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Aram Saroyan Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1978-0004

Scope and Content

This collection consists of Saroyan's incoming correspondence for the years 1975-1977, manuscripts and drafts, and audio recordings related to the then-pending publication of the book Genesis Angels: The Saga of Lew Welch and the Beat Generation, published in hardcover and trade paperback editions by William Morrow in 1979 and 1980 respectively (and as an ebook in 2011), and publications that feature Saroyan’s writing. The correspondence consists of returned manuscript submissions and numerous copies of Saroyan's own poems and reviews. Notable correspondents include: Donald Allen, Richard Avedon, Ed Dorn, Gerald Hausman, Dick Higgins, David Kherdian, Kenneth Koch, Timothy Leary, Gerard Malanga, Carol and Walter Matthau, Rod McKuen, Joel Oppenheimer, George Plimpton, Charles Plymell, William Saroyan, Gary Snyder, Anne Waldman, and Philip Whalen. Audio recordings made by Saroyan include a Lew Welch interview (probably copied from someone else) and Saroyan's own tapings of talks with Joanne Kyger, Magda Cregg, Gary Snyder and Philip Whalen. The collection includes photocopies of Saroyan's periodical publications from 1975-1977, both prose and poetry, and Saroyan's manuscripts and drafts from this period including Saroyan's materials for his book on Lew Welch, including extensive excerpts from a typescript of Welch correspondence. Manuscript holdings include poetry and complete drafts of the volume O My Generation and Other Poems. Saroyan's miscellaneous personal papers can be found at the end of the collection. Original copies of newspapers and periodicals in which Saroyan's work appears were included with the donation and have been subsequently cataloged separately and added to the Archives and Special Collections’ periodicals collection. Original copies of a Rolling Stone issue featuring Richard Avedon (RS224, October 21, 1976) and a California Living newspaper supplement (San Francisco Examiner, June 12, 1977) that only briefly mentions Saroyan were removed from the collection.

Dates

  • undated, 1950-1977

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Writer, publisher and editor Aram Saroyan was born 25 September 1943, the son of playwright William Saroyan and Carol (Marcus) Saroyan, later Carol Matthau. He attended high school at the Trinity School in New York City. He attended college at the University of Chicago, New York University, and Columbia University, but never completed a college degree. Saroyan was editor of Lines poetry magazine, 1964-65; contributed poetry and prose to the New York Times Book Review, Nation, and Poetry; published works include Genesis Angels: The Saga of Lew Welch and The Beat Generation (1979), Last Rites: The Death of William Saroyan (1982), Trio: Oona Chaplin, Carol Matthau, Gloria Vanderbilt: Portrait of an Intimate Friendship (1985), and The Romantic (1988).

Extent

5.6 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Aram Saroyan was born in 1943, the son of American writer and playwright William Saroyan. In addition to several volumes of poetry, Saroyan has published several autobiographical novels, including The Street, in addition to a critical study of beat poet Lew Welch and a biography of his father.

Arrangement

Series I: Correspondence, (1975-1977)

Series II: Audio cassettes, (1969-1977)

Series III: Publications, (undated, 1950-1977)

Acquisition Information

Collection purchased from Aram Saroyan in 1978.

Title
Aram Saroyan Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
1998 August
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Updated November 2, 2018

Repository Details

Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository

Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524