Collection Scope and Content Note

Scope and Contents Note

The collection holds a wide variety of materials.

Correspondence in the Meltzer Collection includes a number of letters to and from Hawley which provide an interesting insight into Oyez Press and its production of some of Meltzer's books.

Out of Meltzer's California experiences came the book, Rock Tao, Meltzer's personal reflection upon rock music of the sixties. Because the book required so many copyright permissions for song lyrics, it was never published; drafts, galleys, and other material toward Rock Tao form an integral part of Washington University's Meltzer collection.

In addition to writing numerous collections of poetry, Meltzer has edited a number of anthologies and the significant collection of interviews, The San Francisco Poets (1971). The book consists of interviews, poetry, and bibliographies of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Kenneth Rexroth, Lew Welch, Michael McClure, Richard Brautigan, and William Everson. Material toward this collection, including correspondence, manuscripts, editorial material and the interview audiotapes, comprise about a third of the Meltzer Papers.

Also included in the Meltzer Papers are manuscripts and editorial matter toward several of Meltzer's other publications including Yesod (1969) and Letters & Numbers (1970), as well as various Meltzer essays and columns for the Los Angles Free Press.