Archives West Finding Aid

These are records documenting the day-to-day operation of the Willamette Writers Guild (forms, financial statements, funding received). The series also contains information about future projects; potential sources of funding (grants, bills, endowments); and general correspondence between members, organizations, and authors.

This series contains correspondence, publicity materials, curriculum vitas, publications, schedules of events, and photographs from authors the Willamette Writers Guild included in programs or authors the Guild was interested in including in future programs. The bulk of the collection is from 1977 through 1979; however, in 1983 and 1984, there was a renewed interest with the Visiting Lectures Program and "Black Women Writers on Racism & Sexism" conference in 1983. The files contain a range of materials, from an undated photo or copy of an author’s work to personal correspondence.

The writers in this collection are from a wide range of genres: screenwriters, poets, dramatists, novelists.

The bulk of this series is dedicated to lectures and fundraising events sponsored by the Willamette Writers Guild in 1977 and 1978.

Of particular note is "Writing & Publishing: A Colloquium" (February 15-17, 1977), which was a three day colloquium on the conditions in the field of writing and publishing. Panelists included philosopher and novelist William Gass, poet Richard Hugo, fiction editor Gorden Lish, African-American feminist poet Gwendolyn Brooks, film director Victoria Hochberg, small press publisher Len Fulton, screenwriter Paul Schrader, essayist Richard Kostelanetz, and agent Rhonda Weyr.

"Writing & Publishing: Science Fiction" (March 7-10, 1978) was a series of one-day workshops and evening lectures. Workshop leaders included editor Ben Bova, writers-editors Kate Wilheim and David Knight, writer Vonda McIntyre, writer Dean Ing, and scholar Reginald Brentor. "Poetry & People: Art in the Community" (April 11-28, 1978) was a three-week program of short residencies and public readings. Participating poets included W.S. Merwin, John Ashbery, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Creeley, Robert Duncan, Carolyn Kizer, and Oregon poet-laureate William Stafford.

"The UFO Experience" and "Realities of the Close Encounter" (1978) were part of a series of lectures given by Dr. James Harder.

Additionally, there is information about a major literary event entitled "Black Women Writers on Racism & Sexism" on January 23, 1983. Audra Lorde, Gloria Watkins, Sylvia Wynter, and Pat Warner spoke at the Hult Center for Performing Arts.

This series contains publicity and promotional materials. Included are newsletters from the Willamette Writers Guild and other literary organizations, fliers, and news-clippings (1977-1979). It also contains mailing lists and telephone numbers.