This collection consists of letters, drafts, artist proofs, illustrations, and announcements regarding the creation and eventual limited-edition publication of the poem The Boy Made of Meat spanning from 1962 to 1983.
The 134-line poem was originally drafted by W. D. Snodgrass in early 1962 to be published as part of a series of children's books. The editor, Louis Untermeyer, suggested the poem be toned down, but Snodgrass did not wish to "take the meat out of the poem."1
As a result, the poem remained unpublished until a manuscript copy of the poem The Meat Boy, as it was first titled, was discovered in the University of New Hampshire Special Collections in 1980, as described in the publisher's announcement1 of the limited-edition publication.
1 - William B. Ewert, Publisher, "Announcing the Boy Made of Meat" (1983). William Snodgrass Collection.
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Dessert, proof
Tyler, Gillian, (illustrator)
Artist's proof of the dessert illustration for the poem The boy made of meat.
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Pig Diagram, proof
Tyler, Gillian, (illustrator)
Artist's proof of the pig diagram illustration for the poem The Boy Made of Meat.
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The Boy Made of Meat (limited edition)
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
The book, designed by C. Freeman Keith, had a limited printing of 150 copies and was published by William B. Ewert in February 1983. Includes the publisher's announcement and a holograph page.
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The Boy Made of Meat, master proof
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Master galley proof of the poem The Boy Made of Meat, with wood engravings by Gillian Tyler. Made of meat, master proof
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Meat Boy, artist's proof
Tyler, Gillian, (illustrator)
Artist's proof of the illustration Meat Boy from the poem The Boy Made of Meat.
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Announcing the Boy Made of Meat
William B. Ewert, Publisher
Announcement from the William B. Ewert Publishers of the release of The Boy Made of Meat by William DeWitt Snodgrass, with illustrations by Gillian Tyler.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert, January 14, 1982
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert concerning Snodgrass's poem The Meat Boy.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert, October 4, 1982
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert concerning the completed book of Snodgrass's poem The Boy Made of Meat and the wood engravings by Gillian Tyler.
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The Boy Made of Meat, galley proof
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Galley proof of the poem The Boy Made of Meat.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert, July 21, 1981
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert concerning Snodgrass's poems The Meat Boy and Owls, his relationship with Louis Untermeyer, and the Pulitzer Prize.
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The Boy Made of Meat
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Typescript draft of the poem The Boy Made of Meat dated October 19, 1981. Made out of meat draft
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The Boy Made of Meat
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Typescript with the dedication "For Russ"
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The Boy Made Out of Meat
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Typescript draft of the poem The Boy Made of Meat, with the dedication For Buzzy. Not dated, and the address on the poem is Dearborn, Mich. Made out of meat draft
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert, November 7, 1980
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert concerning Snodgrass's poem The Meat Boy.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert, September 24, 1980
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to William Ewert concerning Snodgrass's poem The Meat Boy.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer, July 10, 1962
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to accompany a copy of his poem Meat Boy that he sent Louis Untermeyer for criticism.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer, July 28, 1962
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer concerning his edits to the poem Meat Boy.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer, September 20, 1962
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer discussing edits and changes to the manuscript of the poem Meat Boy.
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Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer, September 29, 1962
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
Letter from William De Witt Snodgrass to Louis Untermeyer concerning edits to his poem Meat Boy.
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The Meat Boy
Snodgrass, W. D. (William De Witt), 1926-2009
First draft of the poem The Meat Boy, later retitled The Boy Made of Meat.
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Letter from Louis Untermeyer to William De Witt Snodgrass, July 13, 1962
Untermeyer, Louis, 1885-1977
Letter from Louis Untermeyer to William De Witt Snodgrass to accompany the manuscript of Meat Boy with Untermeyer's edits and suggestion to change the title to Boy Made of Meat.