Correspondence, 1969 - 2000

Series 1 includes thirteen boxes of Frances Whyatt’s personal, professional, and administrative correspondence spanning the years 1969-2000, and some undated materials. In addition to letters and attached documents, several folders also contain assorted greeting cards, newspaper clippings, photographs, and a pin. The personal letters within the collection, both incoming and outgoing, reveal the nature of Whyatt’s relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and romantic partners. Correspondence with writer friends, such as Hugh Seidman, Diane Wolff, Rochelle Ratner, is present in each box and often includes poetry and drafts by these authors and Whyatt herself, providing insight into Whyatt’s approach to writing. Also notable among personal correspondence are the exchanges between Frances Whyatt and her family members, such as brothers Oliver Grannis and Joseph Grannis, which span throughout the entire series. The professional correspondence with publishing houses, universities, and writer’s organizations reveals information about Whyatt's experience as a freelance author and poet in late-20th century New York. There is an abundance of rejection letters present within Whyatt’s papers, but also evidence of many successful publications and reviews, flyers to Downtown poetry readings she participated in, and communication regarding writer’s grants, awards and fellowships. Whyatt’s professional undertakings which are well documented in the series include the Poetry in the Schools program (approximately 1974-79), Macdowell Colony Fellowship (approximately 1974-1980), and consistent involvement with PEN and other writer’s associations. Alongside professional engagements, the correspondence series documents Whyatt’s work with feminist organizations such as Women Against Pornography, Women's Anti-rape Coalition, and National Organization for Non-Parents. The series’ administrative correspondence documents Whyatt’s residences in Florida and New York, a court case, and her divorce from Ron Schiavone.