Manuscripts
Department of Special Collections
Washington University Libraries
Washington University in St. Louis

Finding-Aid for the Mary Boatwright Collection of James Merrill Papers (WTU00421)

Finding aid prepared by:
Special Collections Staff

Summary Information

Title: Mary Boatwright Collection of James Merrill Papers
Creator: Merrill, James Ingram
Inclusive dates: ca. 1968-2001
Extent: 4.5 linear feet
Call number: WTU00421
Language: English
Repository: Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO 63130

Access and Use:

Access Restrictions:

Open.

Use Restriction:

None

Users of the collections must read and abide by the Rules for the use of manuscript collection materials.

Users of the collections who wish to use items from this collection, in whole or in part, in any form of publication (as defined in the form) must sign and submit to the Washington University Department of Special Collections a hard copy of the Notification of intent publish manuscript collection materials form.

All publication not covered by fair use restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder.

Biography

Mary Boatwright was James Merrill's neighbor in Stonington, Connecticut.

Collection Scope and Content Note

Scope and Contents Note

Consists of correspondence, manuscripts, ephemera, and realia.

Subject Terms

• Jackson, David, 1922-2002.
• Merrill, James, 1926-1995.

Contents List

		Title
box-folder   1-2/1-17		I. Correspondence [series]:    Scope: Consists of correspondence to Mary Boatwright.
box-folder   1/1		From: Mary T. Boatwright
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env. and enclosure))    Scope: Several copies of "Jimmy Merrill in Stonington," authored by Mary Boatwright.
box-folder   1/2		From: Jim Boylan
		((AN, 1 p))    Scope: "Our James" speech by Mary Boatwright at the dedication of the James Merrill Reading Room.
box-folder   1/3		From: Paul G. Holland, Jr., Cummings & Lockwood
		((TLS, 2 pp., w/ env.))    Scope: re: JM's estate
box-folder   1/4		From: Peter Hooten
		((AN, 1 p))    Scope: Titlepage from Peter Hooten's performance of "Robert Frost Poetry / Prose."
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TL, 1 p))
box-folder   1/5-6		From: David Jackson
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))    Scope: A portion of the card is torn and missing.
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TCS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TCS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 2 pp., w/ env. ))
		((ACS, 1 p ))
		(TLS, 2 pp., w/ env. ))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp ))
		((ACS, 1 p ))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env. ))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p ))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env. ))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p ))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 1p., w/ env.))
		((ALS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
box-folder   1/7		From: Doris Magowan
		((TLS, 1 p))    Scope: Request for Mary Boatwright's memorial speech for JM
		((TLS, 1 p))    Scope: Request for Mary Boatwright's memorial speech for JM
box-folder   1/8		From: Sandy McClatchy
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
box-folder   1/9-12		From: James Merrill
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((AN, 1 p))    Scope: Note on copy of poem, "How to Get On in Society" by John Betjeman
		((TLS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((AN, 1 p. on verso of photo))    Scope: Photo of portrait of JM as a child.
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((TCS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ALS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p., w/ env. and signed enclosure))    Scope: Enclosed is "Eight Bits," a small pamphlet of short poems.
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((AN, 1 p))    Scope: Manuscript of "The Image Maker," with note from JM.
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((TCS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env. and enclosure))    Scope: "Thanksgiving Ode" enclosed.
		((TCS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
box-folder   2/13		From: Hellen Plummer
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ALS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ALS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ALS, 2 pp., w/ env.))
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 2pp))
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env. and enclosure))    Scope: Two photos (duplicates) of JM portrait enclosed.
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env.))
		((ACS, 1 p))
box-folder   2/14		From: "Ron"
		((ACS, 1 p))
box-folder   2/15		From: Nancy Rose
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env.))
box-folder   2/16		From: "Thad" [?]
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ALS, 1 p., w/ env. and enclosure))    Scope: Article enclosed, "Jacksonville Visits Influenced Poet"
		((TLS, 1 p., w/ env.))
box-folder   2/17		From: Unidentified
		((ACS, 1 p))
		((ACS, 1 p))
box-folder   2-/18-		II. Ephemera [series]:    Scope: Ephemera is divided into four subseries: Print and Magazines Featuring Poems, etc. by Merrill, Clippings, Tributes to Merrill, and Legal Papers.
box-folder   2/18-21		II.1 Print and Magazines Featuring Poems, etc. by Merrill (4 folders)    Scope: Consists of copies of Poetry (1977) featuring "O"; A Memorial Tribute to David Kalstone; Barbara Kassel: New Paintings, signed by Merrill; Voices from Sandover, The New Yorker (1995) featuring "Koi;" and a photocopy of "The Next to Last Scene."
box-folder   2-3/22-26		II.2 Clippings (5 folders)    Scope: Consists of clippings featuring Merrill. Includes memorial articles and obituaries, book reviews, and articles discussing Merrill.
box-folder   3/27-29		II.3 Tributes to Merrill (3 folders)    Scope: Consists of tributes to Merrill: "In Thanksgiving for the Life of James Ingram Merrill" at the Calvary Church, Stonington, Connecticut (1995); "James Merrill: A Memorial Tribute" at the New York Public Library (1995); and "Remarks by Mrs. V.T. Boatwright at the Dedication of the James Merrill Reading Room in the Richard W. Woolworth Library" (1998).
box-folder   3/30-31		II.4 Legal Papers (2 folders)    Scope: Consists of a Motion For Appeal From Probate, a Decree Allowing Appeal From Probate, and a Notice of Decree Admitting Will to Probate for the Merril Estate.
box-folder   -/-		III. Realia [series]: (1 drawing)    Scope: Consists of a framed drawing of James Merrill as a young boy.