripts written by or related to American poet Norman Macleod.

In addition to these twenty-four items (.3 linear ft.), tear sheets for Polly Hardy's article, "Introducing Norman Macleod," are available as part of this collection. Although most of the material is undated, it appears that the majority of the manuscripts were written between 1940 and 1951.

In addition to the fifteen poems by Macleod, numerous typescript drafts of poems (plus drafts of letters) are found on the verso of pages of Macleod's autobiography, Period One.

Descriptions of each manuscript are available in the contents list. This small group of manuscripts provides examples of Macleod's writing style and an idea of how the author viewed his own work.

Dates

Creation: 1940-1951

Creator

Macleod, Norman, 1906-1985 (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Biographical Note

American editor, educator, and poet Norman Wicklund Macleod was born October 1, 1906, in Salem, Oregon.

After receiving a B.A. from the University of New Mexico in 1930, Macleod continued his education at the University of Southern California (1931-1932) and the University of Oklahoma (1934), before receiving a master's degree from Columbia University in 1936.

Norman Macleod began his editing career as the American editor of Front (Netherlands) and Morada (Italy), serving both from 1930–1932. From 1932 to 1978 Macleod worked in a variety of editing positions, including reader and circulation assistant for Harper & Brothers (1932–1934), editorial director of the Maryland Quarterly (1942–1944) and Briarcliff Quarterly (1944–1947), guest editor of Cronos (1947), and editor of Pembroke Magazine (1969–1978).

Macleod began teaching in 1939 as instructor in poetry at the New York Poetry Center, where he worked until 1942. From 1942 until 1978, he was on the faculty of numerous high schools, colleges, and universities, including the University of Maryland, San Francisco State College, and the University of Baghdad (Iraq). His final and most lengthy residence was as Associate Professor of English, poet-in-residence, and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Pembroke State University in Pembroke, North Carolina (1967–1978).

Although Macleod is most often recognized for his poetry, he also wrote two novels, You Get What You Ask For (1939) and The Bitter Roots (1941), plus an autobiography, I Never Lost Anything in Istanbul (1978). His collections of poetry include his first book, Horizons of Death, published by Parnassus in 1934, as well as Thanksgiving Before November (1936), We Thank You All the Time (1941), A Man in Midpassage (1947), Pure as Nowhere (1962), Selected Poems (1975), and The Distance: New and Selected Poems, 1928-1977 (1977).

Norman Macleod was awarded the Horace Gregory Award in 1973 for his work as a poet, novelist, editor, and teacher. On June 5, 1985, Macleod died in Greenville, North Carolina.

Locher, Frances Carol (ed.) Contemporary Authors. Volumes 73-76. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1978. pp. 390-391. May, Hal (ed.) Contemporary Authors. Volume 116. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1986. p. 297.