The American Voice Files Series, 1985-1998, bulk 1985-1993

Scope and content:

Documents the origins and development of the literary journal primarily from 1985 through 1993, though there are miscellaneous materials from 1994 to 1998. The journal is feminist in orientation, and highlights (though not exclusively) the work of women writers. The Correspondence folders contain letters between contributors and other interested parties with Frederick Smock and Sallie Bingham, the founders and editors of the journal. The Issue Files folders contain information specific to the publication of numbers one through 31 of the journal. Each issue file contains correspondence about contributions to the journal, correspondence about financial and/or political issues, drafts and galleys of the pieces which appeared in the journal (some of which contain comments by the authors and/or editors), information regarding advertisements and special issues, and letters soliciting or offering material for publication. The journal has featured the work of both well-known and little-known writers. A sampling of the better-known writers includes Marge Piercy, Wendell Berry, Jorge Louis Borges, Elaine Equi, Isabel Allende, Fenton Johnson, Kay Boyle, Joyce Carol Oates, Reynolds Price, Anne Firor Scott, Jo Carson, Doris Grumbach, Paula Gunn Allen, Robin Morgan, Minnie Bruce Pratt, and Joy Harjo. The writing of Sallie Bingham is also often featured in the journal. Other writings are found in the Books grouping: three 1989 chapbooks (hand bound books) of poems on the theme of quilting entitled "No Known Pattern;" and two hard-bound books published under the journal's auspices, namely This Meadow of Time (a 1995 travel memoir written by editor Frederick Smock), and The American Voice Anthology of Poetry (a 1998 collection of poems originally published in the journal, with a preface containing biographical information on Smock). At the end of the grouping is an incomplete run of the journal (nos. 1 through 47, excluding nos. 4 and 30). See oversize materials for broadsides displaying poems published in the journal. Original arrangement retained.

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