John Zukowsky papers

This collection consists of two groups of papers.  This first (acc. 81x470) contains Zukowsky’s correspondence from 1978 to1981 with various individuals about his book Hudson River Houses, including the artist Dan Flavin and Zukowsky’s publisher at North River Press.  A few of the letters make references to Edwin Whitefield and his sketchbook, a facsimile reproduction of which appears in Hudson River Houses; Zukowsky wrote the introduction for the book and captions for the sketches.  The work was published by North River Press in 1981.  (The original sketchbook is in the Downs Collection, in the Edwin Whitefield Papers, acc. 65x742.2.)

The second and third accessions (86x189 and 10x16) centers around the production of Hudson River Villas, published in 1985 by Rizzoli.  It includes research correspondence with local historians along the Hudson River, and with present owners of the houses documented in the book.  Most of the correspondence, however, is between Zukowsky and his publisher Rizzoli.  The latter correspondence especially documents Zukowsky's displeasure with the re-writing done by his co-author Robbe Pierce Stimson.  The original typescript draft of the book is included, as is the revised and corrected typescript.

The collection contains photocopied maps of the Hudson River valley on which are marked the location of the large houses about which Zukowsky wrote. It also contains information on lectures he gave as a result of his research and writing, and a few brochures and pamphlets, secured in the course of his research, about houses and historic sites along the Hudson River.

The collection also includes a group of photographs from the Hudson River Museum.  Most of the photos depict buildings along the Hudson River.  The rest are photos of a map of Yonkers, New York.