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A Hub, a Network, an Archive: 55 Years of International Writers in Iowa City: Sources for IWP history

Archival sources

Most of IWP's documentary history is found in the Engle Papers and the IWP Records. Other contemporary collections include the Hualing Nieh Engle Papers [MsC 903], the Toothpaste/Coffee House Press Records [MsC 461], and the Kim Merker Papers [MsC 805].

  • Paul Engle Papers [Special Collections & Archives, MsC 514]: The papers of Paul Engle consist of 70.5 linear feet of records dating from approximately 1929 to 1988 and were transferred to the Special Collections Department at the time of his death in 1991. They document Engle's literary accomplishments, as well as his personal, professional and community interests. The papers are divided into six series: Personal Material, Professional Papers, Correspondence, Writings, Workshops, and Student Works.
  • International Writing Program Records [Special Collections & Archives, RG06.0012.009]: Includes annual reports, audiovisual material, "black binders" (typescript drafts for workshop circulation), and participant files for writers up to 1996.

Digital collections

  • International Writing Program website: IWP's website includes a list of participating writers with bios, writing samples, and bibliographies for participants since 1996. Audiovisual content includes On the Map interviews with residents and interested readers will also find details on other programs, such as Book Wings and Between the Lines, and projects, like Whitman Web.
  • Virtual Writing University Archive (Iowa Digital Library): Includes audiovisual recordings of readings and panels.
  • International Writing Program Collection (Iowa Digital Library): Writing samples and panel papers in PDF format.

IWP publications

This bibliography is primarily print material edited by or otherwise sponsored by the International Writing Program since 1967. The Iowa Translations series was the initial major editing project, notably as a national anthology series from the University of Iowa Press, 1970-1984. The series title was also used for translations of single authors published by IWP, without the UI Press, during roughly the same time period. More recently, the 91st Meridian series is co-published with Autumn Hill Books. Similarly, this bibliography includes a section on works published by IWP participants with small press projects in and near Iowa City, including Windhover Press, the precursor to the UI Center for the Book. Within sections, entries are arranged chronologically. Almost all titles are held by the University of Iowa Libraries. 

While this bibliography does include a short list of documentary films, it does not include the vast collection of recorded interviews and readings, many of which have been digitized and made available through the Virtual Writing University Archive in the UI Libraries’ Iowa Digital Library, see Digital Collections to the left.

The Iowa Translations series was the initial major editing project, notably as a national anthology series from the University of Iowa Press, 1970-1984. IWP was instrumental in identifying editors and offering various levels of editorial and translation assistance. Correspondence and drafts related to these projects can be found in the Paul Engle Papers, MsC 514. The titles published by UI Press are mostly anthologies by nation of contemporary poetry in translation. The series title was also used for translations of single authors published by IWP, without the UI Press, during roughly the same time period (see the tab IWP as publisher).

Not all publications below are produced by IWP, but the content is exclusively and intentionally former IWP participants and staff. 

Special issues

  • International Writing Program. Modern Poetry in Translation, no. 19-20 (1974). [Main Library Periodicals (3rd floor)]
  • International Writing Program anthology. The Iowa Review 7, no.2-3 (1976). [full text]
  • Writing from the world: Selections from the International Writing Program, 1977-1983. The Iowa Review 14, no. 2 (1984). [full text]
  • A salute to Iowa’s International Writing Program at twenty. World Literature Today 61, no. 3 (1987). [full text (UI only) and Special Collections]

Most of the titles up to 1980 were published as an extension of the Iowa Translation series with the University of Iowa Press. Since then, IWP has sporadically published chapbooks and anthologies generated from its various programs. It also regularly co-publishes with allied presses, notably Autumn Hill Books (see Co-publications).

  • Marin Sorescu. Frames: Twenty-five poems. Roy MacGregor-Hastie, trans. Bucharest: Eminescu Publishing House; Iowa City: International Writing Program, University of Iowa, 1972. [Main Library Stacks PC840.29.O74 R3 1972 and Special Collections]
  • Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke. The body is the victory and the defeat of dreams [Soma einai ē nikē kai ē ētta tōn oneirōn]. Philip Ramp, trans. Iowa City: International Writing Program, University of Iowa; San Francisco: The Wire Press, 1975. [Libraries Annex and Special Collections]
  • Attila József. Selected poems and texts. John Bátki, trans. Iowa City: International Writing Program; Manchester: Carcanet Press, 1976. [Main Library Stacks PH3281.J64 A23 1976]
  • Nikolai Klyuev. Poems. John Glad, trans. Iowa City: International Writing Program, University of Iowa; Ann Arbor: Ardis Publishing, 1977. [Libraries Annex and Special Collections]
  • S. Henry Cordor. Facing the realities of the Liberian nation: A brief study of the major problems and prospects of the West African republic of Liberia. Iowa City: International Writing Program, School of Letters, University of Iowa; Philadelphia: Institute for Liberian Studies, 1980. [Main Libraries Stacks DT636.2 .C67 1980 and Special Collections]
  • Toma Longinović. Moment of silence. San Francisco: Burning Books; Iowa City: International Writing Program, University of Iowa, 1990. [Main Library Stacks PS3562.O52 M6 1990]
  • Sabit Madaliev. The silence of the Sufi. Russell Scott Valentino, trans. Iowa City: Autumn Hill Books, 2006. [Main Library Stacks BP189.5 .M34 2006]
  • Alvin Pang, ed. Tumasik: Contemporary writing from Singapore. Iowa City: 91st Meridian, Autumn Hill Books; Singapore: National Arts Council, 2010. [Main Library Stacks PR9570.S52 T86 2010]
  • Mani Rao. Bhagavad gita: A translation of the poem. Iowa City: 91st Meridian, Autumn Hill Books, 2010.  [WorldCat]
  • Beaudelaine Pierre and Nataša Ďurovičová, eds. How to write an earthquake: Comment écrire et quoi écrire mo pou 12 Janvye. Iowa City: Autumn Hill Books; International Writing Program, 2011. [Main Library Stacks QE535.2.H2 H69 2011]
  • Nataša Ďurovičová and Christopher Merril, eds. The new symposium: Poets and writers on what we hold in common. Iowa City: 91st Meridian; Autumn Hill Books, 2012.  [Main Library Stacks PN81 .N435 2012]
  • Nataša Ďurovičová and Hugh Ferrer, eds. Fall and rise, American style: Eight international writers between Gettysburg and the Gulf. Iowa City: 91st Meridian Books; Bloomington: Autumn Hill Books, 2015. [Main Library Stacks F216.2 .F35 2015]
  • Marjan Strojan. Dells and hollows. Sydney Lea, trans. Bloomington: Autumn Hill Books; Iowa City: 91st Meridian, 2016. [Main Library Stacks PG1919.29.T755 D455 2016]
  • Nataša Ďurovičová and Christopher Merrill, eds. The same gate: A collection of writings in the spirit of Rumi. Iowa City: 91st Meridian Books; Bloomington: Autumn Hill Books, 2018. [Main Library Stacks PK6482 .S353 2018]
  • José Eugenio Sánchez. Here the sun’s for real. Anna Rosenwong, trans. Bloomington: Autumn Hill Books, 2018. [Main Library Stacks PQ7298.29.A41485 A2 2018]

Other publications with known IWP sponsorship

IWP residents have collaborated since the beginning with small presses in Iowa City and surrounding areas, starting with Windhover Press, which later evolved into the UI Center for the Book.

Broadsides

  • Tomaž Šalamun. The deer braids the turtle. Christopher Merrill and Tomaž Šalamun, trans. Iowa City: Empyrean Press, 2006. [Special Collections]
  • Chuan Xi. Yin ying; Shadow; Skia. Inara Cedrins and Anastassis Vistonitis, trans. Iowa City: Empyrean Press, 2008. [Special Collections]
  • Eavan Boland. Atlantis: A lost sonnet. Iowa City: University of Iowa Center for the Book, 2009. [Special Collections]
  • Paul Engle. For Ai Qing. Iowa City: Kimberly Maher, 2019. [Special Collections IN PROCESS]

IWP directors

IWP's directors have all been established writers, balancing creative endeavors and arts administration.

  • Paul Engle, 1966-1977
  • Hualing Nieh Engle, 1977-1988
  • Clark Blaise, 1990-1998
  • Christopher Merrill, 2000-present

Professors Fredrick Woodard (1988-1990) and Sandra Barkan (1998-2000) served as interim directors.

Curator, International Literature

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Lisa Gardinier
Contact:
UI Main Library
lisa-gardinier@uiowa.edu