TABLE OF CONTENTS


Overview of the Records

History

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Bibliography

Detailed Description

Series I: Penmaen Press Projects, 1967-1999





Penmaen Press Records



Finding aid prepared by James W. Scannell.

Finding aid encoded by Betsy Pittman in November 2002.





Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center
405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1205



© 2002 University of Connecticut



Overview of the Records
Repository: Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.
Creator: McCurdy, Michael.
Title: Penmaen Press Records.
Dates: 1967-1999.
Extent: 6 linear feet.
Record Series: MSS19990025
Abstract: The Penmaen Press was an imprint created by its proprietor, Michael McCurdy, with the goal of producing high quality hand-printed books. McCurdy designed and supervised the layout of each Penmaen production, and frequently supplied his own woodcut engravings as illustrations.

History

Michael McCurdy earned his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the graphic arts department of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, though his interest in hand-printing stems back to a toy press that he received as a present at the age of twelve. McCurdy worked as a freelance illustrator and engraver for a number of years, but also retained an interest in printing his own books. His first production, Genesis, was published under the imprint of the Hillside Press, but this name had to be changed after McCurdy discovered another printer using the same name on the other side of Beacon Hill in Boston. The first Penmaen Press publication was Quaker Queries in 1969. The Penmaen name comes from a town in Wales; McCurdy came upon the name in Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "Penmaen Pool."

The Penmaen Press became a full-time operation for McCurdy in 1975. Over the next ten years the press developed a diverse catalogue of publications, including original works of poetry by writers such as Leo Connellan and Richard Eberhart as well as short stories by William Saroyan and Lynne Sharon Schwartz. The Penmaen Press also produced broadsides of poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg. Many Penmaen works feature engravings by Michael McCurdy, though other engravers (such as Lynd Ward) have also been featured.

In 1984, Michael McCurdy and Robert Hauser formed a partnership to produce Face to Face: Twelve Contemporary American Artists Interpret Themselves in a Limited Edition of Original Wood Engravings. Engravers who submitted self-portraits for this project include McCurdy, Barry Moser, Fritz Eichenberg, John DePol, and others.

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Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of correspondence and other materials relating to projects undertaken by McCurdy under the Penmaen imprint. Project folders typically include correspondence, manuscript drafts, galley proofs, and publicity materials relating to the work (sometimes including reviews). The published versions of most of these works are available through the Dodd Center (the call numbers are listed in a note at the end of this finding aid). The materials making up the Face to Face project are comprehensive, detailing preliminary visions for the project, working correspondence with each of the contributors, and specific records dealing with the binding and production of the finished work. The collection also includes broadsides signed by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Allen Ginsberg.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged in a single series, with most materials placed in folders according to the title of the related project. Some oversized publicity materials as well as the Ferlinghetti broadside are shelved in a separate map case folder.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

Archives and Special Collections has a substantial collection of rare publications relating to twentieth-century American poetry, as well as the records of other literary presses. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk. See also Penmaen/Busyhaus Collection.

Seven issues of Coda: The Poets and Writers Newsletter (LMC)

Accounting. By Lynne Sharon Schwartz. C5465, WPS 3488, WPS 3489

Banquet : Five Short Stories. Edited by Michael McCurdy. C3433

Charlie in the House of Rue. By Robert Coover. C5456, C5457

Crossing America. By Leo Connellan. C4502

The First Ten : A Penmaen Bibliography. Edited by Michael Peich. C3733

Gerard Manley Hopkins Meets Walt Whitman in Heaven and Other Poems. By Phillip Dacey. C5475

King Harald and the Icelanders. C679, C5462

Light of Paradise. By William Ferguson. C278

Listening Deep : Poems. By William Stafford. WPS 3487

A Love for Four Voices. By Anthony Hecht. C5476, WPS 3492

Memory of Snow. By Sándor Csoóri. C5471, C5472, C5473

Poem Upon the Lisbon Disaster. By Voltaire. C3288

Poems to Poets. By Richard Eberhart. B3016

Rosebud : Poems. By Gerard Malanga. C3019

Song of Life. By Sushil Gupta. WPS 3491

These Rooms. By Suzanne Berger. C5474

To Eberhart from Ginsberg : A Letter About Howl, 1956. By Allen Ginsberg. C3013, C3014

Two Poems. By Denise Levertov. WPS 2008

The Woe Shirt : Caribbean Folk Tales. By Paulé Bartón. C5459

World Alone (Mundo a Solas). By Vicente Aleixandre. C5859

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Persons:

McCurdy, Michael.

Organizations:

Penmaen Press.

Subjects:

Publishers and publishing--Massachusetts--Lincoln.
Wood engravers--Massachusetts--Lincoln.

Document Types:

Books.
Broadsides.
Correspondence.
Engravings.
Financial Records.
Fliers. [printed matter]
Galley proofs.
Manuscripts.
Press releases.
Publications.
Sketches.

Occupations:

Engraver.
Publisher.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item, Folder #], Penmaen Press Records. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Materials transferred to the Dodd Center directly by Michael McCurdy.

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Bibliography

The First Ten: A Penmaen Bibliography, Compiled and Edited by Michael Peich. Lincoln, Massachusetts: The Penmaen Press, 1978.

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Detailed Description

Series I: Penmaen Press Projects, 1967-1999
1:1 Hillside Press Prospectus (limited edition), 1967
1:2 Penmaen Press publicity brochures and prospectuses , 1975-1983
1:3 Minor Projects - single poem pamphlets, 1968-1983
1:4 Press ephemera and publicity items, 1975-1983
1:5 Cambria Press and Design Studio projects, ca. 1975-1983
1:6 Personal Ephemera - greeting cards and invitations, 1969-1999
1:7 Ephemera not related to Penmaen or McCurdy, 1963-1982
1:8 Correspondence and MS submission letters, 1975-1986
Michael Peich
1:9 Correspondence, 1977-1978
1:10 Correspondence, 1978-1979
1:11 Correspondence, 1980-1981
Fritz Eichenberg
1:12 Correspondence, engravings, 1974-1990
1:13 Publications, clippings, 1954-1990
Joseph Blumenthal
1:14 Correspondence, booklet, clipping, 1985-1990
Leo Wyatt
1:15 Correspondence, bookplates, 1973-1980
Quaker Queries
1:16 Correspondence, design notes, partial proof, review, 1969
Light of Paradise
1:17 Correspondence, typed MS, partial dummy, 1973
Celebrations After the Death of John Brennan
1:18 Correspondence, MS, design notes, dummy, 1974
Dove at the Windows
1:19 Correspondence, photocopies, design notes, 1974
Poems to Poets
1:20 Correspondence, 1975
1:21 Typed MS, dummy, proofs, reference copies, 1975
Rosebud
1:22 Typed MS, 1975
Crossing America
1:23-24 Correspondence, 1976
1:25 Typed MS, dummy, proofs, 1976
1:26 Reviews, 1976
Poem Upon the Lisbon Disaster
1:27 Correspondence, 1977
1:28 Typed MS, proofs, notes, 1977
An Act or Two of Foolish Kindness
2:29 Correspondence, 1977
2:30 Typed MSS by Saroyan, 1977
Banquet
2:31 Correspondence, 1978
2:32 Art, proofs, reviews, 1978
2:33 Typed MSS of stories, 1978
The First Ten: A Penmaen Bibliography
2:34 Correspondence, typed MS, 1978
2:35 Dummy, galleys, art, proofs, 1978
King Harald and the Icelanders,
2:36 Correspondence, typed MS, 1979
2:37 Galleys, proofs, design materials, 1979
Clear Sky, Pure Light
2:38 Correspondence, brochures, reviews, 1979
2:39 Galleys, 1979
The Love Nut
2:40 Correspondence, MS, corrected proof, art sketch, 1979
These Rooms
2:41 Correspondence, 1979
2:42 Typed MS, proofs, 1979
2:43 Proofs, notes, reviews, 1979
Charlie in the House of Rue
2:44 Correspondence, 1980
2:45 Galleys, proofs, 1980
2:46 Typed MS, cover design, reviews, publicity, 1980
Passion
2:47 Correspondence, MS, 1980
2:48 Proofs, galleys, art proofs, notes, 1980
The Woe Shirt
2:49 Correspondence, 1980
2:50 Typed MS, jacket design, galleys, reviews, 1980
Eleonora
2:51 Correspondence, typed MS, galleys, 1981
Elizabeth
3:52 Correspondence, 1981
3:53 Typed MS, 1981
3:54 Galleys, 1981
3:55 Proofs, reviews, 1981
Gerard Manley Hopkins Meets Walt Whitman in Heaven and Other Poems
3:56 Correspondence, 1982
3:57 Typed MS, 1982
3:58 Galleys, 1982
3:59 Proofs, photos, reviews, publicity materials, 1982
World Alone
3:60 Correspondence, 1982
3:61 Typed MS, photocopies, galleys, 1982
3:62 Proofs, publicity, reviews, 1982
Memory of Snow
3:63 Correspondence, 1983
3:64 Typed MS, 1983
3:65 Cover design, galleys, reviews, photos, 1983
The Accounting
3:66 Correspondence, typed MS, 1983
3:67 Chapbook series - correspondence, 1982-1983
A Love for Four Voices
3:68 Correspondence, galleys, partial proof, 1983
Listening Deep
3:69 Correspondence, MS, galleys, 1984
Face to Face
3:70 Robert Hauser correspondence, 1983-1984
3:71 Robert Hauser correspondence, 1984
3:72 Robert Kent correspondence, 1983-1984
3:73 Preliminary correspondence with Ellenport, Aaronson and Fuster, Berkshire Bank, 1983-1984
3:74 Correspondence with binder and typesetter, 1984-1985
3:75 Jeffery Dwyer correspondence, 1984-1985
4:76 'Special' correspondence, inquiries, 1985
4:77 Dealer Contracts, Correspondence, 1983-1987
4:78 Promotional Materials - Correspondence, Notices, Ads, 1984-1985
4:79 Promotional Materials - Correspondence, Notices, Ads, 1985-1986
4:80 Publicity and Sales Mailings, 1984
4:81 Cost Sheets, foreword and colophon MS, notes, ca. 1984-1985
4:82 Notices to all artists, 1984-1987
4:83 Lettering and title designs, 1984
4:84 Design notes for prospectus, 2 copies of prospectus, 1984-1985
4:85 Notes and materials, ca. 1984
4:86 Prospectus for trade book, ca. 1985
4:87 Reference publications, 1983-1984
4:88 Contract materials, 1984-1989
4:89 Copyright paperwork, 1985-1986
4:90 Insurance and tax correspondence, 1985-1987
4:91 Artist biography proofs, ca. 1984
4:92 Leonard Baskin materials, 1977-1984
4:93 Fred Becker correspondence, 1984
4:94 Bernard Brussel-Smith correspondence, 1983-1984
4:95 Jack Coughlin correspondence, 1982-1984
4:96 John DePol correspondence and engravings, 1983-1985
4:97 Fritz Eichenberg correspondence, 1983-1985
4:98 Raymond Gloeckler correspondence, 1984-1985
4:99 James Grashow correspondence, 1984-1989
4:100 Judith Jaidinger correspondence, 1983-1990
4:101 Misch Kohn correspondence, 1984
4:102 Clare Leighton correspondence, 1983-1984
4:103 Stefan Martin correspondence, 1983-1984
4:104 Michael McCurdy notes and illustrations, 1984
4:105 Barry Moser and Harold McGrath correspondence, 1983-1984
4:106 Gillian Tyler correspondence, 1983-1984
4:107 Lynd Ward correspondence, 1983-1984
4:108 Herbert Waters correspondence, 1983-1985
OS:109 Press Ephemera (oversize sales fliers) and broadside, "The Poets Observe the Absence of God from the St. Louis Zoo.", 1969-1985
OS:110 Mounted Broadside of "The Love Nut" by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, signed by Ferlinghetti and Michael McCurdy, 1979
OS:111 Allen Ginsberg broadside, "Moloch," signed by Ginsberg and Lynd Ward, 1978
OS:112 Oversize Proof Sheet for "Moloch" with numerous comments and corrections by Ginsberg, ca. 1978