Guide to the Michael Linah papers MS.356
Jamie R. Taylor, Nicholas G. Meriwether
University of California, Santa Cruz
2015
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz 95064
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Michael Linah Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS.356
Physical Description:
2.5 Linear Feet
(4) cartons
Date (inclusive): 1982-1988
Date (bulk): bulk
Abstract: This collection documents the Grateful Dead-related work of Michael Linah (1943-1985), the editor and publisher of the
Mikel newsletter and sticker series. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Linah attended MIT, where he became interested in directing bridge tournaments.
In 1975, he became Associate National Director of the American Contract Bridge League. Linah’s professionalism, efficiency,
and encyclopedic knowledge of the laws of bridge earned him the esteem of his peers, and his amicable style in delivering
rulings made him popular throughout the country. Linah was a devoted Grateful Dead fan and often traveled across the country
to attend concerts. In 1982, he published the first issue of
Mikel, a folded, letter-sized photocopied newsletter that contained set lists, artwork, letters from fans, and general information
on the Dead. Copies were given away at shows and to those who mailed in a self-addressed, stamped envelope. He also designed
and printed custom-made stickers for concerts in 1983, 1984, and for the spring and summer of 1985. Linah had many friends
in the Grateful Dead community, and
Mikel served as an early conduit for fan-disseminated information for Deadheads in the United States and abroad. He died from complications
related to cancer on October 17, 1985 in Covina, CA. After his death, his friends Benny Nagini and Julie Postel continued
the newsletter under the name
St. Mikel, and produced a commemorative sticker that was given out at shows in late 1985.
Scope and Content
This collection contains biographical materials, manuscripts, newsletters, templates, production materials, stickers, correspondence,
photographs, ephemera, and realia. The focus of the collection is materials pertaining to the newsletters
Mikel and
St. Mikel.
Separated Materials
Other publications cataloged separately.
Access
The collection is available for use.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Processing Information
The collection did not come directly from Linah, and had no original order at the time of its donation. Materials were sorted
into broad categories, and arranged alphabetically and/or chronologically where possible. Some materials are arranged by size.
box 1, folder 1
Biography
Note
This folder contains Linah's obituary from the American Contract Bridge League, a letter from Linah to Benny Nagini, two essays
by Linah, and personal memorabilia. The letter to subscribers following Linah's death is included.
box 1, folder 2
Mikel, 1982
Note
Contains Vol. 1, Nos. 1, 2, 8.
box 1, folder 3
Mikel, 1983
Note
Contains Vol. 1, Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13; Vol. 2, Nos. 2, 3, 6, 7.
box 1, folder 3
Mikel, 1984
Note
Contains Vol. 2, Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; Vol. 3, Nos. 1, 2, 3.
box 1, folder 5
Mikel, 1985
Note
Contains Vol. 3, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, and the supplemental issue, Extra.
box 1, folder 6
St. Mikel, 1986
Note
Contains Vol. 3, Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11; Vol. 4, No. 1; Vol. 5, Nos. 1, 2, 3. Volume numbers continue sequentially from
Mikel.
box 1, folder 7
St. Mikel, 1987
Note
Contains Vol. 5, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, and the supplemental Flyer; Vol. 6, No. 1.
box 1, folder 8
St. Mikel, 1988
Note
Contains Vol. 6, No. 2; Vol. 7, No. 1.
box 1, folder 9
Mikel Stickers, 1983
Note
This series of stickers features a rose motif with the credit "Ethan & Mikel" commemorating the following concerts, labeled:
New Years 1983; March 25 Tempe; March 27 Irvine; March 29, 30, & 31 Benefit, Warfield ; April 12 Binghamton; April 15 Rochester;
April 20 Providence; April 22 & 23 New Haven; April 25 & 26 Spectrum; May 13, 14, & 15 Greek; June 20 & 21 Columbia; June
22 Harrisburg; June 24 Madison; June 25 St. Paul; June 27 & 28 Chicago; August 20 & 21Stanford; August 26 Portland; August
27 Seattle; August 29-31 Eugene; October 18 Portland; October 20-21 Worchester; September 2 Boise; September 4 Salt Lake City;
September 6, 7, & 8 Red Rocks; September 10-11 Santa Fe; September 13 Austin; September 18 Grass Valley; September 24 Watsonville
October 8 Richmond; Richmond [undated]; October 9 Greensboro; October 11-12 New York, Madison Square Garden; October 14-15
Hartford; October 18 Portland; October 20-21 Worchester; October 22 Syracuse; New Years, San Francisco Civic.
box 1, folder 10
Mikel Stickers, 1984
Note
This series of stickers features a skeleton and roses motif with the credit "McDonald and Mikel" commemorating the following
concerts, labeled: March 28, 28, & 31 April 1 Marin’s Vet. Aud.; April 6 Las Vegas; April 7 Irvine; April 13 & 14 Hampton;
April 16 Rochester; April 17 Niagara Falls; April 19, 20, & 21 Philadelphia; April 23 & 24 New Haven; April 26 & 27 Providence;
April 29 & 30 Nassau Coliseum; May 6, 7, & 8 Eugene; June 9-10 Sacramento; June 12, 13, & 14 Red Rocks; June 21 Toronto; June
23 Harrisburg; June 24 Saratoga Springs; June 26 & 27 Columbia; June 29 Cuyamoga (sic); June 30 Indianapolis ; July 1 Clarkston;
July 3 Kansas City; July 4 Cedar Rapids; July 6 & 7 Alpine Valley; July 13, 14, & 15 Greek; July 21 & 22 Ventura; October
5 Charlotte; October 6 Richmond; October 8 & 9 Worchester; October 11 & 12 Augusta; October 14 & 15 Hartford; October 17 &
18 East Rutherford; October 20 Syracuse; October 27-28, October 30-31, November 2-3 Berkeley.
box 1, folder 11
Mikel Stickers, 1985-1986
Note
Except for the New Year's concert, which features a rose motif and is credited to "Ethan & Mikel," this series of stickers
features a Steal Your Face logo motif with the credit "Uli Teute & Mikel" commemorating the following concerts, labeled: February
18, 19, & 20 Oakland; March 9-10 12-13 Berkeley Benefit; March 21-22 Hampton; March 24-25 Springfield; March 27-29 Nassau;
March 31-April 1 Portland; April 3-4 Providence; April 6-8 Spectrum; April 13-14 Irvine; April 27-28 Stanford. Starting with
this sticker, "20 Years 1965-1985" appears: June 14-15-16 Greek; June 21-22 Alpine; June 24 Cincinnati ; June 25 Cuyahoga;
June 27 SPAC; June 28 Hershey; June 30-July 1 MPP; July 2 Pittsburgh; July 13-14 Ventura; November 16-17 Long Beach (Note:
This sticker does not have the "20 Years" label and adds: "Mikel 1942-1985", with the rose motif and credited to Ethan.);
New Year's Oakland Dec. 27, 28, 30, 31, 1986.
box 1, folder 13
Templates,
Mikel, 1983
Note
Contains production paste-up templates for Vol. 1, No. 11; Vol. 2, Nos. 7,8.
Templates,
Mikel, 1984
Note
Contains production paste-up templates for Vol. 2, Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 15; Vol. 3, No. 1.
box 1, folder 15
Templates,
St. Mikel, 1986
Note
Contains production paste-up templates for Vol. 3, Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11; Vol. 4, Nos. 1, 2, 3.
box 1, folder 16
Templates,
St. Mikel, 1987
Note
Contains production paste-up templates for Vol. 5, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, supplement Flyer; Vol. 6, No. 1.
box 1, folder 17
Templates,
St. Mikel, 1988
Note
Contains production paste-up templates for Vol. 6, No. 2; Vol. 7, No. 1.
box 1, folder 18
Mikel Materials, 1983
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 2, No. 8.
box 1, folder 19
Mikel Materials, 1984
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 2, Nos. 9, 10, 12, 13, 14; Vol. 3, Nos. 2, 3.
box 1, folder 20
Mikel Materials, 1985
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 3, Nos. 4, 5, 6.
box 1, folder 21
St. Mikel Materials, 1986
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 3, Nos. 8, 9, 10; Vol. 4, No. 1; Vol. 5, Nos. 1, 2, 3.
box 1, folder 22
St. Mikel Materials, 1987
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 5, Nos. 4, 6; Vol. 6, No. 1.
box 1, folder 23
St. Mikel Materials, 1988
Note
Contains materials used to produce Vol. 6, No. 2; Vol. 7, No. 1.
box 2, folder 1
St. Mikel Material, Undated
box 2, folder 2
Templates, Calendar, 1984
box 2, folder 11
Grateful Dead Ticket Sales
box 2, folder 12
General
Note
Contains correspondence from Deadhead and Grateful Dead-related organizations.
box 2, folder 18
The Music Never Stopped
Note
Correspondence with Alasdair MacDonald.
box 2, folder 20
Related
Note
Contains correspondence with Benny Nagini and Julie Postel, who worked with Linah and continued the newsletter as
St. Mikel.
Series 4: Ephemera
Note
This series documents Linah's broader participation in the Deadhead community, including ephemera he collected and received.
Some materials may have been intended as submissions for
Mikel.
box 3, folder 4
Grateful Dead Official Mailings, Ephemera
box 3, folder 5
Grateful Dead-Related Events, 1
box 3, folder 6
Grateful Dead-Related Events, 2
box 3, folder 7
Grateful Dead-Related Postcards
box 4, object 1
Frisbee, fan-created, Halloween 1983
box 4, object 2, 3
T-shirts (2), Mikel Tribute, November 16-17, 1985, Long Beach, CA