Frank Samperi Papers, 1940-2020 (bulk 1960-1991) (MSS 859)

Extent: 4.8 Linear feet (12 archives boxes, 1 oversize folder), + 1.04 GB of digital files

Papers of Frank Samperi, self-taught poet, writer, and translator associated with the themes of spirituality and transcendence. Championed by Louis Zukofsky and Cid Corman, and most well-known for his trilogy of poetry collections, The Prefiguration, Quadrifariam, and Lumen Gloriae, Samperi left a mark on poetics of the 20th century. This collection contains many of Samperi's limited edition works, as well as correspondence.

Frank Samperi, poet and translator, was born on May 19th, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York. The child of an Italian immigrant, Samperi was raised after age thirteen by aunts. At twenty years of age, Samperi joined the army and served until he was honorably discharged after facing mental hardships. Samperi then moved back to New York and began writing poetry. After releasing his first book, Song Book, in 1960, he was noticed by renowned Objectivist poet Louis Zukofsky. As Samperi grew more notable in the poet community, he also met, and corresponded heavily with, Cid Corman, the editor of the poetry magazine Origin.

In 1964, Samperi moved to Japan and worked as a teacher. Cid Corman also resided in Japan, as well as the artist and poet Will Petersen, who Samperi also became close with. Both Cid Corman and Will Petersen corresponded, published, and collaborated with Frank Samperi during his career.

Samperi dedicated a portion of his work to translation, most profoundly with the study and translation of Dante's Paradisio. Samperi was fluent in both Italian and Latin. As a Dante researcher as well as a translator, Samperi's own work was influenced by Paradisio and Dante's other works.

Some of Samperi's published works include: The Prefiguration, Quadrifariam, Lumen Gloriae, and A Remotis. Collections of his poetry have also been published posthumously, including, Spiritual Necessity. Frank Samperi was married to Dolores Samperi, and they had two children, Claudia and David. The family lived in Brooklyn, New York after returning from Japan, and then settled in Arizona in the 1980s. Frank Samperi passed away on June 28, 1991 after complications with pneumonia.

Papers of Frank Samperi, self-taught poet, writer, and translator associated with the themes of spirituality and transcendence. This collection documents the personal life and career of Frank Samperi from the 1940s until 1990, including poetry, prose, translations, drafts, hand-made bindings, and a selection of notebooks. The correspondence is a significant portion of this collection. Will Petersen and Cid Corman are prominent correspondents, writing about personal and professional topics, philosophy, and religion. Multiple numbered editions of works by Petersen, as well as Samperi's works published by Petersen, are included in this collection.

Supplemental materials created posthumously, as well as correspondence between his daughter Claudia Samperi-Warren and other poets dating through 2020, is also included in this collection.

Arranged in seven series: 1) BIOGRAPHICAL, 2) CORRESPONDENCE, 3) WRITINGS BY SAMPERI - POETRY, PROSE &T RANSLATIONS, 4) NOTEBOOKS AND JOURNALS, 5) WORKS BY OTHERS, 6) AUDIOCASSETTE RECORDINGS, and 7) BORN DIGITAL.

Container List

BIOGRAPHICAL

Scope and Contents

SERIES 1) BIOGRAPHICAL: A small amount of miscellaneous material arranged chronologically. Includes information on family history, and works written about Frank Samperi.

Box 1 Folder 1
Biographical materials from U.S. Army enlistment, 1953-1956
Box 1 Folder 2
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - Creative writing fellowship application, 1972
Box 1 Folder 3
Family photograph, 1976, undated

With note from a relative, Dagny. Also includes 3 undated negatives possibly of family photographs.

Box 1 Folder 4
Reading list - Complied by Frank Samperi for John Perlman, 1977

Biographical essays about Frank Samperi's life and work, 2000-2015

Box 1 Folder 5
"Frank Samperi's Lamentations", ca. 2000

By John Martone. Draft of essay eventually published in the journal, Italian Americana, Volume 21, in 2003. Also includes correspondence between Martone and Claudia Samperi.

Box 1 Folder 6
"Spiritual Man, Modern Man: The Poetics of Frank Samperi", 2008

By Jamie Townsend.

Box 1 Folder 7
Untitled work, chapter 1: "Plaintive Wails", ca. 2015

Author unidentified. Following chapters include: "In Basso Loco," "The Work 1971-1979," "The Paradiso," "The Dissolution," and "Conclusion."

Box 1 Folder 8
"Time and Eternity in Frank Samperi's Letters", undated

By Clive Faust.

Box 1 Folder 9
Anecdotal account of Samperi family lineage, 2012
Box 1 Folder 10
Film proposal about Samperi, undated
Box 1 Folder 11
Lists of works by Samperi

CORRESPONDENCE

Scope and Contents

SERIES 2) CORRESPONDENCE: Arranged alphabetically. Prominent correspondents include: Cid Corman, Ronnie Kaplan, Will Petersen, and correspondence to and from daughter Claudia Samperi.

Box 1 Folder 12
A-Z Miscellaneous

Includes 2 pieces of correspondence from Robert Lax.

Box 1 Folder 13
Beckett, Tom - Viscerally Press, 1979-1980

Includes: "Doors 1: 3 for John Cage," by Beckett.

Box 1 Folder 14-15
Corman, Cid - To Frank Samperi, 1975-1991
Box 2 Folder 1
Corman, Cid - To Frank Samperi, 1975-1991
Box 2 Folder 2
Corman, Cid - To Claudia Samperi-Warren, 1991-1999

Claudia Samperi-Warren is Frank Samperi's daughter.

Box 2 Folder 3
Eshleman, Clayton, 1972-1977
Box 2 Folder 4
Faust, Clive, 1977-1990
Box 2 Folder 5
Gaspari, Walter, 1977-1981
Box 2 Folder 6-7
Kaplan, Ronnie, 1976-1990

Includes poems written by Kaplan and sent to Samperi. Includes a folder of recovered letters from Samperi to Kaplan, along with a note to Claudia Samperi-Warren about Kaplan recovering these letters.

Box 2 Folder 8
Kelly, Robert, 1974-1979, 1987

Includes a copy of "The Lady Of," by Robert Kelly in Sparrow 55, for Frank Samperi.

Box 2 Folder 9
Levy, John, 1977-1985

Includes photographs of Cid Corman. Includes recovered letters from Samperi to Levy, some original and some photocopied.

Box 2 Folder 10
McClelland, Bruce - Station Hill Press, 1979-1980
Box 2 Folder 11
Miller, David, 1977-1990

Includes "One or Two Things about the Work of Frank Samperi," essay by Miller.

Box 2 Folder 12
Moksey, George, 1972-1974
Box 2 Folder 13
Ott, Gil, 1981-1982
Box 3 Folder 1
Perlman, John, 1969-1973, 1988

Includes a copy of "Room 3," by Larry Eigner and Karl Young, sent to Samperi from Perlman.

Box 3 Folder 2-6
Petersen, Will, 1961-1980

Includes artwork and some poems by Will Petersen.

Box 4 Folder 1
Pitozzi, Ugo, 1976-1977

Much of the correspondence in this file is written in Italian. Includes a poem for Frank Samperi. Also includes a journal by Pitozzi bound with a cover page in card stock. Also includes a handmade copy of "Sotto Zero," by Pitozzi with a note to Frank Samperi.

Box 4 Folder 2
Sackheim, Eric - Mushinsha Limited, 1970-1973
Box 4 Folder 3-6
Samperi-Warren, Claudia (incoming and outgoing), 1990-2013

Correspondence received by Claudia Samperi-Warren concerning Frank Samperi's work and legacy. Includes Volume 1 of "Reality Studios," sent to Claudia. Also includes an essay sent to Claudia written by Michele Mazzia that mentions Samperi's The Triune. Includes correspondence sent to Douglas Messerli with some excerpts of Samperi's work. Includes a folder of correspondence with presses and universities.

Box 4 Folder 7
Taggart, John, 1972-1973
Box 4 Folder 8
Weil, James L. - The Elizabeth Press, 1973-1980
Box 4 Folder 9
Weinfield, Henry, 1972, 1976
Box 4 Folder 10
Wilson, John, 1973-1976
Box 4 Folder 11
Unidentified
Box 4 Folder 12
Frank Samperi's drafts and retrieved outgoing correspondence
Box 4 Folder 13
Correspondence re: The Triune , 1969-1970

WRITINGS BY SAMPERI - POETRY, PROSE, AND TRANSLATIONS

Scope and Contents

SERIES 3) WRITINGS BY SAMPERI - POETRY, PROSE & TRANSLATIONS: Arranged alphabetically by title. Includes drafts, hand bound works, author's copies, and promotional materials.

Box 4 Folder 14
A Marte, undated
Box 5 Folder 1
Anamnesis, ca. 1969
Box 5 Folder 2
Anti-Hero, 1971
Box 5 Folder 3-4
A Remotis - 2 copies and galley proofs, 1979

One author's copy and one copy "for John."

Box 5 Folder 5
Circulazion and Manifestatio , 1991

Both titles were printed posthumously by Tel-Let, one of 75 copies each.

Box 5 Folder 6
Comprehensor Viator, The Expulsion, and Manifestatio , ca. 1976
Box 5 Folder 7
Crystals - Mock up version for Caterpillar poetry journal, ca. 1967
Box 5 Folder 8
Day - Posthumous title, promotional materials, ca. 2000
Oversize FB-040 Folder 2
Day - Figure drawings and landscape sketch by Claudia Samperi Warren, undated

Three draft illustrations by Claudia Samperi Warren used in the book Day in an effort to combine the artistic work of father and daughter.

Box 5 Folder 9
Ferns, ca. 1965

Hand bound version of short poem, eventually became a poem in The Prefiguration.

Box 5 Folder 10
Habitudinem, ca. 1973
Box 5 Folder 11
I El, ca. 1989
Box 5 Folder 12
Intact , 1979 April

Published by: +,X Plain.

Box 5 Folder 13
"Intaglio" and A Remotis , ca. 1971

Loose pages, not separated by title. Drafts with occasional edits.

Box 5 Folder 14
Letargo , ca. 1980
Box 5 Folder 15
Marginalia - Annotated draft, 1969 September 29

Morning and Evening

Box 5 Folder 16
Morning and Evening - Portfolio mock up, 1964

Mock up for eventual publication. Includes stone prints and three color lithographs by Will Petersen. Includes handwritten pages with plan for the portfolio.

Box 5 Folder 17
Morning and Evening - Sewn pages, Japanese mulberry paper, signed by Samperi, ca. 1967
Box 6 Folder 1
Morning and Evening - Proofs for Gist of Origin , 1974

Gist of Origin is a poetry anthology edited by Cid Corman.

Box 6 Folder 2
Napkin poem for Claudia, undated
Box 6 Folder 3
Of Light - Signed mock up for publication, ca. 1965
Box 6 Folder 4-5
Paradiso translation, ca. 1973
Box 6 Folder 6
Paradiso - Commentary (photocopies of notebook pages), undated
Box 6 Folder 7
Poems - Spiral bound, 1957-1958
Box 6 Folder 8
The Prefiguration - Annotated drafts, ca. 1971
Box 6 Folder 9
Quadrifariam - Copy of Spanish translation by Mario Dominguez Parra, undated
Box 6 Folder 10
Sanza Mezzo , 1975

Hand-bound copy from 2 years prior to publication.

Box 6 Folder 11
Sappunta, The Bow Window, "The Vesture," "Oratio," and "I El", undated

Set of five collections of poems, pages hand numbered.

Box 7 Folder 1
Sappunta - Proof, 2003
Box 7 Folder 2
So Close, ca. 1960
Box 7 Folder 3
Song Book - Author's proofs, 1960
Box 7 Folder 4
The Room is my Refuge from Light, undated
Box 7 Folder 5
Triginta - Draft prose with some poems and revisions/edits, 1979-1980
Box 7 Folder 6
Trilogy , 2012

Information about a re-release of Samperi's Trilogy, including, introduction, book jacket, and correspondence.

Box 7 Folder 7
Untitled prose - Handwritten, 1970 February 19
Box 7 Folder 8-13
Miscellaneous poems and prose

Includes a poem written for Dolores, Claudia, and David. Mostly photocopies, occasionally some edits on poems.

NOTEBOOKS AND JOURNALS

Scope and Contents

SERIES 4) NOTEBOOKS AND JOURNALS: Arranged chronologically. Includes personal and professional journals and notes concerning topics of spirituality, friendship, translation, and research on Dante Alighieri.

Box 8 Folder 1
Notes: Di Journal, 1963

Includes journal entries from 1963 that have been typed. Typist is unidentified.

Box 8 Folder 2
Pocket notebook, 1966
Box 8 Folder 3-6
Notebooks - Dante's "Paradisio" and other notes/drafts, 1969-1972
Box 8 Folder 7
Notebook - "Marginalia," "Anti-Hero," and "Intaglio", 1969 September-1970 June

Working notebook for the manuscript Quadrifariam.

Box 8 Folder 8
Notebook - "Day", 1970 June
Box 9 Folder 1
Notebook, 1971 February-November

Blue record notebook with diary entries and notes.

Box 9 Folder 2
Notebooks, 1973-1977

Two record notebooks, one blue and one red. Includes notes on other poets, reflection on working with Cid Corman, drafts, poetry, and entries on depression.

Box 9 Folder 3
Photocopies of loose notes - Concerning Dante translations, 1974
Box 9 Folder 4
Notebook including continuation of work on Dante translations, 1974-1975
Box 9 Folder 5
Notebook - Gifted from Claudia and David, 1976-1978

Includes loose draft of correspondence and 3 poems.

Box 9 Folder 6-7
Notebooks, 1977-1979

2 black unruled sketchbooks with poems, notes, and diary entries. With some titled notes, including, "Habitudinem," and "Comprehensor." Also includes comments on depression, Judaism, Freud, and Cid Corman.

Box 10 Folder 1
Notebook, 1979 March-September

Green unruled notebook with notes about religion, Dante, and poetry.

Box 10 Folder 2
Spiral notebook - Dante translations and loose signed poem, 1980-1981
Box 10 Folder 3-4
Notebooks - Poems and drafts, 1980-1982

Some titled poems include: "Indita" and "The Vesture."

Box 10 Folder 5
Red decorative diary, 1982

With gift inscription of diary to Frank Samperi from wife Dolores, then used by Samperi as diary.

Box 11 Folder 1
Notebook, 1985

Notebook gifted to Samperi by daughter, Claudia.

Box 11 Folder 2
Notebook, 1991

Each page dated, with a poem on each day. Last entry is June 5th, 1991, about three weeks before Samperi's passing.

WORKS BY OTHERS

Scope and Contents

SERIES 5) WORKS BY OTHERS: Small series of writings, arranged alphabetically by author. Features Will Petersen, Louis Zukofsky, and others.

Box 11 Folder 3
Baker, Ed - "Old Hippie Moons," "The City," and "Full Moon", 2000-2001
Box 11 Folder 4-5
Martone, John - Spiritual Necessity: Selected Poems of Frank Samperi , 2002-2007

Published collection edited by John Martone. Includes draft introduction, proof, and correspondence. Also includes photocopies of Samperi's poems from Habitudinem.

Box 11 Folder 6
Perlman, John - "Teaching" and "The Idiolects of Silence", 2009
Box 11 Folder 7
Petersen, Will - Hagoromo, 1969
Box 11 Folder 8
Petersen, Will - Kazuraki, 1972

Manuscript version with dedication to Samperi.

Box 12 Folder 1-2
Petersen, Will - Yashima, 1972-1973

Includes "unencumbered" typescript version for Samperi and the full edition page proof.

Box 12 Folder 3-4
Zukofsky, Louis - First half of "A" - 9, 1940

Note from Frank Samperi: "Zukofsky's 'A' - 9 given personally to me." Includes Samperi's response to "A" 1-12, sent to Clayton Eshleman.

AUDIOCASSETTE RECORDINGS

Scope and Contents

SERIES 6) AUDIOCASSETTE RECORDINGS: Includes readings and discussions.

Box 12 Folder 5
Frank Samperi poetry reading, 1987 August
Box 12 Folder 6
Frank Samperi and John Levy

BORN DIGITAL

Scope and Contents

SERIES 7) BORN DIGITAL: Includes computer files from Claudia Samperi-Warren with correspondence and works both regarding and by Frank Samperi.

Digital file d01
Frank Samperi correspondence and computer files, ca. 1998
Digital file d02
Day , 1998