Hannah Weiner Papers, 1946-2002 (MSS 504)

Restrictions: Original sound recordings in box 17 are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.

Extent: 6.5 Linear feet (16 archives boxes, 1 card file box and 3 oversize folders)

View OnlineSelected materials from this collection have been digitized and can be viewed through links in the container list.

Papers of Hannah Weiner (1928-1997), a New York City poet and significant member of the "language-centered" group of writers. The papers, covering the years 1946-2002, contain notebooks, typescripts of poems, prose works, typed transcriptions of notebooks, audiorecordings, and miscellaneous materials. Included are materials for Clairvoyant Journals 1974: March - June Retreat (1978), Code Poems: From the International Code of Signals for the Use of All (1982), The Fast (1992), The Magritte Poems (1970), and Spoke (1984).

Hannah Weiner was born on November 4, 1928, in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated from Providence Classical High School in June 1946. She attended Radcliffe College and graduated with a B.A., magna cum laude, in English Literature in 1950. After a brief marriage, she took various jobs in New York City, and began writing poetry around 1963. Her first book, The Magritte Poems, was published in 1966. In the late 60s, Weiner participated in several events within the visual arts scene in New York City. Her most notable "poetry event" was the International Code of Signals. In the early 70s, she commenced her primary body of written work, a series of experimental journals which were in part "clairvoyantly" dictated. I See Words became both her manifesto and method of composition.

Weiner's Clairvoyant Journal 1974 was published by Angel Hair Books in 1978, followed by LittleBooks/Indians (Roof Books, 1980) and Nijole's House (Potes and Poets, 1981). She became one of the most prominent individuals involved with the "language-centered" movement of poets and experimental prose writers. Her work was featured in Ron Silliman's anthology, In the American Tree, Douglas Messerli's Language Poetries, and The L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E Book, edited by Charles Bernstein and Bruce Andrews. She was awarded a creative writing fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1986. Other important collections of her poetry include Spoke (Sun & Moon Press, 1984), The Fast (United Artists Books, 1992), Silent Teachers Remembered Sequel (Tender Button, 1994), and We Speak Silent (Roof Books, 1996). Weiner's manuscript Page, as well as selections from her Clairvoyant Journal and Little Books/Indians have been published posthumously by various presses.

Hannah Weiner died in September 1997 in New York City.

The Hannah Weiner Papers contain notebooks (1971-1979, 1984, 1990-1992, and 1997) and typed transcriptions from the notebooks which provided the basis for several of her books. Also included are significant unpublished materials in both notebook and manuscript form, typescripts of poems and prose works, cassette audiorecordings of several poetry readings, and a small amount of miscellaneous material. The bulk of the collection dates between 1971 and 1979 with some documentation of the early 1990s and the year prior to Weiner's death. The materials are arranged in three series: 1) WRITINGS, 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, and 3) AUDIORECORDINGS.

Container List

WRITINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 1) WRITINGS: Arranged in three subseries: A) Notebooks, B) Manuscripts and C) Posthumous Publications.

A) Notebooks: The first subseries contains bound notebooks which are arranged chronologically. There are three primary sequences of notebooks, 1971-1975, 1976-1979, and 1990-1992. These notebooks consist largely of undated entries which document Weiner's creative process.

B) Manuscripts: The second subseries gathers typed transcriptions from the notebooks, as well as typescripts of poems published in magazines or anthologies and short prose pieces.

C) Posthumous Publications: The final subseries contains correspondence sent between Charles Bernstein and various other editors for the posthumous publication of some of Weiner's well-known works, including Clairvoyant Journal and Page. Editor-annotated manuscripts and page proofs are also included.

Notebooks

Box 1 Folder 1
Notebook #2 - The Hell Book, begins January 24, 1971
Box 1 Folder 2
Notebook #3 - Hell Book II, ends ca. 1971
Box 1 Folder 3
Notebook #4 - Hell Book III
Box 1 Folder 4
Notebook #5 - Heaven Book
Box 1 Folder 5
Notebook #6 - Ides of March, begins March 15, 1971
Box 1 Folder 6
Notebook #7 - At B Blue's
Box 1 Folder 7
Notebook #8 - Apts for Rent, begins March 15, 1971
Box 1 Folder 8
Notebook #9 - The Rose Continued
Box 1 Folder 9
Notebook #10 - The Bus Terminal
Box 1 Folder 10
Notebook #11
Box 1 Folder 11
Notebook #12 - The Loft
Box 2 Folder 1
Notebook #13 - Halfway through
Box 2 Folder 2
Notebook #14 - (No Name)
Box 2 Folder 3
Notebook #15 - New Place
Box 2 Folder 4
Notebook #16 - Orpheum
Box 2 Folder 5
Notebook #17, June 21, 1971
Box 2 Folder 6
Notebook #18 - Toilet Paper
Box 2 Folder 7
Notebook #19 - 4 Days
Box 2 Folder 8
Notebook #20 - Mareng Again
Box 2 Folder 9
Notebook #21 - Country 1
Box 2 Folder 10
Notebook #22 - Country 2
Box 2 Folder 11
Notebook #23 - The Last Week
Box 3 Folder 1
Notebook #24 - Almost
Box 3 Folder 2
Notebook #25 - Capture
Box 3 Folder 3
Notebook #26 - More Country
Box 3 Folder 4
Notebook #27 - More Country 2
Box 3 Folder 5
Notebook #28 - More Country 3
Box 3 Folder 6
Notebook #29 - More Country 4
Box 3 Folder 7
Notebook #30 - Astrology - MC5
Box 3 Folder 8
Notebook #32 - City
Box 3 Folder 9
Notebook #33 - Leap Year
Box 3 Folder 10
Notebook #34 - Potatos [sic]
Box 3 Folder 11
Notebook #35
Box 3 Folder 12
Notebook #36 - E
Box 3 Folder 13
Notebook #37
Box 3 Folder 14
Notebook #38 - Blue Book
Box 4 Folder 1
Notebook #39
Box 4 Folder 2
Notebook #40 - I
Box 4 Folder 3
Notebook #41 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 1
Box 4 Folder 4
Notebook #42 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 2
Box 4 Folder 5
Notebook #43 - The Book of Exorcism (Between I and _) Part 3
Box 4 Folder 6
Notebook #44 - 1972, August
Box 4 Folder 7
Notebook #45
Box 4 Folder 8
Notebook #46
Box 4 Folder 9
Notebook #47
Box 4 Folder 10
Notebook #48
Box 4 Folder 11
Notebook #49, 1972
Box 4 Folder 12
Notebook #50 - Funny
Box 5 Folder 1
Notebook #51, 1972
Box 5 Folder 2
Notebook #52 - Autumn, 1972
Box 5 Folder 3
Notebook #53 - "no wrong", 1972
Box 5 Folder 4
Notebook #54, November 17, 1972
Box 5 Folder 5
Notebook #55 - Eating, November 25, 1972
Box 5 Folder 6
Notebook #56 - Eating, 1972
Box 5 Folder 7
Notebook #57, 1972
Box 5 Folder 8
Notebook #58 - End of December, 1972
Box 5 Folder 9
Notebook #59, January 1, 1973
Box 5 Folder 10
Notebook #60, January 6, 1973
Box 5 Folder 11
Notebook #66, March 11, 1973
Box 6 Folder 1
Notebook #67, March 21, 1973
Box 6 Folder 2
Notebook #68, April 4, 1973
Box 6 Folder 3
Notebook #73, July 7, 1973
Box 6 Folder 4
Notebook #74, July 31, 1973
Box 6 Folder 5
Notebook #75, August 30, 1973
Box 6 Folder 6
Notebook #77, December, 1973
Box 6 Folder 7
Notebook #80, January, 1974
Box 6 Folder 8
Notebook #81, March - April, 1974
Box 6 Folder 9
Notebook #85, February - March, 1975
Box 6 Folder 10
Notebook #87, April 27, May - June, 1975
Box 7 Folder 1
Notebook #98 - You Scribble in It (Retreat 76?)
Box 7 Folder 2
Notebook #99 - After June Retreat, June - July, 1976
Box 7 Folder 3
Notebook #104A - " I Like OK", December 7, 1976
Box 7 Folder 4
Notebook #107 - Gray Book, May 13, 1977
Box 7 Folder 5
Notebook #107 - Friday, May 13, 1977
Box 7 Folder 6
Notebook #108 - Gray Book, May 19 - 22, 1977
Box 7 Folder 7
Notebook #109 - Gray Book, July 1, 1977 and February, 1978
Box 7 Folder 8
Notebook #111 - Black Book - Sheets, October - December, 1977
Box 7 Folder 9
Notebook #111 - Sheets - I see words (copy), October - December, 1977
Box 7 Folder 10
Notebook #122 - Charlemagne (cover note: father dies dead), June 11, 1978
Box 7 Folder 11
Notebook #123 - Cont, June 14, 1978
Box 7 Folder 12
Notebook #128 - I Just Remembered It, October 14, 1974(?)
Box 7 Folder 13
Notebook #129 - October 26
Box 7 Folder 14
Notebook #131 - Page 4, October 29
Box 7 Folder 15
Notebook #138 - Silent Cont, April 7 - 24, 30, 1979
Box 7 Folder 16
Notebook #142, July 19, 1979
Box 7 Folder 17
Notebook - 1984, July (The Zuo One?) Part 4 - 83 lines
Box 8 Folder 1
Notebook #2, April 23, 1990
Box 8 Folder 2
Notebook #1, June 27 - September 13, 1990
Box 8 Folder 3
Notebook #1, September 14 - October 1, 1990
Box 8 Folder 4
Notebook #3, October 1 - 4, 1990
Box 8 Folder 5
Notebook #4, October 5 - 8, 1990
Box 8 Folder 6
Notebook #5, October 9 - 15, 1990
Box 8 Folder 7
Notebook #6, October 15 - 31, 1990
Box 8 Folder 8
Notebook #7, November 1 - 20, 1990
Box 8 Folder 9
Notebook #8, November 20 - December 7, 1990
Box 8 Folder 10
Notebook #9, December 8, 1990 - January 8, 1991
Box 9 Folder 1
Notebook #10, Jnauary 11 - August 13, 1991
Box 9 Folder 2
Notebook #11, August 14 - October 31, 1991
Box 9 Folder 3
Notebook #12, November 1, 1991 - January 12, 1992
Box 9 Folder 4
Notebook #13, January 13, 1992
Box 9 Folder 5
Notebook #14, Autumn, 1992 (?)
Box 9 Folder 6
Notebook #15, September 29, 1992 - January, 1993
Box 9 Folder 7
Notebook #25, July 15, 1997
Box 9 Folder 8
Notebook #26, November 13, 1997
Box 9 Folder 9
Unnumbered notebook
Box 9 Folder 10 Oversize FB27104
Journal entries in drawing pad, plus artwork. Undated. Oversize

Manuscripts

Box 10 Folder 1
1990 Welcome in Sentences. Typescript
Box 10 Folder 2
Abazoo. Manuscript and photocopy, 1988 - 1988
Box 10 Folder 3
All Words are Seen. Typescript, ca. 1979 - 1980
Box 10 Folder 4
Article subtitle. Typescript, 1990 - 1990
Box 10 Folder 5
Astral Visions. Typescript
Box 10 Folder 6
Box 10 Folder 7
Children from the Trees. Typescript published in Little Lights 5., 1982 - 1982

Clairvoyant Journal

Box 10 Folder 8
Box 10 Folder 9
1973 Original - "Original retyped June 1973"
Box 10 Folder 10
1973 Original, July - September, 1973
Box 10 Folder 11
1973 Original, October - November, Christmas, 1973
Box 10 Folder 12
1973 original (hand-drafted pages), September - November, 1973
Box 10 Folder 13
Box 10 Folder 14
1974, March - June retreat. Photocopy of manuscript, stapled, with handwritten notes on final page
Box 10 Folder 15
1974, cuts
Box 10 Folder 16
Clairvoyant Journal typescript., 1975 - 1977
Box 10 Folder 17
Clairvoyant Journal. Published edition used as a reading copy and signed by Steve McCaffery.
Box 11 Folder 1
Code Poem. Visuals and graphics, 1968 - 1968
Box 11 Folder 2
Code Poems
Box 11 Folder 3
Complete Edition. Typescript and photocopy, 1990

Country Girl

Box 11 Folder 5
Typescript transcription with annotations of notebooks #21, #22, #26, #28, and # 29
Box 11 Folder 6
Typescript, 1971
Box 11 Folder 7
Dear Andrew letter peyote, ... Typescript. Dark Ages Class - the Daisy Root #1, ending 1989
Box 11 Folder 8
Dear Douglas - Merida, Christmas 1964. Photocopy published in El Corno Emplumado #18, April 1966
Box 11 Folder 9
Early poems
Box 11 Folder 10
Explain Yourself and untitled journal entries beginning "A Beautiful Sunday..." Numbered pages 42-145
Box 11 Folder 11
Fast Day (Country Girl?), Sections 1-10
Box 11 Folder 12
Fast Day, Sections 11-23
Box 12 Folder 1
Fast Day, Section 31
Box 12 Folder 2
Feb. 11 (I Ams [sic] Spring) and Feb. 15 (I Ams [sic] a Little Word Book). Typescript
Box 12 Folder 3
Great Me Sentences. Typescript
Box 12 Folder 4
Guatamala photocopy of typescript published in New American Writing #7, Spring 1991
Box 12 Folder 5
Hannah youre scared a little plus subject. Typescript
Box 12 Folder 6
I Believe. Typescript
Box 12 Folder 7
I See Words
Box 12 Folder 8
I See Words. Published in the Ron Silliman issue of The Difficulties, vol. 2, no. 2 (1985)
Box 12 Folder 9
I was awakened this morning by the sound of the train horn. Typescript
Box 12 Folder 10
I don't doubt. Typescript
Box 12 Folder 11
If workshop. Photocopy of typescript

International Code of Signals

Box 12 Folder 12
Script and graphic material, 1968
Box 12 Folder 13
Original graphics in black-and-white and colored pencil
Box 12 Folder 14
Slides
Box 13 Folder 1
Art object
Box 14 Folder 1
Jackson Mac Low. Photocopy of typescript
Box 14 Folder 2 Oversize FB27105
Just like Charles likes it / I seem yellow words. Poem composed on six sheets of a watercolor pad
Box 14 Folder 3
Magritte Poems. Published in Poetry Newsletter (Sacramento, Ca.), 1970
Box 14 Folder 4
Many lit let times I counseled you... Manuscript
Box 14 Folder 5
Meaning Bus Halifax to Queensbury. Typescript published in Tuyone (Fall 1990)

Mostly About the Sentence

Box 14 Folder 6
Manuscript
Box 14 Folder 7
Typescript published in Jimmy and Lucy's House of "K" (1986), 1984
Box 14 Folder 8
Mother thinks thats a great / poem but I should cut it out. Typescript
Box 14 Folder 9
My period plus my second line. Typescript
Box 14 Folder 10
Narrative. Typescript collaboration between Abigail Child and Hannah Weiner published in Avec #3 (Fall, 1990) without identifying initials next to stanzas
Box 14 Folder 11
Obligated. A short typescript prose piece about Ted Berrigan
Box 14 Folder 12
Once there was a girl... Manuscript
Box 14 Folder 13
Other Person. Typescript

Page

Box 14 Folder 14
A manuscript dated 1990, June 4. Three sections: Page (44 pages), Articles (53 pages), Same Page (19 pages)
Box 14 Folder 15
1990 manuscript sent to Charles Bernstein
Box 14 Folder 16 Oversize FB27106
Large mailing envelope with handwritten notes
Box 15 Folder 2
Radcliffe and Guatemalan Women. Typescript.
Box 15 Folder 3
Remembered Sequel. Photocopy of typescript
Box 15 Folder 4
Research important conflict two obedient. Typescript, 1990
Box 15 Folder 5
Returning to the Edge. Typescript published in Gandhabba #4, 1986
Box 15 Folder 6
Saturday, May 11. Published in Only Prose (July 1977)
Box 15 Folder 7
Sign Language of the American Indian. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 8
Sins Deadly Some. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 9
Sis explain energy we feel slightly without... Typescript
Box 15 Folder 10
Skies. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 11
Some. Photocopy of typescript published in Acts #3 (1984)
Box 15 Folder 12
Sorry no title. Typescript

Spoke

Box 15 Folder 13
Original - Book 2 of 5, June - July, 1981
Box 15 Folder 14
Original - Book 3 of 5, 1981
Box 15 Folder 15
Strict obedience. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 16
Subject. Photocopy of typescript
Box 15 Folder 17
Subliminate. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 18
Ubliminal. Typescript
Box 15 Folder 19
Untitled prose piece ("It is interesting that while my mind was open..."). Read at Symposium on Poetry of the Future, St. Mark's Church, 1989 - 1989
Box 15 Folder 20
Untitled poetics statement. Published in The Politics of Poetic Form, edited by Charles Bernstein (Roof, 1990)
Box 15 Folder 21
[Words]. Typescript transcription of notebooks #44, 46 and 47

Posthumous Publications

Box 15 Folder 22
Correspondence concerning publication of Page and other manuscripts, 1999-2002
Box 15 Folder 23
Clairvoyant Journal - Two annotated proofs including correspondence concerning their republication, 2000
Box 15 Folder 24
Little Books/Indians - Two manuscript copies of selections from the publication, one with corrections

Page

Box 15 Folder 25
1990 manuscript sent to Charles Bernstein by the author. Bernstein sent the manuscript to various editors after Weiner's death; their annotations are on post-it notes
Box 15 Folder 26
Page proofs with August 2000 changes and cover note from Charles Bernstein
Box 15 Folder 27
Page proofs with May 2002 changes
Box 16 Folder 1
Manuscript used for Roof Books' 2002 publication. Annotated by typesetter
Box 16 Folder 2
Start comfort - Proofs of the poem and letter from Sharon Angle to Charles Bernstein concerning its publication, 2002

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS

Scope and Content Series

Series 2) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS: The series contains several versions of resumes and biographical lists of artistic activities and publications. It also includes miscellaneous photographs and memorabilia.

Box 16 Folder 3
Antin, Eleanor

Invitation to "Portraits of Eight New York Women" (1970, November 21 - December 6): Naomi Dash, Amy Goldin, Margaret Mead, Rochelle Owens, Yvonne Rainer, Carolee Scheemann, Lynne Traiger, Hannah Weiner. Hotel Chelsea, New York City.

Box 16 Folder 4
Awareness and Communication - Instructions to a writing class
Box 16 Folder 5
Biography / Resume
Box 16 Folder 6
Doonesbury cartoon by Garry Trudeau (1982, January 9)
Box 16 Folder 7
High school diploma, June 13, 1946
Box 16 Folder 8
Magazine submission list, 1974 - 1975
Box 16 Folder 9
Manuscript / book chronology, 1966 - 1989
Box 16 Folder 10
Open House: 1969, October 4, 5 and 19

Schedule for "Hannah Weiner's Open House," featuring Vito Acconci, Bernadette Mayer, John Perreult, Arakwawa, et al. Photograph by Jim Stephens.

Box 16 Folder 11
Photograph - Seven people including Hannah Weiner, Anne Waldman, and Bernadette Mayer. Photograph by Robert R
Box 16 Folder 12
Publication and performance list

AUDIORECORDINGS

Scope and Content of Series

Series 3) AUDIORECORDINGS: The series contains tape recordings made of Hannah Weiner's readings between 1974 and 1994. All of the readings occurred in New York City, largely at the Poetry Project, St. Mark's.

Box 17 Folder 1
Astral Visions - Reading with L. Brown (1992-1994?). Reading followed by H.W.'s post-reading comments
Box 17 Folder 2
Clairvoyant Journal

Recorded at the Poetry Project, St. Mark's (New York City), March 1976 and re-broadcast on radio (note: recording on side B only with several minute gap after first ten minutes).

Box 17 Folder 3
Pah - Reading / talk in New York City with Bruce Andrews, November 20, 1994

Weiner reads for 25 minutes on side A and for a few minutes on side B. Andrews does not read on this tape.

Box 17 Folder 4
Reading - St. Mark's, from Three Voice Journal (1974), November 2, 1977

All of Side 1, six minutes on Side 2.

Box 17 Folder 5
Reading at the Poetry Project, St, Mark's. October 28, 1992. Introduction by Ed Friedman
Box 17 Folder 6
Audio track of Phill Niblock's film of Hannah Weiner (made in 1974). Retreat from Clairvoyant Journal, June, 1974