Robert Wilson papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of materials dating from 1938 to 2006, including correspondence, photographs and copies of Wilson's published writings. The largest portion of the collection is the letters written by James Perrizo to Wilson, which span 1985-2005. The Perrizo material also includes some poems written by Perrizo and Wilson, as well as photographs of Perrizo's book collection. Other photos are of Robert Wilson with Marianne Moore; Allen Ginsberg; Robert Duncan; Robert Wilson with Willam S. Burroughs and Victor Bokris; Gregory Corso; Marianne Moore; John Brader, Diane di Prima, and Alan Morlowe; and Alice B. Tolkas.
James Perrizo, Wilson's primary correspondent, was Frankie Edith Parkers' (Jack Kerouac's ex-wife) assistant in editing her memoirs from 1986-1987.
Other notable correspondence includes a letter from Ogden Nash, dated October 12, 1944, a postcard from Jonathon Williams, dated December 14, 1964, ephemera found in textbooks donated by Robert Wilson, and other correspondence received by Robert Wilson in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Dates
- Creation: 1938-2006
Creator
- Wilson, Robert, 1922-2016 (Person)
- Williams, Jonathan, 1929-2008 (Person)
- Nash, Ogden, 1902-1971 (Person)
- Perrizo, Jim (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.
This collection is open for use.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.
Biographical / Historical
Robert A. Wilson was born in 1922, and graduated from the Johns Hopkins University in 1943. Immediately upon graduation he served in the US Army and was stationed in Germany. Following the war, he joined the US diplomatic corps and was posted to Pretoria and Warsaw.
In 1962, he became the fifth owner of the Phoenix Bookshop in Greenwich Village, which he ran until it closed in 1988. It was through the Phoenix that Wilson became acquainted with many 20th century American authors. After closing the bookshop he retired to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Wilson died in 2016.
Extent
0.38 Cubic Feet (1 letter size document box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Robert A. Wilson (1922-2016) was the fifth owner of the Phoenix Bookshop in Greenwich Village, which he ran until it closed in 1988. The collection consists of materials dating from 1938 to 2006, including correspondence, photographs and copies of Wilson's published writings.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Robert A. Wilson.
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared by Gabrielle Ponce in November 2008.
Subject
- Williams, Jonathan, 1929-2008 (Person)
- Wilson, Robert, 1922-2016 (Person)
- Nash, Ogden, 1902-1971 (Person)
- Perrizo, Jim (Person)
- Title
- Robert Wilson papers
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu