US-RPB-ms88.4 Guide to the John Ciardi letters 1952-1969 Finding aid prepared by John Hay Library staff. Brown University Library 2009 September 28
Box ABrown UniversityProvidence, RI 02912Tel: 401-863-2162Fax: 401-863-1272E-mail: rock@brown.edu
 Finding aid encoded by Daniel Mejia 2009 September 28 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) English Brown University LibrarySpecial Collections
Box A, John Hay LibraryProvidence, RI 02912Tel: 401-863-2146Fax: 401-863-2093E-mail: hay@brown.edu
 Ciardi, John, 1916-1986 John Ciardi letters 1952-1969 Ciardi (John) letters 13 items The collection is made up of eleven typed letters signed and one autographed letter signed to Professor William J. Griffin at George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee. Most letters are about his writing, with one form letter to Rodger P. Kingston. Ms. 88.4 Biographical note

Ciardi, the son of Italian immigrants, was born in Boston's North End. He grew up in Medford, Massachusetts and studied at his hometown college, Tufts University, before receiving his M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1939.

After years of teaching English at Harvard (1946-1953) and Rutgers (1953-1961), Ciardi resigned his tenured faculty position to pursue an independent career. Ciardi wrote 21 books of poetry. He served as a highly popular poetry editor of the Saturday Review from 1956 to 1972. His occasional public television broadcasts were supplemented by his weekly National Public Radio series begun in 1980 entitled, "A Word in Your Ear." A National Teachers Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children was presented to Ciardi in 1982. He died of a heart attack on Easter Sunday in 1986.

 Collection information

There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.

Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.

John Ciardi letters, Ms. 88.4, Brown University Library.

The John Ciardi letters is made up of eleven typed letters signed and one autographed letter signed to Professor William J. Griffin at George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee. Most letters are about his writing, with one form letter to Rodger P. Kingston.

The John Ciardi letters does not have a Series structure and is arranged chronologically.

 Administrative information

The John Ciardi letters were purchased from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Books & Collections in 1988.

 Names

Ciardi, John, 1916-1986 Subjects

Ciardi, John, 1916-1986 American poetry RIAMCO Browsing Terms Language and Literature Types of materials

Letters (correspondence) Occupations

Professors Authors Additional information

The poems of and works about John Ciardi can be found by an author or subject search in JOSIAH for: Ciardi, John.

 1 1 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1952 Dec 2 1 1 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1952 Dec 8 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Jan 5 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Jan 23 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Jan 31 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Feb 13 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Feb 27 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Mar 16 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Jun 5 1 2 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1953 Jul 22 1 3 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1954 Jun 29 1 3 Ciardi, John letter to William J. Griffin1954 Jul 13 1 4 Form letter from Ciardi, John to Rodger P. Kingston1969 Nov