Guide to The Reaper Records, 1979-1989 M0512
Processed by Patricia White.
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2002
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
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.
Access
None.
Acquisition Information
Purchased, 1988.
Biography
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."
Preferred Citation
The Reaper Records. M0512. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Related Materials
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.
Publication Rights
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
Series 1: Correspondence, 178455
1980-1989
Scope and Contents note
Series I , Correspondence, is divided into two sections . The first contains correspondence of the editors, Mark Jaxman, Robert
McDowell, and Tom Wilhemus. The bulk of this section is letters between Jarnian and McDowell, poetry editors, 1980-1989, discussing
poems submitted, production details, financial matters, their joint articles, and general literary matters, with some personal
news included. Manuscripts are included with some of the letters ; in addition there are photocopies of a typescript poem
and a letter from Robert Bly to Robert McDowell, 1985. There are also other letters of Robert McDowell and a small number
of letters from Tom Wilhemus, fiction editor. Correspondence in this section is separated by editor and then arranged chronologically.
The second section consists of letters to The Reaper from potential and published authors, subscribers, and readers, including
a special file of correspondence with British poets. These letters are arranged alphabetically, with the general alphabet
preceding files for specific authors. Some of the letters from authors include poetry manuscripts submitted for consideration.
Authors represented by more than one or two letters were separated from the general alphabet and include Jared Carter, Rita
Dove, Dana Gioia , Donald Ha, Liani Rector, and Chase Twichell . AU of the correspondence is open to researchers except for
two letters by Donald Hall which were pulled from the collection due to their confidential nature.
box 1, folder 1
Jarman, Mark to Robert McDowell, 178535
1980-1982
box 1, folder 2
Jarman, Mark to Robert McDowell, 178533
1983-1986
box 1, folder 3
Jarman, Mark to Robert McDowell , 178531
1987-1989 and undated
box 1, folder 4
McDowell, Robeit to Mark Jarman, 178529
1980-1984
box 1, folder 5
MCDcwell, Robert to Mark Janiian, 178527
1985
box 1, folder 6
McDowell , Robext to Mark Jarman, 178525
1986
box 1, folder 7
McDowell, Robert to Mark Jarmnan, 178523
1987
box 1, folder 8
McDowell, Robert to Mark Jarman, 178521
1988-1989 and undated
box 1, folder 9
Dowel, Robert. Letters, 178519
1985-1987 and undated
box 1, folder 10
Wilheinus, Toni. Letters, 178517
1985 and undated
box 1, folder 11
Letters to The Reaper: A-B, 178515
1981-1989
box 1, folder 12
Letters to The Reaper: C-D, 178513
1981-1989
box 1, folder 13
Letters to The Reaper: Carter, Jared, 178511
1981-1983
box 1, folder 14
Letters to The Reaper: Ceivantes, James, 178509
1981-1983
box 1, folder 15
Letters to The Reaper: Dove, Rita, 178507
1981-1984
box 1, folder 16
Letters to The Reaper: E-G, 178505
1981-1986
box 1, folder 17
Letters to The Reaper: Eberhait, Richard, 178503
1981
box 1, folder 18
Letters to The Reaper: Flynn, Richard, 178501
1984-1986
box 1, folder 19
Letters to The Reaper: Gioia, Dana, 178499
1982-1986
box 1, folder 20
Letters to The Reaper: H, 178497
1981-1989
box 1, folder 21
Letters to The Reaper: Haas, Barbara, 178495
1982
box 1, folder 22
Letters to The Reaper: Hall , Donald, 178493
1983-1985
box 1, folder 23
Letters to The Reaper: Hall, Donald, 178491
1986-1988
box 1, folder 24
Letters to The Reaper: Hilton, David, 178489
1981-1984
box 1, folder 25
Letters to The Reaper: I-K, 178487
1981-1988
box 1, folder 26
Letters to The Reaper: Joselow, Beth, 178485
1981-1984
box 1, folder 27
Letters to The Reaper: L, 178483
1981-1988
box 1, folder 28
Letters to The Reaper: Ma-Mh, 178481
1981-1986
box 1, folder 29
Letters to The Reaper: Mastro, Mark Anthony, 178479
1982
box 1, folder 30
Letters to The Reaper: Mi-Mz, 178477
1982-1988
box 1, folder 31
Letters to The Reaper: Morgan, Frederick, 178475
1981-1988
box 1, folder 32
Letters to The Reaper: N-P, 178473
1980-1986
box 1, folder 33
Letters to The Reaper: Q-R, 178471
1981-1982
box 1, folder 34
Letters to The Reaper: Rector, Liam, 178469
1983 and undated
box 1, folder 35
Letters to The Reaper: S-T, 178467
1981-1985
box 1, folder 36
Letters to The Reaper: Semansky, chris, 178465
1985 and undated
box 1, folder 37
Letters to The Reaper: Twichell, chase, 178463
1980-1985
box 1, folder 38
Letters to The Reaper: U-Z, 178461
1981-1982 and undated
box 1, folder 39
Letters to The Reaper: [No last name], 178459
1981-1985
box 1, folder 40
Correspondence with British poets, 178457
1980-1981
Scope and Contents note
Graham Chainey, Tony Curtis, Douglas Dunn, D.J.Enright, Duncan Forbes, Mike Jenkins, Kevin Porter, Jon Silkin, David Sweetnian,
and D.M.Thornas.
Series 2: Issue files, 178317
1979-1988
Scope and Contents note
Series II, Issue Files, documents the production of The Reaper, and is primarily arranged by issue number; photocopies of
the table of contents from each issue are included with this guide. Each issue may or may not include the following files:
original contents, photocopies of contents, paste up, photocopy of paste up, galleys, artwork, related correspondence from
authors, artists, and between the editors, and miscellaneous items such as backgrOund materials, revisions of lead essays,
and extra covers. Oversized and non-paper items such as paste up sheets, printing flats, and printing plates have been boxed
separately. Issues 1 through 11 are especially well documented; there are partial files on Issues 12 , 13 , 16 , and 18 .
Issues 14 , 15 , and 17 are not represented in the collection at all. The remainder of this series consists of accepted poems
that were never published and other miscellaneous manuscripts.
box 1, folder 1
Issue #1: Original contents 178453
box 1, folder 2
Issue #1: Paste up 178451
box 1, folder 3
Issue #1: Photocopy of paste up 178449
box 1, folder 4
Issue #1: Essays from "After the Flood" Workshop, 178447
1979
box 1, folder 5
Issue #2: Original contents 178445
box 1, folder 6
Issue #2: Photocopy of contents 178443
box 1, folder 7
Issue #2: Typeset galleys 178441
box 1, folder 8
Issue #2: Photocopy of paste up 178439
box 1, folder 9
Issue #2: Miscellaneous items 178437
box 1, folder 10
Issue #3 : Original contents 178435
box 1, folder 11
Issue #3: Photocopy of contents 178433
box 1, folder 12
Issue #3: Paste up 178431
box 1, folder 13
Issue #3: Photocopy of paste up 178429
box 1, folder 14
Issue #4 : Original contents 178427
box 1, folder 15
Issue #4 : Photocopy of contents 178425
box 1, folder 17
Issue #4 : Related correspondence 178421
box 1, folder 18
Issue #5 : Original contents 178419
box 2, folder 2
Issue #5 : Photocopy of contents 178417
box 2, folder 2
Issue #5 :Related correspondence 178415
box 2, folder 3
Issue #5 : Extra covers 178413
box 2, folder 4
Issue #6 : Original contents 178411
box 2, folder 5
Issue #6 : Photocopy of contents 178409
box 2, folder 6
Issue #6 : Related correspondence 178407
box 2, folder 7
Issue #7 : Original contents 178405
box 2, folder 8
Issue #7 :Photocopy of contents 178403
box 2, folder 9
Issue #7 : Photocopy of galleys 178401
box 2, folder 10
Issue #7 : Related correspondence 178399
box 2, folder 11
Issue #8: Original contents 178397
box 2, folder 12
Issue #8: Photocopy of contents 178395
box 2, folder 13
Issue #8: Related correspondence 178393
box 2, folder 14
Issue #8: Revisions of lead essay 178391
box 2, folder 15
Issue #9 : Original contents (partial) 178389
box 2, folder 16
Issue #9 : Photocopy of contents 178387
box 2, folder 17
Issue #9 : Related correspondence 178385
box 2, folder 18
Issue #9 : "The Dogtown Letters" version 1 178383
box 2, folder 19
Issue #9 : "The Dogtown Letters" version 2 178381
box 3, folder 1
Issue #10: Original contents 178379
box 3, folder 2
Issue #10: Photocopy of contents (partial) 178377
box 3, folder 3
Issue #10: Paste up 178375
box 3, folder 4
Issue #10: Related correspondence 178373
box 3, folder 5
Issue #11: Original contents 178371
box 3, folder 6
Issue #11:Paste up 178369
box 3, folder 7
Issue #11:Related correspondence 178367
box 3, folder 8
Issue #11: "How to Write Narrative Poetry: A Reaper checklist" - earlier version of lead essay 178365
box 3, folder 9
Issue #12 : Original contents (partial) 178363
box 3, folder 10
Issue #13: "Forever Young: A Survey, Conducted, by The Reaper" 178361
- typescript, letter, notes
box 3, folder 11
Issue #13: "Narrative and Awareness" by Barbara Haas 178359
box 3, folder 12
Issue #16: Original contents (partial) 178357
box 3, folder 13
Issue #16:Related correspondence 178355
box 3, folder 14
Issue #18 : Original contents (partial) 178353
box 3, folder 15
Issue #18 : Thotocopy of contents 178351
box 3, folder 16
Issue #18 : Related correspondence 178349
box 3, folder 17
Accepted poems, unpublished 178347
box 3, folder 18
Miscellaneous manuscripts 178345
box 3, folder 19
Miscellaneous items 178343
Box 4, folder 1-2
Issue #2 : Paste up 178341
Box 4, folder 3
Issue #5: Paste up 178339
Box 4, folder 4
Issue #6: Paste up 178337
Box 4, folder 5-7
Issue #7 : Paste up 178335
Box 4, folder 8-9
Issue #8 : Paste up 178333
Box 4, folder 10
Miscellaneous paste up sheets 178331
Box 5, folder 1-2
Issue #1: Printing flats 178329
Box 5, folder 3-4
Issue #2 : Printing flats 178327
Box 5, folder 5-6
Issue #6: Printing flats 178325
Box 5, folder 7-9
Issue #7 : Printing flats 178323
Box 5, folder 10
Miscellaneous printing flats 178321
Box 5, folder 11
Issue #1: Printing plates 178319
Series 3: Business files, 178291
1980-1988
Scope and Contents note
Series III, Business Files, concerns the non-literary side of The Reaper, primarily its financial affairs. Included are grant
applications to the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for
the Arts ; notes and records of printing and publication costs ; and purchase orders from libraries and bookstores. Non-financial
materials in this series include mailing records, clippings and reviews, and a resume of Robert McDowell.
box 1, folder 1
Bulk rate mailing records and address lists, 178315
1981-1984
box 1, folder 2
Clippings, 178313
1980-1982
box 1, folder 3
Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines, grant applications , 178311
1981-1983
box 1, folder 4
Fundraising letter, 178309
1986
box 1, folder 5
Indiana Arts Conmiission, grant applications, 178307
1980-1982
box 1, folder 6
Indiana State University Evansville, memoranda, 178305
1982
box 1, folder 7
Miscellaneous business records 178303
box 1, folder 8
National Endowment for the Arts, grant applications, 178301
1984-1987
box 1, folder 9
Printing and publication costs, 178299
1980-1982
box 1, folder 10
Resume, Robert McDowell , 178297
1988
box 1, folder 11
Retail and library orders, 178295
1983-1986
box 1, folder 12
Reviews of The Reaper, 178293
1980-1987