Robert Hawley letters to David Meltzer

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0099-F0897

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

These letters, written by American publisher Robert Hawley to poet and musician David Meltzer between 1964 and 1966, reflect their book and poetry interests, their friendship, and the business of Oyez Press.

In his initial letters Hawley replied to Meltzer's requests for books from the Holmes Book Company sending information about the availability of material and the cost. Likewise, Hawley inquired about books, magazines, and other printed material which he wanted to acquire, particularly new Beat magazines. Some letters announced future mailings of printed material or accompanied material sent to Meltzer, occasionally with an invoice included.

Hawley's personal interest in poetry, particularly work by Beat poets, soon led to the mention of poets, such as Michel McClure, Gary Snyder, Charles Olson. The conversation about poets and their publications grew as Oyez Press began publishing its series of poetry broadsides, and as Hawley began to receive manuscripts from numerous poets, including Michael McClure, Josephine Miles, Jack Spicer, Robert Duncan, Gary Snyder, Charles Olson, William Everson, Denise Levertov, and Mary Fabilli. Hawley mentioned some of the poetry he had received and occasionally offered his thoughts on particular work. For example, in an early letter Hawley expressed his great anticipation at publication of the first Oyez Press broadside, a poem by Michael Mcclure, titled Two For Bruce Connor.

In a letter conveying his serious interest in publishing Meltzer's work, Hawley explained his feeling that: "most publications of new writing by small presses (or smaller publisher) suffered by not being properly produced, not being widely publicized and distributed and, above all, did not result in a proper payment to the writer." Hawley was convinced that "those three faults can be corrected." Ultimately Hawley published work by Meltzer. In several letters Hawley discussed business matters surrounding the Oyez publication of a Meltzer broadside, The Blackest Rose, particularly his decision to print the original version of the poem rather than a later revision which Meltzer would have preferred. The letters also discuss the 1965 Oyez publication of Meltzer's book of poems, The Process.

Reflecting their friendship, the letters also mention family matters such as the birth of children; travels, such as a visit to Charles Olson; and plans for get-togethers or attendance at special events, such as a 1966 Rolling Stones concert.

Dates

Creation: 1964-1966

Creator

Hawley, Robert, 1929- (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely 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/

Robert Hawley (1929- )

Robert Hawley and Stevens van Strum started the Oyez Press in Berkeley, California, 1964.

Robert Hawley was born in 1929 in Stockbridge, Wisconsin. He was a student at Black Mountain College in 1956, shortly before that institution closed its doors. By 1957, Hawley was working as a bookseller specializing in Western Americana at the Holmes Book Company, in Berkeley, California.

Through Oyez Press, Robert Hawley and Stevens van Strum published numerous American poets, initially producing a series of broadsides. A poem by David Meltzers, The Blackest Rose, was one of the earliest broadsides published by Oyez, and Meltzer's The Process (1965) was the first book published by Oyez Press.

David Meltzer (1937- )

American poet and musician David Meltzer was born February 17, 1937, in Rochester, New York.

In 1957, Meltzer moved to San Francisco and became part of a circle of writers based around Jack Spicer and Robert Duncan. Meltzer’s poetry was included in the anthology, The New American Poetry 1945-1960. Considered a poet of the Beat generation, Meltzer is also a jazz guitarist, and the author of more than fifty books of poetry and prose, many of which have been published by small presses, such as Robert Hawley’s Oyez Press.

Oyez Press Records. Archives and Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries. http://doddcenter.uconn.edu/findaids/Oyez/MSS19980208.html (accessed September 2011)."David Meltzer." Contemporary Authors Online (reproduced in Biography Resource Center). http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioR (accessed September 2011)."David Meltzer." Wikipedia. Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Meltzer (accessed September 2011).