The records of Black Sparrow Press including manuscripts, proofs, artwork, photographs, production files, correspondence and ephemera.

Established in 1966 by John Martin, Black Sparrow Press is best known for publishing the work of German born and Los Angeles-based poet and author Charles Bukowski. Focusing on poetry, fiction and literary non-fiction, the press also featured the work of Joyce Carol Oates, John Fante, Paul Bowles, William Everson, Aram Saroyan, Eileen Myles and Wanda Coleman, among many others. Noted for its letterpress covers, designed by Martin’s wife Barbara, Black Sparrow also stood out for its commitment to innovative writers and independent publishing. In 2002, Martin closed the press and sold the rights to the work of Bukowski, Fante and Bowles to New York-based Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins. The rest of the backlist can now be found under the moniker Black Sparrow Books.

27 cartons, 1 oversize folder (27.5 linear feet)

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.

Collection is open for research.