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Robert Peter Tristram Coffin Collection,
1842-1978 (bulk 1910-1955).
48.75 linear feet.
Catalog Number: M37
Series List:
- Correspondence, 1910-55, n.d.
12.75 linear feet.
- Clippings, historical and miscellaneous,
1842-1954, n.d. 0.25 linear feet.
- Books: proofs, illustrations, drafts,
notes, etc., 1923-[54?], n.d.
15.75 linear feet.
- Essays and short stories: notebooks,
drafts and proofs, 1923-51, n.d. 1.75 linear feet.
- Poetry: notebooks, drafts, etc.,
1923-55, n.d. 2.25 linear feet.
- Plays: drafts and outlines, n.d.
0.25 linear feet.
- Contributions and reviews: drafts,
notebooks, etc., 1935-48, n.d. 0.75 linear feet.
- Lectures, addresses, readings and
radio broadcasts: drafts, pamphlets, notes and programs, 1920-55,
n.d. 1.25 linear feet.
- Art work: sketches, drawings, prints,
wood-blocks, etc., [1906-52?] 1 linear foot.
- Bibliographies, 1935-53, n.d.
0.25 linear feet.
- Education: essays, notebooks, theses,
etc., 1904-32
2.5 linear feet.
- Professional records: lecture notes,
registers, syllabi, etc., 1921-55 2.25 linear feet.
- Personal records: documents, essays,
notes, etc., 1882-1978, n.d. 3.75 linear feet.
- Works by others: essays, poems,
illustrations, etc., 1921-1969, n.d. 0.75 linear feet.
- Unsorted material, 1937-52, n.d.
0.5 linear feet.
- Recordings, 1931-47, n.d.
1 linear foot.
- Photographs and other images, 1858-1954,
n.d. 3 linear feet.
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Agency History / Biographical Note:
Robert P.T. Coffin (1892-1955), writer, professor and Pulitzer Prize
winning poet, was born and educated in Brunswick, Maine. He attended
Bowdoin College (Class of 1915), Princeton (A.M. 1916) and, as a
Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University (A.B. 1920); while in England,
he served to 2nd Lieutenant of the U.S. Army. Coffin began his teaching
career as instructor and, later, professor of English at Wells College
in Aurora, N.Y. (1921-1934), where he ran the English honors course.
He returned to Bowdoin as Pierce Professor of English (1934-1955),
was a visiting lecturer at several colleges and universities from
the 1930s through 1950s, and a Fulbright scholar at the University
of Athens in 1953-54.
Coffin is best known as a writer of more than three dozen works
of prose, poetry and history, and as the winner of the 1936 Pulitzer
Prize for Poetry for his book, Strange Holiness. He lectured
widely and was frequently invited to read from his popular poetry.
Coffin married Ruth Phillip in 1918; they had four children, and
both sons attended Bowdoin.
Scope and Content:
The collection contains correspondence; drafts, proofs and notes
of books, poems, essays, plays and lectures; notes, examinations
and other material relating to teaching at Bowdoin, Wells, and other
institutions; personal records outlining his education (grade school
through Oxford University) and his personal life; documents both
personal and professional; recordings of his poems; and photographs.
Major correspondents include members of the Coffin family and of
the Bowdoin College staff; letters from literary and artistic colleagues
are also included.
Provenance:
Cite as: Robert Peter Tristram Coffin collection, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library.
Access Restrictions: None.
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