The collection is open for research.

Cite as: Robert Francis Papers (MS 403). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.

Inquiries regarding permission to publish should be directed to our permissions department.

The collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives by Robert Francis between November 1975 and July 1987, along with a collection of his printed works which are now housed in the Rare Books collection. Additions to the collection were subsequently received from Francis' literary executor, Francis Quinn; from the University of Massachusetts Press; and the Tunnel Press in 1977.

Listen to recordings of an interview and poetry reading with Robert Francis conducted by Henry Lyman for WFCR radio in 1977 and 1978.

Processed by Stephanie Welch and Mark Madigan, 1988. The following letters, now interfiled with the Correspondence series, were previously arranged by Robert Francis in a file called "Help asked for and received."

The following letters, now interfiled with the Correspondence series, were previously arranged by Francis in a file called "Letters of appreciation."

The following items, now filed in box 13, folders 165-169, were originally interleaved in the author's copy of The Trouble With Francis in the pages noted below.

See also Regina Codey Papers (MS 314), and Arthur E. Niedeck collection (MS 295), audio tapes of readings. Additional collections of Robert Francis's papers are located at Syracuse University and the Jones Library in Amherst.

The following books and broadsides by Francis -- nearly a complete set of his works -- have been transferred for storage with the Rare Book collections:

• Gusto, thy name was Mrs. Hopkins : a prose rhapsody. Toronto : Chartres Books, c1988. 49 p. : 2 ports. ; 23 cm. "A Gordon Lawson McLennan edition".
• Butter Hill, and other poems. [Springfield, Mass.] : Ardsley Press, c1984. [30] p. : ill. ; 23 cm. "Four hundred numbered copies . This book is number 196."
• The satirical rogue on all fronts. [S.l.] : Paul W. Carman, c1984. [34] p. : port. ; 23 cm. "Four hundred numbered copies of The satirical rogue on all fronts, a collection of unpublished pieces, have been privately printed on Mohawk Superfine by Paul W. Carman at the Ardsley Press . The first 75 copies have been specially bound and are signed by Robert Francis with an extra signed poem. This book is number 22."
• Founder's day talk, Jones Library, September 14, 1980. [Amherst, Mass., 1980]. [1], 6, [1] p. 21 cm. Edition of two hundred and fifty copies. Signed: Robert Francis. "This is No. 18."
• Pot shots at poetry. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 1980. xiii, 220 p. ; 21 cm.
• Clarification of God. [S.l. : s.n., 198-]. 10 p. ; 23 cm.
• W H-M, a poem, carved, with decorative border. Amherst, Mass., The Epoh Studio, 1976] Untitled; first line: To him my birches. Printed in green and yellow. Captioned in pencil at bottom by Wang Hui-Ming: W H-M, Poem by Robert Francis [Signed] '76. Initialed in pencil by author, bottom left. Published, without border, in New letters, v. 42, no. 4, summer 1976, p. 53.
• Bluejay. [Easthampton, Mass., The Pennyroyal Press, 1976]. broadside. illus. 19 x 14 cm. "150 copies printed at Pennyroyal by B. Moser April 1976." On blue paper, and signed by the artist, Barry Moser; copy 2, on white paper, is not signed.
• A certain distance. Woods Hole, Mass. : Pourboire Press, 1976. 4 p. l., 40 p. ; 21 cm. "This edition consists of six hundred copies of which one hundred are hardcovers, numbered and signed by the author on his seventy-fifth birthday." Special Collections' copy labeled PS3511.R237 C4 1976 is in paper covers, and has a typewritten "nineteen" pasted over the printed "twenty one." Special Collections' copy labeled PS3511.R237 C4 1976b is no. 82, signed, and the "twenty one" in the dedication is not corrected.
• Chrysanthemums. [Amherst] ; University of Massachusetts Press, 1976. 1 broadside : col. ill. ; 29 x 27 cm. Limited ed. of 100 copies, signed by poet and artist. Illustrated with a wood engraving by Barry Moser. Printed in black and brown. The woodcut is hand-colored. Artist Barry Moser's signed autograph presentation inscription, dated: 19 April 1976. Copy 2, printed on different stock, is not colored, and is not signed.
• Collected poems, 1936-1976. Amherst : University of Massachusetts Press, 1976. 285 p. ; 24 cm. "The book is graced with eight wood engravings by Wang Hui-Min."
• Francis on the spot : an interview with Robert Francis by Philip Tetreault and Kathy Sewalk-Karcher. Portage, Pa. : Tunnel Press ; Woonsocket, R.I., c1976. 2 p. l., 3-31, [1] p. : ill., ports. ; 22 cm. Gob poetry pamphlet ; no. 4. Three hundred copies printed.
• Hide-and-seek. [Middletown, Conn.] : Wesleyan University Press, 1976. 1 broadside : ill. ; 30 x 23 cm. Poem. At end of text: Robert Francis. Illustration by Barry Moser. On verso: . Copyrighted] Wesleyan University Press, printed at Pennyroyal, April, 1976. First line: Here where the dead lie hidden. Edition 150. Signed by both poet and the artist." - cf. Publisher's brochure. Unsigned copy - a proof copy.
• November. [Amherst] : University of Massachusetts Press, [1976]. 1 broadside : ill. ; 27 x 23 cm. Limited ed. of 100 copies. "April 1976." Illustrated with a wood engraving by Barry Moser . Printed on Japanese vellum in two colors [black and brown] Edition 100 . Signed by both the poet and the artist." - cf. Publisher's brochure. Unsigned copy - a proof copy?
• Like ghosts of eagles: poems, 1966-1974. Drawings by Jack Coughlin. [Amherst, Mass.] University of Massachusetts Press [1974]. 68 p. illus. 21 cm.
• Robert Frost: a time to talk: conversations and indiscretions recorded by Robert Francis.. [London]: Robson Books, [1973, c1972]. 3 p. l., 3-100 p. incl. front. : (port.) ; 24 cm. "First published in Great Britain in 1973." First American edition, 1972, published with title: Frost; a time to talk.
• Frost: a time to talk: conversations and indiscretions recorded by Robert Francis. [Amherst]: University of Massachusetts Press [1972]. 100 p. 24 cm.
• The land on the tip of a hair; poems in wood. Selected and carved by Wang Hui-ming. [Amherst, Mass., Printed at the Epoh Studio, 1972]. 1 portfolio ([40] l.) 32 cm. Fifty copies. "This is copy number A/P [Signed]" Includes The righteous, The peacock, Exemplary, Prescription, and A fear, by Robert Francis. With Wang's signed autograph presentation inscription to Robert Francis.
• The trouble with Francis; an autobiography. [Amherst]: University of Massachusetts Press, 1971. 246 p. illus., maps, ports. 24 cm.
• Six poems. [Montague, Mass.] : Sawmill Press, 1970. [8] l., [4] leaves of plates) ; 20 x 26 cm. "The text . printed by Deborah and Richard Hendel, etchings by Jack Coughlin. This is an edition of fifty numbered copies and ten artist's proof copies. This is number Artist's Proof." Each plate signed by the artist. Vignette in green. In portfolio, 20 x 26 cm.
• Come out into the sun. [Amherst, Mass., The University of Massachusetts Press, 1969]. 1 broadsheet. illus. 24 x 16 cm., fold. On verso: Greetings 1969. The University of Massachusetts Press. Autographed.
• [The satirical rogue on poetry : first magazine appearances of essays intended to form the second series, not yet published in book form]. [1969-19 ]. v.
• Come out into the sun; poems new and selected. [Amherst] University of Massachusetts Press [1968, c1965]. 7 p. l., 3-143 p. 22 x 16 cm. "Second Printing, 1968."
• Like ghosts of eagles. First magazine appearances of poems later published in the book. [v.p., 1968-74]. 12 nos. 19-29 cm.
• The satirical rogue on poetry. [Amherst]: University of Massachusetts Press, 1968. 123 p. 21 cm. Special Collections' copy 2 has laid in publisher's review copy slip, and The Satirical Rogue, by Robert Francis, reprinted from the Massachusetts Review, vol. 6, no. 3, Spring-Summer, 1965, signed in red: "Christmas cheer! Robert."
• The orb weaver. Middletown, Conn., Wesleyan University Press [1967]. 5 p. l., 3-63 p. 21 x 16 cm. "First printing, January, 1960 . Third printing, February, 1967."
• Come out into the sun; poems new and selected. [Amherst] University of Massachusetts Press [1965]. 143 p. 23 cm.
• The satirical rogue. [Amherst, Mass., 1965]. [16] p. 23 cm. Caption title. "Reprinted from The Massachusetts review, Volume 6, No. 3, Spring-Summer, 1965," p. 451-466. Signed autograph presentation inscription: Christmas cheer! Robert. Laid in his The satirical rogue on poetry, Amherst, Mass., The University of Massachusetts Press, 1968, copy 2.
• The orb weaver; poems. Middletown, Conn., Wesleyan University Press [1960]. 63 p. 21 cm.
• Rome without camera : a talk. Amherst, Mass. : Jones Library, c1958. 13 p. ; 23 cm. Cover title. "Founder's Day, October 15, 1958." Edition of one hundred copies. "This is No. 96."
• What a witch told me. [Chautauqua, N.Y., 1956]. [9] p. 22 x 10 cm. "This parable was written by the instructor, Robert Francis, for the Poetry division of the Chautauqua Writers' Workshop, 1956, and published by its members ."
• The face against the glass, poems. Amherst, Mass. Published by the author, 1950. 44 p. 20 cm. This edition has been limited to three hundred copies. "This copy is number 119."
• We fly away. New York, : Morrow, c1948. 155 p. ; 20 cm. Double title page. UMass Amherst Special Collections copy 1: Gift of E. Porter Dickinson, with author's autograph presentation inscription on front fly-leaf, "For Porter Dickinson / from friend Bob / September 1948". In dj, with several related newsclippings laid in. Copy 2: Gift of Mrs. Frank Prentice Rand, with author's autograph presentation inscription on front fly-leaf, "For the Rands of Mount Pleasant / with warm greetings / from Robert Francis / 1948", and a review of the book, by F[rank] P. R[and], extracted from the Amherst Record, September 30, 1948, mounted inside the front cover. Tipped onto half-title is a TLS to F.P.R. dated: The Johnson Homestead, Shelburne Falls, September 30, 1948, in which the author thanks him for the review.
• The sound I listened for. New York : The Macmillan Company, 1944. xi, 79 p. 21 cm. "First printing."
• The sound I listened for. Amherst, Mass. : R. Francis, 1943. 63 p. ; 20 cm. Special Collections' copy 2 has author's signed autograph presentation inscription to the Rands inside front cover.
• Valhalla : and other poems. New York : The Macmillan Company, 1938. [i]-viii p., 1., 1-133 [1]p. ; 20.4 cm. First printing. Bound in light gray cloth; printed paper labels on front cover and spine. Dust jacket. Signed by the author. Special Collections' copy 2 is autographed on front fly-leaf, which also has a mounted photograph of the author. Two other photographs of him are laid in, as is his "Come out into the sun," signed The University of Massachusetts Press Greetings 1969, and his "Mr. Eliot's day," extracted from The New Yorker, issue of August 1, 1953, p. 27. Mounted inside front cover is his poem, "Good night near Christmas" [Amherst, Mass.] Christmas 1938, and tipped onto the verso of half-title is a TLS to Mrs. [Frank P.] Rand, dated: August 4, 66.
• Stand with me here. New York : The Macmillan Company, 1936. [i-x] p., 1., 3-83 [1]p., 1. ; 20.3 cm. First printing. Bound in green cloth; stamped in gold. Dust jacket. Signed by the author. Special Collections' copy 1 is autographed on half-title page. Laid in Special Collections' copy 2 is a TLS to Frank Rand, dated: Fort Juniper, Amherst, Mass., August 31, 1945.