William J. Higginson Papers, 1950-2007

William J. Higginson Papers, 1950-2007

Summary Information

Abstract

The William J. Higginson Papers consist primarily of correspondence with other poets and authors. There is also a sizable amount of Higginson's writings, including his manuscript, The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share, and Teach Haiku as well as many poems by both Higginson and his colleagues.

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1468
Bib ID:
7351663 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Higginson, William J., 1938-
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
111 linear feet (23 record cartons; 3 flat boxes; 67 boxes of books)
Language(s):
Collection is predominantly in English with some writings in Japanese.
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

This collection documents the professional life of poet, translator, and literary historian, William J. Higginson. The bulk of the papers are correspondence and writings. Correspondence consists of letters between Higginson and fellow scholars and poets. The writings include drafts of Higginson's manuscript, The Haiku Handbook, numerous poems, and articles about the history and craft of writing Japanese Poetry. There is also a small amount of photographs, multimedia materials, and ephemera.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 7 series.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William J. Higginson Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2008-2009-M043: Method of acquisition--Gift of Penny Harter; Date of acquisition--November, 2008.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers processed Lea Osborne, Carrie Hintz, Elena Locascio, Elizabeth Nolte 08/2008.

Revision Description

2009-09-04 File created.

2009-09-15 xml instance created by Lea Osborne.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical / Historical

William J. Higginson spent over forty years studying traditional Japanese poetry. His interest in this subject led him to publish numerous books and articles on the teaching and writing of Haiku and he became one of the foremost authorities on the collaborative form of poetry writing, renku.

Higginson was born on December 17, 1938 in New York City to parents William J. and Nellie (Roby) Higginson Mackay. He first began studying Japanese at Yale University and discovered haiku at this time. Higginson served in the United States Air Force in the late 1950s, during which he was stationed in Misawa, Japan. He continued studying Japanese poetry throughout his deployment. Some years after his return, he went to college on the G.I. Bill and graduated with honors from Southern Connecticut State University in 1969 with a B.A. in English.

After a short stint teaching, Higginson became a Consultant in Writing and the Teaching of Writing in 1972, a job that he held for the rest of his life. He was a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, which as founded in 1968 and served as President in 1976, as well as the editor and publisher of Haiku Magazine. Other publications include three collections of poetry and haiku and numerous essays in anthologies and reference works. His poems, essays, and translations appear in the following periodicals and journals: American Book Review, Center, Footwork, Frogpond, Imprint (Hong Kong), Madrona, Newsweek Japan, Open Magazine, ProFiles, Shearsman (London), Sparrow, Sun, and Telegram (London).

Higginson has published several books in the field, perhaps the most prominent being The Haiku Handbook: How to Write, Share and Teach Haiku (1985), a book that uses examples, many of which were not previously available, from Japanese and other languages. This was a collaborative effort between Higginson and his wife, poet and author Penny Harter. Unique to the book are teaching tools, such as lesson plans, a reference section, and lists of haiku publishers and magazines. A follow-up book entitled The Haiku Seasons expands on the teaching model and gives a comprehensive history of the form. Higginson also published Wind in the Long Grass, an international anthology of haiku for children.

Higginson was active in several professional organizations, most notably P.E.N. American Center, the Poetry Society of America, the National Writers Union (U.S.), the New Jersey Task Force on Literacy in the Arts, and the Association of New Jersey County Cultural and Historical Agencies.

William J. Higginson died on October 11, 2008 after battling cancer. He is survived by his wife, Penny Harter.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Visual poetry
Name
Harter, Penny
Higginson, William J., 1938-
Subject
Haiku
Haiku -- History and criticism
Haiku -- Technique
Haiku -- Translations into English
Poetry

Series I: Correspondence, 1966-2007

Series I hold letters from Higginson's friends and colleagues as well as various Haiku societies and organizations. Often colleagues and admirers would send Higginson various poems that they had written for him to criticize or comment on.


Box 1

General Correspondence


Box 1 Folder 1

undated


Box 1 Folder 2

1966-1972


Box 1 Folder 3

1973-1976


Box 1 Folder 4

1977-1982


Box 1 Folder 5

1983-1985


Box 1 Folder 6

1986-1989


Box 1 Folder 7

1990-1991


Box 1 Folder 8

1992-1993


Box 1 Folder 9

1994


Box 1 Folder 10

1995-1996


Box 1 Folder 11

1997-1998


Box 1 Folder 12

1999-2000


Box 1 Folder 13

2001-2007


Box 1 Folder 14

Aldridge, Adele, 1975-1976


Box 1 Folder 15 to 16

Amann, Eric, 1968-1994, (2 Folders)


Box 1 Folder 17

Andras, Villanyi, 1991


Box 1 Folder 18

Aoyagi, Fay, 1997


Box 1 Folder 19

Baldwin, Neil, 1991-1993


Box 1 Folder 20

Barton, Geri, 1973


Box 1 Folder 21

Beaudoin, Kenneth, 1968-1969


Box 1 Folder 22

Bihler, Charles Harter, 2000


Box 1 Folder 23

Bostok, Janice, 1974-1986


Box 1 Folder 24

Brooks, Randy and Shirley, 1989- 1999


Box 2 Folder 1

Brower, Gary, 1968-1971


Box 2 Folder 2

Brown, Naomi, 1993-1998


Box 2 Folder 3

Bull, James, 1967-1971


Box 2 Folder 4

Calkins, Jean, 1968-1972


Box 2 Folder 5

Calogoras, Meagan, 1996-1997


Box 2 Folder 6

Childs, Cyril, 1996-1998


Box 2 Folder 7

Cobb, David, 1991-1994


Box 2 Folder 8

Codrescu, Ian, 1981-1993


Box 2 Folder 9

Cook, Lewis, 2001-2002


Box 2 Folder 10

Corman, Cid, 1968-1978


Box 2 Folder 11

Cramer, Mark, 1972-1975


Box 2 Folder 12

Crown, Bonnie, 1982-2004


Box 2 Folder 13

Davidson, Agnes, 1975-2001


Box 2 Folder 14

Demming, Kristen, 1994-1999


Box 2 Folder 15

Eckerman, Joan, 1984


Box 2 Folder 16

Evetts, Dee, 1984-1991


Box 2 Folder 17

Forges-Ryan, Sylvia, 1990-1991


Box 2 Folder 18

Frost, Celestine, 1975-1977


Box 2 Folder 19

Gates, Larry, 1973


Box 2 Folder 20

Greeting Cards, undated


Box 2 Folder 21 to 22

Gurga, Lee, 1990-1999


Box 2 Folder 23

Haba, James, 1987-1992


Box 2 Folder 24

Hackett, James, 1968-1971


Box 2 Folder 25

Haiku Southwest, 1993-1995


Box 2 Folder 26

Harr, Lorraine, 1972


Box 2 Folder 27

Harter, Penny, 1993-1997


Box 2 Folder 28 to 29

Hashimoto, Kayoko, 1995-1999


Box 2 Folder 30

Heitmeyer, Doris, 1989-1995


Box 2 Folder 31

Henderson, Harold, 1968-1972


Box 2 Folder 32

Harold, Christopher, 1999


Box 2 Folder 33

Hicks, Helen, undated


Box 2 Folder 34

Higginson, Elizabeth, 1985-1991


Box 2 Folder 35

Horne, Kimiko, 1993-1994


Box 2 Folder 36

Hoshino, Tsunchiko, 1989-2004


Box 2 Folder 37

Hotham, Gary, 1980-1996


Box 2 Folder 38

Jewell, Rhoda de Long, 1968-1973


Box 2 Folder 39

Jones, Robert, 1985-1993


Box 2 Folder 40

Kacian, James, 1996-1998


Box 2 Folder 41

Kaneko, Tohta, 1990-1993


Box 2 Folder 42

Kanterman, Leroy, 1968-1974


Box 2 Folder 43

Kennedy, Bruce, 1981-1982


Box 2 Folder 44

Kenny, Adele, 1982-1990


Box 2 Folder 45

Kerr, Walter, 1972


Box 2 Folder 46

Keyser, Gustave, 1969-1973


Box 2 Folder 47 to 48

Kondo Family, 1969-2000, (2 Folders)


Box 2 Folder 49 to 50

Lamb, Elizabeth, 1972-1990, (2 Folders)


Box 3 Folder 1

Landherr Jr., Ken, 1991


Box 3 Folder 2

Lee, Jeff, 1997-2004


Box 3 Folder 3

Laughlin, James, 1976-1981


Box 3 Folder 4

Lerman, Minna, 1990-1994


Box 3 Folder 5

Lifshin, Lyn, 1978-1981


Box 3 Folder 6

Little, Geraldine, 1974-1995


Box 3 Folder 7

Loose, Gerry, 1970-1973


Box 3 Folder 8

Luce, Ralph A, 1998


Box 3 Folder 9

Margeson, June, 1968


Box 3 Folder 10

Masseron, Julien, 1968


Box 3 Folder 11

McClintock, Michael, 1971-2001


Box 3 Folder 12

McGinnis, Tim, 1982-1984


Box 3 Folder 13

McNierney, Michael, 1972-1998


Box 3 Folder 14

Miyashita, Emiko, 1999-2000


Box 3 Folder 15

Moore, Leonard, 1987-1993


Box 3 Folder 16

Mormino, Kay T, 1968-1973


Box 3 Folder 17

Morris, Ivan, 1972


Box 3 Folder 18

Nolan, Pat, 1975


Box 3 Folder 19

Novak, Robert, 1970-1971


Box 3 Folder 20

O'Connor, John, 1990-1995


Box 3 Folder 21

O'Donnol, Dion, 1968-1971


Box 3 Folder 22

Okada, Ritsuo, 1998-2000


Box 3 Folder 23

Okazaki, Tadao, 1985-1986


Box 3 Folder 24

Olczak, George, 1992-1996


Box 3 Folder 25

O'Williams, Paul, 1972-2000


Box 3 Folder 26

Pearce, Anna, 1993-1995


Box 3 Folder 27

Petty, Ryan, 1974


Box 3 Folder 28

Pizzarelli, Alan, 1971-1982


Box 3 Folder 29

Polster, Edythe, 1993


Box 3 Folder 30

Poe, Marian, 1968-1969


Box 3 Folder 31

Porach, Francine, 1989-1993


Box 3 Folder 32

Poulter, Scott, 1971-1972


Box 3 Folder 33

Pratt, Claire, 1968-1969


Box 3 Folder 34

Procsal, Gloria, 1974


Box 3 Folder 35

Ratner, Rochelle, 1980-1982


Box 3 Folder 36

Reichhold, Jane, 1989-1993


Box 3 Folder 37

Rexroth, Kenneth, 1976


Box 3 Folder 38

Roan, Carol, 1998


Box 3 Folder 39

Rogers, Steve, 1977-1978


Box 3 Folder 40

Rotella, Alexis Kaye, 1981-1990


Box 3 Folder 41

Roseliep, Raymond, 1982-1983


Box 3 Folder 42

Ross, Bruce, 1992-1995


Box 3 Folder 43

Rutherford, Anne, 1972


Box 3 Folder 44

Sakurai, Emiko, 1972-1984


Box 3 Folder 45

Sato, Hiro, 1976-1983


Box 3 Folder 46

Sato, Kazuo, 1982-1989


Box 3 Folder 47

Sato, Ken-ichi, 1989


Box 3 Folder 48

Shimakawa, Kyoko, 1991


Box 3 Folder 49

Shirane, Haruo, 1997-2000


Box 3 Folder 50

Silverman, Hersch, 1993


Box 3 Folder 51

Simmons, Carl, 1991


Box 3 Folder 52

Sommerkamp, Sabine, 1981-1990


Box 3 Folder 53

Spiess, Robert, 1982-2000


Box 3 Folder 54

Squires, Bonnie, 1971-1972


Box 3 Folder 55

Stark, Larry, 1968-1969


Box 3 Folder 56

Stefanile, Felix, 1975-1991


Box 3 Folder 57

Stubbs, Kendon, 2000


Box 3 Folder 58

Takado, Sazuko, 1992-1994


Box 3 Folder 59

Takahashi, Nobuyuki, 1968-1970


Box 3 Folder 60

Takeshita, Ryusai, 1993


Box 3 Folder 61

Tanemura, Kenneth, 1991


Box 3 Folder 62

Taylor, William J, 1968-1977


Box 3 Folder 63

Trumball, Charles, 1997


Box 3 Folder 64

Uchida, Sono, 1982-1993


Box 3 Folder 65

Ueda, Makato, 1972-2001


Box 3 Folder 66

Van der Heuvel, Cor, 1971-1998


Box 3 Folder 67

Verbeke, Geert, 2001


Box 3 Folder 68

Virgil, Anita, 1969-1998


Box 3 Folder 69

Wakiyama, Katsuo, 1983


Box 3 Folder 70

Webb, Joyce W., 1968-1975


Box 3 Folder 71

Welch, Michael Dylan, 1992-1999


Box 3 Folder 72

Warner, Gary, 1999


Box 3 Folder 73

Wiggin, Larry, 1971-1982


Box 4 Folder 1

Wilde, Teruko, 1998


Box 4 Folder 2

Wills, Marlene and John, 1970-1982


Box 4 Folder 3

Wilmott, Rod, 1989-1994


Box 4 Folder 4

Wright, David, 1991


Box 4 Folder 5

Wyatt, Bill, 1968-1996


Box 4 Folder 6

Yagi, Kametaro, 1968-1972


Box 4 Folder 7

Yatsuka, Ishihara, 1992-1994


Box 4 Folder 8

Young, Virginia, Brady, 1970- 1985

Series II: Writings, 1960-2007

Higginson's writings contain research, drafts, and notes for various projects such as Butterfly Dreams, The Haiku Handbook, and The Haiku Seasons. The series also has correspondence relating to the creation of these projects and about Haiku in general, proofs of Haiku Magazine volumes 5-6, and poetry written by Higginson in collaboration with colleagues.


Manuscripts


Butterfly Dreams


Box 5 Folder 14

Autumn, 2005- 2006


Box 5 Folder 15

Correspondence, 2006


Box 5 Folder 16

Drafts, 2006


Box 5 Folder 17

Spring, 2006


Box 5 Folder 18

Summer, 2006


The Haiku Handbook


Box 4 Folder 9

African Haiku, 1979-1982


Box 4 Folder 10

Chapters 6-7, 1979


Box 4 Folder 11

Chapters 8, 9, 11, 16, 1979


Box 4 Folder 12

Draft 1-1, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 13

Draft 1-2, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 14

Draft 1-3, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 15

Draft 1-4, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 16

Draft 2-1, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 17

Draft 2-2, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 18

Draft 2-3, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 19

Draft 2-4, 1980s


Box 4 Folder 20

Draft 3, 1980s


Box 5 Folder 1

Dutch Examples, 1983


Box 5 Folder 2

Glossary, 1983


Box 5 Folder 3

Modern Examples--French, 1983


Box 5 Folder 4

Modern Examples--Yugoslavian, 1983


Box 5 Folder 5

One-Line Haiku, 1982-1983


Box 5 Folder 6

Outlines, 1983


Box 5 Folder 7

Reprints, 1996


Box 5 Folder 8

Season Words, 1982


Box 5 Folder 9

Teach Writing, 1980


Box 5 Folder 10

The Haiku Seasons--Corrections and Design Notes, 1995


Box 5 Folder 11

The Haiku Seasons--Drafts, 1988- 1996


Box 5 Folder 12

Ten Years , 1987


Box 5 Folder 13

Wind in the Long Grass , 1990


Poetry


General


Box 5 Folder 19 to 20

Undated, (2 Folders)


Box 5 Folder 21

1960-1979


Box 5 Folder 22

1980-1989


Box 5 Folder 23

1990-1999


Box 6 Folder 1

2000-2007


Box 6 Folder 2

Group Poetry, 1976-2004


Box 6 Folder 3

Haiku by Hian (Higginson), 1968- 1969


Box 6 Folder 4

"Items,", 1982


Box 6 Folder 5

One-Line Haiku, 1982


Box 6 Folder 6

Sampler, 1993


Box 6 Folder 7

Santa Fe Haiku, 1992-1994


Box 6 Folder 8

"Twenty-Five Pieces of Now"--Correspondence and Drafts, 1968


Box 6 Folder 9

"Twenty-Five Pieces of Now"--Masters, [1968]


Short Works


Box 6 Folder 10

Undated


Box 6 Folder 11

1968-1979


Box 6 Folder 12

1980-1989


Box 6 Folder 13 to 14

1990-1999


Box 6 Folder 15

2000-2005


Research and Notes


Box 6 Folder 16 to 17

Notebooks, 1985-1990s


Box 7

Haiku Notes and Book Projects, 1988-2005


Box 8

Poems, Essays and Writings, undated

Series III: Writings by Others, undated

This small series consists of poetry and small essays written by friends and colleagues of Higginson. The bulk of the pieces are undated and in many cases the author is not identified.


Box 9

Haiku and Writings, undated

Series IV: Subject Files, 1973-2005

Series IV is comprised of printed material such as pamphlets, awards and certificates. There are also files concerning haiku and renku as well as publishing-related documents.


Box 10

General Files, undated


Box 11

Miscellaneous and Pamphlets, undated


Box 12

1970s


Box 13

1980s- 1990s


Box 14

1980s


Box 15

1990s


Box 16

2000- 2005


Box 17

Renku, 1973- 1974


Box 18

1990s


Box 19

1990s- 2000


Box 20

Publishing Files, 1990s


Box 28

2001- 2002

Series V: Multimedia, 1970s-1990s

Computer disks with backups of Higginson's writings and audio recordings of poetry readings are held in this series.


Box 21

Floppy Disks and Other Media


Box 27

Audiotapes and CDs

Series VI: Photographs, 1950s-2000

Photographs of Higginson and Penny Harter at various poetry functions both within the United States and Japan are in Series VI. Events documented include the Global Renku Symposium and meetings of the Haiku Society of America. Of interest is a photograph of Allen Ginsburg with poet Anne Waldman from 1979. In addition to the photographs, there are a fair amount of slides and negatives.


Box 22

1987


Box 22

Allen Ginsburg and Anne Waldman, 1979


Box 22

Global Renku Symposium, 2000


Box 22

Haiku Society of America Cherry Tree


Box 22

Japan, 1990


Box 22

Miscellaneous, (2 Folders)


Box 22

Negatives


Box 22

New York City, 1959


Box 22

Slides


Box 22

Unidentified Photographs, 1950s and 1990s, 1950s, 1990s

Series VII: Ephemera, 1980s

Series VII contains a variety of realia including buttons, cards and paper products, prints of artwork, cloth and other textiles. Several scrapbooks documenting Higginson's trips through Japan in the 1980s are held in this series.


Box 22

Art Prints


Box 22

Buttons


Box 22

Cards and Paper Products


Box 22

Notebook, (2 Folders)


Box 22

Scrapbook, (2 Folders)


Box 22

Scrapbook-- Japan, 1987


Box 23

Ephemera in flat Boxes


Box 24

Ephemera in flat Boxes


Box 25

Ephemera in flat Boxes


Box 26

Scrapbook-- Japan, 1989, (4 Folders)


Box 26

Textiles, (5 Folders)


Box 26

Travel Mementos-- Japan, 1989, (4 Folders)

Series VIII: Books

84 Linear Feet; 67 boxes of books