Rago mss. III, 1931-1974
Papers, 1931-1974, of Henry Rago at the Lilly Library, Indiana University,
Bloomington, Indiana
Electronic finding aid encoded by Donald C.
Force.
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly
Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly
Creator
Rago, Henry, 1915-1969.
TitleRago mss. III,1931-1974
Collection No.
LMC 2400
Extent
200 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
Consists of the papers of Henry Rago,
1915-1969, poet and editor of
Poetry.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Poet and editor, Henry Anthony Rago was born on October 5, 1915, in Chicago, IL and in
1937 he graduated from DePaul University with a bachelors of law degree; two years later
earned a degree in literature from the same school. During World War II, Rago served in
the U.S. Army, becoming a first lieutenant and receiving a Bronze Star for his duties.
Following the war, he returned to academia where, in 1941 he obtained his Ph.D. from
Notre Dame University, graduating magna cum laude. In that same year, his first book
The Philosophy of Esthetic Individualism was
published.
From 1941-1942, Rago returned to DePaul University as an instructor in English while
also serving as a lecturer in philosophy at Barat College of the Sacred Heart (now Barat
College), Lake Forest, IL. From 1947-1959, Rago would teach and lecture at several
colleges and universities in the Chicago area, including the University of Chicago,
Divinity School, and St. Xavier College Chicago. During these appointments, in 1959, he
published
The Travelers, one of three collections of his
poems to appear in print.
In 1955, Rago became editor of
Poetry following Karl Jay
Shapiro. In 1961, he participated with Carl Benson and Macha Louis Rosenthal in a number
of conferences on twentieth century American poetry in Germany so successfully that
Rosenthal endeavored to arrange another such tour as noted in his letter to George
Tufford Moody on Feb. 11, 1963. Shortly before his death on May 26, 1969, Rago had
resigned as editor effective in the Fall in order to return to the University of Chicago
as a professor.
Rago was married to Juliet Maggio, with whom he had four children: Maria Christina,
Maria Carmela, Anthony Pascal, Maria Martha.
Arrangement/Organization
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Personal
Materials; and III. Printed Materials.
Scope and Content Note
The Rago mss. III, 1931-1974, consist of the papers, writings, and memorabilia of poet
and
Poetry Magazine editor henry Wadsworth Rago, 1915-1969.
Present are copies of magazines, including
Poetry,
containing articles or poems by Rago. Also here is other memorabilia re: DePaul
University of Chicago, including Rago's diploma from the DePaul College of Law in 1937.
The writings present are typescripts of poems by Rago, undated and about 100 in
number.
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Indexing Terms
-
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online
catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the
catalog using these terms.
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Names
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DePaul
University.
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Rago, Henry,
1915-1969.
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Related Material
For more related information, see Rago mss., Rago mss. II, and Poetry mss.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Gift. 1997.
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however, patrons
from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in advance of their
visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly
Library.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Rago mss. III, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Series:
Correspondence
Box 1
1934-1940.
(3 items).
All three letters written to Rago.
Replies
Letters by Rago. Also includes his suggestions for traveling Europe,
1951
Series:
Box 1
Personal Materials
Poems
(100 pages).
Typescripts
Law School
Contains diploma from DePaul University College of Law, June 9, 1937
Memorabilia
(2 folders).
Some involves DePaul University, including 2 copies of the program for
"Something in the Air: A New Musical Comedy," May 16-17, 1935. Book and
lyrics were by Rago and Joseph Casey.
Clippings
Series:
Printed Materials
Box 1
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth.
Evangeline.
Riverside Literature Series, 1940.
Rago's marked copy; signed by Rago
Copies of Poetry,
1931-1969
Copies of the magazine in which Rago's poems appear
Magazines
(3 folders).
Contain articles by or about Rago
Miscellaneous