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