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Celebrating ROBINSON JEFFERS

    Tuesday, October 18, 2016
    When: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
    Location: Doheny Memorial Library

      As California’s first great poet, Robinson Jeffers (1887–1962) blazed a trail
      through the literary world from his base in Carmel. His books, including
      Tamar and Other Poems (1924), Thurso’s Landing (1932), and Be Angry at
      the Sun       (1941), explored his tempestuous relationship with both the natural
      and spiritual worlds.

      Celebrating Robinson Jeffers features discussions and presentations on
      Jeffers from the perspectives of literature, environmentalism, conservation,
      visual art, and science fiction. The panels and exhibition will explore Jeffers’
      relationship to the natural world, the book arts, and his literary pedigree
      in early 20th-century Los Angeles. Jeffers manuscripts and photographs,
      rarely seen by the public, will be on view.


      Jeffers’ roots extend across the Golden State. Before settling along the
      central California coast, he took an undergraduate degree at Occidental
      College in Eagle Rock and studied medicine at USC. His influence in literature
      and popular culture is seen in the works of poets Charles Bukowski and
      Adrienne Rich, writer Ursula K. Le Guin, photographer Ansel Adams, and
      even the recordings of the Beach Boys.


      FULL SCHEDULE:

      12:00 p.m. Welcome 
      Dana Gioia, Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture, USC
      California Poet Laureate
      Catherine Quinlan, Dean of the USC Libraries
       
      12:10 p.m.  Recitations of Jeffers poetry by undergraduate students
       
      12:15 p.m. Lunchtime Presentation: The new Bibliography of Robinson Jeffers
      Michael Broomfield, author, His Place for Story: Robinson Jeffers: 
      A Descriptive Bibliography
      Introduced by Jesse Rossa, Triolet Books
       
      1:15 p.m. Presentation: Rare Jeffers Books, Manuscripts, and Photos
      Dale Ann Stieber, Special Collections Librarian, Occidental College
      Executive Director, Robinson Jeffers Association 
      Helena de Lemos, Special Collections Instruction and Research Librarian, Occidental College
      Claude Zachary, University Archivist, USC Libraries
       
      2:00 p.m. Lecture: Robinson Jeffers and the Natural World 
      Kim Stanley Robinson, novelist 
      Introduced by Devin Griffiths, Assistant Professor of English, USC
       
      3:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: The Poetic Achievement of Robinson Jeffers 
      Geneva Gano, Professor, Texas State University
      President, Robinson Jeffers Association
      James R. Phillips, critic 
      Moderator: Rob Kafka, managing editor, Jeffers Studies
       
      4:00 p.m. Reception with light refreshments
       
      4:30 p.m. Keynote Lecture: The Young Robinson Jeffers: “Adrift in L.A.” 
      James Karman, Professor Emeritus, CSU Chico
      Jeffers biographer and editor 
      Introduced by Dana Gioia



      This event, which is free and open to the public, is cosponsored by the
      USC Libraries, USC Phi Kappa Phi, Occidental College Library, the Robinson
      Jeffers Association, and the Tor House Foundation.