Pierrepont Press Archives (MSS094), 1968-1969 | MSS Manuscripts

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Collection Overview

Title: Pierrepont Press Archives (MSS094), 1968-1969

Predominant Dates:1968-1969

ID: MSS/MSS/094

Primary Creator: Pierrepont Press

Extent: 4.0 Boxes

Date Acquired: 10/00/1982

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Pierrepont Press Archive consists of manuscripts by each of the seven authors involved, all of the galleys and correspondence relating to the proposed publications, as well as a copy of the one published book to emerge from the project, Harvey Tucker's Pieces of the Clock (1969).

Collection Historical Note

The Pierrepont Press was founded in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York by Harvey and Linda Tucker, who planned to produce limited and signed editions of poetry collections by a small group of American writers. Each book was to have a run of only 300 copies. The Tuckers enlisted Larry Eigner, Michael McClure, Diane Wakoski, Clayton Eshleman, Jerome Rothenberg, and Cid Corman to write books for the press. Harvey Tucker's own poetry collection was to be published as well.

The very specialized technical requirements for producing such fine editions led to the eventual demise of the project. The Tuckers' original printer, Villiers Press of London, took an inordinately long time to produce what turned out to be substandard galleys. Another printer in New York was hired, but the scenario repeated itself. The Tuckers and the printers each threatened lawsuits and, partly to avoid litigation, the Pierrepont Press went out of business in the summer of 1969. Contracts with the authors were voided, rights and advance monies were returned, and the Pierrepont Press became history after only one short year.

Administrative Information

Repository: MSS Manuscripts

Access Restrictions: Open

Use Restrictions:

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Acquisition Source: Purchased from Black Sun Books

Acquisition Method: Accession number 1574

Preferred Citation: Name of the Collection, Washington University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Material toward Nigh by Cid Corman],
[Series 3: Material toward Flat & Round by Larry Eigner],
[Series 4: Material toward Tlazolteotl-Ixcuina by Clayton Eshleman],
[Series 5: Material toward Lion Fight by Michael McClure],
[Series 6: Material toward Narratives and Real Theater Piecesby Jerome Rothenberg],
[Series 7: Material toward Pieces of the Clock by Harvey Tucker],
[Series 8: Material toward Some Poems for The Buddha's Birthday by Diane Wakoski],
[Series 9: Miscellany],
[All]

Series 1: Correspondence

Consists of correspondence, (1968-1969), to and from Harvey and Linda Tucker, grouped in two subseries: Correspondence with Authors and Correspondence with Printers. Other correspondence with authors who contributed to Pierrepont Press is filed with their submissions in individual series.

Sub-Series 1: Correspondence with Authors, 1968-1969

Consists of correspondence, between the Tuckers and various authors.

Box 1

Folder 1

Item 1: Alexander, D.

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, June 30, 1969: Typed Card Signed, 1 page

Item 2: Bialy, Harvey

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, June 15, [1969]: Typed Letter Signed, 1 page

Item 3: Eshleman, Clayton

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, May 29, 1969: (Autograph Card Signed, 1 page)

Item 4: Kelly, Robert

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, [December] [24], [1968]: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 2: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, [May] [28], [1969]: (Autograph Card Signed, 1 page)

Item 5: MacLow, Jackson

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, [April] [20], [1969]: (Typed Note Signed, 1 page)

Item 6: Olson, Toby

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, [December] [15], [1968]: (Autographed Card Signed, 2 pages)
Item 2: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, February 1, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 3: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, March 2, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 4: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, June 5, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 5: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, July 21, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)

Item 7: Rosten, Norman

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author: (Autograph Card Signed, 1 page)
Item 2: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, [February] [27], [1969]: (Autograph Card Signed, 1 page)
Item 3: To Tucker, Linda, [March], [1969]: (Autograph Card, 1 paged)

Item 8: Schwerner, Armand

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, March 2, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)

Item 9: Tucker, Harvey

Item 1: To Corman, Cid, 1924-, American author, July 8, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed (carbon), 1 page)
Item 2: To Dorn, Edward, 1929-, American author, May 19, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 3: To Eigner, Larry (Laurence) Joel, 1927-, American author, July 8, 1967: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 4: To Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-, American author, March 9, 1969: (Typed Letter, Autograph Note, 1 page)
Item 5: To Kelly, Robert, 1935-, American author, May 19, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 6: To Kelly, Robert, 1935-, American author, May 28, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 7: To McClure, Michael, 1932-, American author, May 19, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 8: To McClure, Michael, 1932-, American author, July 8, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed [carbon], 1 page)
Item 9: To McClure, Michael, 1932-, American author, July 12, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed [carbon], 1 page)

Item 10: Tucker, Linda

Item 1: To Smith, Roger, March 6, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)

Item 11: Vas Dias, Robert

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, June 19, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, Auograph Note, 1 page)

Sub-Series 2: Correspondence with Printers

Consists of correspondence between the Tuckers and various printers, primarily James Boyer May, American director of Viellers Publications. (17 items)

Box 1

Folder 2

Item 1: May, James Boyer, Villiers Publications Ltd.

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, February 16, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 2: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, 1969: (Typed Card Signed, 1 page)
Item 3: To Tucker, Linda, January 8, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 4: To Tucker, Linda, January 21, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 5: To Tucker, Linda, March 1, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 6: To Tucker, Linda, March 20, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)

Item 2: Sankey, John V., Villiers Publications Ltd.

Item 1: To Tucker, Harvey, American author, March 12, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 2: To Tucker, Linda, January 28, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page)
Item 3: To Tucker, Linda, March 11, 1969: (Typed Letter Signed, 1 page) Enclosure: Typescript draft of logo

Item 3: Tucker, Harvey

Item 1: To Vasallo (Mr.), June 11, 1969: (Autograph Letter Signed [carbon], 1 page)

Item 4: Tucker, Linda

Item 1: To May, James Boyer, 1904-, American author, March 28, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)
Item 2: To Sankey, John V, March 28, 1969: (Typed Letter [carbon], 1 page)