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Carol Bergé - Judson Crews Correspondence Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 03-01-exws_berge-crews

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily consists of correspondence between Carol Berge and Judson Crews which took place between the late 1970s and mid 1980s, but also contains a few pieces of correspondence between Berge or Crews and other artists, editors, publishers, friends, etc. The relationship between Berge and Crews was both artistic and personal. She served as one of the editors for his book of poetry, Clock of Moss (1983). The letters chronicle more of the personal relationship between the two than the literary. There are also drafts of both Berge's and Crews' poetry and prose and includes Berge's editor's copy of the manuscript for Crews' book The Clock of Moss. The are also manuscript proofs, journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and handwritten notes taken by both poets.

Dates

  • Creation: 1978-1987

Creator

Carol Berge Biography

Carol Berge (1928-2006) was an American author of poetry and prose. She was born in New York City and attended New York University, as well the New School for Social Research. Over the course of her career she was a faculty member or lecturer at a number of colleges and universities, including Grand Valley State (Michigan), Goddard College (Vermont), University of Southern Mississippi, University of New Mexico and Wright State University (Ohio). In addition to her writing and teaching, she also edited the literary magazine Center between 1970 and 1984 and ran the Five Cities Gallery in New York, during the 1960s. She wrote twelve collections of poetry including The Vulnerable Island (1964), Lumina (1965), The Unexpected (1976), Alba Genesis (1979); she also wrote twelve prose works.

Judson Campbell Crews Biography

Judson (Campbell) Crews (1917-2010) was born in Waco, Texas. Over the course of his career he held a wide range of jobs including military service during the Second World War, work as a landscape architect, a publisher, printer, instructor in sociology and psychology, a psychological counselor, a community services coordinator, director of an intensive care unit and a lecturer in social development at the University of Zambia. He wrote or contributed to over twenty volumes of poetry, which included Psalms for a Late Season (1942), A Unicorn When Needs Be (1963), Clock of Moss (1983) and Against All Wounds (1987).

Extent

13 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collected correspondence between authors Carol Berge (1928-2006) and Judson Crews (1917-2010) from the late 1970s and mid 1980s. Also contains a few pieces of correspondence between Berge or Crews and other artists, editors, publishers, and friends In addition to the correspondence, the collection contains drafts of both Berge's and Crews' poetry and prose and includes Berge's editor's copy of the manuscript for Crews' book The Clock of Moss. The are also manuscript proofs, journal articles, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and handwritten notes taken by both poets.

Physical Access Requirements

WMU Special Collections. Non-circulating. Contact department for access.

Physical Description

The collection spans 6.25 linear feet (13 archival boxes). Mostly contains the handwritten correspondence between the two poets. Some pieces of correspondence are without dates.

Processing Information

Errors in grammar and spelling on the part of Judson Crews and Carol Berge have been left as they appear in the actual letters to provide the most accurate reflection of their content.

Title
Carol Bergé - Judson Crews Correspondence Collection Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Avery Cook and Alexandra Weeldreyer
Date
2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Western Michigan University Libraries, Special Collections
Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490