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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 1.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 700 items) |
Abstract | The Clifford and Gladys Lyons Collection of Robert Frost Materials includes correspondence, writings, newspaper and magazine clippings, audio tapes, photographs, and other materials documenting the life and work of Robert Frost, especially as they related to Frost's friendship with Clifford Lyons, professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Lyons's wife, Gladys. |
Creator | Lyons, Clifford P. (Clifford Pierson), 1904-1992. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Clifford and Gladys Lyons met Robert Frost and his family when they were neighbors in Gainesville, Florida, in the fall of 1937. The Frosts were spending the winter there, and Clifford Lyons was teaching English at the University of Florida. During World War II, when Lyons was stationed near Boston, he and his wife frequently exchanged visits with Frost, who was living in Cambridge.
Clifford Lyons joined the faculty of the English Department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1946; it was largely due to their friendship that Robert Frost lectured annually at U.N.C. for the next fifteen years. Frost stayed with the Lyonses at those times, and dedicated several poems in this collection to them.
Over the years, the Lyonses acquired and saved a variety of materials relating to Robert Frost: books and pamphlets by him, correspondence, tapes, photographs, and numerous clippings about him and his work. In 1981, they donated these materials to the Rare Book Collection of the Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1985, the Rare Book Collection transferred all but the published works among the Frost/Lyons materials to the Southern Historical Collection.
Back to TopThese papers consist of items collected by Clifford and Gladys Lyons in the course of their friendship with Robert Frost. They include handwritten copies of poems by Frost, correspondence with him and with his daughter, Lesley Frost Ballantine, and his granddaughter, Lesley Francis Zimic.
A large portion of the material is Gladys Lyons's newspaper clipping file of articles pertaining to Frost, especially to his annual appearances at U.N.C. There are also pamphlets from Middlebury College in Vermont, relating to Frost's instructorship at its annual Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. Photographs, tape recordings of Frost lecturing, and transcripts of those tapes comprise most of the rest of the collection.
Back to TopHandwritten, typed, and published copies of poems, an essay, and two plays by Frost, some initialed or signed by him. One poem, "Match-makers" (Folder 9), has not appeared anywhere in print, according to a note (circa 1981?) by Gladys Lyons.
Correspondence of Gladys and Clifford Lyons with Elinor and Robert Frost, the Frosts' daughter, Lesley Frost Ballantine, and their granddaughter, Lesley Francis Zimic, as well as letters about Frost from various individuals, including the writer Louis Untermeyer, and Frost's biographer, Lawrance Thompson. One letter, from Frost to Clifford Lyons, is under seal until 1 January 2020 (see control file).
A folder list follows.
Clippings (folder 27-57), pamphlets, brochures, lists, notes, and other materials relating to Frost's life and writings. Also included in this series are the transcripts of the tape recordings in Series 4 (folders 61-66).
Sound recordings (reel-to-reel originals, most with cassette copies), mainly of Robert Frost lecturing and being interviewed at U.N.C. Locations of transcripts are noted.
Audiotape T-04429/1 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 1, U.N.C., January 19541/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 61 |
Audiocassette C-04429/1 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 1, U.N.C., January 1954Audiocassette dub of T-04429/1 |
Audiotape T-04429/2 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 2, U.N.C., January 1954; Ogden Nash address part 11/4" Open Reel Audio Second part of T-04429/1 lecture. Also includes first part of an address by Ogden Nash (undated and unrelated to Robert Frost). Transcript is in folder 61 |
Audiocassette C-04429/2 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 2, U.N.C., January 1954; Ogden Nash address part 1Audiocassette dub of T-04429/2 |
Audiotape T-04429/3 |
Ogden Nash address part 21/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiocassette C-04429/3 |
Ogden Nash address part 2Audiocassette dub of T-04429/3 |
Audiotape T-04429/4 |
Interview with Robert Frost by Clifford Lyons part 1, 3 March 19601/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 62 |
Audiocassette C-04429/4 |
Interview with Robert Frost by Clifford Lyons part 1, 3 March 1960Audiocassette dub of T-04429/4 |
Audiotape T-04429/5 |
Interview with Robert Frost by Clifford Lyons part 2, 3 March 19601/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiocassette C-04429/5 |
Interview with Robert Frost by Clifford Lyons part 2, 3 March 1960Audiocassette dub of T-04429/5 |
Audiotape T-04429/6 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 1, U.N.C., March 19601/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 63 |
Audiocassette C-04429/6 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 1, U.N.C., March 1960Audiocassette dub of T-04429/6 |
Audiotape T-04429/7 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 2, U.N.C., March 19601/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 63 |
Audiocassette C-04429/7 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 2, U.N.C., March 1960Audiocassette dub of T-04429/7 |
Audiotape T-04429/8 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 3, U.N.C., March 19601/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 63 |
Audiocassette C-04429/8 |
Robert Frost in Memorial Hall part 3, U.N.C., March 1960Audiocassette dub of T-04429/8 |
Audiotape T-04429/9 |
"Listen America" radio segment with Robert Frost, circa 1950-19551/4" Open Reel Audio Transcript is in folder 64 |
Audiocassette C-04429/9 |
"Listen America" radio segment with Robert Frost, circa 1950-1955Audiocassette dub of T-04429/9 |
Audiotape T-04429/10 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 1, U.N.C., January 19541/4" Open Reel Audio dub of T-042429/1 made for U.N.C.'s radio station, WUNC |
Audiotape T-04429/11 |
Robert Frost lecturing in Hill Hall part 2, U.N.C., January 19541/4" Open Reel Audio dub of T-042429/2 made for U.N.C.'s radio station, WUNC |
Audiotape T-04429/12 |
Odgen Nash address1/4" Open Reel Audio most likely same addresss as T-04429/2 and T-04429/3 |