The Outsider Archive, 1959-1971

The Outsider Archive includes materials related to the creation, production, and publication of The Outsider, a serial created by Loujon Press dedicated to the newest in poetry and prose from American underground writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder, Charles Bukowski, William Burroughs, Charles Olson, Louis Zukofsky, Norman Mailer, Diane DiPrima and Henry Miller. The collection contains sixteen archival boxes and two oversize boxes of materials dating from 1956 to 1971.

Included in this archive are correspondence from poets and writers that contain drafts of work for potential inclusion in The Outsider, as well as information related to their careers and personal lives. During this time, Loujon Press founders, Jon and Louise “Gypsy Lou” Webb cultivated a close working relationship with Charles Bukowski. This collection includes around 100 letters from Bukowski to Jon Webb dating from 1960 to 1963 and 1967 to 1969. Bukowski’s correspondence includes more than just poetry and prose but also touches candidly on topics like luck at the racetrack, his fluctuating physical and mental health, drinking, everyday life events, and grief over the death of his girlfriend. Around twenty marginalia cartoons and drawings appear in the letters. The collection also contains drafts of the publication in the form of dummy copies, corrected proof for the artwork, and formatted pages. In addition, materials related generally to Loujon Press and their publications with Henry Miller are also in the archive.

Series 1. The Outsider Issue No. 1, 1960-1961, contains draft copies of the first issue of The Outsider. Named files include correspondence related to career news, personal life, and work with Loujon Press. This series also includes some materials related to The Outsider, like a dummy copy of issue number 1, layouts, and invoices.

Series 2. The Outsider Issue No. 2, 1960-1968, contains correspondence and submission of work to Loujon Press for potential inclusion in The Outsider. This series also includes draft work and proofs from issue number 2.

Series 3. The Outsider issue No. 3, 1960-1963, contains correspondence and submission of work to Loujon Press for potential inclusion in The Outsider. This series also includes draft work and proofs from issue number 3.

Series 4. The Outsider issue No. 4/5, 1960-1969, contains correspondence and submission of work to Loujon Press for potential inclusion in The Outsider. Many letters in this series also refer to an emotional announcement that Loujon Press made in their issue number 3 about the urgent need for financial support or else the press could no longer continue.

Series 5. General correspondence related to Loujon Press and The Outsider, 1956-1970, includes mainly correspondence to and from the Webbs that are related to Loujon Press or The Outsider more generally. Also included in this series are the correspondences of Miriam Patchen, the wife of Kenneth Patchen, who was a frequent contributor to the publication of poetry and art.

Series 6. The Outsider printing blocks, 1960-1968, contains front and back cover printing blocks for The Outsider issues 1 through 4/5.

Series 7. The Outsider oversize material, 1961-1963, includes three sub-series. Sub-series 7.1. “The Outsider Nos. 1 and 2, pictures, covers, etc." packet, 1961-1962, contains oversize materials once wrapped together in a packet. It includes pages of contributor photographs to be included in The Outsider. Also included in the packet is a dummy issue of The Outsider issue number 2. Sub-series 7.2. The Outsider unmarked packet, 1962, contains oversize materials once wrapped together in a packet. This sub-series includes draft pages from issue number 2, a large drawing by Lousie Webb, and corrected proofs for issue number 2. Sub-series 7.3. "The Outsider No. 3, photos, art, 1 Patchen watercolor" packet, 1963, contains oversize materials once wrapped together in a packet. Included in this sub-series are draft pages from The Outsider issue number 3 and one watercolor from Kenneth Patchen.

Series 8. Henry Miller Works, 1966-1971, includes two subseries. Sub-series 8.1 Insomnia, or the Devil at Large by Henry Miller, 1967-1971, includes materials related to the publication such as correspondence from Miller to Jon Webb, correspondence about the publishing of the book, and reactions of the book from friends and purchaser of the book to Loujon Press. Sub-series 8.2 Order and Chaos Chez Hans Reichel by Henry Miller, 1966-1969, contains materials related to the publication such as responses to the book from friends and purchasers to Loujon press and press clippings about the book.