Richard Lyons Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 151

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These Richard Lyons Papers supplement those donated to the Institute in 1972 and 1976 which are processed as Mss 10; and a 2000 accession that was processed as Mss 259. The focus of these papers is his poems. The poems are collected and filed according to decades. There are also manuscript versions of many of the longer poems or books, and a collection of periodicals and books containing published poems and articles. An important source of information for interpreting and evaluating the poems is the correspondence with other poets, editors, and agents about his work. Among Lyons correspondents are poets Thomas McGrath, Robert Bly and W.H Auden. Other aspects of Lyons' interests are the papers concerning the exhibiting of his prints, his academic interests including a proposal for an American Studies program at NDSU, and his anti-war (Vietnam) activities. An exchange of letters with North Dakota governor William Guy explores the controversy surrounding missile sites in North Dakota. The Correspondence Series concerns the publication of Lyons' poems. Most of these are about individual poems submitted to periodicals. Extended correspondence about the publication of particular poems or books is filed separately in alphabetical order. Files of correspondence with other poets are usually followed by one or two files of clippings about poems by the correspondent. Correspondence is filed by date. Undated letters are filed in the order found or at the back of the file. The Collected Poems Series was organized by Mr. Lyons by decade. Two notes from Lyons concerning the collection begin the series. The Plays Series consists of four poems and is not a complete series. At least one play, "John, Where Are You?", is not in this group. A note from Mr. Lyons about the plays begins this series. The Manuscripts Series consists of the manuscripts for his poems, stories and one novel. There are several versions of some, and if the dates are known they are indicated. Along with the manuscript of Scanning the Land the paste-ups for the book, a group of uncut pages and miscellaneous items relating to the production and promotion of the book are included. At the end of the manuscript series are two folders of poems filed as they were found and a folder of handwritten poems. The Publications Series dates from his high school years (1938) until 1981. A variety of periodicals are represented from well-established, respected journals of literature such as the Kenyon Review, to short-lived experimental publications such as The Refugee Journal of Poetry. The Research Series is composed of two folders containing information Lyons gathered on two early North Dakota poets, Aaron Beede and Captain Enoch Adams, and a third folder containing photocopies of bibliographical note cards on North Dakota and the Northwest. The Proposal and Development Series includes Lyons formal proposals for publication and some for grants for several of his books. Development indicates that there are papers describing progress and notes of Lyons' ideas for the project. Scanning the Land has the most complete papers on proposal and development. The Reviews and Clippings Series concerns Lyons' published work including, Racer and Lame, Scanning the Land, Poetry and Photographs: The Quest and the Questions, and Above Time. The Subject Series is of projects that Lyons was involved in as a poet or writer, but do not include his own poetry. There are introductions for poets who read for the Poetry North presentations, a transcript of an extensive interview with Thomas McGrath, an article on artist Charles Beck and material relating to a panel discussion entitled "A Sense of Place." The Anti-war (Vietnam) Series begins the series of topics concerning Lyons' activities beyond poetry and writing. The anti-war materials contain none of Mr. Lyons own writing but reflect an interest that is also seen in some of his poems. The Art Exhibits and Activities Series demonstrates Mr. Lyons interest in the visual arts. There are three folders of catalogs from exhibits in which his art work was hung dated from 1946 to 1979, and a folder of catalogs, newsletters, receipts, etc. from the Rourke Gallery of Moorhead. The University Activities Series includes three folders of material concerning American Studies and a proposal for an American Studies program at NDSU. There are also several folders of course material for English 300, Introduction to Humanities. These were filed exactly as Mr. Lyons had left them. The slides associated with the course are on the separations list. The Biographical and Educational Data Series includes a variety of records, job applications, and a partial vita which together offer some biographical information, particularly, about his education and his early years at NDSU. The Subject File Series includes a variety of subjects. There are clippings about, or by, Mr. Lyons, clippings about people not included in the correspondence series, and a folder containing a report he prepared for the Fargo Community Development Project.

Dates

1938-1982.

Creator

Lyons, Richard. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute does not own the copyrights.

Biography

Richard Eugene Lyons was born June 19, 1920 at Detroit, Michigan, the son of Frank C. and Daisy (Sweeny) Lyons. After graduating from high school he attended the University of Dayton for two years. He then went to Miami University at Oxford, Ohio where he earned a B.A. degree in 1942. After several years working in Dayton and recovering from tuberculosis, he returned in 1946 to Miami University to work on a master's degree which he received in 1947. Mr. Lyons then became an English instructor there for a year. In 1948 he went to Indiana University to begin work on a PH.D degree. In 1950, after two years, Mr. Lyons came to North Dakota Agricultural College where he held a dual position as order librarian and instructor in English. His early work was connected with the North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies where he researched for a proposed anthology of North Dakota writers. In 1959 Mr. Lyons returned full time to the English Department, and that same year took a sabbatical leave to attend the University of Minnesota where he completed his course work towards a degree in American Studies. Mr. Lyons returned to North Dakota State University to teach English until his retirement in 1981. Lyons was a published poet and a graphic artist. Though he concentrated on poetry, he exhibited his prints nationally and some of his writing concerns the visual arts. At Miami University, he was a member of the Poet's Circle. Numerous poems by Mr. Lyons have been published in periodicals including The New Yorker, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and The Kenyon Review. His first major work was Men and Tin Kettles (1956). Other publications include One Squeaking Straw (1958), Paintings in Taxicabs (a study of art consumers in North Dakota, 1965), Above Time (1968), editor of Poetry North: Five Poets of North Dakota (1970), Racer and Lame (1975) and Scanning the Land (1980). In addition to these publications, Mr. Lyons also operated a small printing press in his home on which he produced the publications of the Merrykit Press. His first Merrykit publication was Eclogues in Blue (1947). Richard Lyons was a member of the College English Association, the American Studies Association, the Rourke Art Gallery and Phi Kappa Phi. He was married in 1942 to Marjorie Dunkel. They had two children, Christopher and Cressida. Lyons retired from NDSU in 1982 and moved to Newark, Delaware. Marjorie Lyons died in 1983. In 1994 he moved to Gardiner, Maine, where he continued to write and publish poetry. Richard Lyons died January 29, 2000.

Extent

8.6 Linear Feet (8.6 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

North Dakota State Univeristy English professor and poet. This collection, donated upon his retirement, documents his literary career.

Provenance

Donated by Mr. Lyons, 1985 (Acc. 2136).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript materials have been removed from the Richard Lyons papers and sent to the sections indicated. Photographs (Institute Photograph Collection)

84 black and white portraits of Mr. Lyons, photographs of Jack Beeching, Kent Kirby, Antony Oldknow, photographs and color separations for Scanning the Land. Slides

233 slides of art work and room interiors used in English 300, Introduction to Humanities. Broadsides (Institute Broadside Collection)

"When the Landscape is Quiet Again" by Arthur A. Link. "Out Where the West Begins" cartoon from Outlook, 3 February 1932 "Fargo is New York and Paris, combined" WDAY-TV advertisement. Tape Recordings

Dave Hull's Compositions to Escalator, Be a Man, Help, Anyone, 9-27-68, Goodbye "Interview with Thomas McGrath, March 1970" Books (Institute Book Collection)

Search for Identity by Leona Patnaude, 23 February 1973 Art Kienholz, March 1973 "Put her there, Podner" - collage by Phil Buttons (Institute Artifact Collection)

24 political buttons, some have been repainted by Mr. Lyons with protest slogans.