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James I. Merrill (AC 1947) and William S. Burford (AC 1949) Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00176

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection consists of thirty-four letters written by James Merrill to William S. Burford while they were Amherst College undergraduates. Also, six pen and ink sketches from Merrill's student days at Amherst; and two copies of the final publication of (as well as a draft of credits for) the literary journal The Medusa, which Merrill and Burford co-founded.

Dates

  • Creation: 1945-1980

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to the James I. Merrill (AC 1947) and William S. Burford (AC 1949) Correspondence, 1945-1980 for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections in the first instance. Washington University retains ownership of all copyrights to the letters written by James Merrill. All requests for permission and consent for use of the letters must be agreed to by the owners and the holders of copyrights to the materials that are the subject of such requests, including Amherst, as the physical owner of the original letters written by Merrill; Washington University as the holder of the Merrill copyrights; Merrill's literary executors as necessary; and the holders of the Burford copyrights, as appropriate. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Biographical / Historical

James Ingram Merrill was born on March 3, 1926, son of Hellen Ingram Merrill (later Plummer) and Charles E. Merrill (AC 1908). Merrill prepared for college at Lawrenceville School and entered Amherst with the Class of 1947 in the summer of 1943. Merrill interrupted his studies between May, 1944 and February, 1945 when he served in the Army Enlisted Reserves. He returned to graduate in June, 1947. Merrill was on good terms with the College throughout his life, returning to teach, serve as a fellow, give readings, and participate in a variety of College events. A detailed chronology of the poet's association with Amherst and a comprehensive list of Merrill's Amherst College undergraduate courses follow:

Chronology of James I. Merrill (AC 1947) at Amherst College

1943 summer term
Matriculated; lived in Psi Upsilon House, room 6 (through May 1944)
1943 July 2
Listed in the "Class of 1947 Directory" published in The Gazette of Amherst College
1943-1944
Listed in the Amherst College Catalogue under the "Class of 1947" for the summer (July 1-Oct 13, 1943) and fall (Oct 21-Feb 9, 1944) terms
1943 October -1944 February
Roomed in Psi Upsilon House, room 6
1943 October 1-2
Played the butler, Johann Dwornitschek, in a production of Molnar's The Play's the Thing
1943 October 29
Listed in the "College Directory - Winter Term" published in The Gazette of Amherst College
1943 November
Author of "Campus Comment" in Amherst Graduates' Quarterly
1944 February-May
Roomed in Psi Upsilon House, room 6
1944 February
Author of "Undergraduate Comment" in Amherst Graduates' Quarterly
1944
Appears in the freshman group photograph in The Olio
1944-1945
Listed in the Amherst College Catalogue under the "Class of 1947" for the spring (February 17-May 31, 1944) term
1944 May 27
Entered the Army Enlisted Reserve
1945 January 24
Discharged from the Army 1945-1946 Listed in the Amherst College Catalogue under the "Class of 1947" for the spring (February 15-May 29, 1945), summer (June 28-September 19, 1945), and fall (September 27-February 2, 1946) terms
1945 February 15
Re-enrolled at Amherst College
1945 February-May
Roomed in Chi Psi Lodge (to February 1946
1945 February 20
Listed in the "Amherst College Directory" published in The Jeff
1945 June 30
Listed in the "Amherst College Directory" for summer term published in The Jeff
1945 summer term
Roomed in Chi Psi Lodge
1945 September 28
Listed in the "Amherst College Directory" for fall term published in The Jeff
1945 October -1946
February Roomed in Chi Psi Lodge
1945 October 20
Mentioned in an article in The Jeff about the Orphee production ("Kirby Theatre Guild Presentation For Fall To Be Two One Act Plays")
1945 November 30
Mentioned in an article in The Jeff about the Orphee production ("My Heart's In The Highlands And Orphee To Open At Kirby Theatre")
1945 December 6-8
Played the title role in a production of Cocteau's Orphee
1945 December 7
Mentioned in an article in The Jeff about the Orphee production ("Casts of Kirby Theatre Plays Demonstrated Great Skill and Poise")
1945 December 14
Appears in the Theatre Guild photograph ("Brains Behind Guild") and the Orphee photograph ("Orphee's Best Friend") in The Jeff
1946-1947
Listed in the Amherst College Catalogue under the "Class of 1947" for the spring (February 4-June 11, 1946) and fall (September 25-February 1, 1947) terms
1946 spring term
Roomed at 24 Tyler Place [Crosby's?] (at least to Feb 1947)
1946 February 8
Article in The Jeff about Merrill's election as President of The Medusa ("Whicher to Read Own Works At Medusa"); Merrill also listed in "Extra-curricular Activities"
1946 May 17
Article in The Jeff about the receiving the Irene Glascock memorial poetry prize from Mount Holyoke College ("Amherst Bard Wins Holyoke Poet Prize")
1946 May 28
Mentioned in article in The Jeff about The Masquers ("Reorganization, Election Of Officers Features Return Of The Masquers")
1946
Listed as an Olio contributor in The 1946 Olio (with red paper covers), page 35, which was produced in May of 1945 (the Class of 1946 graduated in May 1945 because the College accelerated the program due to the war)
1946 June
Appears in Kirby Theatre Guild and The Medusa photographs in The Olio (white hardcover), pages 60-61, page 65
1946-1947 fall term
Roomed at 24 Tyler Place [Crosby's?]
1946 fall
Edited The Medusa with William Burford (AC 1949). The journal contained four Merrill poems: "The Broken Bowl," "From Morning into Morning," "Medusa," "The Black Swan"
1946 December 10
Election to Phi Beta Kappa noted in an article in The Amherst Student ("Sedelow Chosen Phi Beta Kappa Head; New Members Selected")
1947 May 14
Mentioned in an article in The Amherst Student about the Masquers productions ("Petrified Forest; Sherwood Drama To Be Followed by One-Act Plays")
1947 May 22-23
Production of The Birthday, a play in blank verse by Merrill, at Kirby Theater
1947 May 28
Received the Collin Armstrong (AC 1877) Poetry Prize
1947 May 28
Mentioned in an article in The Amherst Student about workshop dramas ("Second Series Of Workshop Dramas Presented In Kirby")
1947
In The Olio: senior photograph, page 42; Phi Beta Kappa photograph, page 75; The Masquers photograph, page [80]; list of activities, page 132
1947 June 15
Senior honors thesis: "A la Recherche du Temps Perdu :Impressionism in Literature"
Awarded a B.A. degree summa cum laude, English major, at the 127th Commencement. (The degree was voted by the Trustees, on May 3, 1947)
1947-1948
Listed in the Amherst College Catalogue in the "Honors" section for membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society and as the 1947 recipient of the Collin Armstrong Poetry Prize for Eight Poems, "the best original poems in a group." Also listed under "Degrees Conferred June 15, 1947"
1950
Twenty-One Lyrics, a production of G. F. Whicher's Humanities 1- 2 course, includes Merrill's poem "The Broken Bowl"
1951 May
Review in Amherst Alumni News ("Amherst Authors" section, "1942 and 1947") of Merrill's book First Poems
1951
Ten Student Poems: A Selection of Poetry Composed by Students in English 23-24, Advanced Composition, at Amherst College, 1946-1951 (Merrill's poem "The Forms of Death: I, II, III, IV")
1955 February 10
Article in The Amherst Student about Merrill's comedy The Immortal Husband ("Comedy By Merrill '47 Opens Soon In New York")
1955-1956
Visiting Assistant Professor of English. Taught English 21 and 22, Introduction to Literature, and English 23 and 24, Advanced Composition
Merrill lived on Market Hill Road (at Professor Walker Gibson's house while Gibson was away on leave), his campus office was in Grosvenor 26
1956 January
Review in Amherst Alumni News of The Misanthrope by Molière,translated by Richard Wilbur '42
1956 May 24
Mentioned in an article in The Amherst Student about faculty who were leaving: Merrill was to travel the world ("Twenty-Seven Of Faculty To Leave Amherst In Next Year")
1956
Faculty photograph in The Olio, page 25
1957 April
Review in Amherst Alumni News ("Amherst Authors" section, "1947") of Merrill's book The Seraglio
1963 January 7
Announcement in The Amherst Student ("Poetry Here Tuesday Merrill '47 To Read") for January 8 poetry reading
1963 January 8
Poetry reading in Johnson Chapel
1963 January 10
Article in The Amherst Student ("James Merrill At Amherst") about his January 8 poetry reading
1968 June 7
Received an Honorary Litt.D. degree at the 147th Commencement
1972 fall
Announcement in Amherst ("Amherst Authors" section, "1947") of Merrill's book Braving the Elements
1973 winter
Article in Amherst ("James Merrill '47 Wins Bollingen Prize") about winning the prize, for Braving the Elements
1973 December 10
Poetry reading in Johnson Chapel
1977 spring
Announcement in Amherst ("Amherst Authors" section, "Merrill Wins Pulitzer") about winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, for Divine Comedies
1980 May 24
Class Day speaker for Senior Week and Commencement
1980 summer
Article in Amherst ("The man in manifesto") about his Class Day appearance
1982 June
Sent news and photograph for the Classes of 1947 and 1948's 35th Reunion Book
1983 spring
Article in Amherst ("Amherst Authors" section, "A host true to his word") about Merrill's books From the First Nine: Poems 1946- 1976 and Changing Light at Sandover
1983 April 25-29
dinner and poetry reading on April 29
poetry reading on April 25
Merrill is the sixth Robert Frost Library Fellow
Friends of the Amherst College Library keepsake publication: the poem Think Tank
1983
Article in Newsletter of the Friends of the Amherst College Library about Merrill's Robert Frost Library Fellowship
1988 June 4
Poetry reading during Reunion Week (Classes of 1947 and 1948 combined 40th Reunion)
1988 fall
Article in Amherst ("The Senior Song") about Merrill's poetry reading at Reunion
1990 winter
Article in Amherst ("National poetry prize is awarded to Merrill") about the Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, from the Library of Congress, for The Inner Room
1993 October 22
Book signing of Merrill's memoir, A Different Person, at the Jeffery Amherst Bookshop during Homecoming Weekend
1994 winter
Article in Amherst ("Amherst Authors" section, "Learning how to live") about Merrill's book A Different Person: A Memoir
1995 February 6
Merrill's death
1995 spring
Article in Amherst ("A Parnassian is gone") about Merrill's death; obituary in the "Notes" section
1997 May-June
Obituary reprinted in the Classes of 1947 and 1948's 50th Reunion Book
2001 April 12
"A celebration of poet James Merrill: with readings of his work and remembrances by local poets," in Johnson Chapel, with related exhibition in the Archives and Special Collections, Robert Frost Library
2001 summer
Article in Amherst ("Amherst Authors" section, "Literary event of the year") about the posthumously published Collected Poems

James I. Merrill's (AC 1947) Amherst College Courses

1943 July 1-October 13 (summer; Term 1)
Math 1 (Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry) with Nels David Nelson/William Jesse Newlin
Greek 4 (Homer) with Francis Howard Fobes
German 1 (Elementary Course) with Manford Vaughn Kern
History 1 (Introduction to the History of Contemporary Civilization) with Allen Austin Gilmore
English 41 (The Renaissance) with George Roy Elliott
1943 October 21-1944 February 9 (1943-1944 fall; Term 2)
Greek 5 (Plato: The Lyric Poets) with Francis Howard Fobes
German 2 (Elementary Course) with Manford Vaughn Kern
History 2 (Europe From 1848 to the Present, With Emphasis on World War I and the Subsequent Period) with Lawrence Bradford Packard
English 42 (The Renaissance) with George Roy Elliott
Math 2 (Analytic Geometry and an Introduction to Calculus) with William Jesse Newlin
1944 February 17-May 31 (1943-1944 spring; Term 3)
English 19 (English Composition) with Reuben Arthur Brower, Theodore Baird, and G. Armour Craig
Philosophy 16 (Philosophical Literature) with Roger Wellington Holmes
French 37 (French Poetry Through the Parnassians) with Ralph Coplestone Williams
Greek 6 ( The Lyric Poets: Euripides) with Francis Howard Fobes
German 7 (Goethe) with Otto Manthey-Zorn
1945 February 15-May 29 (1944-1945 spring; Term 4)
Biology 1 (General Biology) with Otto Charles Glaser/Hermann Joseph Muller
Philosophy 32 (Contemporary American Philosophy) with Gail Kennedy
French 37 (Advanced Readings in French Literature) with George Banks Funnell
English 29 (Shakespeare) with Theodore Baird
German 34 (Studies in German Culture) with Otto Manthey-Zorn
1945 June 28-September 19 (summer; Term 5)
English S43-44 (Double Course, American Literature) with George Frisbie Whicher
History S3-4 (Double Course, Classical Civilization) with Charles Lawton Sherman
1945 September 27-1946 February 2 (1945-1946 fall; Term 6)
Italian 15 (Elementary Course) with Reginald Foster French
Astronomy 1 (Introduction to General Astronomy) with Warren Kimball Green
English 25 (Science and Literature in the Nineteenth Century) with Theodore Baird
English 55 (Conference Course)
1946 February 4-June 11 (1945-1946 spring; Term 7)
Italian 16 (Elementary Course) with Reginald Foster French
Philosophy 18 (Ethics) with Gail Kennedy
English 35 (Chaucer) with George Frisbie Whicher
English 56 (Conference Course)
1946 September 25-1947 February 1 (1946-1947 fall; Term 8)
Italian 33 (Dante) with Reginald Foster French
Philosophy 37 (Philosophy of Religion) with James A. Martin, Jr.
English 23 (English Composition) with William Walker Gibson
English 60 (Conference Course)

Senior Thesis: "A la Recherche du Temps Perdu: Impressionism in Literature"

Merrill completed his course work during the fall semester of 1946, which ended on February 1, 1947. He was an English major. The second semester (spring) began on February 3, 1947. He was awarded a B.A. degree, summa cum laude, at the 127th Commencement on June 15, 1947. (The degree was voted by the Trustees on May 3, 1947.)

Extent

0.25 Linear feet (1 half archives box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The bulk of the collection consists of thirty-four letters written by James Merrill to William S. Burford while they were Amherst College undergraduates. Also, six pen and ink sketches from Merrill's student days at Amherst; and two copies of the final publication of (as well as a draft of credits for) the literary journal The Medusa, which Merrill and Burford co-founded.

Arrangement

This collection is organized into three series:

  1. Series 1: Letters, 1946-1980, [undated]
  2. Series 2: Sketches, Drawings, Notes, and Poem, circa 1945-1947
  3. Series 3: The Medusa, 1946

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was part of a larger lot of Merrill material from the estate of Jonathan Goodwin, sold at auction by Christie's in New York, on June 17, 2003. The lot was acquired by Washington University in St. Louis; the Merrill-Burford material was acquired from them, by prior arrangement, in October 2003. Merrill's letters were presented to the Amherst College Library on April 23, 2004, by the Friends of the Amherst College Library, in a ceremony celebrating the growth of the Library collection to more than one million volumes. The acquisition of the letters as the symbolic millionth accession to the Library's holdings was made possible by a gift in memory of James I. Merrill.

Related Materials

Washington University in St. Louis holds the majority of the extant manuscripts by James Merrill in their Modern Literature Collection. Merrill presented the bulk of his manuscripts, from 1964 to the end of his life, to Washington University. Information about the collection at Washington University may be found at:library.wustl.edu/units/spec/manuscripts/mlc/findingaidshtml/wtu00083.html.

Additional Merrill material may be found in the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections:

  • James Ingram Merrill (AC 1947) biographical file
  • The Dramatic Activities Collection, including "1945 December - Orphee" and "1947 May - The Birthday"
  • The English Department Records for English 23-24
  • Published works represented in the online catalogue
  • College publications, including Amherst, Amherst Alumni News, The Amherst College Catalogue, The Amherst Graduates Quarterly, The Amherst Student, The Gazette of Amherst College, The Jeff, The Olio, and The Medusa
  • The Commencement Collection, 1947
  • Thesis Collection: 1947 (Merrill), "A la Recherche du Temps Perdu: Impressionism in Literature"
  • The Audio-Visual Collection
See also: Jack W.C. Hagstrom and George Bixby, "James Merrill: A Bibliographical Checklist," in American Book Collector, vol. 4, no. 6, Nov/Dec 1983.

Status
Completed
Author
Daria D'Arienzo and Barbara Trippel Simmons
Date
2008
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299