Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were guests at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York, from 9 September-19 November 1959. They were recommended for invitation by Newton Arvin and Richard Eberhart. In the admission process, they were graded by their peers. Plath received grades of B (Richard Eberhart), A (J[ohn] C[heever]?), and a Strong B or B plus (Morton D Zabel). Hughes received grades of A (J[ohn] C[heever]?), B (Richard Eberhart), and Good B (Morton D Zabel). Did you know who the other guests and residents were at Yaddo at the same time as Plath and Hughes were there? There was a director's meeting from 25-27 September, which meant that the following people were there for a few short days under different conditions and expectations. In the list, following their names are their occupation, whether they were a director or a member, and which room(s) they were assigned: Newton Arvin (writer; Director, Dew); Robert Coates (writer; Member, Mt. View); Malcolm Cowley (writer; Direc...

On Sunday 8 November 1959, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were in the last days of their 11 week stay at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York. Plath's journal entry from a few days later says, "I wrote a good poem this week on our walk Sunday to the burnt-out spa. A second book poem. How it consoles me, the idea of a second book with these new poems: The Manor Garden, The Colossus, The Burnt-out Spa, the seven Birthday poems, and perhaps Medallion …" (526). The burnt-out spa has for a while be something of an enigma to me. I visited Yaddo for a day in 2001, but did not think to seek out the "burnt-out spa" at the time. It has been on my mind for a while to revisit the town, and over the weekend of 20-21 September did just that, as part of a trip that included a rare tour of the buildings and grounds of so venerable a place . In preparation for the visit, I contacted the city's library to inquire if anyone knew anything about the place that inspired this Plath ...

On Sunday 21 September 2014, Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, New York, opened its doors to visitors for a day of tours. At $50 a ticket, it seemed a reasonable price to pay for infrequent public access into this retreat for artists. Naturally you will surmise I was interested in seeing the site as Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes were a guests for eleven weeks from 9 September to 19 November 1959. The tour consisted of 15 stops which included the first two floors of "The Grand Manor" as well as the ground floor of West House, and a swing by Pine Garde and the new Greenhouse Studios , built on the site of a couple of other previous greenhouses. Sadly, there was not one mention of Plath on my tour! My particular tour, consisting of 25 people, started at the Greenhouse Studios, then proceeded to Pine Garde. Then on to West House before ending in the mansion itself. I could not have been happier at this as it got out of the way the things with which I was not as concerned. While it star...

The exhibit " Unconquered by Flames: The Literary Light at Yaddo at Smith College " is one of 15 around the country celebrating the artist colony in Saratoga Springs, New York. The exhibit is all over the library, which I think is a wonderful use of their limited space. The Plath/Hughes experience is the largest of the exhibits, with the most "stuff" and the most cases. In addition to "Sylvia Plath '55 & Ted Hughes at Yaddo, 1959", which is in the Book Arts Gallery, Neilson level 3, there is the Exhibit Overview, Neilson Library, 1st floor entrance, Lola Ridge at Yaddo, 1929-1930, Sophia Smith Collection, Alumnae Gym, Newton Arvin at Yaddo, 1928-1960, Mortimer Rare Book Room, Neilson level 3, and Constance Carrier '29 at Yaddo, 1975 & 1978, Mortimer Rare Book Room, Neilson level 3. Each exhibit illustrates the subjects relationship with Yaddo as well as the results, or products, of the stay. Often a manuscript is side by side with the publi...

One: If you are in the Northampton, Mass. area this summer and fall, you might want to stop by the William Alan Neilson Library to see their exhibit on Yaddo, " Unconquered by Flames: The Literary Lights at Yaddo ", curated by the amazing Karen V. Kukil . The exhibit opens in mid–August and continues through October. Two: If you are in St. Petersburg, Florida, you can see Paul Alexander's biased play Edge on stage at a theatre called The Studio@620. No longer starring Angelica Torn, this Edge stars Marcy J. Savasano. 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, Florida When: August 6-9, 13-16, 2009, Thurs, Fri, Sat @ 7:00 pm, Sunday Matinees @ 1:00 pm Pricing: $30 front row seating, $25 general admission, $15 students and seniors, Phone:727-895-6620 Web: studio620.org

I recently obtained the details of the Sylvia Plath related files held in the Yaddo Records (New York Public Library) . I wrote about this first in April, click here to see that posting . To recap, Plath and Hughes stayed at Yaddo from September - December 1959. It is here that Plath wrote many of the poems that completed her first volume of poetry, The Colossus . Yaddo is located in lovely Saratoga Springs, New York - 199 miles from Boston, 194 miles from New York City, New York, and 4,258 miles from North Pole, Alaska. The New York Public Library obtained these records in 1999. The main correspondents in the file are Sylvia Plath (and Ted Hughes) and Elizabeth Ames, the Executive Director of Yaddo, though there are others. All material dates from 1959. Below is a list of letters. 1. Elizabeth Ames to Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, typed, undated, 1 p. 2. Sylvia Plath to Elizabeth Ames, typed, 11 February 1959, 1 p. 3. Elizabeth Ames to Sylvia Plath, typed, 13 February 1959, 1 p. 4. Syl...

The New York Public Library holds the Yaddo Records, 1870-1980. The finding aid to the collection is online here . Materials relating to Plath and Hughes may be found in the following series: Series V: Yaddo Corporation Records, 1926-1980 A. Guest Files 2. 1940-1976 Box 276, Folder 2 I have a request out to the NYPL for more information as to the contents of Box 276, Folder 2. Will report back when I hear something!