James Hearst Documents

James Schell Hearst taught at the University of Northern Iowa from 1941 to 1975, retiring as a Distinguished Professor of English, and was well-known throughout the nation as a poet, philosopher, and educator. His thirteen volumes of poetry and two autobiographical works won him praise and honors on both the state and national level. During the course of his life he published over 600 poems, with his work appearing in such publications as The Nation, Outdoor America, the Saturday Evening Post, The Midland, Poet & Critic, The Independent, the Wascana Review, and the Kansas Quarterly, among many others.

Material of the type found in this collection can also be found in print format in Special Collections & University Archives. For more information, see the finding aid for this specific collection.

This collection is a subset of the larger James Hearst Collection.

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Letter from Patty with the poem Portrait of a Poet

A letter from a friend named Patty which is primarily a poem Portrait of a poet, written after 1953.
Poetry Packet

James Hearst

Poems of James Hearst either clipped from publications or original typescript.
Farming the Land and Writing Poetry

James Hearst and Robert J. Ward

A partial transcript of an interview of James Hearst conducted by Robert Ward in the summer of 1981. This section of the interview is on the relation between farming and poetry.
Tickets at door for Hearst fete

A newspaper clipping concerning a Tribute to James Hearst stating that the funds raised would endow a scholarship to UNI.
Jim Hearst is dead

Scott Cawelti

A short newspaper notice by Scott Cawelti on the death of James Hearst.
Despite obstacles, James Hearst makes his life bloom

Scott Cawelti

A review of James Hearst's autobiography My shadow below me, along with a brief biographical essay written by Scott Cawelti.
Five Poems (Poet and Critic)

James Hearst

The poems Taking the bull to water, Not the last goodbye, Not really a quarrel, The Weed cutter, and Balance sheet published in volume 13, number 2 of Poet and critic.
Witnesses

James Hearst

A short poem about autumn published in the Spring 1982 issue of South Dakota review.
Note from Ann Phelps

Ann Phelps

A thank you note to James Hearst for his poetry and friendship from Ann Phelps, written in 1981.
Letter from Mayor Douglas C. Sharp

Douglas C. Sharp

A letter from Mayor Sharp thanking James Hearst for his work as honorary chairman of the Fund Drive for the Cedar Falls Public Library.
Letter from Sharon Wotherell

Sharon Wotherell

Memories of James Hearst as a teacher an after written by Sharon Wotherell.
Spring Rites on the Farm

James Hearst

Recollections of James Hearst of spring activities on his parent's farm published in the spring 1980 issue of Kansas Quarterly.
Bonesetter's Brawl cover

Carmelita Calderwood and James Hearst

The book jacket of the novel Bonesetter's brawl, a novel written by Carmelita Calderwood and James Hearst.
The North Star, by Altabelle W. Milgram

Atlabelle W. Milgram

The poem The North Star written in a letter to James Hearst by Altabelle W. Milgram.
Letter from Donald Fish

Donald Fish

A letter from Donald E. Fish concerning the publication of a book of selected poems by James Hearst from 1977.
Salute to Iowa

James Hearst

The typescript of the essay "Salute to Iowa" with edits later published in The Sandlapper November 1977. The essay includes his poems The Reason for Stars, Hog economy, and The Cure.
Salute to Iowa

James Hearst

The typescript of the essay "Salute to Iowa" published in The Sandlapper November 1977. The essay includes his poems The Reason for Stars, Hog economy, and The Cure.
Hearst honored

A news clipping announcing that James Hearst to be honored by the Iowa Arts Council as part of the Bicentennial Artists' Day. Also honored were Dorothy and James Schramm, Elizabeth Werblosky, Sven Lekberg, L.K. Boutin, and Dwight Kirsch.
In a Country Cemetery in Iowa, for James Hearst

A poem written for James Hearst.
Letter from John Culver

John C. Culver

A letter from John C. Culver congratulating James Hearst on his recognition by the Iowa Arts Council.
Letter from Chuck Grassley

Charles Grassley

A letter from Charles Grassley congratulating James Hearst on his recognition by the Iowa Arts Council in 1976.
A Century of Learning

James Hearst

A poem by James C. Hearst on the occasion of UNI's 100th commencement published in the Cedar Falls Record newspaper.
Evergreen Transformations

James Hearst

The typescript of a poem later published in the Cedar Falls record newspaper as "A century of learning".
Stream & Tree

James Hearst

A short poem with edits published in the Wascana Review, volume 10, number 1.
Guest poet

A newspaper clipping announcing a poetry reading by James Hearst at Emporia State College.
UNI's first honorary doctorate to Hearst

A newspaper clipping announcing that James Hearst would receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature at the May 1975 spring commencement.
A Jog to Memory

James Hearst

A short poem published in the Spring 1975 issue of Sunday Clothes.
Letter of resignation to Daniel Cahill

James Hearst

James Hearst's letter of resignation from the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa Department of Languages and Literature in 1975.
Plea for Persistence

James Hearst

A short poem published in the Fall 1975 issue of P-A-N.
James Hearst, by Paul Engle

Paul Engle

A reprint of a poem about James Hearst written by Paul Engle and first published in the North American Review.
My State of the Union Speech

James Hearst

The typescript of a talk given by James Hearst sometime in the mid-1970s.
A Single Focus book announcement

A brief announcement about the publication of the book of poems entitled A Single focus published in 1967 by Prairie Press. The announcement includes the poem The Farmer's season.
James Hearst [photo in the Waterloo Daily Courier]

A newspaper clipping of a photograph of James Hearst taken by Dick Cole in 1967.
A Modern Farm Fable

James Hearst

An essay on the economic aspects of farming as well as government policy on agriculture.
The Subject is Poetry

Richard Rackstraw

A review of A Single focus, including some comments about James Hearst's earlier collections of poetry, published in the December 1967 issue of The Alumnus.
A Tornado

James Hearst

A short poem about a tornado.
Notes on Poetry and Meaning

James Hearst

A transcript on the writing and reading of poetry.
Two Men and the Simple Life

James Hearst

A typescript with edits of a talk by James Hearst on Henry David Thoreau and E. B. White, including readings from their writings.
Prairie Poet

A brief illustrated profile of James Hearst published in The Iowan in fall 1963 with photography by Joan Liffring.
The Prophets Really Prophesy as Mystics, The Commentators Merely by Statistics

Robert Frost

The poem The prophets really prophesy as mystics, the commentators merely by statistics by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1962.
The Wood-Pile

Robert Frost

The poem The wood-pile by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1961. Wood engravings by Thomas W. Nason.
Accidentally on Purpose

Robert Frost

The poem Accidentally on purpose by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1960.
A Wishing Well

Robert Frost

The poem A wishing well by Robert Frost, sent as a Christmas greeting in 1959.
Music for Seven Poems

James Hearst

The poems written by James Hearst that were used in the 1958 Spring Festival of the Department of Music of the Iowa State Teachers College.
Music for Seven Poems

William Lathem, James Hearst, and Norman Stageberg

The program of the 1958 Spring Festival of the Department of Music of the Iowa State Teachers College. The music was composed by William Lathem to poems written by James Hearst. The program notes were written by Norman Stageberg.
My Objection to Being Stepped On

Robert Frost

The poem My objection to being stepped on by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1957. Wood engravings by Leonard Baskin.
A Talk for Students

Robert Frost

The commencement address given by Robert Frost to the graduating class of 1956 of Sarah Lawrence College.
Kitty Hawk 1894

Robert Frost

The poem Kitty Hawk 1894 by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1956. Woodcut illustrations by Antonio Frasconi.
One More Brevity

Robert Frost

The poem One more brevity by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1953. Decorations by Philip Grushkin.
Does No One But Me At All Ever Feel This Way in the Least

Robert Frost

The poem Does no one but me at all ever feel this way in the least by Robert Frost originally meant to be sent out as a Christmas greeting in 1952 but sent out for July 4, 1953.
Mrs. James Hearst Dies

An article from the Cedar Falls daily record reporting on the death of Mrs. James Hearst, nee Carmelita Cameron Calderwood.
A Cabin in the Clearing

Robert Frost

The poem A cabin in the clearing written by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting to James Hearst.
Doom to Bloom

Robert Frost

The poem Doom to bloom by Robert Frost sent as a Christmas greeting in 1950.
Symbolism

James Hearst

A partial typescript of a talk given by James Hearst, with edits. The symbol discussed the most is the Sun.
Holiday Greetings from Robert Frost

Robert Frost

The poem On a tree fallen across the road (to hear us talk) by Robert Frost, signed by him and sent as a Christmas greeting in 1949.
The Farmer Pays His Debts

James Hearst

An essay on the economic aspects of farming published in the April 12, 1947 issue of The Nation.
Talk on Symbolism

James Hearst

An edited typescript of a talk on symbolism and the Symbolist movement in literature, given sometime after the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Death of Charles E. Hearst

An article from the Cedar Falls daily record reporting on the death of Charles E. Hearst, the father of James Hearst.
Article on the October Midland
Beauty (Summer Rain)

James Hearst

A poem published in the February 26, 1927 issue of The Independent, with edits by the author changing the title from Beauty to Summer rain.
Around the Bend

James Hearst

A poem about fishing, published in the September 1926 issue of Outdoor America.
In April

James Hearst

A poem about the month of April in Iowa published in the August 1926 issue of The Midland, one of six poems written by James Hearst in this issue.
Pageant Program, The Spirit of 50 Years

James Hearst

The program of a pageant written by James Hearst to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. The pageant was performed on May 29, 1926.
America for Americans

James Hearst

The typescript of the short story America for Americans, published in the American Legion Weekly September 26, 1924.
The Isle of the Setting Sun

James Hearst

Typescript of the poem The Isle of the setting sun, published in the November 1924 issue of Heacock's.
Voices

James Hearst

A illustrated poem about an inland person longing to go to sea published in the September 1924 issue of Good Housekeeping.
James Hearst Honorable Discharge

The honorable discharge papers of James Hearst at the end of his military service in 1918, filed in Black hawk County in 1919
James Hearst Order of Induction Into Military Service

The induction paper for James Hearst into service for the United States in October 1918.

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