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St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery Poetry Project posters and fliers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 0759

Scope and Contents

The collection of St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery Poetry Project posters and fliers comprises forty fliers and posters featuring reproductions of handmade artwork that promoted and publicized poetry readings and other activities of the landmark project during the 1970s through the mid-1980s.

Intended for distribution, the fliers in the collection advertised single events such as readings or writing workshops, while the posters promoted events held monthly. Many of the fliers were sent as mail and bear the address of Robert Wilson's New York Phoenix Book Shop. Additionally, one item is addressed to poet John Ashbery. The materials in the collection were largely photocopied from hand-drawn, rubberstamped, and collage art, and most are printed in black-and-white, though a few posters are color-printed. Known artists included Rudy Burckhardt, Tom Burkhardt, Mimi Gross Grooms, Maureen Owen, and George Schneedman.

The work is arranged into two series, I. Fliers and II. Posters, and further arranged chronologically.

Dates

  • Creation: 1971-1984

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

St. Mark’s Church In-the-Bowery Poetry Project

The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church In-the-Bowery was founded in 1966 in New York City's East Village. Inspired by the "Berkeley Renaissance" of the 1940s, the Project served as a nexus for New York poets in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Project held frequent readings and workshops and provided a venue for artists such as George Schneeman and Rudy Burckhardt through the production and distribution of posters and fliers. As a community dedicated to the cultivation of the arts, the Project gave artists and authors the means of producing their own publications and helped to shape much of the American literature that followed. Those associated with the Project include Paul Blackburn, Joel Oppenheimer, Anne Waldman, Bernadette Mayer, Bob Holman, Ron Padgett, Allen Ginsberg, Eileen Myles, Patti Smith, Jim Carroll, Kathy Aker, and many others.

Content derived from dealer description.

Extent

.3 linear foot (40 items)

1 oversize box

Abstract

The Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church In-the-Bowery was founded in 1966 in New York City's East Village. Inspired by the "Berkeley Renaissance" of the 1940s, the Project served as a nexus for New York poets in the 1960s and 1970s. The collection comprises forty fliers and posters featuring reproductions of handmade artwork that promoted and publicized poetry readings and other activities of the landmark project during the 1970s through the mid-1980s.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, January 2016

Related Materials

MSS 0481, Robert A. Wilson collection

MSS 0878, American and English poetry readings fliers, posters, and cards

Shelving Summary

Box 1: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes (1 inch)

Removals: Shelved in SPEC MSS mapcases

Title
Finding aid for St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery Poetry Project posters and fliers
Status
Completed
Author
University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
Date
2016 April 15
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Delaware Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
181 South College Avenue
Newark DE 19717-5267 USA
302-831-2229