This collection consists of sound recordings from Susan Howe's radio program on WBAI New York spanning 1965, and 1970-1981. Also includes other WBAI poetry-related recordings owned by Howe.
Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings, 1965, 1970-1981 (MSS 190)
Restrictions: Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies of most recordings are
available.
Extent: 6.4 Linear feet (6 record cartons and 1 archives box)
Susan Howe (b. 1937) is an American artist, poet, and writer. Howe's poetry evolved from her painting and drawing career, and her first major publication was the 1974 edition of Hinge Picture (New York, Telephone Books). Closely associated with the late 1970s and 1980s Language Poets' movement, Susan Howe's poetry and scholarship are most accurately characterized as language-based and experimental. In the 1970s, Howe produced a radio talk show for WBAI radio in which she interviewed and hosted a wide range of American and European poets. Through producing and editing this show, Howe not only interviewed poets, but introduced their readings, facillitated discussion, and read poetry of her own. Howe's sound editing work is echoed in her authorial voice and her splicing and language use within her written works. Howe also wanted to create a program that required participation and active listening on the part of the listener.
The majority of this collection contains original recordings from Susan Howe's radio program, referred to as "Susan Howe with Poetry," "Poetry Today," and/or "Poetry." It was generally a thirty minute program, but special events would last upwards of an hour and a half. Howe would interview and/or host guests, who would read on the program. She also edited and produced the broadcast versions for radio. Notable guests include John Ashbery, Anne Waldman, Ron Padgett, Alice Notley, and Jerome Rothenberg. The recording and editing decisions created a unique experience for each event due to Howe's belief that, similarly to choosing interview questions, sound editing and final production requires choices that are different for each individual being featured. The dates provided are either the creation date of the broadcast reel or the first broadcast date of the program, with additional broadcast dates listed in the notes.
Supporting broadcast materials in Series 3 are unedited productions tapes that serve as the content source for WBAI roadcast versions. However, these materials are largely duplicative of recordings in Series 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, and contain very little unique content.
Arranged in three series: 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, 2) OTHER WBAI POETRY BROADCASTS, and 3) SUPPORTING BROADCAST MATERIALS.
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