Joan Vollmer

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Joan Vollmer
Vollmer, early 1940s
Born	(1923-02-04)February 4, 1923 Loudonville, New York, U.S.
Died	September 6, 1951(1951-09-06) (aged 28) Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of death	Gunshot wound
Other names	Joan Vollmer Adams Joan Vollmer Burroughs
Education	Doane Stuart School
Alma mater	Barnard College[1]
Spouse	William S. Burroughs
Children	Julie Adams William S. Burroughs Jr.

Joan Vollmer (February 4, 1923 – September 6, 1951)^[2] was an influential participant in the early Beat Generation circle. While a student at Barnard College, she became the roommate of Edie Parker (later married to Jack Kerouac). Their apartment became a gathering place for the Beats during the 1940s, where Vollmer was often at the center of marathon, all-night discussions. In 1946, she began a relationship with William S. Burroughs, later becoming his common-law wife. In 1951, Burroughs killed Vollmer. He claimed, and shortly thereafter denied, the killing was a drunken attempt at playing William Tell.