The Professor with a ninth grade education!
Michael C Flanigan was at one time he was the close student of famed poet Charles Olson, a member of the SUCB Faculty, read with famous poets such as Robert Creeley and Allen Ginzberg. All this and Michael had only a ninth grade education.

/Indiana News Articles/ - BLOOMINGTON, IN, May 10, 2007 - Michael was once considered to be one of Americas most notable poets by some of America's most famous before disappearing into rural Indiana. In an age of instant communication barely a mention of him can be found on the internet. But don't just take his word for it—a scrapbook of media clippings validates an amazing story, now a delicate history in need of being retold.

A student and friend of the late Charles Olson from 1965 till his death. Michaels achievement included being Artist in residence at State University College Buffalo (SUCB) from 1969-72. Two times he earned the faculty merit award. He was made a permanent member of the student government. Contrast this with his personal history of—

Incestuous abuse, the murder of his mother and suicide of his father at age seven. The loving salvation of simple farmer grandparents, an acute mental breakdown, three years in a fifties era insane asylum—a ninth grade high school drop out became a sanctioned university educator. But it wasn't without heroic effort, opposition, and support.

Michael read beside Allen Ginsberg (whose lifestyle he publically protested), Robert Creeley (Who regarded him as a friend), Wieners, Snyder, Orlovsky, Stanley Kubrick (who thought he would win a Pulitzer) among many others. Olson aside, he was also a personal friend and student of John Clark.

His books now out of print, his influence almost forgotten—Living in rural Indiana is a delicate history that needs to be retold.

edited 05-08-2008

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