Collection Guide
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Guide to The Reaper Records, 1979-1989 M0512
M0512
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: The Reaper: records
Identifier/Call Number: M0512
Identifier/Call Number: 573
Physical Description:
4.5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1979-1989
Abstract: Records pertain to the editorial process of THE REAPER, its production, finiancial management, and other miscellaneous business,
as well as the literary interests and opinions of its editors and contributing authors. Included is correspondence between
the poetry editors Mark Jarman and Robert McDowell; letters received from authors, subscribers, and others; submitted manuscripts;
production files for most issues consisting of original contents, paste up, galleys, artwork, related correspondence, and
printing flats; grant applications; mailing records; clippings and reviews; and other business records.
None.
Purchased, 1988.
The Reaper, a small poetry and fiction magazine founded by Robert McDowell and Mark Jarman, was an important voice in the
movement in American poetry known as the New Narrative or the New Formalism, which began in the late seventies. The movement
attacked the free verse poetics of autobiographical experiences that the Beats had espoused in the 1950's . The New Formalists
argued for a return to meter and rhyme, recognition of the importance of narrative, and the inclusion of public as well as
private experience. From Issue #1, published in 1980, to Issue #19/20, the final issue, to be published in 1990 , The Reaper
was strongly committed to narrative poetry and published many of the authors working in this new form including Dana Gioia,
Rita Dove, Frederick Morgan, Liam Rector, Chris Semansky, Chase TWichell, and Rusty White. In addition, The Reaper published
Jarman and McDowell's reviews and critidal essays on modern poetry that prompted reviewers to call it "feisty and iconoclastic."
The Reaper Records. M0512. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Additional materials about the later years of The Reaper and paste-ups for issues 13-18 can be found in Series 4 of Story
Line Press records (M2553) also housed at Stanford University Special Collections: https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8df6zpj/
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The records of The Reaper, dating from 1979 to 1989 , are arranged in three series : correspondence, issue files, and business
files. They document the editorial process of the journal, its production, financial management, and other miscellaneous business
aspects, as well as the literary interests and opinions of its editors and contributing authors.
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American literature -- 20th century.
Poetry, modern -- 20th. century.
Eberhart, Richard, 1904-2005
Hall, Donald
Hilton, David
Jarman, Mark.
Joselow, Beth
Mastro, Mark Anthony.
McDowell, Robert
Morgan, Frederick, 1922-2004
Rector, Liam, 1949-2007
Semansky, Chris
Carter, Jared
Twichell, Chase, 1950-
Wilhemous, Tom.
Dove, Rita
Cervantes, James.
Gioia, Dana
Flynn, Richard.
Haas, Barbara