Jerrald Ranta-Michael Horovitz Collection

Finding Aid

Prepared by Kyler Andrew Culver, October 20, 2003; Last Updated: April 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1968-1973
Extent: .33 cubic foot (1 document case)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Scope and Content: Jerrald Ranta corresponded with Frankfurt-born British emigré Michael Horovitz (1935- ), whose magazine New Departures and traveling performance-like poetry readings were well known among the literati of the counterculture movement of the late 1960's and early 1970's. This collection contains numerous photocopies of poems and of articles by and about Michael Horovitz, as well as some small-press literary magazines and advertising ephemera, and two letters from Horovitz to Ranta.

Acquisition Information: Jerrald Ranta, a former professor of English at the University of Wyoming and Kent State University alumnus, donated this collection of ephemera and publications related to 20th-century poet Michael Horovitz.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Poems, "Blank O'Clock Blues"; "Indigestible Trip Wire"; "Country Life"
2. Poems, "New York"; "Animal (Soup of Time)"
3. Poems, "Ladbroke Grove Bank Holiday Carnival Poem"; with information on New Departures
4. Poems, "Glimpse"; "Autumn (in Vietnam as any place)"
5. Poems, "Primavera"; "Summer"
6. Poems, "Listening to St. Matthew Passion"; "Highland Rhapsody"
7. Poems, "In Paris"; "Amsterdam"
8. Poems, "Hours ago/day broke..."; "The most beautiful girl/in the world is an abstraction..."
9. Poems, "Ballade of the Nockturnal Commune"
10. Poems, "Theology"
11. Poems, Street Scenes--A Series of Five Poems: "New York"; "In Paris"; "Art is"; "Vaguely Catholic Event"; "Evening (Hubris & Fall)"
12. Poems, "Glimpse"; "Autumn (in Vietnam as any place)"; "Summer"
13. Poems, "Ladbroke Grove Bank Holiday Carnival Poem"
14. Poems, "Amsterdam"; "Soho awakening"
15. Poems, "Song"
16. Articles, "Poet Horovitz gives reading of love poems" Mass Media/Los Angeles Loyolan October 18, 1971; "Horovitz: Good vibes and jollies" by Leonard Chernilla [no date]
17. Articles, "Horovitz Lyrical Portrayer of Social Flaws" by Cynthia Nadreau Mass Media [no date]; "Horovitz Delights Audience With Fascination of Sound" Trinity Times November 17, 1971
18. Credits of Lyn Lifshin
19. Articles, "Blake and the Voice of the Bard in our times" by M. Horovitz Books no. 10, Winter 1972 (National Book League).
20. Articles, "The Need for the Non-literary" Times Literary Supplement December 29, 1972
21. Articles, "The Michael Horovitz Story--As Told by his Peers"
22. Advertisement, The Wolverhampton Wanderer [book jacket]
23. Advertisement, The Wolverhampton Wanderer [poster]
24. Advertisement, New Departures and The Wolverhapmton Wanderer
25. Advertisement, Love Poems and Children of Albion
26. Advertisement, Love Poems [book jacket]
27. Advertisement, Love Poems [New Departures no. 9]
28. Advertisement, poetry reading at St. Adrian's Co., New York City
29. Advertisement, "Ed Dorn Reading" Toronto [poster] - (shelved in 11th floor map case.)
30. Letter, M. Horovitz to J. Ranta, December 9, 1972
31. Letter, M. Horovitz to J. Ranta, October 10, 1973
32. Newsletter, Scree South Slocan, B.C., February 1972, June 1972
33. Newsletter, "Basically an open letter to everyone & anyone..." Cleveland, undated
34. Newsletter, "Free Distribution Company" San Francisco, undated
35. Newsletter, Sun Ann Arbor August 7, 1968, August 8, 1968; several undated
36. Newsletter, Earth Rose, undated
37. Newsletter, Us Special Convention (Movement for a Democratic Society) vol. 1 no. 3, East Cleveland, August 13, 1968
38. Miscellaneous: two envelopes and "Poetic happening" party games [by Horovitz?]