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Leroi Jones: The Moderns

 Collection
Identifier: MS7

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

THE MODERNS collection consists of Jones's files for pub­lication of the anthology. Included are the manuscripts and typescripts from which material for publication was compiled. A copy of the published text is also present. Following the anthology material are Jones's correspondence files for this period, primarily 1961-1964. In alphabetical order are the letters of some 80 authors, many of whom were published either in this anthology or in one of Jones's magazines. Many letters are written out of friendship rather than business. Lengthier files include such writers as Don Allen, Robert Creeley, Edward Dorn, Allen Ginsberg, Charles Olson and Douglas Woolf.

Dates

  • 1959-1964

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.

Biographical / Historical

This collection reflects LeRoi Jones's early interest in publishing new American writing. Throughout his career he has been a literary as well as a political activist, writing inno­vative and controversial plays, poetry and essays. He has also been the influential editor of numerous journals and anthologies which published new, young writers.

During the time that Jones published THE MODERNS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF NEW WRITING IN AMERICA (Corinth, 1963), he was also editor of YUGEN magazine, founder of the Totem Press, co­editor with Diane DiPrima of THE FLOATING BEAR newsletter, and music editor for KULCHUR magazine. His responsibilities for these various publications are apparent in many of the files in this collection.

Extent

2 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection reflects LeRoi Jones's early interest in publishing new American writing. Throughout his career he has been a literary as well as a political activist, writing inno­vative and controversial plays, poetry and essays. He has also been the influential editor of numerous journals and anthologies which published new, young writers.

Arrangement

THE MODERNS collection consists of Jones's files for pub­lication of the anthology. Included are the manuscripts and typescripts from which material for publication was compiled. A copy of the published text is also present. Following the anthology material are Jones's correspondence files for this period, primarily 1961-1964. In alphabetical order are the letters of some 80 authors, many of whom were published either in this anthology or in one of Jones's magazines. Many letters are written out of friendship rather than business. Lengthier files include such writers as Don Allen, Robert Creeley, Edward Dorn, Allen Ginsberg, Charles Olson and Douglas Woolf.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection has been at Northwestern University Library since the late 1960s; it was probably purchased from a dealer.

Title
Guide to Leroi Jones: The Moderns
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Library Details

Part of the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
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