Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Robert Lax papers, 1938-1990

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#0752
Bib ID 4079014 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Lax, Robert
Title Robert Lax papers, 1938-1990
Physical Description 17 linear feet (32 boxes 1 package)
Language(s) English .
Access You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Arrangement

Arrangement

Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged as follows. Box 1: Cataloged correspondence & manuscripts; Box 2: Uncataloged correspondence & manuscripts by others; Box 3-20: His poetry; Box 21-23: Prose & journals; Box 24: Drawings & sketches; Box 25-28: Photographs; Box 29-31 & Oversize: Printed materials; Box 32: Addition.

Description

Summary

Correspondence, manuscripts, drawings, photographs, and printed material of Lax. Included are letters of Mark and Dorothy Van Doren and Thomas Merton. The bulk of the collection is comprised of Lax's poetry and journal manuscripts, many written in Patmos and Kalymnos, Greece, and originally sent to Emil Antonucci of the Journeyman Press in New York for publication. Also, printed photographs and unprinted negatives of pictures taken by Lax, primarily in Greece.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Robert Lax papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Robert Lax, 1971-1975 & 1990.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Lax, Robert. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1971. Accession number--M-71.

Letters & clippings: Source of acquisition--Lax, Robert. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--10/26/90. Accession number--M-90-10-26.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged 07/--/89.

Processed by MBB 10/75 and HR 5/92. Letters & clippings Cataloged HR 05/05/92.

Revision Description

2010-02-16 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
Drawings (visual works) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Journals Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Manuscripts (documents) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Notebooks Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Notes (documents) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Photographic prints Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Photographs Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Poems Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Sketches Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
negatives (photographs) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
American literature -- 20th century Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
American poetry -- 20th century Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Antonucci, Emil Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Authors, American Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Editors Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Journeyman Press (New York, N.Y.) Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Literature publishing -- New York (State) -- New York Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Merton, Thomas, 1915-1968 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Poets, American Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Publishers and publishing -- New York (State) -- New York Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Van Doren, Dorothy, 1896-1993 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Van Doren, Mark, 1894-1972 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Poet & editor (Columbia University B.A., 1938) who was born in 1915.

Lax was a noted American poet who wrote concrete or minimalist poetry. He was born in Olean, NY on 30 November 1915 and died there on 26 September 2000. He attended Columbia University where he received a B. A. in 1938. While at Columbia he befriended such notables as Thomas Merton and Ed Rice. After Columbia he worked at the New Yorker University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Time and Jubilee magazine. In 1956 he published his first book The Juggler. He was published in such prestigious journals as New Yorker and Poetry Journal. In 1969 he received a National Council for the Arts Award.

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Series I: Correspondence and Manuscripts



Box 1 Cataloged correspondence and manuscripts

Series II: Uncataloged correspondence and manuscripts by others



Box 2 Folder 1 Photocopies of Thomas Merton correspondence & manuscripts

Series III: Manuscripts

Titled typescripts, in alphabetical order



Box 3 Folder 1 Another play for Nancy Flagg, Sept. 2 1939

[Arranged alphabetically]

Series IV: Manuscripts, untitled

Arranged chronologically



Box 10 Poetry volumes, 1941-1959



Box 14 Poetry volumes

[Untitled and undated]



Box 15 Poetry volumes and scroll poems

[Untitled and undated]



Box 16 Loose poetry [No order apparent]

[Untitled and undated]



Box 17 Loose poetry [No order apparent]

[Untitled and undated]



Box 18 Loose poetry [No order apparent]

[Untitled and undated]



Box 19 Loose poetry [No order apparent]

[Untitled and undated]



Box 20 Loose poetry [No order apparent]

[Untitled and undated]



Box 21 Journal and prose notes [Arranged chronologically], [n.d.]; 1938-1940

Series V: Manuscripts



Box 23 Journals, notebooks, loose writings, [n.d.]; 1965-1968; 1973, 1974

Series VI: Artwork



Box 24 Drawings and sketches

Series VII: Photographs

Arranged by subject



Box 25 Folder 1 Reinhardt

[ Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]



Box 26 Negatives, completely unlabeled and unorganized



Box 27 Negatives, completely unlabeled and unorganized



Box 28 Negatives, completely unlabeled and unorganized

Series VIII: Printed materials



Box 29 Original and photocopied items written by Lax, including whole journals and other publications, 1968-1973

Series IX: Oversize, Art



Flat Box 316 Lax, Robert [Figure in landscape], [n.p.], [n.d.], 8 x 11 [on mat] watercolor


Flat Box 316 Lax, Robert [Woman], [n.p.], 8 July 1939, 8 x 11 [on mat] watercolor

Series X: Oversize, Manuscripts


Flat Box 316 Lax, Robert "The Sea Poem", [n.p.], [n.d.], 2 manuscripts

Series XI: Uncataloged correspondence and manuscripts by others



Box 2 Folder 2 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1944-1968


Box 2 Folder 3 Uncataloged correspondence


Box 2 Folder 4 Uncataloged correspondence & mss. re: "The Circus of the Stars"


Box 2 Folder 5 Mss. by Gerhard van den Bergh


Box 2 Folder 6 Merton-Lax mss., Book of Merton letters


Box 2 Folder 7 Uncataloged mss. by others

Series XII: Manuscripts

Titled typescripts, in alphabetical order



Box 3 Folder 2 Arise & be happy & glad...


Box 3 Folder 3 Acey-Ducey, Summer 1959


Box 3 Folder 4 Acey-Ducey


Box 3 Folder 5 Able Charlie Baker Dance



Box 4 Folder 1 A Bower of Weeds


Box 4 Folder 2 Fire Water Earth & Air


Box 4 Folder 3 The Gentle Legend


Box 4 Folder 5 The Book of Revango


Box 4 Folder 6 The Circus of the Sun


Box 4 Folder 7 Black Yogurt


Box 4 Folder 8, 9 Fritz


Box 4 Folder 10 Gooper's Landing


Box 4 Folder 11 Assumption Day


Box 4 Folder 12 Miscellaneous writings



Box 5 Folder 1 Mark the Teacher


Box 5 Folder 2 The Long Horrible Night at Riker's, a play, Jan. 11, 1940


Box 5 Folder 3 Jack the Cat


Box 5 Folder 4 Notebook Blue


Box 5 Folder 5 Libretto for a Technicolor Ballet


Box 5 Folder 6 The Morning Stars


Box 5 Folder 7 Is-sus Miggs


Box 5 Folder 8 Invocation & Canticle


Box 5 Folder 9 The Island Kingdom


Box 5 Folder 10 The Island Kingdom


Box 5 Folder 11 New poems


Box 5 Folder 12 Histories



Box 6 Folder 1 Omnibus


Box 6 Folder 2 Recent works, includes photographs and drawings


Box 6 Folder 3 Poems


Box 6 Folder 4 Old notebooks


Box 6 Folder 5 Once & For All


Box 6 Folder 6 One About the Future


Box 6 Folder 7 One Two Three (1,2,3)


Box 6 Folder 8 Miscellaneous poems



Box 7 Folder 1 Tractatus


Box 7 Folder 2 Recollections of a Temple Dancer


Box 7 Folder 3 Songs


Box 7 Folder 4 Scraps


Box 7 Folder 5 Tosca


Box 7 Folder 6 Solomon's High Dive


Box 7 Folder 6 Miscellaneous poems



Box 8 Folder 1 Three Days Patmos, many drafts & copies



Box 9 Folder 1 Winter


Box 9 Folder 2 The Voyage to Pescara


Box 9 Folder 3 Winter Lightning


Box 9 Folder 4 You Gotta Understand the Language

Series XIII: Manuscripts, untitled

Arranged chronologically



Box 11 Poetry volumes, 1959-1960



Box 12 Poetry volumes, 1961-1966



Box 13 Poetry volumes, 1972-1974

Series XIV: Manuscripts

Arranged chronologically



Box 22 Journal and prose notes, 1941-1945

Series XV: Photographs

Arranged by subject



Box 25 Folder 2 Rice

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 3 Jubilee

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 4 Ringling

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 5 Alzana

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 6 Bermuda

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 7 Lowe

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 8 Van Doren

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 9 France; Corps, Eau Vive

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 10 Cristianis

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 11 Brittanic

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Folder 12 Book of taped in photographs

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]


Box 25 Various envelopes of seaside portraits

[Black and white, contact sheets, prints of various sizes]

Series XVI: Printed materials



Box 30 Original and photocopied items written by Lax, including whole journals and other publications. Also includes music scores and writings by others, mainly poetry journals., 1961-1991



Box 31 Original and photocopied items written by Lax, including whole journals and other publications. Also includes music scores and writings by others, mainly poetry journals., 1966-1995

Series XVII: Addition to Lax Papers



Box 32 Printed materials written by Lax; correspondence with several notable figures, including Richard Avedon and Jack Kerouac; bibliography of his writing and other miscellaneous items.