This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
This collection documents the professional life of poet, translator, and literary historian, William J. Higginson. The bulk of the papers are correspondence and writings. Correspondence consists of letters between Higginson and fellow scholars and poets. The writings include drafts of Higginson's manuscript, The Haiku Handbook, numerous poems, and articles about the history and craft of writing Japanese Poetry. There is also a small amount of photographs, multimedia materials, and ephemera.
This collection is arranged in 7 series.
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 off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
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.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William J. Higginson Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
2008-2009-M043: Method of acquisition--Gift of Penny Harter; Date of acquisition--November, 2008.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed Lea Osborne, Carrie Hintz, Elena Locascio, Elizabeth Nolte 08/2008.
2009-09-04 File created.
2009-09-15 xml instance created by Lea Osborne.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
William J. Higginson spent over forty years studying traditional Japanese poetry. His interest in this subject led him to publish numerous books and articles on the teaching and writing of Haiku and he became one of the foremost authorities on the collaborative form of poetry writing, renku.
Higginson was born on December 17, 1938 in New York City to parents William J. and Nellie (Roby) Higginson Mackay. He first began studying Japanese at Yale University and discovered haiku at this time. Higginson served in the United States Air Force in the late 1950s, during which he was stationed in Misawa, Japan. He continued studying Japanese poetry throughout his deployment. Some years after his return, he went to college on the G.I. Bill and graduated with honors from Southern Connecticut State University in 1969 with a B.A. in English.
After a short stint teaching, Higginson became a Consultant in Writing and the Teaching of Writing in 1972, a job that he held for the rest of his life. He was a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, which as founded in 1968 and served as President in 1976, as well as the editor and publisher of Haiku Magazine. Other publications include three collections of poetry and haiku and numerous essays in anthologies and reference works. His poems, essays, and translations appear in the following periodicals and journals: American Book Review, Center, Footwork, Frogpond, Imprint (Hong Kong), Madrona, Newsweek Japan, Open Magazine, ProFiles, Shearsman (London), Sparrow, Sun, and Telegram (London).
Higginson has published several books in the field, perhaps the most prominent being The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share and Teach Haiku (1985), a book that uses examples, many of which were not previously available, from Japanese and other languages. This was a collaborative effort between Higginson and his wife, poet and author Penny Harter. Unique to the book are teaching tools, such as lesson plans, a reference section, and lists of haiku publishers and magazines. A follow-up book entitled The Haiku Seasons expands on the teaching model and gives a comprehensive history of the form. Higginson also published Wind in the Long Grass, an international anthology of haiku for children.
Higginson was active in several professional organizations, most notably P.E.N. American Center, the Poetry Society of America, the National Writers Union (U.S.), the New Jersey Task Force on Literacy in the Arts, and the Association of New Jersey County Cultural and Historical Agencies.
William J. Higginson died on October 11, 2008 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Penny Harter.
Genre/Form |
---|
Visual poetry |
Name |
Harter, Penny |
Higginson, William J., 1938- |
Subject |
Haiku |
Haiku -- History and criticism |
Haiku -- Technique |
Haiku -- Translations into English |
Poetry |
Series I hold letters from Higginson's friends and colleagues as well as various Haiku societies and organizations. Often colleagues and admirers would send Higginson various poems that they had written for him to criticize or comment on.
Box 1
Box 1 Folder 1
undated
Box 1 Folder 2
1966-1972
Box 1 Folder 3
1973-1976
Box 1 Folder 4
1977-1982
Box 1 Folder 5
1983-1985
Box 1 Folder 6
1986-1989
Box 1 Folder 7
1990-1991
Box 1 Folder 8
1992-1993
Box 1 Folder 9
1994
Box 1 Folder 10
1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 11
1997-1998
Box 1 Folder 12
1999-2000
Box 1 Folder 13
2001-2007
Box 1 Folder 14
Box 1 Folder 15 to 16
Box 1 Folder 17
Box 1 Folder 18
Box 1 Folder 19
Box 1 Folder 20
Box 1 Folder 21
Box 1 Folder 22
Box 1 Folder 23
Box 1 Folder 24
Box 2 Folder 1
Box 2 Folder 2
Box 2 Folder 3
Box 2 Folder 4
Box 2 Folder 5
Box 2 Folder 6
Box 2 Folder 7
Box 2 Folder 8
Box 2 Folder 9
Box 2 Folder 10
Box 2 Folder 11
Box 2 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 13
Box 2 Folder 14
Box 2 Folder 15
Box 2 Folder 16
Box 2 Folder 17
Box 2 Folder 18
Box 2 Folder 19
Box 2 Folder 20
Box 2 Folder 21 to 22
Box 2 Folder 23
Box 2 Folder 24
Box 2 Folder 25
Box 2 Folder 26
Box 2 Folder 27
Box 2 Folder 28 to 29
Box 2 Folder 30
Box 2 Folder 31
Box 2 Folder 32
Box 2 Folder 33
Box 2 Folder 34
Box 2 Folder 35
Box 2 Folder 36
Box 2 Folder 37
Box 2 Folder 38
Box 2 Folder 39
Box 2 Folder 40
Box 2 Folder 41
Box 2 Folder 42
Box 2 Folder 43
Box 2 Folder 44
Box 2 Folder 45
Box 2 Folder 46
Box 2 Folder 47 to 48
Box 2 Folder 49 to 50
Box 3 Folder 1
Box 3 Folder 2
Box 3 Folder 3
Box 3 Folder 4
Box 3 Folder 5
Box 3 Folder 6
Box 3 Folder 7
Box 3 Folder 8
Box 3 Folder 9
Box 3 Folder 10
Box 3 Folder 11
Box 3 Folder 12
Box 3 Folder 13
Box 3 Folder 14
Box 3 Folder 15
Box 3 Folder 16
Box 3 Folder 17
Box 3 Folder 18
Box 3 Folder 19
Box 3 Folder 20
Box 3 Folder 21
Box 3 Folder 22
Box 3 Folder 23
Box 3 Folder 24
Box 3 Folder 25
Box 3 Folder 26
Box 3 Folder 27
Box 3 Folder 28
Box 3 Folder 29
Box 3 Folder 30
Box 3 Folder 31
Box 3 Folder 32
Box 3 Folder 33
Box 3 Folder 34
Box 3 Folder 35
Box 3 Folder 36
Box 3 Folder 37
Box 3 Folder 38
Box 3 Folder 39
Box 3 Folder 40
Box 3 Folder 41
Box 3 Folder 42
Box 3 Folder 43
Box 3 Folder 44
Box 3 Folder 45
Box 3 Folder 46
Box 3 Folder 47
Box 3 Folder 48
Box 3 Folder 49
Box 3 Folder 50
Box 3 Folder 51
Box 3 Folder 52
Box 3 Folder 53
Box 3 Folder 54
Box 3 Folder 55
Box 3 Folder 56
Box 3 Folder 57
Box 3 Folder 58
Box 3 Folder 59
Box 3 Folder 60
Box 3 Folder 61
Box 3 Folder 62
Box 3 Folder 63
Box 3 Folder 64
Box 3 Folder 65
Box 3 Folder 66
Box 3 Folder 67
Box 3 Folder 68
Box 3 Folder 69
Box 3 Folder 70
Box 3 Folder 71
Box 3 Folder 72
Box 3 Folder 73
Box 4 Folder 1
Box 4 Folder 2
Box 4 Folder 3
Box 4 Folder 4
Box 4 Folder 5
Box 4 Folder 6
Box 4 Folder 7
Box 4 Folder 8
Higginson's writings contain research, drafts, and notes for various projects such as Butterfly Dreams, The Haiku Handbook, and The Haiku Seasons. The series also has correspondence relating to the creation of these projects and about Haiku in general, proofs of Haiku Magazine volumes 5-6, and poetry written by Higginson in collaboration with colleagues.
Box 5 Folder 14
Box 5 Folder 15
Box 5 Folder 16
Box 5 Folder 17
Box 5 Folder 18
Box 4 Folder 9
Box 4 Folder 10
Box 4 Folder 11
Box 4 Folder 12
Box 4 Folder 13
Box 4 Folder 14
Box 4 Folder 15
Box 4 Folder 16
Box 4 Folder 17
Box 4 Folder 18
Box 4 Folder 19
Box 4 Folder 20
Box 5 Folder 1
Box 5 Folder 2
Box 5 Folder 3
Box 5 Folder 4
Box 5 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Box 5 Folder 8
Box 5 Folder 9
Box 5 Folder 10
Box 5 Folder 11
Box 5 Folder 12
Box 5 Folder 13
Box 5 Folder 19 to 20
Undated, (2 Folders)
Box 5 Folder 21
1960-1979
Box 5 Folder 22
1980-1989
Box 5 Folder 23
1990-1999
Box 6 Folder 1
2000-2007
Box 6 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 3
Box 6 Folder 4
Box 6 Folder 5
Box 6 Folder 6
Box 6 Folder 7
Box 6 Folder 8
Box 6 Folder 9
Box 6 Folder 10
Undated
Box 6 Folder 11
1968-1979
Box 6 Folder 12
1980-1989
Box 6 Folder 13 to 14
1990-1999
Box 6 Folder 15
2000-2005
Box 6 Folder 16 to 17
Box 7
Box 8
This small series consists of poetry and small essays written by friends and colleagues of Higginson. The bulk of the pieces are undated and in many cases the author is not identified.
Box 9
Series IV is comprised of printed material such as pamphlets, awards and certificates. There are also files concerning haiku and renku as well as publishing-related documents.
Box 10
Box 11
Box 12
1970s
Box 13
1980s- 1990s
Box 14
1980s
Box 15
1990s
Box 16
2000- 2005
Box 17
Box 18
1990s
Box 19
1990s- 2000
Box 20
Box 28
2001- 2002
Computer disks with backups of Higginson's writings and audio recordings of poetry readings are held in this series.
Box 21
Box 27
Photographs of Higginson and Penny Harter at various poetry functions both within the United States and Japan are in Series VI. Events documented include the Global Renku Symposium and meetings of the Haiku Society of America. Of interest is a photograph of Allen Ginsburg with poet Anne Waldman from 1979. In addition to the photographs, there are a fair amount of slides and negatives.
Box 22
1987
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Series VII contains a variety of realia including buttons, cards and paper products, prints of artwork, cloth and other textiles. Several scrapbooks documenting Higginson's trips through Japan in the 1980s are held in this series.
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 22
Box 23
Box 24
Box 25
Box 26
Box 26
Box 26