Marianne Moore Collection, 1935-1969

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Moore, Marianne, 1887-1972.

Collector:

Princeton University. Library. Special Collections

Title:

Marianne Moore Collection

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/j96020624

Dates:

1935-1969

Size:

1 box and 0.2 linear feet

Storage Note:

Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1

Language:

English

Abstract: Consists selected correspondence and manuscripts of celebrated American poet Marianne Moore.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of selected correspondence, poems, and photographs of Marianne Moore. The correspondence includes seven letters (1941-1966) by Moore to Mrs. Mildred Pressinger Kienbusch, and two related letters to Mrs. Kienbusch from mutual friends; two letters to Otto von Kienbusch, one written in June 1969, in a shaky hand, after Moore had suffered a stroke; one letter to Mrs. Barbara Turner; five letters to Mr. Mass and Mr. T. Tambimuttu about making corrections to her books before printing; eight letters (1944-1952) to José Rodríguez Feo in Cuba regarding publishing poems by her and Elizabeth Bishop in the prominent Cuban literary magazine Orígenes. There is a photograph of Moore taken at Princeton University in front of Nassau Hall in 1968 during a commencement ceremony, and another one taken at Harvard University. Also included are holograph corrections on a printed copy of p. 122 of her translation of The Fables of La Fontaine; a typed and signed poem titled "Nevertheless"; and a typed and signed poem titled "What Are Years?" inscribed to James Lowe and dated Oct. 7, 1968.

Arrangement

Arranged by accession number.

Collection Creator Biography:

Moore, Marianne, 1887-1972.

American poet Marianne Moore was born in St. Louis, and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1909. She lived mostly in New York City, working first as a librarian and later, from 1925 until 1929, as editor of the literary and cultural journal The Dial. Her poetry is witty, intellectual, and often satirical. Volumes of her verse include Poems (1921), Observations (1924), What Are Years? (1941), Collected Poems (1951, Pulitzer Prize), O to Be a Dragon (1959), and Complete Poems (1967). Among her other works are the translation of The Fables of La Fontaine (1954). In addition to winning a Pulitzer Prize, Moore acquired sixteen honorary degrees and a National Book Award and served as a mentor to younger poets such as Elizabeth Bishop. She attended boxing matches, baseball games and other public events, dressed in what became her signature garb, a tricorn hat and a black cape. Not long after throwing the first pitch for the 1968 season in Yankee Stadium, Moore suffered the first of a series of strokes. She died in 1972.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Seven letters to Mrs. Kienbusch and three letters from others were a gift of Carl Otto von Kienbusch, Princeton Class on 1906, in memory of Mildred Clarke von Kienbusch on September 19, 1968 .

Letters to Carl Otto Von Kienbusch were a gift of Carl Otto von Kienbusch, Princeton Class on 1906, on August 25, 1969 .

"Nevertheless" manuscript was a gift of a Carl Otto von Kienbusch, Princeton Class on 1906, on July 23, 1970 .

"What are Years?" manuscript was a gift of Carl Otto von Kienbusch, Princeton Class on 1906, on May 11, 1971 .

Photograph of Moore in front of Nassau Hall was a gift of Mrs. Daniel Dillon on September 16, 1969 .

Holograph changes to the text of The Fables and letter to Mrs. Turner were purchased on Febuary 13, 1969 .

Letters to Mr. Mass and Mr. T. Tambimuttu were purchased on October 23, 1968 .

Letters to Mr. Rodriguez were purchased on December 14, 1989 .

Custodial History

The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Dina Britain on August 3, 2006. Finding aid written by Tenley Eakin on August 4, 2006. Folder inventory added by James Clark '14 in 2012.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

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