Robert Peters papers

 Collection – Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0626

Collection Overview

Abstract

Correspondence, subject files relating to poets and poetry publishing, literary manuscripts and journals, and Robert Peters' substantial book collection, covering American poetry after 1965.

Dates

  • Creation: 1970-1998

Extent

15.63 Cubic Feet (34 legal size archive boxes)

Creator

Scope and Contents

The Robert Peters papers consists of personal correspondence, literary reviews and manuscripts, and subject/clipping files, mostly dating from the 1970s to early 1996.

The correspondence files, including incoming and outgoing correspondence, cover poetry, poets, and publishing in the last quarter of the 20th century. The subject and clippings files include biographical information on poets and the output of small pressses. Of special interest to researchers are the number of in-depth interviews with poets appearing in a wide variety of publications (some of them aimed at a gay readership), discussing the poetic arts and including frank information about the poets' personal lives and often their attitudes toward sexuality. Richest of all are the literary holdings. Drafts of Peters' reviews of hundreds of poets are included, shedding light on his critical thinking. Also included are over 200 manuscripts from other poets whose published works are also represented in the book collection. This allows the researcher to follow the development of a work from its initial conception through published book. Many of the poems represented here have never been published in any form.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Peters was born in Eagle River, Wisconsin, October 10, 1924, the son of Sam and Dorothy Keck Peters. He was educated in the Wisconsin public schools. After army service during World War II, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in English. He received his B.A. in 1948, his M.A. in 1949, and his doctorate in 1952. His teaching career took him to Boston University, Ohio Wesleyan, Wayne State, and then the University of California at Riverside. His field of study was Victorian literature, and in addition to publishing numerous articles and monographs, he edited, with Herbert Schueller, the letters of John Addington Symmonds.

In 1950 he married Jean Powell, and they had three children, Robert, Meredith, and Richard. When Richard died suddenly of meningitis, Peters began writing poetry to help himself cope with the loss. The result of that work, Songs for a Son, was published in 1967, and marked a turning point in Peters' career and his personal life. Although one more child, Jefferson, was born to the couple in 1961, the marriage ended in divorce in 1968. Peters, by now teaching at the University of California at Irvine, began to devote more time to the writing and study of contemporary poetry. He reviewed poetry for many publications, collecting his critical work in the Peters Black and Blue Guides to Current Literary Journals (three volumes), The Hunting of the Snark, and The Great American Poetry Bake-off (four volumes).

Peters continued to write poetry, becoming especially interested in narrative, or "persona" poetry. Writing from the point of view of historical figures such as Ann Lee, King Ludwig of Bavaria, and Countess Elizabeth Bathory, he expressed contemporary concerns about violence and sexuality. In addition to public readings, he adapted both Ludwig and the Countess for theatrical presentation, performing them around the country.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Robert Peters collection was purchased in April 1991. An additional gift of 71 publications written by Robert Peters was donated by the author in August 1991. In June 1996 and 1999, other gifts of contemporary poetry, criticism, and manuscript material were made by Robert Peters.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Lee McLaird, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections in April 1992 and as additions were received in August 1996 and June 1999.

Title
Guide to the Robert Peters papers
Author
Lee McLaird, Michelle Sweetser
Date
April 1992, August 1996, June 1999, April 2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
  • Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 2 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 3 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 4 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 5 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
  • Box: 7 (Mixed Materials)