For Clarence Major : poem
Scope and Content Note
American novelist and poet Gayl Jones wrote this poem, "For Clarence Major," after meeting Major at Connecticut College in 1970.
In April of 1970, Clarence Major visited Connecticut College to give a reading and to speak informally with students. During that visit Major met and talked with Gayl Jones who was a student at the college. Gayl Jones wrote the poem, "For Clarence Major," a few days after their conversation.
This is the original typescript of the poem which Jones sent to Clarence Major. The poem, which was never published, is accompanied by two handwritten notes in which Clarence Major explained the origin of the poem.
Dates
- Creation: 1970, 2006
Creator
- Jones, Gayl (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/
Biographical Notes
American novelist and poet Gayl Jones was born November 23, 1949, in Lexington, Kentucky. Gayl Jones’s first novel, Corregidora , which was published by Random House in 1975, explored the psychological effects of slavery and sexual abuse on a modern black woman. In addition to novels, Jones has published works of poetry, such as Song for Anninho (1981) and The Hermit-Woman (1983); plays, including award-winning, Chile Woman (1974); and collections of short stories and criticism. Educated at Connecticut College, (B.A., 1971) and Brown University (M.A., 1973, D.A., 1975). Gayl Jones taught English at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor from 1975 to 1983. "Gayl Jones." Contemporary Authors Online. Gale Biography In Context. http://ic.galegroup.com (accessed February 2012). American poet, novelist and editor Clarence Major was born December 31, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia. Educated at the State University of New York at Albany (B.S.) and the Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities (Ph.D., 1978), Clarence Major has written numerous books of poetry, including his most recently published, Myself Painting , (2009). Major has written prize winning fiction, including My Amputations , for which he received the Western States Book Award in 1986. Major is also the author of articles, essays, reviews, and other nonfiction, as well as the editor of several anthologies. Since 1989, Clarence Major has been a professor of twentieth century American literature at the University of California at Davis. "Clarence Major" Contemporary Authors Online. Gale Biography In Context. http://ic.galegroup.com (accessed February 2012).ClarenceMajor.com. http://www.clarencemajor.com/html/biographical.html (accessed February 2012).
Gayl Jones (1949 - )
American novelist and poet Gayl Jones was born November 23, 1949, in Lexington, Kentucky.
Gayl Jones’s first novel, Corregidora, which was published by Random House in 1975, explored the psychological effects of slavery and sexual abuse on a modern black woman. In addition to novels, Jones has published works of poetry, such as Song for Anninho (1981) and The Hermit-Woman (1983); plays, including award-winning, Chile Woman (1974); and collections of short stories and criticism.
Educated at Connecticut College, (B.A., 1971) and Brown University (M.A., 1973, D.A., 1975). Gayl Jones taught English at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from 1975 to 1983.
"Gayl Jones." Contemporary Authors Online. Gale Biography In Context. http://ic.galegroup.com (accessed February 2012).
Clarence Major (1936- )
American poet, novelist and editor Clarence Major was born December 31, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Educated at the State University of New York at Albany (B.S.) and the Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities (Ph.D., 1978), Clarence Major has written numerous books of poetry, including his most recently published, Myself Painting, (2009).
Major has written prize winning fiction, including My Amputations, for which he received the Western States Book Award in 1986. Major is also the author of articles, essays, reviews, and other nonfiction, as well as the editor of several anthologies.
Since 1989, Clarence Major has been a professor of twentieth century American literature at the University of California at Davis.
"Clarence Major" Contemporary Authors Online. Gale Biography In Context. http://ic.galegroup.com (accessed February 2012).ClarenceMajor.com. http://www.clarencemajor.com/html/biographical.html (accessed February 2012).
Extent
3 item (4 pages)
Abstract
American novelist and poet Gayl Jones wrote this poem, "For Clarence Major," after meeting Major at Connecticut College in 1970.
Arrangement
Arranged in chronological order.
Source
Originally laid in a copy of Gayl Jones's Corregidora (Spec PS3560 .O483 C65 1975).
Shelving Summary
Box 63, F0913: Shelved in SPEC MSS 0099 manuscript boxes.
Processing
Processed and encoded by Anita Wellner, February 2012. Further encoded by George Apodaca, October 2015.
Subject
- Jones, Gayl (Person)
- Major, Clarence (Person)
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Finding aid for For Clarence Major : poem
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Date
- 2012 February 27
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Delaware Library Special Collections Repository