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.
 

Series 1: Publications

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 12

Mikel Calendar, 1984

 

Series 2: Production

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 1, folder 24

Mikel Material, Undated

box 1, folder 25

Mikel Material, Undated

box 1, folder 26

Mikel Material, Undated

box 1, folder 27

Mikel Material, Undated

box 2, folder 1

St. Mikel Material, Undated

box 2, folder 2

Templates, Calendar, 1984

box 2, folder 3

Calendar Materials, 1984

 

Series 3: Correspondence

box 2, folder 4

Deadheads, 1983

box 2, folder 5

Deadheads, 1984

box 2, folder 6

Deadheads, 1985

box 2, folder 7

Deadheads, 1986

box 2, folder 8

Deadheads, 1987

box 2, folder 9

Deadheads, 1988

box 2, folder 10

Deadheads, undated

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 13

Other Publications

box 2, folder 14

Brokedown Press

box 2, folder 15

Co-Op Communique

box 2, folder 16

Dead Central

box 2, folder 17

Deadhead Directory

box 2, folder 18

The Music Never Stopped

Note

Correspondence with Alasdair MacDonald.
box 2, folder 19

Relix

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.
box 2, folder 21

Decorated Envelopes 1

box 2, folder 22

Decorated Envelopes 2

box 2, folder 23

Postcards

box 2, folder 24

Stationery

 

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 1

Artwork

box 3, folder 2

Cartoons

box 3, folder 3

Cosmic Charlie Campaign

box 3, folder 4

Fan-Created Stationery

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 3, folder 8

Newspaper Clippings

box 3, folder 9

Photographs

box 3, folder 10

Puzzles

box 3, folder 11

Set Lists

box 3, folder 12

Set Lists

box 3, folder 13

Show Reviews, Stories

box 3, folder 14

Stickers, 1

box 3, folder 15

Stickers, 2

box 3, folder 16

Stickers, 3

 

Series 5: Realia

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

box 4, object 4

Tie-dyed banner

 

Oversized art