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Hilda Morley Letter

 Collection — Box: VMF 17, Folder: 17
Identifier: MS-VMF-vmf209

Autograph letter signed from Morley to Adrienne Rich. 1 page. Morley sends along a book of poems (probably 'A blessing outside us') and reflects on her relationship with her late husband, the composer Stefan Wolpe.

Dates

  • Creation: 1977 May 27

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

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Extent

1.00 items

1 folders

Biographical Information

Hilda Morley (September 19, 1916–March 23, 1998) was an American poet associated with the Black Mountain movement.  She was born Hilda Auerbach in New York City to Russian parents. At the age of fifteen she moved to Haifa, Palestine, with her mother, and later to London to study at the University of London. When the Blitz in World War II began in London she moved back to the United States.

In 1952, she married her third husband, Stefan Wolpe, who through Morley was introduced to the abstract expressionist art scene. Wolpe taught at Black Mountain College, where Morley taught as well. Morley maintained that the atmosphere at Black Mountain was not favorable to women, although she enjoyed her time there. At Black Mountain, Wolpe and Morley became close friends with John Cage, David Tudor, Merce Cunningham, Dorothea Rockburne and Robert Rauschenberg, in addition to poets Charles Olson and Robert Creeley. Wolpe and Morley traveled widely in Europe as Wolpe taught at Darmstadt and had a residency in Rome. Wolpe developed Parkinson's Disease in 1964, and Morley's life was greatly affected by her need to care for him until his death in 1972. Morley's understanding of her own art was greatly influenced by her life with Wolpe and he and his music are a major theme of her work.

It was not until 1976 (at the age of 60) that her first collection, A Blessing Outside Us, was published through the efforts of Denise Levertov. Levertov and Morley became friends in the late 1950s, and they had an extensive correspondence. Morley had five volumes of poetry published within her lifetime, and another after her death.

Method of Acquisition

Originally laid in A Blessing Outside Us by Hilda Morley. PS3505 R43 B57. Accession number 1507, August 4, 1980

Title
Hilda Morley Letter
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
eng

Revision Statements

  • 2021 March 19: Resource record updated in ArchiveSpace by Sarah Schnuriger.

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Manuscripts Collecting Area

Contact:
Joel Minor
Olin Library, 1 Brookings Drive
MSC 1061-141-B
St. Louis MO 63130 US
(314) 935-5495