Russell Atkins collection

Collection — Box: 1-6

Identifier: 0000-0000-0000-0011

Staff Only

Scope and contents

This collection gives a glimpse into Atkins's life and work. The collection spans from 1935 until the late 1979. The bulk of the items date in from 1950 to 1979. The focus of the collection is correspondence related to the Free Lance Press and writings by Atkins. The items written by Atkins contain both typescripts and published materials. Included are anthologies where his works were published and printing paste-ups. Handwritten corrections are on some of these items. Also included are some literary writings by others. Of interest are articles about Atkins that address information about his poetry readings. A few items from his childhood make up the personal ephemera series.

Dates

Creation: 1926-1988

Creator

Atkins, Russell (Person)

Rights statement

All materials in this collection are either protected by copyright and/or are the property of the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc., and/or the copyright holder as appropriate. For more information, please contact archives@auctr.edu.

Biographical timeline and note

Russell Atkins (b. 1926) is a poet, composer, editor and teacher in Cleveland, Ohio. He also served as a consultant to, and on panels for, many creative agencies in the Cleveland area. He ran and participated in many writers workshops and collaborated with poets and musicians on a variety of his works. Some notable collaborators include composer Hale Smith and poet Langston Hughes. Atkins founded the Free Lance Press in 1950 and served as editor and as a contributor throughout its 30 year history. Free Lance was a small press magazine for poetry and prose committeed to publishing emerging African American poets.

Biographical Timeline

25 February 1926
: Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Perry Kelly and Mamie Belle Atkins
1944
: Attended the Cleveland School of Arts on scholarship
1944-1945
: Attended Cleveland Institute of Music
1950-1979
: Founded and edited Free Lance Magazine
1953-1954
: Affiliated with the Iowa University Workshop for Writers
1956
: Created the new music theory he called The Theory of Psychovisual Composition at the Darmstadt Festival of Avant Garde Music in Germany, and was introduced by the composer Stefan Wolfe
1957-1960
: Was the publicity manager and assistant to the director of the Sutphen School of Music, Cleveland, Ohio
1963-1965
: Lectured for the Poets' Alliance, an organization in Cleveland, Ohio
1968
: Lectured and read at the Cleveland Summer Arts Festival
1972-1973
: Consultant to the Cleveland Board of Education
1972-1986
: Creative writing instructor at Karamu House, Cleveland, Ohio
1973
: Writer in residence at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio
1976
: Honorary doctorate awarded from Cleveland State University
1978
: Received supporting grant for creative works from the Ohio Arts Council
1988
: Participated in the Artists in Education Program with the Cleveland Board of Education

Extent

2 Linear feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series including Correspondence, Writings about Atkins, Writings by Atkins, Writings by others, Organizational affiliations, Personal ephemera and Photographs.