Ezra Pound
A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Karen Linn Femia
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Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2001
Contact information:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division,
2006
Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms006050
Title: Papers of Ezra Pound
Span Dates: 1945-1986
Bulk Dates: (bulk 1951-1958) ID No.: MSS5676 Creator:
Pound, Ezra,
1885-1972 Extent: 550
items;
1 containers;
.4 linear feet
Language: Collection material in
English
Repository:
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress,
Washington, D.C. Abstract: Poet and critic.
Primarily correspondence with Stephane de Yankowska, a Polish friend living in
England, written during the time Pound was confined to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
in Washington, D.C., after having been declared mentally incompetent to stand
trial for treason. Also includes legal papers pertaining to the motion to
dismiss the treason charges and secure Pound’s release from the psychiatric
hospital
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person
or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed
alphabetically therein.
Names: Pound,
Ezra, 1885-1972 De
Yankowska, Stephane--Correspondence Pound,
Dorothy--Correspondence
Subjects: Culture Economics History Literature Politics,
Practical
Occupations: Critics Poets
Provenance: The papers of Ezra Pound, poet and critic, were given to the Library
of Congress by Herman A. Sieber in 1958. Additional material was purchased by
the Library in 2001.
Processing History:The original gift was part of the division’s Miscellaneous Manuscripts
Collection. With the addition of the Yankowska correspondence, the papers were
reprocessed and a finding aid created.
Transfers:Five sketches of Pound were transferred to the Library’s Prints and
Photographs Division where they are identified as part of these papers
Copyright Status:The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Ezra Pound is
governed by -the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Preferred Citation:Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Ezra Pound Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The papers of Ezra Loomis Pound (1885-1972) span the years 1945-1986,
with the bulk of the material dating from 1951 to 1958, the years of his
confinement at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.. The papers are in
English, French, and Polish and primarily contain correspondence. Ezra Pound
was one of the most influential voices in English language poetry of the
twentieth century both through the force of his own poetry and through his work
as an editor and critic and as an advocate for the poetry of others. When World
War II began, Pound, an American citizen, and his wife Dorothy had been
long-time residents of Italy. Pound gave regular radio broadcasts during the
war from Italy. In 1945 United States occupying forces in Italy arrested Pound,
and he was charged with treason. He was declared mentally incompetent to stand
trial and confined to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, a mental institution in
Washington, D.C. After his release in 1958, he returned to Italy.
The papers are almost entirely composed of Pound’s letters to Stephane
de Yankowska and carbon copies of her letters to him written during his time at
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Yankowska was a Polish friend living in England who
worked for his release from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Many of the notations on
Pound’s letters are hers. Several letters have postscripts from Dorothy Pound.
Ezra Pound assumed the role of mentor to Yankowska, imparting his political and
literary views and suggesting what she should be reading. The style of his
letters is idiosyncratically “Poundian” with invented spellings, rambling
thoughts, wordplay, and caustic commentary. In addition to politics, culture,
history, and economics, Pound’s publication projects are also discussed in the
correspondence.
Other papers include a 1957 letter to the London Times Literary
Supplement and a set of legal papers from the 1958 motion to dismiss the
charges of treason. The motion secured his release from custody in 1958.
This collection is arranged alphabetically by heading and
chronologically therein .
Container |
Contents |
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BOX 1
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London Times Literary Supplement, letter to,
1957
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BOX 1
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United States
v. Pound, motion to dismiss,
1945, 1958, n.d.
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BOX 1
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Yankowska, Stepahane de |
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BOX 1
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Correspondence |
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BOX 1
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From Pound,
1951-1958
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(14
folders)
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BOX 1
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To Pound and to others
concerning Pound,
1951-1958
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(7
folders)
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BOX 1
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Lists and descriptions of
correspondence,
1986, n.d.
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