Morty Sklar describes formative years serving in the US Army during the Korean War and, subsequently, on the poetry scene in New York City. He describes various stages of drug use and bouts of shock therapy. He narrates the creation of Phoenix House at Morris Bernstein Institute, the move to 85th Street, and eventually his own to Hart Island. He details some of the methods involved in therapeutic c ommunities. Finally, Sklar discusses his writing career in Iowa City and beyond after "graduating" from Phoenix House
Poets; Therapeutic communities; Addicts--Rehabilitation; Shock therapy; Substance abuse--Treatment; Korean War, 1950-1953; American poetry--New York (State); American poetry--Iowa; Sklar, Morty, 1935-; Phoenix House (Organization)
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2014
Physical Description
60 pages
Note (Biographical)
Morty Sklar is a poet, Queens native, and former Phoenix House resident. He was inspired by the natural-voice aesthetics of the Iowa City Actualists (of which he was a seminal writer and editor)
Note
Interviewed by Caitlin (Deighan) Bertin-Mahieux on September 25, 2014
Note (Provenance)
Morty Sklar, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2016