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Finding Aid of the Peter Shneidre papers
0163
0163
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Title: Peter Shneidre papers
Collection number: 0163
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
20.0 Linear feet
19 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1974-2007
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Peter Shneidre, who ran the small poetry press Illuminati Press and who published a
number of small poetry periodicals. Shneidre was also a nationally published poet and he corresponded with a number of poets
about both business and personal matters between 1980 and his death in 2007. This collection also includes the financial records
of Illuminati Press and the Press's publication files.
creator:
Illuminati Press.
creator:
Shneidre, Peter, 1950-2007
Peter Shneidre, born in 1950, grew up in Claremont, California, and moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA in the 1970s. In 1974,
Shneidre began publishing small books of poetry and a year later he started
Marilyn: The Magazine of Poems with his longtime friend Jeff Powers. After closing down
Marilyn in 1978, Shneidre began to collect poetry for his first solo venture, the magazine
Orpheus (1980-1983). In 1981, Shneidre began the influential small press, Illuminati Press, which published approximately 100 items
over twelve years. Authors published by Illuminati Press include Viggo Mortensen, Charles Bukowski, Kate Braverman, Richard
Meltzer and Lyn Lifshin, among others. Between 1985 and 1987, Shneidre also published three issues of his journal
Nude Erections, which presented mild eroticism and disquisitions on love.
While Shneidre was running Illuminati Press, he was also involved with the Los Angeles Poetry Theatre (1980-1981) and the
organization of poetry readings in various Los Angeles venues including the Beverly Center, Al's Bar and the Ocean Park Branch
Library in Santa Monica. The readings and panel discussions included both local and visiting poets. Illuminati Press did not
publish any of Shneidre's works, but he was a poet published in many national periodicals, including the
Paris Review,
Rolling Stone, the
Antioch Review and
Shenandoah.
After Illuminati Press ceased publication in 1994, Shneidre focused on his own poetry and began to write short fiction, essays
and translations of Buddhist texts. He also began writing a series of folk operas on various religious leaders, including
Jesus, Buddha and David. Shneidre was an active member of the Vedanta Society of Southern California with his wife, Anya Cronin,
until he passed away in 2007.
Collection contains the records of the small press publisher Illuminati Press and the three poetry periodicals Peter Shneidre
ran--
Nude Erections,
Orpheus and
Marilyn. Records consist of correspondence, galleys, proofs, published works and administrative files. Also included are a few audiocassette
recordings of poetry events and documents pertaining to the productions of the Los Angeles Poetry Theatre in the early 1980s.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers
on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers
when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
[Box/folder# or item name], Peter Shneidre papers, Collection no. 0163, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California
Purchased from Peter Shneidre, circa 2004-2005.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Braverman, Kate -- Correspondence
Gray, Janet -- Correspondence
Illuminati Press. -- Archives
Lifshin, Lyn -- Correspondence
Shneidre, Peter, 1950-2007 -- Archives
American poetry--20th century--Archival resources
Audiocassettes
Authors, American--20th century--Archival resources
Books
Correspondence
Page proofs
Poets, American--20th century--Archival resources
Small press books--Archival resources
Small presses--California--Los Angeles--20th century--Archival resources