Momentum Press Archive, 1976-1995

View only results with digital items
Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Momentum Press Archive
Dates:
1976-1995
Creators:
Momentum Press
Abstract:
Production materials of Momentum Press, a Santa Monica, California, literary press operated by writer and editor William Mohr between 1974 and 1985.
Extent:
19.2 Linear feet (28 archives boxes and 8 records cartons)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Acquired 1996.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Special Collections Archives, UC San Diego
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-09 11:01:57 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Original videocassette recordings in Series 5 are restricted. Viewing copies may be available for researchers.

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW TWO TO THREE (2-3) WEEKS FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.

Terms of access:

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Preferred citation:

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

Location of this collection:
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
Contact:
(858) 534-2533
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Website