DUANE LOCKE 
PAPERS, 1960-1975
8 boxes (4 linear feet)
Ms. Group 80

Description of Papers

Biographical note: Duane Locke (1920 - ) poet, editor, and University of Tampa professor of English and poet-in-residence.

Locke is the author of more than 2000 poems, published in numerous magazines and some 14 books. He edited the Poetry Review (University of Tampa, 1964-1971) the UT Review (1972-1982), and Abatis (University of Tampa, 1983-1986).

He was the leader of a group of poets, mostly his former students, who practiced what Locke called "linguistic realism," and known as immanentists. The Immanentist Anthology: Art of the Superconscious (The Smith, 1973), and Mantras: an Anthology of Immantentist Poetry (ed. Alan Britt, Floating Hair Press, 1973) illustrate this poetry.

Locke received a Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 1958 and was on the University of Tampa faculty throughout his academic career.  

(Sources: Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2002. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: The Gale Group. 2002. http://www.galenet.com/servlet/BioRC
and the Underground eXperts United (uXu) Duane Locke webpage.

Summary: The Papers include correspondence, manuscripts, and a few miscellaneous records.

Correspondence makes up the bulk of the Papers by far. Much of the correspondence is either from poets sending submissions to the journals that Locke edited, his own poetry submissions to other journals and editors of anthologies, or general correspondence with other poets, several of whom were his former students. The majority of the correspondence is to Locke. His own letters are represented only by carbon copies.

The largest numbers of letters are with other poetry editors and publishers, Fred Wolven, editor of the Ann Arbor Review (about 140 items), Harvey Tucker of Black Sun Press (about 65 items), Hugh Fox (Ghost Dance Press, about 45 items), Paul Roth (Bitter Oleander Press, 29 items). Among other poets and former students who corresponded with Locke are Sylvia Krohn Scheibli (36 items), Charles Hayes (35 items), Helene Jarmol (33 items), Leo Connellan (32 items), William Taylor (32), Nico Suarez (31), Gerritt O' Sullivan (24 items), Sam Cornish (24 items), Jane Leonard (24 items), James MacQueen (19 items), Randall Ackley (18 items), and Roger Sauls (18 items). Several of these were former students. Some had worked with him on the Poetry Review.

 Among the better know poets included among the correspondents are Robert Bly (13 items), David Ignatow (2 letters), Louis Hammer (3 items), Robert Morgan (6 items), and Diane Wakoski (11 items), all of whom were published in Locke's journals. Several letters and manuscripts of Hans Juergensen, whose papers are also in the Smathers Libraries, are included. Much of the correspondence is signed with only a first name, or in case of Locke's carbons, addressed to only a first name. Much of this correspondence has been tentatively identified from the context, physical placement within the letters, handwriting, or simply the occurrence of the name. Researchers will need to satisfy themselves as to the identification of the writer, or the addressee. A number of letters are arranged simply by first name. See the note below on arrangement. Manuscripts are often included with the correspondence.

Other correspondence includes some of Locke's academic correspondence with the University of Tampa and other schools, and his work on a Poetry in the Schools project in Tampa (1972-74).

The Papers also include several short manuscript drafts by Locke and others. The manuscripts by others, usually typed poems, were probably submissions for Locke's journals, sent without accompanying correspondence, or have been separated from the correspondence. Writers include Damon Fazio, Barry MacDonald, and Nico Suarez.

Arrangement: Correspondence (Boxes 1-5) is arranged in three sequences. The first (Box 1) includes about 135 letters that have been identified only by first name. Box 2, General Correspondence, includes 700 to 800 letters arranged alphabetically by last name, but these names are not identified in the description. Boxes 3-5 are correspondence with about 90 poets identified and arranged by last name. Generally individual folders were made for individuals for whom there is five or more pieces of correspondence. Letters both to and from Locke are in the same folders.

Provenance: Donated by Duane Locke in 1976.

Copyright: Copyright has not been transferred to the University of Florida. Permission to publish from this material must be obtained from the individual writers or copyright holders.

September 11, 2002