Subseries B. Correspondence, 1936-1998 (#4.14-10.11, E.2)

Subseries B, Correspondence, 1936-1998 (#4.14-10.11, E.2), contains letters of both a personal and professional nature. Much of the correspondence regards Whitman's writing, and includes commentary by friends and professional contacts; acceptance and rejection letters; poetry received from other poets; requests for appearances at conferences, book signings, and other events; fan letters, etc. Of particular note is her correspondence with fellow poets T. Carmi, Peter Denzer, Robert Friend, and Edmund Pennant, which often include personal anecdotes along with drafts of poems. A close friend of writer Eve Merriam, Whitman handled correspondence regarding the publication of Merriam's book, Embracing the Dark, when Merriam became ill (#6.5-6.6). Other correspondents of note include fellow poets Rosellen Brown, Jacob Glatstein, Edwin Honig, Denise Levertov, Adrienne Rich, and May Sarton. Additional correspondence with the same authors is located throughout the collection. See Series II, which contains correspondence regarding specific volumes of poetry, translations, and other writing, and Series III, which includes correspondence from university administration (and, to a lesser degree, students) as well as invitations and itineraries for various readings, lectures, and appearances. The collection contains scant correspondence with family; see (#11.8) for correspondence between Whitman and her daughters' attorneys. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by correspondent followed by primarily professional correspondence arranged chronologically.