Earliest Recording of Ginsberg's Howl Uncovered in Portland

The box was labeled "Snyder Ginsberg 1956" and it had been at the Hauser Library at Reed College for over 50 years waiting for someone to open it.

Finally, while at Reed researching his upcoming biography of Gary Snyder John Suiter opened the box.

What did he find in it?

A tape containing the earliest known recording of Allen Ginsberg reading Howl!

The reading took place in February 1956 predating Ginsberg's legendary, and until now presumed first recording of Howl, which occurred at the Town Hall Theater in Berkeley on March 18, 1956.

Gary Snyder, a Reed alumni (class of 1951), and Ginsberg were on a hitchhiking tour of the Pacific Northwest when they visited Reed College in February 1956.

During their two day visit Ginsberg gave a couple of readings one of which was recorded. "On it Ginsberg can be heard reading "Wild Orphan," "Over Kansas," "A Supermarket in California" and other poems before someone, presumably Snyder, asks, "Do you want to read Howl?"
Ginsberg replied:"I really don't...I don't know if I have the energy." Then Ginsberg went on to read the "first part of "Howl" in a steadily building rhythm but stops four lines into the second section and says, "I don't really feel like reading anymore. I just sorta haven't got any kind of steam, so I'd like to cut. Do you mind?"

"This isn't just any tape. Not only is it the earliest known recording of one of the most famous poems of the 20th century, but also the sound quality is excellent, and Ginsberg gives a strong, clear reading with enough textual variations in "Howl" and the other poems to keep literary scholars busy for years." says Jeff Baker in his piece in the Oregonian, Books news: Earliest "Howl" tape uncovered at Reed.

Though there are still some questions ( like who recorded the reading and where, and the tape was labeled 'Tape 2' begging the question what happened to 'Tape 1' and what was on it) unearthing the recording is a seminal event in Beat history and one that solidifies the role of the Pacific Northwest in the evolution of the Beat Movement.

Reed College Press Release

Short e-mail interview with Gary Snyder by Baker at the Oregonian, Gary Snyder on hitchhiking and "Howl" at Reed

Mary Randlett Photogravure

Coinciding with her Tacoma Art Museum exhibition "Veiled Northwest: Photographs by Mary Randlett" and the publication of Mary Randlett: Landscapes by the University of Washington Press, we are pleased to make available this limited edition photogravure from the artist's original "Falling Waters, Snoqualmie Pass" silver gelatin print.

Selected by Randlett and produced by Master Printer Mark Callen at his Infinity Gravure studio in Seattle, this image captures her passion for the northwest's unique natural beauty - revealed here in her composition of falling light, stone and water. The 10-3/8 x 16 inch gravure image is printed by hand on a 15 x 22 inch sheet of Magnani Pescia archival paper.

Mary Randlett has been photographing the Pacific Northwest for more than fifty-five years. Her works are held in over forty permanent collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

From one of Mary's letters, "I lived near water all my life...lived in that tossed light that came invisibly through the trees at sunrise and carried the dancing light of the rising dawn, sunlight of dancing waters light ..."

A Sense of Where We Are: History and Literature of the Pacific Northwest

For anyone interested in learning more about Pacific Northwest history and literature, this is a good summer to be in Seattle.

The University of Washington is offering Pacific Northwest History and Literature, a course for students and the general public. Sponsored by both the English and the History departments, the participants will use literary texts by historical and contemporary writers to examine the emergence of regional identity.

Associated with the program is A Sense of Where We Are, a visiting writers series, featuring public readings by prominent writers associated with the region. Through fiction, poetry, history, memoir, and criticism, these authors will offer insights into aspects of regional identity. The readings are at the Henry Art Gallery and are open to the public. Scheduled are:

Heather McHugh - poet and essayist - June 28
Debra Magpie Earling - novelist - July 11
Kim Barnes - memoirist and novelist - July 18
Robert Wrigley - poet and essayist - July 24
Richard White - historian - August 2
Marilynne Robinson - novelist - August 15

The class is from June 26 through August 16. Information is at the Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest. Anyone interested in Northwest history will find resources and essays at the Center's website.

Support for this program comes from UW Summer Quarter, the Simpson Center for the Humanities, Michael J. Repass Endowment in Pacific Northwest History, the Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest, and the Department of History.