Laura Ulewicz
Encyclopedia
Laura Ulewicz was an American Poet.
Born in Detroit, Michigan
to Polish-American auto workers with strong union ties, she lived in Chicago
and New York
before moving to San Francisco in 1950. There, she soon discovered the literary scene in North Beach
, where she became friends with many of the area's Beat poets, including Allen Ginsberg
, Kenneth Rexroth
, Ruth Weiss, and Jack Gilbert
. Gilbert’s first book is dedicated to Ulewicz.
Ulewicz refused to ever be branded a Beat herself. In 1955, at the height of media attention to North Beach and the Beats, she left for Seattle to study with Stanley Kunitz
where her work took on a more formally structured approach. In 1960 she traveled in Europe, eventually moving to London
where she met with THE GROUP at Edward Lucie-Smith’s and joined with other members to give public readings of their work. She won the Guinness Poetry award at the Cheltenham Literature Festival
in 1964. Her chapbook The Inheritance was published by Turret Press in 1967.
In 1965, Ulewicz returned to live in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, the new Hippy neighborhood, where she opened and managed the I-Thou Coffee House. There, she organized poetry readings, art exhibits and folk concerts. Shortly after her return, a Penguin editor wrote to propose a volume in which her work would be joined with Denise Levertov
and Sylvia Plath
. Six months later he wrote back to say that he could not get his fellow editors and marketing to support a book of three women. During the late 60s, she hosted a radio program on KQED-FM
in which writers read and were interviewed. In 1968, while she continued to publish in magazines, she was the recipient of an NEA Grant to "assist gifted but unrecognized writers" .
Ulewicz withdrew to the delta town of Locke, California
in 1973. Initially, she worked at a local tomato cannery, but was later employed with Child Protection Services in the county’s Social Welfare Department. After retirement, she managed an art gallery in Locke. Always an inveterate gardener, she raised various kinds of garlic and everlasting flowers to sell at Farmers’ Markets. During the last thirty years of her life, she continued to write but published little after 1975. She died in October 2007 after a short illness. When she died, the local community commemorated her— Laura Ulewicz, Poet—in the local memorial site among other celebrated Chinese leaders. Stephen Vincent, poet, editor, and artist, is the executor of her literary estate.
Born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to Polish-American auto workers with strong union ties, she lived in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before moving to San Francisco in 1950. There, she soon discovered the literary scene in North Beach
North Beach
North Beach may refer to a number of places in the world:United States*North Beach, San Francisco*North Beach, Florida, a census-designated place in Indian River County*North Beach, Miami Beach, the northern section of the city of Miami Beach, Florida...
, where she became friends with many of the area's Beat poets, including Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
, Kenneth Rexroth
Kenneth Rexroth
Kenneth Rexroth was an American poet, translator and critical essayist. He is regarded as a central figure in the San Francisco Renaissance, and paved the groundwork for the movement...
, Ruth Weiss, and Jack Gilbert
Jack Gilbert
-Life and career:Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhood of East Liberty, he attended Peabody High School then worked as a door-to-door salesman, an exterminator, and a steelworker...
. Gilbert’s first book is dedicated to Ulewicz.
Ulewicz refused to ever be branded a Beat herself. In 1955, at the height of media attention to North Beach and the Beats, she left for Seattle to study with Stanley Kunitz
Stanley Kunitz
Stanley Jasspon Kunitz was an American poet. He was appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress twice, first in 1974 and then again in 2000.-Biography:...
where her work took on a more formally structured approach. In 1960 she traveled in Europe, eventually moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where she met with THE GROUP at Edward Lucie-Smith’s and joined with other members to give public readings of their work. She won the Guinness Poetry award at the Cheltenham Literature Festival
Cheltenham Literature Festival
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, a large-scale international festival of literature in the Spa town of Cheltenham, and part of Cheltenham Festivals: also responsible for the Jazz, Music and Science Festivals that run every year....
in 1964. Her chapbook The Inheritance was published by Turret Press in 1967.
In 1965, Ulewicz returned to live in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, the new Hippy neighborhood, where she opened and managed the I-Thou Coffee House. There, she organized poetry readings, art exhibits and folk concerts. Shortly after her return, a Penguin editor wrote to propose a volume in which her work would be joined with Denise Levertov
Denise Levertov
-Early life and influences:Levertov was born and grew up in Ilford, Essex.Couzyn, Jeni Contemporary Women Poets. Bloodaxe, p74 Her mother, Beatrice Spooner-Jones Levertoff, came from a small mining village in North Wales...
and Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. Born in Massachusetts, she studied at Smith College and Newnham College, Cambridge before receiving acclaim as a professional poet and writer...
. Six months later he wrote back to say that he could not get his fellow editors and marketing to support a book of three women. During the late 60s, she hosted a radio program on KQED-FM
KQED-FM
KQED-FM is an NPR-member radio station owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting in San Francisco, California.KQED-FM was founded by James Day in 1969 as the radio arm of KQED Television. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes who later went on to be Executive Vice-President of KQED TV and...
in which writers read and were interviewed. In 1968, while she continued to publish in magazines, she was the recipient of an NEA Grant to "assist gifted but unrecognized writers" .
Ulewicz withdrew to the delta town of Locke, California
Locke, California
Locke , also known as Locke Historic District, is an unincorporated community in California's Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta built by Chinese immigrants during the early 20th century. It was originally named Lockeport after George Locke, who owned the land that the town was built upon at a...
in 1973. Initially, she worked at a local tomato cannery, but was later employed with Child Protection Services in the county’s Social Welfare Department. After retirement, she managed an art gallery in Locke. Always an inveterate gardener, she raised various kinds of garlic and everlasting flowers to sell at Farmers’ Markets. During the last thirty years of her life, she continued to write but published little after 1975. She died in October 2007 after a short illness. When she died, the local community commemorated her— Laura Ulewicz, Poet—in the local memorial site among other celebrated Chinese leaders. Stephen Vincent, poet, editor, and artist, is the executor of her literary estate.