Berkeley Poetry Conference

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[edit] The Berkeley Poetry Conference

Leaders of what had been termed a revolution in poetry presented their views and the poems in seminars, lectures, individual readings, and group readings at California Hall on the Berkeley Campus of the University of California during July 12-24, 1965. The conference was organized through the University of California Extension Programs. The advisory committee consisted of Thomas Parkinson, Professor of English at U.C. Berkeley, Donald M. Allen, West Coast Editor of Grove Press, Robert Duncan, Poet, and Richard Baker, Program Coordinator.

The roster of scheduled poets consisted of: Robin Blaser, Robert Creeley, Richard Durerden, Robert Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka), Joanne Kyger, Ron Lowewinson, Charles Olson, Gary Snyder, Jack Spicer, George Stanley, Lew Welch, and John Wieners. Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) did not participate; Ed Dorn was pressed into service.

Seminars: Gary Snyder, July 12-16; Robert Duncan, July 12-16; LeRoi Jones (scheduled),July 19-23; Charles Olson, July 19-23. Readings (8-9:30 pm)

New Poets, July 12; Gary Snyder, July 13; John Wieners, July14; Jack Spicer, July 15; Robert Duncan, July 16; Robin Blaser, George Stanley and Richard Duerden, July 17

New Poets, July 19; Robert Creeley, July 20; Allen Ginsberg, July 21; LeRoi Jones, July 22; Charles Olson, July 23; Ron Loewinsohn, Joanne Kyger and Lew Welch, July 24

Lectures: July 13, Robert Duncan, “Psyche-Myth and the Moment of Truth” July 14, Jack Spicer, “Poetry and Politics” July 16, Gary Snyder, “Poetry and the Primitive” July 20, Charles Olson, “Causal Mythology” July 21, Ed Dorn, “The Poet, the People, the Spirit” July 22, Allen Ginsberg, “What's Happening on Earth” July 23, Robert Creeley, “Sense of Measure”

Readings: Gary Snyder, July 13, introduced by Thomas Parkinson. John Wieners, July 14, introduced by Robert Creeley. Jack Spicer, July 15, introduced by Thomas Parkinson. Robert Duncan, July 16, introduced by Thomas Parkinson. Robin Blaser, George Stanley, Richard Duerden, July 17, introduced by Robert Duncan.

Young Poets: Jim Boyack, Robin Eichele, Victor Coleman, Bob Hogg, Stephen Rodefer, David Franks, July 18, introduced by Victor Coleman.

Special Poetry Reading: John Sinclair, Lenore Kandel, Ted Berrigan, Ed Sanders, July 17, introduced by Allen Ginsberg. Ed Dorn, July 20, introduced by Robert Creeley. Allen Ginsberg, July 21, introduced by Thomas Parkinson. Robert Creeley, July 22, introduced by Robert Duncan. Charles Olson, July 23, introduced by Robert Duncan. Ron Loewinsohn, Joanne Kyger, Lew Welch, July 2, introduced by Robert Duncan.

Young Poets from the Bay Area: Gene Fowler, Jim Wehlage, Eileen Adams, Doug Palmer, Sam Thomas, Gail Dusenbery, Drum Hadley, Lowell Levant, Jim Thurber, July 25, introduced by Gary Snyder. There was a reading by David Bromige, David Schaff, James Koller and Ken Irby, but the tape is lost.

It was during these activities that Charles Olson was designated President of Poets, and Allen Ginsberg, Secretary of State of Poetry. Robert Creeley remarked, "There will never be another poetry conference in Berkeley; Berkeley is too bizarre."