The Glen Coffield Collection, 1945-2008

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Coffield, Glen, 1917-
Title
The Glen Coffield Collection
Dates
1945-2008 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 cubic foot, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
OLPb132COF
Summary
This collection includes publications and other materials created by Glen Coffield, a poet, teacher, publisher, and pacifist, who lived in Oregon.
Repository
Lewis & Clark College, Special Collections and Archives

Aubrey R. Watzek Library
615 S. Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR
97219
Telephone: 5037687758
Fax: 5037687282
archives@lclark.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Glen Coffield (1917-1981) was a poet, teacher, and World War II conscientious objector, born in Prescott, Arizona (June 15, 1917). Coffield attended Central Missouri State Teachers College, where he played basketball and pursued his interest in writing as president of the English Club and editor of the literary review. After being given conscientious objector status, Coffield spent much of the World War II at the Waldport, Oregon Civilian Public Service Camp where he was activities coordinator and editor of the camp's underground newsletter, "The Untide." After the war Coffield did some acting in San Francisco, and from 1947-1954 ran the Grundtvig Folk School near Eagle Creek, Oregon. As a part of his Grundtvig Folk School experiment, Coffield published numerous mimeographed serials and books of poetry including: The Bridge, the Creative Advertiser, Creative Review, Creativity Newsletter, Golden Gate, Grundtvig Review, and Western Bookman. In the 1960s Coffield moved back to San Francisco, where he was severely injured in a hit and run accident. Coffield spent the rest of his life in Missouri. Throughout his life, particularly during the period in Oregon and San Francisco, Coffield published his own writings, as well as a series of small literary journals. Throughout his life, Coffield remained close with fellow C.O.'s, Kemper Nomland and William Stafford.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Includes mimeographed newsletters, pamphlets, photographs, letters, and audio recordings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

The Glen Coffield Collection (OLPb132COF), Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in a single series with files grouped by material type.

Location of Collection

Special Collections

Acquisition Information

Assembled from gifts to Lewis & Clark College by Kemper Nomland, William Stafford, Kermit Sheets, and Brian Booth.

Processing Note

Processed in 2012.

Separated Materials

Books authored by Coffield are housed with Special Collections rare books and can be found on the online library catalog.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.1 Coffield corresp. w/ Kemper Nomland
Includes one sheet with three photographs taken by Coffield of his Grundtvig cabin.
September 13, 1948
1.2 The Bridge
2:10, 3:7, 3:12, 4:12, 7:1-7:6.
1948-1953
1.3 The Bridge
8.:1, 9:6, 10:1-10:12, 11:5-11:6
1954-1957
1.4 Grundting Review
no. 3, no. 5
1952-1956
1.5 The Creative Advertiser
1:2, 2:1, 2:2
1954-1956
1.6 Golden Gate
nos. 3-7, 9-10, 2:2, 2:5, 2:6
1958-1959
1.7 Creative Review
1:1, 1:3-1:4, 2:1-2:4
1960-1963
1.8 Creative Review
5:2-5:3, 6:1-6:4, 7:1-7:4, 9:1, 10:2, 12:2-12:4
1965-1972
1.9 Creative Review
13:1-13:4, 14:1-14:4, 15:1-15:4, 17:4, 18:4, 19:1
1972-1979
2.1 CD Recording of Glen Coffiled singing folk songs
41 min. 29 seconds
ca. 1945
2.2 Western Bookman
Spring 1957
2.3 Letter from Shirley Gilsnud Osredkar to Brian Booth (about Glen Coffield) Feb. 20, 1957
2.4 Finding aid for Coffield Collection with letter to Kim Stafford from Joyce Coffield Bower 1999
2.5 Article about Glen Coffield by Kim Stafford in Oregon Quarterly
Summer 2008
2.6 Misc. publication listings/sales lists/flyers by Coffield
Various dates
2.7 Creativity Newsletter (incomplete run)
1-5, 37-38, 41-42, 57-80, 87-88, 127, 152, 154, 188-190, 194-197, 205, 208-213
1965-1973

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Coffield, Glen, 1917-

Corporate Names

  • Grundtvig Folk School

Geographical Names

  • Carthage (Mo.)
  • Eagle Creek (Or.)
  • Eugene (Or.)
  • San Francisco (Ca.)

Titles within the Collection

  • Creative Advertiser
  • Creative Review
  • Creativity Newsletter
  • Golden Gate
  • Grundtvig Review
  • The Bridge
  • Western Bookman