The Claremont Colleges Special Collections Zines Collection, 1980-2014

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Summary

Creators:
Davenport, William, 1960-, Wagon, Sy, Silvera, Ed, Perner, Paul, Larry-Bob, Friedman, R. Seth, Wobensmith, Matt, and Powers, Steve
Abstract:
The collection contains zines created in California between 1980 and 2014. Represented titles include Baitline, Cholo, Dum Dum Zine, Hot Bottoms!, Night Voices, Queer Zine Explosion, and Unsound. The collection also contains correspondence and ephemera relating to the later years of the zine review magazine, Factsheet Five.
Extent:
2 Linear Feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English and Chinese .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], The Claremont Colleges Special Collections Zines Collection (H.Mss.1104). Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains zines and related materials created in California from 1980 to 2014. The majority are small circulation titles, many photomechanically reproduced. They mostly cover topics underrepresented in mainstream commercial culture, including Latin American subcultures, LGBT+ issues, and underground music.

While the collection does not contain issues of the magazine Factsheet Five, it does contain correspondence and related materials collected by its final publisher, R. Seth Friedman. The correspondence includes business letters, subscriptions, information from publishers, and letters from zine creators and readers. Several letters are addressed from prisons (Factsheet Five was initially sent for free to prison inmates). The Factsheet Five materials also include miscellaneous broadsides, photographs, artist information, posters promoting poetry at Boise State University, ephemera, and how-to guides about publishing.

Biographical / historical:

This collection represents an ongoing effort to preserve zines created in California. The initial materials were purchased from Johnson Rare Books & Archives in 2018.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Johnson Rare Books Archives, 2018.
Processing information:

Processed in 2019 by library assistant Myles Mikulic, in the Special Collections branch of the Honnold Mudd Library with assistance from Sara Chetney and Lisa Crane. Materials have been stored in acid free folders and placed in record boxes. Folders have been organized alphabetically by zine title followed by subject. Unopened letters relating to Factsheet Five have been opened and arranged alphabetically by sender. Uncashed personal checks for Factsheet Five subscriptions have been removed and destroyed. Match heads from matchbooks included in Dum Dum Zine issue 3 have been removed and destroyed. A lollipop also included in Dum Dum has been removed and the wrapping placed in a mylar sleeve.

Arrangement:

The collection has been organized alphabetically by zine title.

Accruals:

Additions to the collection are anticipated.

Physical location:
Please consult repository.
Physical facet:
2 record boxes and 1 oversized folder.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to reproduce or to publish must be submitted in writing to Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], The Claremont Colleges Special Collections Zines Collection (H.Mss.1104). Special Collections, The Claremont Colleges Library, Claremont, California.

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
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