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"Beatitude" #32 publication records

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: 6147

Scope and Contents

The "Beatitude" #32 publication records, 1980-1982, consists of typescripts, drawings, notes, and mockups for issue number 32 of "Beatitude", the San Francisco magazine of beat poetry. Drafts of poems by Janice Blue, Neeli Cherkovski, Louis Collins, Gregory Corso, Kirby Doyle, Gary Gach, Latif Harris, Howard Hart, Jack Hirschman, Roderick Iverson, Bob Kaufman, Michael Koch, Paul Landry, Christine Legoff, William Maher, Kaye McDonough, Jack Micheline, Jack Mueller, Gerry Nicosia, David Plumb, Bill Polak, Bob Rogers, Ronald Sauer, Tisa Walden, Bear Williamson, and 4 unidentified poems (not included in the issue) are included, many of them signed by the poet, with notes to the publisher, and/or with annotations by the poet. Also included are mock ups and printer's masking sheets, and a flyer for a benefit for the issue.

Dates

  • Creation: 1980-1982

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

"Beatitude" was a weekly magazine of poetry founded by Bob Kaufman, John Kelley, William Margolis, and Alan Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1959. The founders envisioned the magazine as a voice for new and unknown (as opposed to established) poets of the time, and it was successful in launching the careers of many young aspiring poets. Designed with simple formats, using mimeographed sheets stapled together with a front cover printed on construction paper, they sold for 20 or 30 cents per issue. The first 8 were published weekly at 14 Bannam Alley; the remainder were published monthly at the Bread and Wine Mission, 510 Greenwich Street. From Beatitude #1: "A weekly miscellany of poetry and other jazz designed to extol beauty and promote the beatific or poetic life among the various mendicants, neo existentialists, christs, poets, painters, musicians, and other inhabitants and observers of North Beach, San Francisco, California, United States of America."

Bob Kaufman, the primary inspiration behind Beatitude, was a jazz-inspired street poet working in an oral tradition. He rarely wrote his poetry down, instead choosing to recite his work in coffee houses and on the streets of San Francisco. The first publication of his work was done through Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookstore. Kaufman is generally credited with coining the term "beatnik",and his poetry made heavy use of jazz syncopation and meter; in fact he was often referred to as "The Original Bebop Man".

"Beatitude"#32 was edited and published by Nathan May. Included in the issue were poems by Janice Blue, Neeli Cherkovski, Louis Collins, Gregory Corso, Kirby Doyle, Gary Gach, Latif Harris, Howard Hart, Jack Hirschman, Roderick Iverson, Bob Kaufman, Michael Koch, Paul Landry, Christine LeGoff, William Maher, Kaye McDonough, Jack Michelijne, Jack Mueller, Gerry Nicosia, David Plumb, Bill Polak, Bob Rogers, Ronald Sauer, Tisa Walden, and Bear Williamson. Some of the contributors were also represented by drawings.

[Sources: www.beatitudepoetry.com; The Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/bob-kaufman]

Extent

1.79 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The "Beatitude" #32 publication records, 1980-1982, consists of typescripts, drawings, notes, and mockups for issue number 32 of "Beatitude", the San Francisco magazine of beat poetry. Drafts of poems by Janice Blue, Neeli Cherkovski, Louis Collins, Gregory Corso, Kirby Doyle, Gary Gach, Latif Harris, Howard Hart, Jack Hirschman, Roderick Iverson, Bob Kaufman, Michael Koch, Paul Landry, Christine Legoff, William Maher, Kaye McDonough, Jack Micheline, Jack Mueller, Gerry Nicosia, David Plumb, Bill Polak, Bob Rogers, Ronald Sauer, Tisa Walden, Bear Williamson, and 4 unidentified poems (not included in the issue) are included, many of them signed by the poet, with notes to the publisher, and/or with annotations by the poet. Also included are mock ups and printer's masking sheets, and a flyer for a benefit for the issue. "Beatitude" was a weekly magazine of poetry founded by Bob Kaufman, John Kelley, William Margolis, and Alan Ginsberg in San Francisco in 1959. The founders envisioned the magazine as a voice for new and unknown (as opposed to established) poets of the time, and it was successful in launching the careers of many young aspiring poets. Designed with simple formats, using mimeographed sheets stapled together with a front cover printed on construction paper, they sold for 20 or 30 cents per issue. The first 8 were published weekly at 14 Bannam Alley; the remainder were published monthly at the Bread and Wine Mission, 510 Greenwich Street.

Related Materials

Jack Hirschman papers, Collection no. 0158, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Title
Finding aid for the "Beatitude" #32 publication records
Status
Completed
Author
Sue Luftschein
Date
2017 November
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States