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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 | About 12,400 items (33 linear feet) |
Abstract | Poet Ronald H. Bayes (1932- ), resident of Laurinburg, N.C., began teaching creative writing at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in 1968. Bayes founded the St. Andrews Review and the St. Andrews Press, a magazine and small press dedicated to publishing both established and emerging writers, primarily poets, and created the St. Andrews Writers Forum. He published more than 16 poetry books and wrote reviews, poems, short stories, and a few plays. The collection contains correspondence, writings, and other materials, chiefly documenting Bayes's career as writer, editor, and college teacher. Cochran family correspondence includes letters exchanged by Cochran and Nessly family members, some in Oregon, chiefly about family news. There are also letters, mostly 1969-1972, from poets, Bayes's former students, editors, publishers, professors, friends, and politicians. Several of the letters have poems attached or included in the text. Correspondents include Carolyn Kizer, Dick Bakken, James Laughlin, Sam Ragan, Jo Slatton, Bill Butler, and Fred Parrott. Writings by Bayes, 1948-1999, are poetry chapbook manuscripts, single poems, book reviews, and a few plays and short stories. There are also writings edited by Bayes and writings by others, including poems submitted to Bayes for publication, a play by Romulus Linney, and short stories by Bill Butler. Collected publications include published anthologies and journals, most with contributions from Bayes; a few books, including several relating to Erza Pound; and a few newsletters. Also included are materials relating to the St. Andrews Review, the St. Andrews Press, the St. Andrews Writers Forum, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, and other topics; printed promotional materials, most relating to Bayes's career; clippings, some containing Bayes's writings; photographs; and audio and video recordings of Bayes at various speaking engagements. The addition of March 2023 includes scrapbooks, photographs, audiovisual materials, and unpublished writings and drafts. |
Creator | Bayes, Ronald H., 1932- . |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
Language | English. |
Updated by: Rebecca Stubbs and Laura Smith, May 2023
Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.
Back to TopThe 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.
Poet Ronald Bayes was born in Freewater, Ore., on 19 July 1932 to Floyd Edgar Bayes and Mildred Florence Bayes, but was raised by his maternal grandparents, Homer and Florence Cochran. He attended Eastern Oregon State College (E.O.S.C.) where he received his B.S. in English and Education in 1955. During the next year, Bayes taught at E.O.S.C. as an assistant professor of English while completing his master's degree. From 1956 to 1958, Bayes served in the United States Army Infantry and was stationed in Iceland. After being discharged, Bayes returned to teaching as a lecturer for the University of Maryland's overseas program in Japan. From 1959 to 1960, Bayes was enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the University of Pennsylvania as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. Leaving the American literature program with all but his dissertation completed, Bayes returned to E.O.S.C. as an associate professor of English and taught there until 1968. During the 1966-1967 academic year, Bayes again taught in Japan for the University of Maryland. In 1968, Bayes accepted the position of writer-in-residence at St. Andrews Presbyterian College and moved to Laurinburg, N.C.
While at St. Andrews, Bayes founded and became executive editor of the St. Andrews Review and the St. Andrews Press, the former a literary magazine and the latter a small press dedicated to publishing both established and emerging writers, primarily poets. Bayes also established the St. Andrews Writers Forum, a weekly event that brought outside writers and poets to the college for readings and symposia. Bayes published more than 16 books of poetry, as well as writing reviews, plays, and short stories.
Throughout his career, Bayes was active both politically and socially. From 1967 to 1968, he was the chair of the GOP Central Committee for Union County, Ore., and again chair in Scotland County, N.C., from 1980 to 1981.
In 1982, the Universita Delle Arti in Termi, Italy, awarded Bayes the honorary degree of Litt.D.M. Other honors include a term as consultant in literature for the National Council for the Arts, 1969-1971; a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize, 1986; recognition as a master poet from the Atlantic Center for the Arts, 1988; the North Carolina Award for Literature, 1989; induction as a life member in the North Carolina Poetry Society, 1990; membership in the Oregon Poetry Society, 1990; and a certificate of honor from the North Carolina Poetry Council, 1994.
Back to TopCorrespondence, writings, and other materials, chiefly documenting Laurinburg, N.C., poet Ronald H. Bayes's career as writer, editor, and college teacher. Cochran family correspondence includes letters exchanged by Cochran and Nessly family members, some in Oregon, chiefly about family news. There are also letters, mostly 1969-1972, from poets, Bayes's former students, editors, publishers, professors, friends, and politicians. Several of the letters have poems attached or included in the text. Correspondents include Carolyn Kizer, Dick Bakken, James Laughlin, Sam Ragan, Jo Slatton, Bill Butler, and Fred Parrott. Writings by Bayes, 1948-1999, are poetry chapbook manuscripts, single poems, book reviews, and a few plays and short stories. There are also writings edited by Bayes and writings by others, including poems submitted to Bayes for publication, a play by Romulus Linney, and short stories by Bill Butler. Collected publications include published anthologies and journals, most with contributions from Bayes; a few books, including several relating to Erza Pound; and a few newsletters. Also included are materials relating to the St. Andrews Review, the St. Andrews Press, the St. Andrews Writers Forum, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, and other topics; printed promotional materials, most relating to Bayes's career; clippings, some containing Bayes's writings; photographs; and audio and video recordings of Bayes at various speaking engagements. The addition of March 2023 includes scrapbooks, photographs, audiovisual materials, and unpublished writings and drafts.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Ron Bayes was raised by his material grandparents, Homer and Florence Nessly Cochran. Most of the early Cochran family correspondence is between Florence Nessly Cochran and Nessly family members about family news. Letters from the 1940s are mostly from Bayes's uncle, Thomas Homer "Bud" Cochran, to his parents and Bayes regarding his service during World War II. Later letters are mostly between Ron and his "Mom," Florence Cochran. A few letters are from Bayes's uncle Bud and his wife Jean Cochran; his younger sister, Lorraine Bayes; and his niece Harriet. There are a few letters from Edith to her sister, Florence Cochran.
Folder 1 |
1909-1928 |
Folder 2 |
1940-1947 |
Folder 3 |
1950-1954 |
Folder 4 |
1955 |
Folder 5 |
1956-1959 |
Folder 6 |
1960-1969 |
Folder 7 |
1970 |
Folder 8 |
1971-1972 |
Folder 9 |
1976-1996 and undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Letters, mostly 1969-1972, from poets, former students, editors, publishers, professors, friends, and politicians. Several of the letters have poems attached or included in the text. Correspondents include Carolyn Kizer, Dick Bakken, Ethel Fortiner, D. V. Smith, James Laughlin, Sam Ragan, Jo Slatton, Bill Butler, and Fred Parrott.
Folder 10 |
1948-1961 |
Folder 11 |
1963-1964 |
Folder 12 |
1965-1966 |
Folder 13 |
1967-1968 |
Folder 14-23
Folder 14Folder 15Folder 16Folder 17Folder 18Folder 19Folder 20Folder 21Folder 22Folder 23 |
1969 |
Folder 24-35
Folder 24Folder 25Folder 26Folder 27Folder 28Folder 29Folder 30Folder 31Folder 32Folder 33Folder 34Folder 35 |
1970 |
Folder 36-44
Folder 36Folder 37Folder 38Folder 39Folder 40Folder 41Folder 42Folder 43Folder 44 |
1971 |
Folder 45-49
Folder 45Folder 46Folder 47Folder 48Folder 49 |
1972 |
Folder 50 |
1973-1977 |
Folder 51 |
1978-1979 |
Folder 52 |
1980 |
Folder 53 |
1981-1984 |
Folder 54 |
1986-1987 |
Folder 55 |
1988-1990 |
Folder 56 |
1991-1993 |
Folder 57 |
1994-1995 |
Folder 58-59
Folder 58Folder 59 |
1996 |
Folder 60-61
Folder 60Folder 61 |
1997 |
Folder 62-65
Folder 62Folder 63Folder 64Folder 65 |
1998-January 1999 |
Folder 66 |
1969-1972: Undated |
Folder 67 |
1996-1999: Undated |
Mostly manuscripts of Bayes's poetry chapbooks, including The Casketmaker, Mt. Emily, History of the Turtle, and Porpoise. Also included are several single poems, some with multiple drafts; book reviews; and a few plays and short stories.
See also Series 6.
Folder 68 |
The Casketmaker |
Folder 69 |
God Bless Captain Vere! |
Folder 70 |
History of the Turtle |
Folder 71 |
Mt. Emily |
Folder 72 |
Porpoise |
Folder 73 |
Untitled |
Folder 74 |
Plays |
Folder 75 |
Poems |
Folder 76 |
Reviews |
Folder 77 |
Short stories |
Working manuscripts, mostly of the poetry section of The Human Voice for which Bayes was poetry editor, 1970-1971. Also included is a working manuscript for Subterraneans, a Japanese poetry anthology, which lists Bayes as a contributing editor.
Folder 78 |
Human Voice, No. 25 |
Folder 79 |
Human Voice, No. 26 |
Folder 80 |
Human Voice, No. 27 |
Folder 81 |
Human Voice, No. 29 |
Folder 82 |
Human Voice, No. 30 (#1) |
Folder 83 |
Human Voice, No. 30 (#6) |
Folder 84 |
Human Voice, No. 31 |
Folder 85 |
Subterraneans |
Arrangement: chiefly by author name.
Poetry others submitted to Bayes for publication, with some personal poetry from friends. There are some larger works, including a play by Romulus Linney and short stories by Bill Butler. Also included are reviews of Bayes's books by others, reviews of works by other poets, and a few translated poems.
Folder 86 |
Amman-Buffington |
Folder 87 |
Butler, B. |
Folder 88 |
Copeland-Land |
Folder 89 |
Linney, R. |
Folder 90 |
Lucas-Silverthorne |
Folder 91 |
Slabaugh-Yoshimo |
Folder 92 |
Miscellaneous |
Folder 93 |
Reviews of Bayes's work |
Folder 94 |
Reviews of work by others |
Folder 95 |
Translations |
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Published anthologies and journals, most including contributions from Bayes. A few are anthologies sent to Bayes by former students.
Chapbooks of others, including a pamphlet about the cantos of Erza Pound; two books by Mary de Rachewiltz, Pound's daughter; and an autographed first edition of Red Ghost by Joel Chace, recipient of the first Persephone Press book award.
Folder 166 |
Human Learning in a Changing Age |
Folder 167 |
Chace, Joel, Red Ghost |
Folder 168 |
A Poem Including History: The Cantos of Erza Pound |
Folder 169 |
Rachewiltz, Mary de, This House is Made to Last and Last Forever in the Mind |
Folder 170 |
Rachewiltz, Mary de, Whose World? |
Newsletters, mostly from St. Andrews with some professional newsletters and journals. Several have highlighted or underlined articles about Bayes, upcoming events, or persons known to Bayes.
Oversize Paper Folder OPF-4949/1 |
ALA (Spanish); The Arts Journal |
Folder 171 |
COSMEP (Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers) |
Folder 172 |
Detonator (Academy of American Poets) |
Folder 173 |
The Pinenoodle (Pembroke State University) |
Folder 174 |
The Poetry Society of America Bulletin |
Folder 175 |
St. Andrews News |
Files relating to William Thrasher, who established the Theater Experiment Lab; local Republican Party political activities, 1984; the establishment of the St. Andrews Review; promotional materials for the St. Andrews Writers Forum; organizational materials for St. Andrews Presbyterian College; St. Andrews English Department materials about Bayes's efforts to confer an honorary degree on Erza Pound; the Discovery Grant Program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, for which Bayes served as regional consultant on the South; and other topics.
Folder 176 |
Conferences |
Folder 177 |
Courses and research notes |
Folder 178-179
Folder 178Folder 179 |
Discovery Grant Program |
Folder 180-181
Folder 180Folder 181 |
Political activities |
Folder 182 |
St. Andrews: English Department memoranda |
Folder 183 |
St. Andrews: Organizational materials |
Folder 184 |
St. Andrews Review |
Folder 185 |
St. Andrews Writers Forum |
Folder 186 |
Theater Experiment Lab |
Printed promotional materials, mostly relating to Bayes's publications and engagements. There are also announcements of others' publishing and engagements and some material from St. Andrews Presbyterian College regarding events connected with Bayes.
Folder 187 |
Bayes's engagements |
Folder 188 |
Bayes's publications |
Folder 189 |
St. Andrews events |
Folder 190 |
Others' engagements |
Folder 191 |
Others' publications |
Folder 192 |
Awards |
Folder 193 |
Other items |
Arrangement: chronological.
Clippings about Bayes and articles written by Bayes. Most have been underlined or highlighted, and some have brief handwritten notes explaining why the article was saved.
Folder 194 |
1953-1969 |
Folder 195 |
1970 |
Folder 196 |
1971 |
Folder 197 |
1972 |
Folder 198 |
1973-1979 |
Folder 199 |
1980-1989 |
Folder 200 |
1991-1998 |
Folder 201 |
Undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Pictures sent to Bayes from friends, with a few early photographs of Bayes.
Image Folder PF-4949/1 |
1954-1971 |
Image Folder PF-4949/2 |
1982-1998 |
Audio and video recordings consist mostly of speaking engagements by or featuring Bayes.
Audiotape T-4949/1 |
Ron Bayes at North Carolina Writers Conference banquet |
Audiocassette C-4949/5 |
Ron Bayes at North Carolina Writers Conference banquet |
Audiotape T-4949/2 |
Ron Bayes at Harvard, 26 or 27 April 1984 |
Audiocassette C-4949/6 |
Ron Bayes at Harvard, 26 or 27 April 1984 |
Audiotape T-4949/3 |
Ron Bayes, Time To Listen |
Audiocassette C-4949/7 |
Ron Bayes, Time To Listen |
Audiotape T-4949/4 |
Interview on Modern Poets and Poetics with Richard Hugo; Les Nuits1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/5 |
De Rachewiltz1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/6 |
Poetuca #17, 4 December 19651/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/7 |
Robert Creely reads his works; Jones "The Revolution Theater"1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/8 |
Ron Bayers, Japanese tape1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/9 |
Rolfe Humphrier, Carolyn Kizer, William Stafford, Bayer MC1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiotape T-4949/10 |
Ron Bayers, Japanese tape; Copeland play, The Sun Behind the Eyes1/4" Open Reel Audio |
Audiocassette C-4949/1 |
Just Forest, 1993Audiocassette |
Audiocassette C-4949/2-3
C-4949/2C-4949/3 |
North Carolina Poetry Society panel, "Poetry in the 21st Century"Audiocassette |
Audiocassette C-4949/4 |
Poetry reading, 14 March 2002Audiocassette |
Videotape VT-4949/1-13
VT-4949/1VT-4949/2VT-4949/3VT-4949/4VT-4949/5VT-4949/6VT-4949/7VT-4949/8VT-4949/9VT-4949/10VT-4949/11VT-4949/12VT-4949/13 |
VideotapesVHS Video recordings of award ceremonies (Ethel Fortner Awards and the San Ragan Awards) and interviews. |
Acquisitions Information: Acc. 20230320.1.
Folder 202 |
Inserts/Pamphlets |
Folder 203 |
Chapter 1-6 |
Folder 204 |
Chapter 7-11 |
Folder 205 |
Chapter 12-18 |
Folder 206 |
Johnson Smith & Company Catalogue: Surprising Novelties, Puzzles, Tricks, Jokegoods, Useful Articles, Etc. 1929 |
Folder 207-208 |
Materials found within "Johnson Smith & Company Catalogue: Surprising Novelties, Puzzles, Tricks, Jokegoods, Useful Articles, Etc. 1929" |
Folder 209 |
"II" |
Folder 210 |
Poetry writings"Parting in Okinawa -- and the Cambodian Dusk" and various others |
Folder 211 |
"Sospensione" (Abeyance) |
Folder 212 |
Stories notes |
Folder 213-214 |
"Persons: A Novella and 13 Stories" by Ronald Bayes |
Folder 215 |
Bayes Comments on his Work"Persons & Other Stories" |
Folder 216 |
Notes / Drafts for "Persons" and Other Stories |
Folder 217-218 |
"God Bless Captain Vere!" Draft, 2002 |
Folder 219 |
"Persons: A Novella & Fourteen Tales" |
Folder 220 |
Writings by Ronald Bayes"Some Aspects of thr Reconciliation Theme in Shakespeare's Last Plays with Special Emphasis on Cymbeline"; "John Reed amd the Limits of Idealism"; Untitled; "The Castmaker: Selected Shorter Poems" |
Folder 221 |
St. Andrews University |
Folder 222 |
Miscellaneous documentsNewspaper, poems, a book in Japanese, 1968 |
Folder 223 |
Revised writingsUnbound |
Folder 224 |
"Babys Scrap Book" |
Oversize Image Folder OP-PF-4949/1 |
Ronald Bayes and S(?) Campbell portraits
|
Photograph Album PA-4949/1-27, 29-37 |
Ronald Bayes photograph ablumsBlack-and-white photographs & color photographs, newspapers Albums 24 & 25 unbound and are located in Image Box 5 |
Image Folder PF-4949/3 |
Ronald Bayes childhood photographs; unidentified individual, circa 1930s-1940sBlack-and-White photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/4 |
Ronald Bayes, age 17-young adult, circa 1950sBlack-and-White mounted photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/5 |
Ronald Bayes and individuals, circa 1950s-1970sBlack-and-White photographs Contains both identified and unidentified individuals |
Image Folder PF-4949/6 |
Ronald Bayes, individuals & vacation photographsColor photographs Contains both identified and unidentified individuals |
Image Folder PF-4949/7 |
Ronald Bayes & individuals at the NC Awards, Fall 1989; individuals, circa 1980sBlack-and-White photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/8 |
Ronald Bayes, individuals & ephemera, circa 1980sBlack-and-White photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/9-11 |
Ronald Bayes and individuals, circa 1990sColor photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/12 |
Ronald Bayes and unidentified individuals, circa 1990sColor photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/13 |
Ronald Bayes and indivudals; Bayes animals, circa 1990sColor photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/14 |
Ronald Bayes and individuals, circa 1990sBlack-and-white photographs & color photographs (folder) |
Image Folder PF-4949/15 |
Miscellaneous photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/16 |
Ronald Bayes; identified individuals; and unidentified events, circa 1990s-2000sColor photographs Pulled from enlosure with corresponding negative (Kodak envelope) corresponding negative in folder 20 |
Image Folder PF-4949/17 |
Ronald Bayes and unidentified individuals, circa 2000sColor photographs
|
Image Folder PF-4949/18 |
Ronald Bayes animals and portrait, circa 2000sColor photographs
|
Ronald Bayes, circa 2010s
|
|
Image Folder PF-4949/19 |
Ronald Bayes ephemera, circa 1990s-2000s
Newspaper clippings |
Image Folder PF-4949/20 |
Ronald Bayes negatives, 1970s, 1990sBlack-and-White and color negatives Corresponding prints are in enlsoures 15 and 55 |
Image Folder PF-4949/21 |
Ronald Bayes negatives, circa 1940s-2000s
|
Image Folder PF-4949/22 |
Ronald Bayes loose negatives
|
Image Folder PF-4949/23 |
"Photographs with Writers"
|
Image Folder PF-4949/24 |
Photograph album 24 (1 of 2)
|
Image Folder PF-4949/25 |
Photograph album 24 (2 of 2)
|
Image Folder PF-4949/26 |
Photograph album 25 (1 of 2)
|
Image Folder PF-4949/27 |
Photograph album 25 (1 of 2)
|
Image Folder PF-4949/28 |
Papers accompanying photograph album 16
|
Image Folder PF-4949/29 |
Papers accompanying photograph album 17
|
Image Folder PF-4949/30 |
Pamphlets accompanying photograph albums
|
Audiocassette C-4949/8 |
Jazz and Poetry II, 29 Jan 1988Music: Rhythem-a-ning; Now's the Time; I Can't Get Started; Straight No Chaser; Easy Living' Blue Bossa |
Audiocassette C-4949/9 |
Banquet honoring Ron Bayes, NCWCNC Writier's Conference speeches |
Videotape VT-4949/14 |
Poetry Alive: Ron Bayes, 2 Nov 1997VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/15 |
Commencement, 2000VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/16 |
Poetry Alive; Ron Bayes, 13 May 2000VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/17 |
28th Sam Ragan Fine Arts Award, 24 Jan 2008VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/18 |
Writers Forum: Robert Creeley and Ron Hayes, 28 Jan 1999VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/19 |
Josephine Miles, Carolyn Kizer Reading, 18 Oct 1973VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/20 |
Marion Cannon pathway dedication & luncheon, 7 Nov 1996VHS |
Videotape VT-4949/21 |
NC Poetry Alive: Ron Bayes & Betty AdcockVHS |
Oversize papers (OPF-4949/1)
Audiocassettes (C-4949/1-9)
Audiotapes (T-4949/1-10)
Videotapes (VT-4949/1-21)
Photographs (PF-4949/1-30)
Oversize image folder (OP-PF-4949/1)
Photograph Album (PA-4949/1-27, 29-37)
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