RAYMOND ROSELIEP
Chronology--August 11, 1917-December 6, 1983
1917 Birth, August 11, in Farley, Iowa, to John Albert Roseliep (1874-1939) and Anna Elizabeth Anderson (1884-1967). Raymond was
the middle son of John and Anna. Donald, older brother and Louis, the younger. John had two sons from a previous marriage: Walter
and Edwin. Maternal grandparents: Emily Crevier, born in Rickardsville, Iowa, 1847-1908) and Nicholas Anderson (born in Strekholm
Sweden, 1838-1911). Anna was the 10th of 11 children. Paternal grandparents: Zachary and Susan Roseliep, pioneer residents of
Dubuque County.
1917 August 19, Christened Raymond Francis. Godparents: Irene Slowey and Edwin Roseliep
1922 Entered St. Joseph’s Grade School, Farley, Iowa
1923 Moved to Dubuque, Iowa, to the Williams house. Attends Sacred Heart School
1924 Moved to 2709 Jackson Street, Dubuque, Iowa. Attends Holy Ghost Parish and School and St. Patrick’s Parish and School
1928 First poem published, St. Patrick’s School, honoring the arrival of a new Archbishop
1931 Graduated from 8th grade, St. Patrick’s School
1931 Entered Columbia Academy (later Loras Academy)
1934 As a senior in high school, entered a dozen poems anonymously in a poetry contest and won the three top prizes and all
honorable mentions. Asked to withdraw all entries but the one that won first prize.
1935 1935 Graduates from Loras Academy. Receives one-year tuition scholarship to Loras College for high scholastic average.
1935 1935 Entered Loras College
1939 1939 Bachelor of Arts from Loras College. Among first class to graduate from Loras College, formerly Columbia College.
1940 1940 Father dies, January 31st.
1939-43 Theological Seminary, Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C. Also, graduate work in English there and also from Catholic
University Extension, Loras College
1943 Ordained, June 12, St. Raphael’s Cathedral, Dubuque, Iowa
1943 Celebrated first solemn Mass, June 13, St. Patrick’s Church, Dubuque, Iowa
1943-45 Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception Church, at Gilbertville, Iowa. Rev. William Cremer, Pastor
1945-46
Managing Editor, The Witness
1945-48 Resident chaplain at St. Anthony’s Home, Dubuque, Iowa
1946-66 Faculty, Department of English at Loras College: 1946-48, Instructor;
1948-60 Assistant Professor; 1960-66, Associate Professor
1948 Master of Arts in English from Catholic University of America
1950-54 Resident chaplain at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa.
Taught Religious Studies there at MSF. Finished graduate studies in
Absentia from Notre Dame and Loras College
1954 Resumed teaching at Loras College.
1954 Doctor of Philosophy Degree in English Literature from Notre Dame University, June. Ph.D. Dissertation: Some Letters of Lionel
Johnson
Mid 50’s Began writing poetry that is less that of a “Catholic priest” and more
secular in nature
1960 1960 Began writing haiku, at first in the traditional 5-7-5 form, then in
more and more experimental ways
1961 The Linen Bands published by The Newman Press
1963 1963 Haiku writing in earnest
1963 The Small Rain published by The Newman Press
1964 1964 Poet-in-residence at Georgetown University
1965 1965 Love Makes the Air Light published by W.W. Norton and Company, Inc.
1966 Entered St. Vincent's Hospital, Madison, WI. Length of stay not known at this time.
1967 Mother dies, December 17th
1968 Recipient Montgomery Poetry Award, Society of Midland Authors
1966-83 1966-83 Chaplain in Residence at Holy Family Hall in Dubuque (Franciscan Sisters)
1967 1967 Meets W.H. Aden in Dubuque, Iowa, at a reading of Auden’s poetry
1974 1974 Voyage to the Inland Sea, IV. Essays and Poems. Edited by John Judson.
University of Wisconsin—La Crosse.
1976 1976 Flute Over Walden published by Vagrom Chap Books
1976 Walk in Love published by Juniper Press
1976 Light Footsteps published by Juniper Press
1976 A Beautiful Woman Moves with Grace published by The Rook Press
1977 First Henderson Award (haiku)
1977 Sun in His Belly published by High/Coo Press
1977 Step on the Rain published by The Rook Press
1977 Wake to the Bell published by The Rook Press
1978 A Day in the Life of Sobi-Shi published by The Rook Press
1978 Sailing Bones published by The Rook Press
1978 Uzzano, Numbers 9 and 10, Spring-Summer, 1978, featuring 50 Haiku by Raymond Roseliep
1979
Sky in My Legs published by Juniper Press
1979 Firefly in My Eyecup published by High/Coo Press
1979 The Still Point published by Uzzano Press
1980
A Roseliep Retrospective: Poems & Other Words By & About Raymond
Press
1980 1980 Listen to Light published by Alembic Press
“The Morning Glory”
takes in
the world
from the heart out
funnels
our day
into itself
closes
on its own
inner light
1982 Swish of Cow Tail published by Swamp Press
1982 Appointed Professor Emeritus, Loras College
1982 Second Henderson Award
horizon
wild swan drifting through
the woman’s body
1983 Rabbit in the Moon published by Alembic Press
1983 Death, December 6th of an aneurysm
1984 The Earth We Swing On published by Winston Press. Photos by Cyril A. Reilly and Renee Travis Reilly
1984 1984 Wind Chimes 12, “In Memoriam. Raymond Roseliep” published by Wind Chimes.
1984 1984 Studia Mystica, Volume VII, Number 2, dedicated to Raymond Roseliep, 1917-1983 published by Studia Mystica.