The William Carlos Williams Papers (YCAL MSS 116) have recently been reorganized and fully described and are open for research at the Beinecke Library.

The William Carlos Williams Papers document the life and work of poet, prose writer, dramatist, and physician William Carlos Williams. The papers consist of correspondence, writings, photographs, medical records, artwork, newspaper clippings and printed material, and personal papers. The papers primarily document Williams’s life as a prolific writer, including drafts of prose, poetry, drama, lectures and readings; and correspondence and writings of others that reveal his mentorship of aspiring poets and his friendships with other literary figures. The papers also reveal his personal life as a husband, father and close friend to many writers.

Correspondence and writings comprise the bulk of the papers. The correspondence series documents his close friendships, professional pursuits, and opinions on modern poetry. Writings include drafts of poems, prose, drama and other writings that reveal his creative process. The papers also contain photographs, including snapshots and portraits taken of Williams, family and friends; John C. Thirlwall’s research material for The Selected Letters of William Carlos Williams; and photocopies of Williams’s correspondence and writings held by other institutions. Personal papers, medical records, and two works of art make up the smallest portion of the papers.

A full description of the collection can be found online: William Carlos Williams Papers. William Carlos Williams’s published work can be located by searching Orbis, the library catalog.

Images: Photographs from the William Carlos Williams Papers and other images are available in the Beinecke’s Digital Library