Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Ras, Barbara
- Extent:
- 430 Linear Feet 286 Cartons, 29 manuscript boxes, 36 flat boxes and 0.0008 gigabyte(s) 1 3.5" floppy disk.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], North Point Press records (M0833). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
North Point Press was based in Berkeley, CA and operated as an independent publisher from 1980 until 1991. Founded by William Turnbull and Jack Shoemaker in 1978, North Point Press published a variety of literature including novels, short story collections, poetry, essays and criticism, and works of cultural anthropology. They prided themselves on producing quality books with thoughtful typesetting and art direction and printed on acid-free paper.
The collection contains the business and financial records of the press as well as voluminous accretions of manuscripts, editorial and production material. Also included are a series of audio and video recordings, mainly documenting radio and public appearances by North Point authors.
The Business Records series includes historical information about the press, administration information, financial records, sales reports, and business correspondence.
The Publications series includes manuscripts of published and unpublished works, corrected proofs, editorial files, reviews and rights files.
- Biographical / historical:
-
North Point Press was founded in 1978 in Berkeley, CA by publisher William Turnbull and editor in chief Jack Shoemaker. "North Point's aim was to fill the widening gap between the small fine press and large commercial publisher". North Point produced its first books in the fall season of 1980. Their final season was in 1991 and in total they published 321 titles.
North Point published a variety of literature including novels, short story collections, poetry, essays and criticism, and works of cultural anthropology. Their biggest sellers included Beryl Markham's 1942 memoir of her life in Kenya West with the Night (1983, North Point edition), and Evan S. Connell's Son of the Morning Star (1984), a deep examination of Gen. George Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn.
North Point also published reprints of food writing by M.F.K. Fisher, books on Zen (a special interest of Jack Shoemaker's), a variety of books on nature and environmental stewardship, and numerous titles by poet/novelist/farmer Wendell Berry. Other notable authors include Guy Davenport, Anne Lamott, Leslie Scalapino, and Gilbert Sorrentino.
North Point Press earned a reputation as an accessible publisher of worthy titles but struggled to succeed financially in a difficult market. The publishers tried for several years to find buyer in larger publishing houses before eventually closing down the press in 1991. The name was acquired by long-time distributor Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1993 and remains as an imprint with some older titles still available.
Principals:
William Turnbull - Owner and publisher Jack Shoemaker - Editor in chief Emily Heckman - Editorial associate Kathleen Moses - Editor Thomas Christensen - Editor Dominique Gioia - Editor Barbara Ras - Managing editor Jennifer McDonald - Editor, Subsidiary rights manager Lisa M. Ross - Publicity, subsidiary rights director (ca. 1983-1989) Susanna Tadlock - Production Manager, Administrative Director Jeanne Slater - Office manager Sharon Ponsford - Marketing Director
- Acquisition information:
- The collections was purchased from North Point Press Inc. in 1990-1991.
- Arrangement:
-
The original order and context of the collection has been maintained where possible, with some distinctions made for the general functions of different types of records.
The collections is arranged into the following series:
Series I: Business Records (records pertaining to personnel and the history of the business, financial and business relationships and North Points activites in the publishing marketplace.)
Series II: Published works and proposals. This series contains records directly related to the writing, editing, and production of North Point's publshed output, as well as other proposals and unrealized projects.
Series III: Audio-visual material. This series consists of audio and video recordings, primarily radio interviews and public appearances by North Point authors.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research, with the exception of Restricted personnel files in Series I.
Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
- Terms of access:
-
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.
- Preferred citation:
-
[identification of item], North Point Press records (M0833). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022