American Weave: A Literary Journal records

Finding aid

Prepared by Mia Assante, December 1, 2002; Updated by Dyani Scheuerman, March 7, 2003; Revised November 2015; Last Updated: March 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1965-1971
Extent: 3 cubic feet (5 document cases + 1 record storage box)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Historical Note: The American Weave Literary Journal was published from 1945–1964, by Loring E. Williams and Alice Crane Williams from their home in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Alice Crane Williams was the aunt of famed Cleveland area poet Hart Crane. Printing was performed by Villier’s Publishers, London, England.  Alice Williams died in 1964, and Loring moved back to Maine. Editors Alfred B. Cahen, David C. French, and James L. Weil continued to publish the journal until 1971. Local poets from the Cleveland Poetry Society at Fenn College (Cleveland State University) were frequent submitters to  American Weave. The journal had agreements with several other poetry publications for republication of works.

Poets submitted their work and corresponded with editors by mail.  Contributors were paid for works published and asked to provide a short biographical sketch for the journal. American Weave Volume 31, Number 1, was dedicated to Hart Crane, and the likeness of his book plate was featured on the cover. Included in Volume 30, Number 2, was a poem Hart Crane wrote as a child to his Aunt Alice Crane Williams.

Scope and Content: This collection contains rough drafts, printer’s copies, formatting notes, galley proofs, correspondence relating to submissions, payments, subscriptions, and editors' notes, and business records of the journal. Included in the collection are Volumes 29, No. 2 December 1965 through Volume 33 in 1971. Volumes 29-32 were published in June and December of each year. Published copies of American Weave are not included in this archival collection, but are held by Special Collections and Archives. Please consult KentLINK for holdings information.

Arrangement: Series 1-7 contain editing and publishers' work on individual issues

• Series 1: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 29, Number 2
• Series 2: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 30, Number 1
• Series 3: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 30, Number 2
• Series 4: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 31, Number 1
• Series 5: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 31, Number 2
• Series 6: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 32, Number 1
• Series 7: American Weave Literary Journal Volume 33, 1971
• Series 8: American Weave Literary Journal Correspondence, 1965-1971
• Series 9: American Weave Literary Journal Business, 1965-1971
• Series 10: American Weave Literary Journal Miscellaneous, 1965-1971

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

Series 1: Volume 29, Number 2 Fall-Winter 1965

1. Printer’s test dummy
2. Printer’s galley

Series 2: Volume 30, Number 1 June 1966

3. Printer’s draft dummy part 1
4. Printer’s draft dummy part 2
5. Printer’s galleys
6. Correspondence, acceptance and biographical data
7. Correspondence, comments

Series 3: Volume 30, Number 2 December 1966

8. Printer’s test dummy part 1
9. Printer’s test dummy part 2
10. Printer’s galleys
11. “From the Editor’s desk”, original copies with notes, patron lists, subscribers list
12. Correspondence, acceptance and biographical data
13. Two defective copies

Series 4: Volume 31, Number 1 June 1967

14. Printer's test dummy part 1
15. Printer’s test dummy part 2
16. Volume 31, Number 1, part 1 first draft with unbound copy
17. Volume 31, Number 1, part 2 first draft with unbound copy
18. Publication statement for 1968
19. Correspondence, acceptance letters with biographical data A-G
20. Correspondence, acceptance letters with biographical data H-Z
21. Mylar protected sheets from Volume 31, Number 1

Series 5: Volume 31, Number 2 December 1967

22. Printer’s dummy part 1
23. Printer’s dummy part 2
24. Copy printer’s dummy part 1
25. Copy printer’s dummy part 2
26. Ten paper copies of American Weave with “page 72 printed as originally instructed”
27. Unbound American Weave Volume 31, Number 2 “with page 72 intact”
28. Correspondence, acceptance letters with biographical data about submitters
29. Original copy Volume 31, Number 2 as released

Series 6: Volume 32, Number 1 June 1968

30. Printer’s dummy part 1
31. Printer’s dummy part 2
32. Selected printer’s dummy pages
33. Original typed copy and patron list
34. Three book reviews, photocopies
35. Original submitted poems with acceptance fees/notes
36. Original printed copy, unbound
37. Unbound copy
38. Acceptance letters with biographical data
39. Correspondence regarding cover with Villier’s Publishing, London, England
40. Printer dummy and printed title page in Mylar

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

Series 7: Volume 33, 1971

1. Printer's dummy part 1
2. Printer's dummy part 2
3. Printer’s galley hard copy
4. Printer galley newsprint copy
5. Editor’s notes- contributors, tribute to Loring Williams
6. Photocopy, unbound
7. Release/sale of manuscript with re-typed copy from Susan Nell Danforth (a disturbed teenager) to Ann E. Sparks from 9-9-1965 to 9-20-1967
8. Original poems
9. Typed copies of submitted poems
10. Introduction to Translating Bengali Poetry by P.K. Saha
11. Story by Bernard Kaplan

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

Series 8: Correspondence, 1965-1971

1. Allinder, Craig. Plagiarism case.
2. Ardery, Peter B. American Literary Anthology.
3. Austin, Juanita
4. BGSU Popular Culture Department
5. Barbeau, Malcolm
6. Barrett, William
7. Biedler, Barbara
8. Buday, Victor. Unicorn Farm Printery.
9. Butcher, Grace
10. Cahen, Alfred B.
11. California Federation of Chaparral Poets
12. Carothers, Robert
13. Casto, Bob
14. Chatefield, Hale
15. Dent, David
16. Dougherty, James
17. Dowden, George
18. DuVall, Lance
19. Duvall, Ruby
20. Dzwonkoski, Peter F.
21. French, David
22. Frost, Richard
23. Gilzden, Alex
24. Gordan, Ruth
25. Gorman, Katherine
26. Halvosa, Bill
27. Hand, Tom
28. Hassler, Don
29. Jensen, Peter
30. Justice, Donald
31. Keller, Walter. Syracuse Book Center.
32. Kelly, David
33. Laufman, Dudley
34. Lembke, Janet
35. Lewisohn, James
36. "Lilith"
37. MacAyeal, Howard
38. Meacham, Harold
39. Miller, Tim Wayne
40. Naik, H.S.
41. National Endowment for Arts and Humanities
42. Oliver, Mary
43. Oplav, Leonard
44. Peterson, Elizabeth
45. Roberge, Paul
46. Saks, Julie
47. Sankey, John
48. Shelton, Richard

Box 4
Folder -- Contents

1. Sillman, Ronald
2. "Sue"
3. Tagliabue, John
4. Thorne, Evelyn
5. Trimmer, Dan
6. Turco, Lewis
7. Villiers publications pt. 1
8. Villiers publications pt. 2
9. Wallace, Robert
10. Weil, Jim
11. Welch, Larry
12. Williams, Loring
13. Young, Lincoln
14. Zevlin, Jackie
15. Zubal, John
16. Subscription agencies
17. New subscriptions
18. Patron renewal letters
19. Subscriber renewal letters
20. Gift subscription receipts and letters
21. Renewals with poetry submissions
22. Discontinuation of subscription letters

Box 5
Folder -- Contents

1. Bookstore renewal receipts and letters
2. Bookstore/library request for bulk copies
3. Bookstore requests for specific copies
4. Bookstore complaints
5. Solicitation of colleges and universities
6. Request for exchange magazines
7. Correspondence with miscellaneous businesses
8. Requests for sample copies A-L
9. Requests for sample copies M-Z
10. Requests for specific issues
11. Subscriber requests for back issues
12. Publication requests for back issues
13. Requests to return previously published poems
14. Request for requirements on submission
15. Publishing policy
16. Notification of policy change and response
17. Notification of policy change to Annual Magazine
18. Poetry awards, statements of rules, etc.
19. Voluntary offers to review books/payment
20. Original book reviews for American Weave
21. Submittal (rejection) letters A-L
22. Submittal (rejection) letters M-Z
23. Deadfile, misplaced poems
24. Complimentary letters about American Weave
25. Complaints by patrons
26. Correspondence and newspaper clippings

Box 6
Folder -- Contents

Series 9: Business, 1965-1971

1. Author information cards. Includes addresses, works published, and themes covered by contributors.
2. Incorporation papers
3. Postal permit
4. Legal bills
5. Bank book and statement
6. Budget operating statement
7. Reprint permission
8. Samples of materials for magazine
9. Office supplies 1967
10. Samples of office supplies
11. Charterhouse of Parma

Series 10: Miscellaneous, 1965-1971

12. "About the Author" information
13. Photograph of Alex Gilzden
14. Photograph of bird
15. Poetry fliers
16. Press releases