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Faculty Records. Terrell (Carroll F.) Papers

 Record Group
Identifier: UA RG 0011-054

Scope and Contents

The records mainly contain textual information created and curated by Carroll F. Terrell who as was a nationally known scholar on the works of the poet Ezra Pound, but there is also photographic material and audio recordings of a conference on Ezra Pound held at the University of Maine in August, 1980. The records cover Terrell’s academic career at the University of Maine, but also his work as the founder of the National Poetry Foundation and Northern Lights Press in Orono, as well as editor of the journals Paideuma and Sagetrieb devoted to poets in the Ezra Pound, H.D., and William Carlos Williams tradition, and time spent leading the University of Maine Press.

The record series National Poetry Foundation & Paideuma Records contains administrative material regarding the operations of the Foundation, correspondence with contributors to Paideuma, manuscripts, typescripts, proofs, permission forms, facsimiles of published articles, art work, and bibliographies for Paideuma. Also, includes details of conferences, trips and visits organized by the National Poetry Foundation.

The record series Correspondence contains both personal and professional correspondence including with colleagues, students, fellow authors and academics, and publishers. Much of the correspondence relates to the work of Ezra Pound and in particular the National Poetry Foundation and Paideuma.

The record series University of Maine Administrative & Teaching Records contains various proposals relating to the University of Maine, various course material for classes taught by Terrell during his career at the University of Maine, meeting material and reports relating to various committees Terrell served on, and details of events organized at the University of Maine. Also, includes material from professional organizations Terrell participated in.

The record series Reference Material contains facsimiles of various articles and papers on a range of subjects mostly related to literature, poetry, and theatre.

The record series University of Maine Press contains a copy of the Press’s 1987 spring catalog and manuscripts for the titles "John Adams Speaking: Pound's Sources for the Adams Cantos" by Frederick K. Sanders and “Dante and Pound: The Epic of Judgement" by James Wilhelm.

The record series Terrell Biographical Records contains miscellaneous material regarding Terrell’s life including photographs of a possible relative Shirley E. Terrell, paper by Terrell’s Dennis, details of Terrell’s time as an undergraduate student at Bowdoin College, medical information, details of Terrell’s donation of his residence to the University of Maine, and articles on the legacy of Terrell.

The record series Terrell Authored Works mostly includes various versions of a draft manuscript and typescript for the unpublished novel, which in some of drafts is entitled "The Lion and the Unicorn". Also, includes manuscripts, typescripts, and fascimiles of articles and papers written by Terrell, including his 1993 memoir "Growing Up Kennebec" and 1991 book on the author Stephen King entitled "Stephen King: Man and Artist". There are also letters to King regarding the book.

The record series Ezra Pound, W.B. Yeats & T.S. Eliot Subject Records contains miscellaneous research material regarding the life and works of the poets Ezra Pound, W.B. Yeats & T.S. Eliot. Includes: facsimiles of articles and papers both on the subjects of the poets and by the poets themselves, newspaper clippings, notes, correspondence with other scholars and authors, and facsimiles of Ezra Pound letters.

The record series Northern Lights Records contains various manuscripts, book covers, and art work for works published by Northern Lights, correspondence with authors, and publicity material.

Dates

  • Creation: 1949-2001
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1960-1990

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Kept at Fogler Library's offsite storage facility. One week's notice required for retrieval.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Information on literary rights available in the repository.

Biographical / Historical

Carroll Franklin Terrell was born in 1917 in Richmond, Maine and died in November 2003 in Bangor, Maine at the age of 86. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in 1940 he entered the Army and served in World War II from 1941-1945, attaining the rank of captain. He began teaching at the University of Maine in 1948 and earned his master's degree from the University in 1950. He later earned a Ph.D. from New York University. He was an internationally recognized scholar on the poetry of Ezra Pound and served as president of the Ezra Pound Society. In 1971, he founded the National Poetry Foundation and also founded Northern Lights Press in Orono. He wrote 3 books of poetry: Smoke and fire, Rod and lightning, and Dark and light. He was editor of the Man/Woman and poet series, founder and editor of Paideuma: A Journal Devoted to Ezra Pound Scholarship which was first published in 1972, and founder and editor of Sagetrieb; a journal devoted to poets in the Pound/H.D./Williams tradition. Terrell also organized a series of conferences on Pound's work held in 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1990, brought world renowned scholars and poets to the University of Maine in addition to members of Pound’s family. Terrell also organized conferences on such poets as William Carlos Williams, H.D., Marianne Moore, and T.S. Eliot. In 1984, Terrell published the second of two volumes entitled “A Companion to The Cantos of Ezra Pound.”

The April 1986 edition of the University of Maine publication "Explorations" was dedicated to Terrell and featured an article on him by Burt Hatlen entitled "Carroll Terrell and the Great American Poetry Wars".

Terrell retired from the University of Maine in 1988. The Terrell House is a University of Maine owned building and was the residence of Terrell and his named in his honor. The house was donated to the University by Terrell.

In 1993, Terrell published a memoir of his childhood entitled “Growing up Kennebec: A Downeast Boyhood.”

Extent

34 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Italian

German

Chinese

Japanese

Arrangement

When possible the original order of the material was maintained. Some file names were changed to make them more meaningful and to correct errors. There are no boxes #17-20.

The Records Group is broken down intellectually into the following record series: 1. National Poetry Foundation & Paideuma Records, 2. Correspondence, 3. University of Maine Administrative & Teaching Records, 4. Reference Material, 5. University of Maine Press Records, 6. Terrell Biographical Records, 7. Terrell Authored Works, 8. Ezra Pound, W.B. Yeats & T.S. Eliot Subject Records, and 9. Northern Lights Records.

Some box numbers have changed:

  1. Old Box #312 (New Box #2)
  2. Old Box #312a (New Box #3)
  3. Old Box #312b (New Box #4)
  4. Old Box #312c (New Box #5)
  5. Old Box #312d (New Box #6)
  6. Old Box #312e (New Box #7)
  7. Old Box #312f (New Box #8)
  8. Old Box #312g (New Box #9)
  9. Old Box #312h (New Box #10)
  10. Old Box #313 (New Box #11)
  11. Old Box #313a (New Box #12)
  12. Old Box #313b (New Box #13)
  13. Old Box #313c (New Box #14)
  14. Old Box #313d (New Box #15)
  15. Old Box #314 (New Box #1)
  16. Old Box #315, #316 & #316a (New Box #16)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Box 1, Folder 45 was transferred to Special Collections by the University of Maine English Department on November 7, 2018 as Accession #2018-1107.

Box 12, Folder 4 audio recordings were transferred to the Library Annex as Accession #2011-0608a. Unknown source and date received on Accession Register. Date used based on accession number.

Boxes 21-33 were transferred to Special Collections by Benjamin Friedlander, Editor, Paideuma and Professor of English on August 28, 2019 as Accession #2019-0828.

Appraisal

The processing archivist appraised the records and destroyed duplicate copies of items. Also, student grades and personal health information were destroyed because the processing archivist felt the material was not appropriate for permanent retention in Fogler Library’s Special Collections.

Accruals

Accruals related to Professor Terrell are expected as the English Department still hold material that was formerly held at the Terrell House.

Related Materials

Researchers may also want to consult the National Poetry Foundation Records (UA RG 0030.003), Sagetrieb Records (UA RG 0030.001), and Paideuma Records (UA RG 0030.002).

General Note

Formerly SpC MS 0491.

Processing Information

Processed by Matthew Revitt, December 2020 - March 2021, Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Department. Processing involved a collection survey and the creation of this finding aid. Material was rehoused into appropriate archival folders and the boxes and folders numbered and titled using information from ArchivesSpace.

Title
University of Maine. Terrell (Carroll F.) Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Matthew Revitt
Date
March 29, 2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library University Archives Repository

Contact:
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686