Lawrence Ferlinghetti Manuscript
Collection
Identifier: MSS -207 -SC
Scope and Content
This small collection contains a handwritten poem, "The Man Who Road Away," written in Taos, April 2, and May 20, 1962. There is also a one page note to Bob Creeley of Albuquerque, N.M., who gave the poem to a professor at the University of New Mexico. The poem was probably a tribute to D.H. Lawrence who lived in Taos, N.M., 1920s-1930s.
Dates
- 1962
Creator
- Ferlinghetti, Lawrence (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biography
Born March 24, 1919 in Yonkers, N.Y., poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti had a very unstable childhood. His immigrant father died when Lawrence was two years old, and his mothers chronic bad health forced her to abandon him at age six. He was adopted by his mothers uncle and his wife, Ludovic and Emily Monsanto. Emily separated from Ludovic, taking Ferlinghetti with her to her family in Alsace, Strasbourg, Germany. There he learned French before he could speak English, and was educated in the classics and literature. When the Monsantos divorced, Emily returned to New York for monetary reasons, becoming a housekeeper for a family called Bislands. Eventually Emily quit her employment and deserted Ferlinghetti, leaving the Bislands to raise him. The Bislands sent him to private school and later, using the name Larry Farling, he attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing in 1941. He enlisted in the Navy during WWII, was promoted to Lt. Commander, and took part in the D-Day invasion. He was at Nagasaki after the United States dropped the atomic bomb. Participating in war and seeing the aftermath of the bombing sharpened his political viewpoint. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he received an M.A. at Columbia University in 1948, then went to Paris, France where he obtained his Ph.D. in Creative Writing at Sorbonne, University of Paris. In Paris he met other beat generation writers such as Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac and, Allen Ginsberg.
Ferlinghetti was in tune to the political climate of the times and he became a central figure in the San Francisco area artistic community. He lived in Oakland, California and opened the City of Lights Pocket Bookshop in 1953, selling magazines and newspapers with a political emphasis. He participated in the printing of Beatitude, a political magazine, and wrote novels and books of poetry including Coney Island of the Mind , published in 1958, Starting From San Francisco , 1961, and Her , 1965.
Ferlinghetti was in tune to the political climate of the times and he became a central figure in the San Francisco area artistic community. He lived in Oakland, California and opened the City of Lights Pocket Bookshop in 1953, selling magazines and newspapers with a political emphasis. He participated in the printing of Beatitude, a political magazine, and wrote novels and books of poetry including Coney Island of the Mind , published in 1958, Starting From San Francisco , 1961, and Her , 1965.
Extent
1 folder (2 items)
Creator
- Ferlinghetti, Lawrence (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Lawrence Ferlinghetti Manuscript, 1962
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by Illene Renfro
- Date
- ©1999
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//The University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 207 SC:: Lawrence Ferlinghetti Manuscript)//EN" "nmu1mss207sc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451