These materials were originally collected and owned by Edward D. Pacheco of Fall River, MA who died on January 29, 2014. Bernard A.G. Taradash and Martha Mullen Taradash purchased the collection from the estate of Edward D. Pacheco in 2014 and donated it to Brown University in 2015.
William S. Burroughs (1914-1997) was an American novelist often associated with the writers of the Beat Movement. Best known for his 1959 novel, Naked Lunch, Burroughs’ writing vividly depicted drug abuse and the various social worlds that surrounded it. His novels, including The Soft Machine (1961), The Wild Boys (1971), Exterminator! (1973), Cities of the Red Night (1981), Place of Dead Roads (1983), Queer (1985), The Western Lands (1987), and My Education: A Book of Dreams (1995) were often noted for employing experimental structures and evocative language that greatly impacted American literature. Having grown up in St. Louis, Burroughs would later move to New York City where he first met many members of the Beat Movement. Late in his life he settled in Lawrence, Kansas.
Herbert Huncke (1915-1996) was a member of the Beat Movement best known for coining the group’s name and serving as inspiration for notable characters in the work of William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac. Although he wrote numerous books of his own, he is often remembered more for his drug use, criminal activity, and his effect on the influential writers who befriended him. Huncke grew up in Chicago, became a drifter as a teenager, and eventually moved to New York City.
Brion Gysin (1916-1986) was a visual artist and writer who was also a longtime friend of and collaborator with William S. Burroughs. Gysin is known for the cut-up technique which he used in his written, sound, and visual works, and his novel The Process (1969). Gysin was born in England, grew up in Canada, and died in Paris, France.
The Edward D. Pacheco Collection on Beat Poets is comprised of materials related to three influential members of the Beat Movement: William S. Burroughs, Herbert Huncke, and Brion Gysin. The collection contains photographs, manuscripts, woodcut prints, letters, a show program, and two wills.
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.
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.
Edward D. Pacheco Collection on Beat Poets, Ms.2015.025, Brown University Library
Items are in one series arranged by name.
Original catalog of an exhibition of books and manuscripts from the Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays in Brown University Library
Letter from Burroughs to Brion Gysin; Program, flyer, and 7 photographs from performance of Burroughs with Chicago Project--N.Y., April 27, 1974
Letter from Gysin to "Richard & Lilia"; handwritten will signed by Gysin spliting his estate between Mohamed T. Idrissi and Salah ben Lahcen Taqui; typed will signed by Gysin splitting his estate between William Seward, Felicity Mason, and Richard E. Aaron (1974)
6 short (1-2 pp.) manuscripts signed and dated by Herbert Huncke
4 woodcut prints of a candle, signed, dated, and numbered by Herbert Huncke
Annotated list of Burroughs books for sale by Skyline
Large (36 x 28 cm.) photograph of Burroughs, signed and numbered on verso by the photographer (John C. Sappington)