[Presentation of the manuscripts of Robert Graves to the University at Buffalo, May 15, 1960] /

Recorded at the University at Buffalo on May 15, 1960 on a 7 inch Scotch reel-to-reel tape.

Poet Robert Graves donated his manuscript collection to the Poetry Collection at the University at Buffalo in 1960. This event celebrates that donation and its public exhibition. His gift is lauded with an initial introduction by University Chancellor Clifford C. Furnas, who champions the generosity of Graves and donor Mildred Lockwood Lacey, the widow of Lockwood Library's benefactor, Thomas B. Lockwood. Furnas speaks about the importance of a library and its mission to scholars and patrons. Next, Charles D. Abbott, the first Lockwood Library librarian and the founder of the Poetry Collection, reminisces about the past twenty five years and the increasing greatness of the Library's collections. Abbott describes conversations he had with Thomas B. Lockwood, and Lockwood's interest in Robert Graves and the work I Claudius. Robert Graves takes the podium and speaks with humility and humor about Abbott's offer to buy his manuscripts. He accepts his "celebrity" at the University at Buffalo and apologizes to any publishers who may have lost money on his books. Graves gives a spirited and humorous speech which concludes with his realization that the University will serve as "the grave of Graves" and that he "will be comfortable here." Current University Librarian, Oscar A. Silverman, concludes the presentation by accepting Graves' gift and bestows upon him the title of honorary fellow of the Lockwood Memorial Library. Graves thanks him and donates additional books to the Univeristy, and with this, the exhibition of the Graves' manuscript collection was open to the public.

The Poetry Collection of the University Libraries. Digital conversion was made possible through a 2009 National Endowment for the Humanities grant.

1960

Sound recording

PCR129

Hear@Buffalo: The Poetry Collection’s Audio Archive

lib-pc002-PCR129.mp3