Peggy Biderman photographs of Gregory Corso, undated

Summary Information

Abstract

Photographs taken by Peggy Biderman of poet Gregory Corso, with his family and friends, including his son Max Corso, and poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1583
Bib ID:
8858227 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Biderman, Peggy
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
0.25 linear feet (1 box)
Language(s):
English .
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.

Description

Summary

The collection is comprised of recent color prints, mostly on matte paper, made from photographs of poet Gregory Corso taken by Peggy Biderman, probably in the late-1970s, in New York City and San Francisco, though some may have been taken in other locations. The collection includes photographs of Corso with poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, with Corso's son Max (born in 1976), and with an unidentified woman who appears to be Max's surrogate mother and Corso's companion, Lisa Brinker. Other photographs depict Corso reading poetry, in front of the Chelsea Hotel, and in casual situations with friends. The collection is arranged into folders according to designations made on the photographs, which seem to correspond to shoots or discrete events.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 1 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.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions 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. All ninety-one photographs are copyrighted and not to be published without the permission of Beth Biderman or her heirs.

All ninety-one photographs are copyrighted and not to be published without the permission of Beth Biderman or her heirs.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Peggy Biderman Photographs of Gregory Corso; Box and Folder (if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material-- at Columbia

Allen Ginsberg Papers, 1943-1991 Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

Gregory Corso Papers, 1949-1996. Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

Reminiscences of Gregory Nunzio Corso Oral History, Columbia University Oral History Research Office

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

Source of acquisition--Beth Biderman, Estate of Peggy Biderman. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--2011.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Photographs processed Hanan Ohayon, New York University Archives and Public History Program, 2013 02/10/2012.

Finding id written Hanan Ohayon, New York University Archives and Public History Program, 2013 02/10/2012.

Revision Description

2012-02-18 xml document instance created by Hanan Ohayon

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

Biographical / Historical

Peggy Biderman was born Peggy Klyman in New York City in 1926. During the late-1950s she was a member of the pacifist Committee for Non-Violent Action, and participated in sit-ins and other civil rights activities in Florida, organized by the Congress for Racial Equality. Beginning in 1965, Biderman lived in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, where she met and became close friends with painter and experimental filmmaker Harry Smith, Beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Gregory Corso, visual artists Mary Beach and Claude Pelieu, musician and poet Patti Smith, and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Biderman also worked at the Museum of Modern Art. She lived at the Chelsea Hotel until the late-1970s, when she moved to San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. She died of cancer in San Francisco at age 64 in July 1991.

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
Photographs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Biderman, Peggy CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Corso, Gregory CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ferlinghetti, Lawrence CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Beats (Persons) -- Photographs CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID