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Seamus Cooney Black Sparrow Press Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 03-exws_blacksparrow

Scope and Contents

The Seamus Cooney Black Sparrow Press Collection is named in honor of Seamus Cooney (1933- ), a Western Michigan University professor emeritus of English. Cooney served as an editor with Black Sparrow Press for many years and it was via his connection with the press that this collection was purchased by Western Michigan University Libraries after the press shut down in 2003. The collection is comprised of the records of the press's editorial office, plus copies of close to every book the press ever published in all of their various editions. The books are all cataloged individually and searchable through the the libraries' online catalog. This finding aid describes the contents of the editorial office records which consist primarily of typescripts for books, editors' copies of the manuscripts, first proofs, uncorrected page proofs, corrected page proofs, galley proofs, catalogs, screenplays, prospecti and correspondence between the editorial office and authors. There are also a few administrative documents. Western Michigan University Libraries does not hold the copyright to any of the titles that were published by Black Sparrow Press. The copyright for a number of old Black Sparrow titles has been transferred to Harper Collins, particularly in the case of works by Charles Bukowski.

Dates

  • Creation: 1966-2006
  • Other: Majority of material found within Bulk 1966-1996
  • Other: Date acquired: 2001-2004

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

WMU Special Collections, Rare Book Room. Non-circulating. Contact department for access.

Extent

39 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Editorial office records of Blacksparrow Press (1966-2003), as well as a collection of nearly every title published by the press in all of their various editions. The books are all cataloged separately and are searchable via Western Michigan Libraries' online catalog. The archival portion of the collection consists primarily of typescripts for books, editors' copies of manuscripts, first proofs, uncorrected page proofs, corrected page proofs, galley proofs, catalogs, screenplays, prospecti and correspondence between the editorial office and authors. There are also a few administrative documents.

Arrangement Note

The items in this collection, across all 27 boxes, are organized alphabetically (A-Z) by authors' surnames. Boxes 29-31 contain bibilographic files for the books in the collection, and are arranged alphabetically by Library of Congress call numbers.

Source of Acquisition

Dr. Seamus Cooney, professor emeritus of English, Western Michigan University.

Method of Acquisition

Purchase.

Accruals and Additions

2001-2004

Related Materials

WMU Special Collections has an almost complete archive of the press's published works. The books are cataloged individually and searchable through the WMU Libraries catalog: Library Search

Physical Description

The majority of the records are originally stored in archival folders inside of four Steelcase filing cabinets. For the sake of maintaining consistency in nomenclature across our various finding aids, file drawers in this collection were given the designation "box" rather than "drawer." The rest of the collection, Boxes 25-31, were housed in seven archival boxes. The records are now currently housed in archival boxes.

Many of the editors' copies of manuscripts or proofs contain editorial comments, suggestions and corrections. In many cases the manuscript typescripts are photocopies of originals.

All of the materials in this collection are in very good condition.

Related Names

Subject

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Seamus Cooney Black Sparrow Press Collection Finding Aid
Status
Under Revision
Author
Sydney Small
Date
2012-02-15
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Special Collections Repository

https://wmich.edu/library/special-collections
Contact:
Western Michigan University Libraries, Special Collections
Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490

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