Allen Tate Collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0186

Staff Only

Content Description

This collection contains various materials relating to Allen Tate, a poet, novelist, teacher, and critic. Included is a letter, thanking a Mrs. Brainard Cheney "for a special evening"; a postage stamp album that belonged to Tom Kirby-Smith and contains a letter to "Tommy" about stamps from Allen Tate; and a holiday card to Dr. and Mrs. William Lane (Lane was former Head of the English department at UNCG) from Allen Tate and his third wife, Helen.

Dates

1895 - 1972

Creator

Tate, Allen, 1899-1979 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical / Historical

Allen Tate (1899-1979), born John Orley Allen Tate, was an American poet, essayist, and social commentator. He served as Poet Laureate from 1943 to 1944. Also in the early 1940s, Tate founded Princeton University's Creative Writing Program.

Tate was married three times and his first wife was Caroline Gordon, a notable American novelist and critic. Gordon and Tate were friends with Georgian author Brainerd Cheney and his wife, Fanny, to whom one letter in the collection is addressed. In the letter, Tate thanks Fanny "for a special evening."

Extent

0.01 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Allen Tate was an American poet, essayist, and social commentator. He served as Poet Laureate from 1943 to 1944.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Some materials were a gift of Tom Kirby-Smith and one letter was purchased.

Offensive Language Statement

The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.

Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.