James Merrill with Tony Harwood, one of Merrill's first friends at Lawrenceville. The two remained friends, although their friendship became strained as Tony "grew progressively more detached and paranoid."
Maya Deren in a still from her film Meshes of the Afternoon (1943). A Ukrainian immigrant, scholar of French Symbolism, progressive activist, avant-garde filmmaker and dancer, "Deren introduced Merrill to spirit possession not as a metaphor, but as a…
J. D. McClatchy, an admirer and then good friend of James Merrill's, is an accomplished poet and librettist, professor and critic. He went on to become Merrill's co-literary executor, along with Stephen Yenser.
Richard & Charlee Wilbur, Merrill's Key West neighbors. Richard Wilbur was a fellow Amherst grad and accomplished poet, as well as a longtime friend and supporter of Merrill's work. Charlee Wilbur played matchmaker with Merrill and Peter Hooten.…
Jim Boatwright, a.k.a. "the Colonel," was a professor at Washington and Lee University and editor of the literary magazine Shenandoah. Merrill had gotten to know Boatwright in Athens, although he also lived in Key West. Like Merrill, Boatwright died…
Shirley Baker, Helen Vendler, and James Merrill at "James Merrill: A Life in Writing" symposium at Washington University, Nov. 18-19, 1994. Vendler is an esteemed professor and poetry critic who had been championing Merrill's work at least since…
Supplementary Report for James Merrill from Southampton Country School, one of a number of schools he attended due to the Merrills moving between houses seasonally.
Telegram from Charles Merrill to James Merrill, taken from "The Immortal Husband" scrapbook in the James Merrill Papers. The telegram includes advice on how to take failure if the play is not "a hit."