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David Cope is a poet in the Objectivist tradition and the founder of Nada Press, a small press which publishes the literary magazine and other poetry. Cope, a University of Michigan graduate and lifelong Michigan resident, taught literature and writing at Grand Rapids Community College and Western Michigan University. The collection documents Cope's writing, editing, and to some extent teaching and other spheres of Cope's life, through correspondence, manuscripts, notes, printed material, photographs, and videotapes.

David Cope made his first donation of papers to the Special Collections Research Center in 1987. Since then he has continued to make frequent contributions. The David Cope Papers cover Cope's writing and correspondence from the 1970s to the present, as well as his editing and teaching activities. In addition to offering insight into Cope's work, the collection details some of the activities and thoughts of friends and fellow writers and poets; in particular, Allen Ginsberg, Jim Cohn, Antler, and Jeff Poniewaz. Not currently well-documented are the more personal aspects of Cope's life--especially his family life--except for those details made available through his writings and correspondence.

The David Cope Papers are divided into eight series: Correspondence and Name Files, Writings, Editing Materials, Teaching and Education Materials, Publicity Materials, Personal, Photographs, and Audio/Visual. A small selection of books from Cope's library have been removed from the collection and have been cataloged individually. They are shelved by call number in Special Collections and can be requested through the Library's catalog.

The Hal Cooper Papers consists of 48 scripts for television shows that he directed and sometimes produced, including the Dick Van Dyke Show, Death Valley Days, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Mayberry RFD, and That Girl. He was most known for his work with I Dream of Jeannie (1965-69), and Maude (1972-78). The scripts detail the development of the sitcom in the television industry. Additional material includes an extensive oral history interview and material that relates to the sitcoms, as well as to Hal Cooper's early career and the career of his first wife, Pat Meikle.

The majority of the Hal Cooper Papers consists of scripts for television shows that he directed and sometimes produced. The scripts are divided into two series, Scripts and Production Notes and Bound Scripts and Production Notes. The two series have similar content but have been divided due to the different format. The rest of the collection is material related to these shows, as well as to Hal Cooper's early career and the career of his first wife, Pat Meikle.