Guide to the Howard Milton Blake papers, 1930-1950

Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title:	Howard Milton Blake papers
Date range:	1930-1950
Creator:	Blake, Howard Milton, 1914-1960
Extent:	1.75 linear feet (2 legal size clamshell boxes)
Abstract:	The Howard Milton Blake papers are comprised of multiple versions of verse and prose written by Blake. The collection was edited before it came to Brown University by Robert Kent and was published under the title "The Island of Self: Poems of Howard Blake" (Boston 1973). The book reproduces almost all of the verse in the collection, but none of the prose; there is, however, a reprint of Blake's preface to his only published book of verse "Prolegomena To Any Future Poetry" (Boston 1936).
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Brown University Library, Special Collections
Collection number:	Ms. 78.15

Scope & content

The collection consists of all the extant manuscript verse and prose of Howard Blake. Existing in hand-written and typed drafts and copies, the material was edited by Robert Kent under the supervision of Austin Warren and was published under the title The Island Self: Poems of Howard Blake.

What is of prime interest in the collection is Blake's creative process, easily visible throughout the drafts and reworkings of his verse up to the point of publication. This creative process is analysed in Kent's preface. Kent's own organizational apparatus for the editing of the material is also included in the collection.

Approximately fifteen percent of the collection was not included in Kent's publication, either because the work was considered too "juvenile" in character or because it simply was left unfinished at the time of Blake's death and deemed not significant enough for publication.

The prose material in the collection consists of some sixteen different items and includes book reviews and literary essays. Some were apparently published during Blake's lifetime in among other places Boston newspapers.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Blake, Howard Milton, 1914-1960
• Kent, Robert

Subject Topics

• Poets, American--Biography

Subject Topics

• Language and Literature

Document Types

• Poems
• Essays
• Reviews (book)

Occupations

• Poets

Arrangement

The papers are arranged to two series:

• Series 1. Verse
• Series 2. Prose by Howard Blake

Preceding the section of verse are Robert Kent's brief, and somewhat enigmatic, notes of explanation of his own organizational method and its shorthand. According to this scheme verse and prose are arranged alphabetically. Following the prose section is the typed manuscript of the Kent publication with only Austin Warren's foreword being absent.

Biographical note

Howard Milton Blake was born in 1914 and died in 1960. In 1936 Prolegomena To Any Future Poetry was published. Subsequently he published erratically in poetry journals and occasionally wrote literary reviews for several Boston papers.

For further particulars of Blake's life and career, please see Robert Kent's introduction in his book of Blake's poetry The Island Self.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	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.
Use of the materials:	In 1978, Professor Austin Warren, Blake's literary executor, transferred to the Brown University Library the literary rights to this collection. Permission to quote, publishe or reproduce materials from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library.
Preferred citation:	Howard Milton Blake papers, Ms. 78.15, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	Brown University Library, Special Collections Box A, John Hay Library Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The Howard Milton Blake papers were given by Professor Austin Warren in 1970.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by John E. Ingram, Manuscripts Processor, under the direction of Clifton H. Jones, Manuscripts Curator, June 1978.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Daniel Mejia 2008 September 30

Additional Information

Other information:

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Howard Milton Blake papers

Inventory

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