Collection ID: PCMS.0046

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Corbett, William and The Poetry Collection
Abstract:
This collection contains material related to the magazine Fire Exit (1967-1975), edited and published by William Corbett for four numbered issues and related broadsides, including correspondence and submissions from 1955-1992; production material for issues 1-4; and William Corbett's personal manuscripts, notebooks, and ephemera.
Extent:
16.25 Linear Feet and (38 manuscript boxes, 2 half manuscript boxes)
Language:
English and Collection material in English.
Preferred citation:

[Description and dates], Box/folder number, PCMS-0046, Fire Exit Collection, 1955-1992, The Poetry Collection of the University Libraries, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. See the Special Collections' preferred citations instructions for additional information.

Background

Scope and Content:

Fire Exit (1967-1975), edited and published by William Corbett, contains editorial correspondence, submissions, and manuscripts from 1955-1992; production material for issues 1-4; and William Corbett's personal notebooks, ephemera, and manuscripts including multiple drafts of On Blue Note, City Nature, and Don't Think: Look. Fanny Howe and Ruth Whitman were co-editors of the first two issues. Poets represented in the collection include Michael Palmer, Fanny Howe, Susan Howe, Robert Creeley, Clark Coolidge, Mary Adams, Basil Bunting, Kenward Elmslie, Theodore Enslin, Barbara Guest, Lee Harwood, Lyn Hejinian, Gerard Malanga, Bernadette Mayer, Anne Waldman, Lewis Warsh, C.D. Wright, and John Yau.

Biographical / Historical:

William Corbett (1942-), long-time resident of Boston's South End, is an educator, poet, critic, editor, and publisher. Corbett has taught at many institutions in Boston including Harvard and Maryland Institute of Technology and was an active member of Boston's literary scene before relocating to New York City, bringing poets associated with the New York School to the Boston-Cambridge area for readings. Along with editing Fire Exit (1968-1974), Corbett was also coeditor of The Boston Eagle (1973-1974), and is the editor of Pressed Wafer (1999-).

Acquisition information:
The Fire Exit Collection was purchased from George Minkoff on behalf of William Corbett in 1993.
Processing information:

Collection processed by Elliot McNally and Kamaria Busby.

Arrangement:

The Fire Exit Collection is arranged in 3 series:

  1. I. Fire Exit, production
  2. II. Fire Exit, editorial correspondence and submissions
  3. III. William Corbett, personal

papers.

Accruals:

No further accruals are expected at this time.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using local best practices.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

The Fire Exit Collection is open for research.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Poetry Collection before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Once permission is obtained, most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Description and dates], Box/folder number, PCMS-0046, Fire Exit Collection, 1955-1992, The Poetry Collection of the University Libraries, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. See the Special Collections' preferred citations instructions for additional information.

LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
420 Capen Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260, United States
CONTACT:
716-645-2917
lpo-poetry@buffalo.edu