Kenneth Patchen Archive

Described as a 'symptom of God's love' (Robert Duncan), a 'snorting dragon' and 'a gentle prince' (Henry Miller), 'honest and pure' (William Carlos Williams), Kenneth Patchen was an author of prose and poetry guided by proletarian and pacifist values. With his wife Miriam by his side, he dedicated his life to perfecting the art of words through the use of multiple innovative mediums. His genius ranges from concrete poetry to surreal prose, from painted books to silkscreen print editions, from the visually brilliant picture poems to poetry recitations combined with jazz.
The Kenneth Patchen Papers is the primary collection of the nine collections within the Kenneth Patchen Archive. Additional related collections are in process and will be added as finished.

Finding Aid: Guide to the Kenneth Patchen Papers