Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Momentum Press Archive
MSS 0412  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Restrictions
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Historical Background
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • OFF-SITE STORAGE

  • Descriptive Summary

    Languages: English
    Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla 92093-0175
    Title: Momentum Press Archive
    Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0412
    Physical Description: 19.2 Linear feet (28 archives boxes and 8 records cartons)
    Date (inclusive): 1976-1995
    Abstract: Production materials of Momentum Press, a Santa Monica, California, literary press operated by writer and editor William Mohr between 1974 and 1985.

    Restrictions

    The videocassette recordings in Series 5 are restricted. Researchers must request user copies be produced.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    Production materials of Momentum Press, a Santa Monica, California, literary press operated by writer and editor William Mohr between 1974 and 1985. Materials include correspondence, manuscripts and production proofs for numerous monographic works by Los Angeles poets, typescripts and paste-ups for Momentum magazine, submissions of literary work, and materials for Momentum Press's two poetry anthologies, Poetry Loves Poetry: An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets and Streets Inside: Ten Los Angeles Poets. Also included are writings by Bill Mohr, documentation of his editiorial work on Bachy magazine and videorecordings of a television series hosted and produced by Mohr entitled Put Your Ears On. The collection is arranged in five series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) MOMENTUM PRESS, 3) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 4) EDITING AND WRITING BY MOHR, and 5) PUT YOUR EARS ON.
    SERIES 1: CORRESPONDENCE
    The bulk of the archive is contained in the CORRESPONDENCE series, which consists of professional and private letters written to William Mohr from other writers, publishers, editors, arts organizations, and presses. In some instances, photocopies of Mohr's letters are included as well. The largest files in the series are those that consist of letters exchanged between Mohr and authors published by Momentum, including Douglas Blazek, Kate Braverman, James Grabill, Leland Hickman, Michael Kincaid, James Krusoe, James Moore, Harry Northrup, Alicia Ostriker, Holly Prado, Marine Robert Warden, and William Witherup. Other notable correspondents include Clayton Eshleman, Lyn Hejinian, Kit Robinson, Mark Salerno, and Ron Silliman. The CORRESPONDENCE series is arranged alphabetically.
    SERIES 2: MOMENTUM PRESS
    The MOMENTUM PRESS series is arranged in four subseries: A) Anthologies and Books, B) Momentum magazine, C) Submissions, and D) Administrative Materials.
    A) The first subseries consists of typescripts, galleys, proofs, photographs, and mechanicals of Momentum Press publications, excepting the magazine. Also included is a limited amount of correspondence directly related to specific projects. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by author or, in the case of anthologies, by title.
    B) The second subseries consists of typescripts, galleys, proofs, photographs, and mechanicals of Momentum magazine. Also included is a limited amount of correspondence directly related to the serial. The subseries is arranged chronologically.
    C) The third subseries consists of unpublished submissions to Momentum Press and/or Momentum magazine. Included are book-length typescripts as well as single page submissions. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by author, and includes a substantial file of miscellaneous and/or anonymous submissions.
    D) The fourth subseries consists of administrative material related to Momentum Press. Included are address books, invoice books, and mailing lists.
    SERIES 3: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS
    The MISCELLANEOUS series consists of flyers for poetry and/or arts related events in Los Angeles and other various items of cultural significance that are not directly related to Momentum Press.
    SERIES 4: EDITING AND WRITING BY MOHR
    The fourth series consists of miscellaneous manuscript and typescript writings of William Mohr, including drafts of poems, notes, lists, and miscellaneous jottings. Also included are typescripts and correspondence related to Mohr's editorship of Bachy (1972-1973).
    SERIES 5: PUT YOUR EARS ON
    The PUT YOUR EARS ON series consists of videotaped documentation of the reading and performance series produced and hosted by William Mohr, and recorded at the Century City Educational Arts Projects studios. Notable readers include Will Alexander, Leland Hickman, James Krusoe, Phoebe MacAdams, Harry Northrup, and Holly Prado. The videotapes are arranged chronologically.

    Historical Background

    Momentum Press was founded by poet William Mohr in 1973 when he served as poetry editor for BACHY, another Los Angeles poetry magazine, in 1972-1973. Established in association with the Century City Educational Arts Project, a non-profit group based in Los Angeles, Momentum Press published eight issues of the magazine Momentum between 1974-1978 and, between 1975-1988, books by numerous writers living in or associated with Los Angeles, including Kate Braverman, Leland Hickman, Michael Kincaid, Harry Northrup, Alicia Ostriker, and Holly Prado. Additionally, Momentum published two seminal anthologies edited by Mohr, The Streets Inside: Ten Los Angeles Poets (1975) and Poetry Loves Poetry: An Anthology of Los Angeles Poets (1985).
    When Momentum Press ceased publication for financial reasons in 1988, Mohr produced and hosted Put Your Ears On, a television poetry and performance events series recorded at the Century City Educational Arts Project studios. The series included readings and/or performances by Will Alexander, Leland Hickman, James Krusoe, Phoebe MacAdams, Harry Northrup, and Holly Prado, among others.

    Publication Rights

    Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

    Preferred Citation

    Momentum Press Archive, MSS 412. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired 1996.

    OFF-SITE STORAGE

    COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    American poetry -- 20th century -- California -- Los Angeles
    Mohr, Bill -- Archives
    Hickman, Leland -- Interviews
    Alexander, Will -- Interviews
    Grapes, Jack -- Interviews
    Beyond Baroque Foundation
    Momentum Press -- Archives
    Blazek, Douglas, 1941- -- Correspondence
    Braverman, Kate -- Correspondence
    Coleman, Wanda -- Correspondence
    Cooper, Dennis, 1953- -- Correspondence
    Hansen, Joseph, 1923-2004 -- Correspondence
    Hejinian, Lyn -- Correspondence
    Hickman, Leland -- Correspondence
    Kincaid, Michael, 1942- -- Correspondence
    Lally, Michael, 1942- -- Correspondence
    Lazer, Hank -- Correspondence
    Northup, Harry E. -- Correspondence
    Ostriker, Alicia -- Correspondence
    Peters, Robert, 1924-2014 -- Correspondence
    Prado, Holly -- Correspondence
    Silliman, Ronald, 1946- -- Correspondence
    Warden, Marine Robert -- Correspondence