Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Register of the Momentum Press Archive
MSS 0412
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Momentum Press Archive,
Date (inclusive): 1976-1995
Collection number: MSS 0412
Creator:
Mohr, Bill
Extent:
19.20 linear feet
(28 archives boxes and 8 records
cartons)
Repository:
Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175
Abstract: Production materials of Momentum Press, a Santa Monica, California, literary press
operated by writer and editor William Mohr between 1974 and 1985. Materials include
correspondence, manuscripts and production proofs for numerous monographic works by Los
Angeles poets, typescripts and paste-ups for MOMENTUM magazine, submissions of literary
work, and materials for Momentum Press's two poetry anthologies, POETRY LOVES POETRY: AN
ANTHOLOGY OF LOS ANGELES POETS and STREETS INSIDE: TEN LOS ANGELES POETS. Also included
are writings by Bill Mohr, documentation of his editiorial work on BACHY magazine and
videorecordings of a television series hosted and produced by Mohr entitled PUT YOUR EARS
ON. The archive is arranged in five series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) MOMENTUM PRESS, 3)
MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 4) EDITING AND WRITING BY MOHR, and 5) PUT YOUR EARS ON.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these
materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research
Momentum Press Archive, MSS 0412. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Momentum Press was founded by poet William Mohr in 1973 when he served as poetry editor
for BACHY, another Los Angeles poetry magazine, in 1972-1973. Established in association
with the Century City Educational Arts Project, a non-profit group based in Los Angeles,
Momentum Press published eight issues of MOMENTUM magazine between 1974-1978 and, between
1975-1988, books by numerous writers living in or associated with Los Angeles, including
Kate Braverman, Leland Hickman, Michael Kincaid, Harry Northrup, Alicia Ostriker, and
Holly Prado. Additionally, Momentum published two seminal anthologies edited by Mohr, THE
STREETS INSIDE: TEN LOS ANGELES POETS (1975) and POETRY LOVES POETRY: AN ANTHOLOGY OF LOS
ANGELES POETS (1985).
When Momentum Press ceased publication for financial reasons in 1988, Mohr produced and
hosted PUT YOUR EARS ON, a television poetry and performance events series recorded at
the Century City Educational Arts Project studios. The series included readings and/or
performances by Will Alexander, Leland Hickman, James Krusoe, Phoebe MacAdams, Harry
Northrup, and Holly Prado, among others.
The MOMENTUM PRESS ARCHIVE consists of material related to MOMENTUM magazine, the
publication of Momentum Press books, PUT YOUR EARS ON video series, and, to a lesser
extent, the writing career of poet and editor William Mohr. The archive is arranged in
five series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) MOMENTUM PRESS, 3) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 4) EDITING
AND WRITING BY MOHR, and 5) PUT YOUR EARS ON.
SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE
The bulk of the archive is contained in the CORRESPONDENCE series, which consists of
professional and private letters written to William Mohr from other writers, publishers,
editors, arts organizations, and presses. In some instances, photocopies of Mohr's
letters are included as well. The largest files in the series are those that consist of
letters exchanged between Mohr and authors published by Momentum, including Douglas
Blazek, Kate Braverman, James Grabill, Leland Hickman, Michael Kincaid, James Krusoe,
James Moore, Harry Northrup, Alicia Ostriker, Holly Prado, Marine Robert Warden, and
William Witherup. Other notable correspondents include Clayton Eshleman, Lyn Hejinian,
Kit Robinson, Mark Salerno, and Ron Silliman. The CORRESPONDENCE series is arranged
alphabetically.
SERIES 2: MOMENTUM PRESS
The MOMENTUM PRESS series is arranged in four subseries: A) Anthologies and Books, B)
MOMENTUM magazine, C) Submissions, and D) Administrative Materials.
A) The first subseries consists of typescripts, galleys, proofs, photographs, and
mechanicals of Momentum Press publications, excepting the magazine. Also included is a
limited amount of correspondence directly related to specific projects. The subseries is
arranged alphabetically by author or, in the case of anthologies, by title.
B) The second subseries consists of typescripts, galleys, proofs, photographs, and
mechanicals of Momentum Magazine. Also included is a limited amount of correspondence
directly related to the serial. The subseries is arranged chronologically.
C) The third subseries consists of unpublished submissions to Momentum Press and/or
Momentum Magazine. Included are book-length typescripts as well as single page
submissions. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by author, and includes a
substantial file of miscellaneous and/or anonymous submissions.
D) The fourth subseries consists of administrative material related to MOMENTUM PRESS.
Included are address books, invoice books, and mailing lists.
SERIES 3: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS
The MISCELLANEOUS series consists of flyers for poetry and/or arts related events in Los
Angeles and other various items of cultural significance that are not directly related to
MOMENTUM PRESS.
SERIES 4: EDITING AND WRITING BY MOHR
The fourth series consists of miscellaneous manuscript and typescript writings of William
Mohr, including drafts of poems, notes, lists, and miscellaneous jottings. Also included
are typescripts and correspondence related to Mohr's editorship of BACHY (1972-1973).
SERIES 5: PUT YOUR EARS ON
The PUT YOUR EARS ON series consists of videotaped documentation of the reading and
performance series produced and hosted by William Mohr, and recorded at the Century City
Educational Arts Projects studios. Notable readers include Will Alexander, Leland
Hickman, James Krusoe, Phoebe MacAdams, Harry Northrup, and Holly Prado. The videotapes
are arranged chronologically.