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Small Press Collection

 Collection
Identifier: PCMS-0035

Scope and Content Note

Found in this collection are pamphlets, catalogs, promotional materials and other records regarding small presses from several countries including America, England and Australia.

Dates

  • circa 1930-2007

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Small Press Collection, circa 1930-2007 is open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Poetry Collection before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

When Charles D. Abbott imagined the Poetry Collection in 1937, he intended the Collection to be poetry's library of record. This imagination extended beyond collecting first editions of books of poetry, the little literary magazine and manuscripts, working papers and literary letters of living poets. Abbott also began to collect poetry's ephemeral items, which were publication notices, small press catalogs, small press post cards that advertised available titles, little literary magazine subscription forms, and any and all materials generated by the publishing and the distribution of poetry. This pattern of collecting has continued over the decades and it is sensitive to the ever-changing map of contemporary poetry. To provide an accurate map of poetry's evolution, an understanding of poetry's many networks and the interconnectedness of all poetry and poets, this ephemeral small press collection augments and illuminates the other facets of the Poetry Collection by documenting who published the poets, in what fashion poets came to the attention of other poets and how books and magazines shaped poetic taste, how and when they flourished and when, finally, they succumbed to subsequent waves of poetic thought.

Extent

37.5 Linear Feet (30 boxes)

Abstract

Records, pamphlets and catalogs relating to small presses in the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

The terms used below to describe the amount of material was determined according to the following scale:

  • Small amount: less than one full file folder
  • Moderate amount: one full file folder
  • Significant amount: multiple full file folders
    1. Small amount: less than one full file folder
    2. Moderate amount: one full file folder
    3. Significant amount: multiple full file folders

    Acquisition Information

    See Historical Note below.

    Accruals and Additions

    No further accruals are expected to this collection.

    Physical Description

    37.5 linear feet (30 boxes)

    Processing Information

    Collection processed by: Stephanie Tocco, June 2007.

    Source

    Title
    Finding Aid for the Small Press Collection, circa 1930-2007
    Author
    Finding aid prepared by Stephanie Tocco.
    Date
    2007
    Description rules
    Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Best Practices
    Language of description
    Undetermined
    Script of description
    Code for undetermined script
    Language of description note
    Finding aid written in English.

    Repository Details

    Part of the The Poetry Collection Repository

    Contact:
    420 Capen Hall
    Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
    716-645-2917
    716-645-3714 (Fax)