Collection Guide
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Steve Abbott Papers, 1951-1993
GLC 77
GLC 77
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Table of contents
Title: Steve Abbott Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1951-1993
Collection Identifier: GLC 77
Creator:
Abbott, Steve, 1943-1992
Physical Description:
3 cartons, 1 document case, 1 oversized box
(5.0 cubic feet)
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 557-4400
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Steve Abbott was a poet, critic, editor and novelist. He was one of the founding editors of the San Francisco bay area's poetry
newsletter
Poetry Flash, and he was the editor of the literary journal
Soup. The papers contain correspondence, subject files, works by Abbott, publications and writing by others, photographs, and
computer disks.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk
hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.
Copyright is retained by Alysia Abbott.
[Identification of item], Steve Abbott Papers (GLC 77), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Donated by Kevin Killian for the Estate of Steve Abbott, February 1994. Additional material was donated by Alysia Abbott,
July 10, 2002.
Stephen Eugene Abbott (1943-1992) was a poet, critic, editor and novelist. He was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from
the University of Nebraska, and attended Emory University. He married Barbara Binder in February 1969, and came out publicly
later that year. Their daughter, Alysia, was born in December 1970. In August 1973, Barbara was killed in an automobile accident.
In 1974, Steve and Alysia moved to San Francisco, where Steve became involved with the literary scene. His friends included
Allen Ginsberg, Aaron Shurin, and Robert Gluck, among others. Abbott was one of the founding editors of the San Francisco
bay area's poetry newsletter
Poetry Flash, and he was the editor of the literary journal
Soup. He was a respected critic and the first to use the term "new narrative" to describe the work of Bruce Boone and Robert Gluck.
Abbott was a frequent contributor to
The Advocate,
The Sentinel, and the
Bay Area Reporter. He organized the Left/Write conference in 1981.
Steve Abbott died of complications due to AIDS on December 2, 1992. His novel
The Lizard Club was published posthumously. In 2013, W.W. Norton and Company published Alysia Abbott's
Fairyland: a Memoir of My Father (New York). The memoir draws in part from Steve Abbott's journals which are retained by his daughter. Her website www.steveabbott.org
contains a wealth of interesting archival material.
The collection contains a good representation of Abbott's written work and artwork. It also includes correspondence, drawings,
flyers, subject files, newspaper clippings and photographs. Some subjects include his trial related to conscientious objector
status, his participation in school governments and political groups, and his teaching.
Arranged into 6 series: Series 1. Correspondence; Series 2. Subject Files; Series 3. Works by Abbott; Series 4. Publications
and Writing by Others; Series 5. Photographs; and, Series 6. Computer disks.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abbott, Steve, 1943-1992--Archives
American poetry--20th century
Gay poetry--United States
Poets--California--San Francisco