Carolyn Kizer
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Ashley Kizer is a Pulitzer Prize
-winning American poet of the Pacific Northwest whose works reflect her feminism.
Kizer was born in Spokane, Washington
, the daughter of a socially prominent Spokane couple,
Her father, Benjamin Hamilton Kizer, was 45 when she was born. Her mother, Mabel Ashley Kizer, was a professor of biology who had received her doctorate from Stanford University
.
Kizer was once asked if she agreed with a description of her father as someone who "came across as supremely structured, intelligent, polite but always somewhat remote". Her reply: "Add 'authoritarian and severe', and you get a pretty good approximation of how he appeared to that stranger, his child". At times, she related, her father gave her the same "viscera-shriveling" voice she heard him use later on "members of the House Un-American Activities Committee and other villains of the 50’s, to even more devastating effect", and, she added, "I almost forgave him."
After graduating from Lewis and Clark High School
in Spokane, she went on to get her bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College
(where she studied comparative mythologies with Joseph Campbell
) in 1945 and study as a graduate at both Columbia University
(1945–46) and the University of Washington
(1946–47).
She then moved back to Washington state, married Stimson Bullitt, from a wealthy and influential Seattle family, had three children and divorced. In 1954 she enrolled in a creative writing workshop run by poet Theodore Roethke
. "Kizer had three small kids, a big house on North Capitol Hill, enough money to get by and more than enough talent and determination. And although one of her poems had been published in The New Yorker when she was 17, she remembers that she needed a nudge from Roethke to get serious."
In 1959, she helped found Poetry Northwest and served as its editor until 1965.
She then became a she was "Specialist in Literature" for the U.S. State Department in Pakistan
from 1965–1966, during which time she taught for several months in that country. In 1966 she became the first director of Literary Programs for the newly created National Endowment for the Arts
. She resigned that post in 1970, when the N.E.A. chairman, Roger L. Stevens
, was fired by President Richard Nixon
. She was a consultant to the N.E.A. for the following year.
In the 1970s and 1980s, she held appointments as poet-in-residence or lecturer at universities across the country, including Columbia
, Stanford
, Princeton
, San Jose State University
and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been a visiting writer at literary conferences and events across the country, as well as in Dublin, Ireland
, and Paris
. Kizer was also a member of the faculty of the Iowa Writer's Workshop.
She was appointed to the post of Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1995, but resigned three years later to protest the absence of women and minorities on the governing board. I
Kizer is married to the architect-historian, John Marshall Woodbridge. When she is not teaching and lecturing, she divides her time between their home in Sonoma
, California
and their apartment in Paris.
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
The Pulitzer Prize in Poetry has been presented since 1922 for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author. However, special citations for poetry were presented in 1918 and 1919.-Winners:...
-winning American poet of the Pacific Northwest whose works reflect her feminism.
Life and work
"Kizer reaches into mythology in poems like “Semele Recycled”; into politics, into feminism, especially in her series of poems called “Pro Femina”; into science, the natural world, music, and translations and commentaries on Japanese and Chinese literatures," according to an article on Kizer at the Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest Web site.Kizer was born in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, the daughter of a socially prominent Spokane couple,
Her father, Benjamin Hamilton Kizer, was 45 when she was born. Her mother, Mabel Ashley Kizer, was a professor of biology who had received her doctorate from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Kizer was once asked if she agreed with a description of her father as someone who "came across as supremely structured, intelligent, polite but always somewhat remote". Her reply: "Add 'authoritarian and severe', and you get a pretty good approximation of how he appeared to that stranger, his child". At times, she related, her father gave her the same "viscera-shriveling" voice she heard him use later on "members of the House Un-American Activities Committee and other villains of the 50’s, to even more devastating effect", and, she added, "I almost forgave him."
After graduating from Lewis and Clark High School
Lewis and Clark High School
- History :In October 1883, Central School, a two story wooden building, was the first school located on the southwest block at Fourth and Steven Reynolds...
in Spokane, she went on to get her bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
(where she studied comparative mythologies with Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
) in 1945 and study as a graduate at both Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(1945–46) and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
(1946–47).
She then moved back to Washington state, married Stimson Bullitt, from a wealthy and influential Seattle family, had three children and divorced. In 1954 she enrolled in a creative writing workshop run by poet Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke was an American poet, who published several volumes of poetry characterized by its rhythm, rhyming, and natural imagery. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book, The Waking.-Biography:...
. "Kizer had three small kids, a big house on North Capitol Hill, enough money to get by and more than enough talent and determination. And although one of her poems had been published in The New Yorker when she was 17, she remembers that she needed a nudge from Roethke to get serious."
In 1959, she helped found Poetry Northwest and served as its editor until 1965.
She then became a she was "Specialist in Literature" for the U.S. State Department in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
from 1965–1966, during which time she taught for several months in that country. In 1966 she became the first director of Literary Programs for the newly created National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
. She resigned that post in 1970, when the N.E.A. chairman, Roger L. Stevens
Roger L. Stevens
Roger Lacey Stevens was an American theatrical producer, arts administrator, and a real estate executive. He is the founding Chairman of both the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , and National Endowment for the Arts .Born in Detroit, Michigan, Stevens was educated at The Choate School in...
, was fired by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
. She was a consultant to the N.E.A. for the following year.
In the 1970s and 1980s, she held appointments as poet-in-residence or lecturer at universities across the country, including Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been a visiting writer at literary conferences and events across the country, as well as in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Kizer was also a member of the faculty of the Iowa Writer's Workshop.
She was appointed to the post of Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 1995, but resigned three years later to protest the absence of women and minorities on the governing board. I
Kizer is married to the architect-historian, John Marshall Woodbridge. When she is not teaching and lecturing, she divides her time between their home in Sonoma
Sonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and their apartment in Paris.
About Kizer and her work
- An Answering Music: On the Poetry of Carolyn Kizer," edited by David Rigsbee (Ford-Brown & Co. Publishers, 1990), criticism, photos, poetry, interview
- Carolyn Kizer, Perspectives on her Life and Work (CavanKerry Press, 2001), a collection of critical prose, interviews, and poetry
Awards
- Pulitzer Prize for poetryPulitzer Prize for PoetryThe Pulitzer Prize in Poetry has been presented since 1922 for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author. However, special citations for poetry were presented in 1918 and 1919.-Winners:...
(1985) - Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry PrizeTheodore Roethke Memorial Poetry PrizeThe Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize is an American poetry prize given once every three years since being established in 1967.The Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize has been offered in Saginaw, Michigan, since 1965. It is now administered by Saginaw Valley State University...
(1988) - American Academy of Arts and Letters award
- Award of Honor of the San Francisco Arts Commission
- Borestone Award (six times)
- Pushcart PrizePushcart PrizeThe Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
(three times) - Frost MedalFrost MedalThe Robert Frost Medal is an award of the Poetry Society of America for "distinguished lifetime service to American poetry." Medalists receive a prize purse of $2,500....
- John Masefield Memorial Award
- Governor's Award for the best book of the year, State of Washington (1965, 1985)
External links
- http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/Website/Hist%20n%20Lit/Part%20Five/Commentary/Kizer%20Comm.html Biographical article on Kizer at "Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest" Web site
Poems online
- http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=3779 "A Muse of Water", "Amusing Our Daughters", "Fanny," "Lines to Accompany Flowers for Eve", "Pro Femina", "Summer near the River", "The Erotic Philosophers", "The Great Blue Heron", "The Intruder", "Through a Glass Eye, Lightly"
- http://www.alsopreview.com/thepoets/kizer/ckfearful.htm\ "Fearful Woman' '
- http://www.alsopreview.com/thepoets/kizer/ckamerican.htm "American Beauty"
Reviews
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3D71238F931A15750C0A961948260&sec=&pagewanted=print New York Times review of ' 'The Nearness of You' ' (March 22, 1987)