Peter Kidd papers

Finding Aid

Prepared by Christine Borne, October 30, 2001; Last Updated: January 2021

Inclusive Dates: 1978-1999
Extent: 2.75 cubic feet (2 record storage boxes and 1 oversize box)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Historical Note: Peter Kidd was a poet and landscaper living in New Hampshire for many years, and was a founding member of the New Hampshire Landscape Association. Starting in late 1990, he created the Igneus Press which specialized in poetry. He died Amarillo, Texas on June 12, 2020.

Scope and Content: Much of Peter Kidd's collection consists of correspondence which represents a mix of poets, publishers, friends and family, and also includes manuscript queries and Igneus book orders. Many of the poets with whom Kidd corresponded (including Richard Blevins, Vincent Ferrini, and P.J. Laska) also sent him original poems, photographs, newspaper clippings, and book reviews. The letters from 1990-91 best illustrate the origins of Igneus Press. Where possible, individuals have been listed with their affiliated organizations in parentheses. Also of note are the Igneus Press manuscripts in various stages of production. The bulk of the material in this collection is from the late 1980s-1990s.

Related Materials:  Books published by Igneus Press and donated by Kidd are cataloged in KentLINK and available for viewing in the Department of Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information: Kidd donated his personal papers and 28 books published by Igneus Press to Kent State University in 1999.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Biographical -- Vincent Ferrini, undated
2. Correspondence -- Adastra Press, 1987-99
3. Correspondence -- American Poetry Review, 1991
4. Correspondence -- D. Armstrong, Book Printers & Publishers, 1991
5. Correspondence -- Jan Bailey (Greenville County, SC Fine Arts Center), 1991
6. Correspondence -- Robert Bertholf (SUNY-Buffalo), 1988-89
7. Correspondence -- Richard Blevins, 1987-91
8. Correspondence -- Richard Blevins, 1992-94
9. Correspondence -- Richard Blevins, 1995-[99]
10. Correspondence -- Richard Blevins, Apr. 6, [19??]; May 16, [19??]
11. Correspondence -- Wally Butts, 1998-99
12. Correspondence -- The Cafe Review, 1991; 1997
13. Correspondence -- Henry Chapin, 1982
14. Correspondence -- Merritt Clifton (Samisdat Press), 1987-91
15. Correspondence -- Joel Dailey (Fell Swoop), 1998-99; 1 item undated
16. Correspondence -- Mark DeCarteret (NH Anthology), 1999
17. Correspondence -- [Jean] deCrescentis, 1991
18. Correspondence -- Sanford Dorbin, 1993-99
19. Correspondence -- Sean Thomas Dougherty, 1993-94
20. Correspondence -- Hal Eskesen, 1980-94
21. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1978-84
22. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1985-87
23. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1988-89
24. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1990-91
25. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1992-94
26. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1995-99
27. Correspondence -- Vassilias Giavis, 1987
28. Correspondence -- William Mercer Green, 1987-99
29. Correspondence -- Raffael de Gruttola, 1988-90
30. Correspondence -- Charles Jarvis, 1985
31. Correspondence -- William Jenkins, 1987-88
32. Correspondence -- Ed Kaplan, 1996
33. Correspondence -- William Kemmett, 1980-99; 2 items undated
34. Correspondence -- Terry Kennedy (Tiger Moon Productions), 1991; 1998
35. Correspondence -- Sophie Kidd, 1991-99
36. Correspondence -- Martha King (Giants Play Well in the Drizzle), 1992
37. Correspondence -- Galway Kinnell, 1990
38. Correspondence -- Dave [Lancaster], 1988
39. Correspondence -- P.J. Laska, 1980; 1990-94
40. Correspondence -- P.J. Laska, 1995-99
41. Correspondence -- P.J. Laska, Feb. 27, [19??]; May 20, [19??]
42. Correspondence -- Charles (Chuck) Martin, Aug. 5, [19??]
43. Correspondence -- Richard Martin, 1991-99; 1 item undated
44. Correspondence -- George Matarazzo (Matarazzo Design), 1985
45. Correspondence -- National Poetry Foundation, 1989-90
46. Correspondence -- Joel Oppenheimer, 1984-87
47. Correspondence -- Oyster River Press, 1999

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence -- Michael Pauley (West Virginia Writers), 1991
2. Correspondence -- J.W. Pickin, 1979-97; 3 items undated
3. Correspondence -- Bob Podgurski, 1994-96
4. Correspondence -- Jack Powers (Wang Center Small Press Festival), 1992
5. Correspondence -- Printex Systems, [ca. 1990]
6. Correspondence -- John Randolph, 1995
7. Correspondence -- Small Press Review, 1988-94; 1 item undated]
8. Correspondence -- Bob Snyder (aka Billy Greenhorn), 1990-95 (includes memorial from Snyder's funeral)
9. Correspondence -- Jean Stimmell, 1987-99 [1 item undated
10. Correspondence -- John Sununu (Governor, NH), 1985; 1986
11. Correspondence -- Roger Taus (editor, Split Shift), 1994-99
12. Correspondence -- Joe Torra (editor, lift), 1989-95
13. Correspondence -- Molly Torra, 1991
14. Correspondence -- Wail! Magazine, 1989
15. Correspondence -- Julia Wendell, 1998
16. Correspondence -- Lynne Wildey, 1987-88
17. Correspondence -- Richard Winslow, 1985; 1989
18. Correspondence -- Yankee Publishing [to Peter Kidd], undated
19. Correspondence -- Igneus Press, Queries and Book Orders, 1991-92
20. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini to Sophie Kidd, 1980
21. Correspondence -- Miscellaneous, various dates
22. Igneus Press -- Miscellany, various dates
23. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Fogbow Bridge, 1999
24. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Longplaying, manuscript and page proofs, 1995
25. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, notes, 1980's
26. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, 1991
27. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, author photo & blurbs, 1991
28. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, introduction by Ed Dorn, 1991
29. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, letter to Peter Kidd re: revisions, 1991
30. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, 2nd proofs, 1992
31. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, [3rd proofs] with corrections, 1992
32. Manuscripts -- Blevins, Three Sleeps, [final proofs], 1992
33. Manuscripts -- Bouvard, With the Mothers of the Plaza del Mayo, 1992
34. Manuscripts -- Butts, The Required Dance, blurbs & ads, 1990
35. Manuscripts -- Butts, The Required Dance, notes, [1990]
36. Manuscripts -- Butts, The Required Dance, page proofs, photos & negatives, 1990
37. Manuscripts -- Butts, The Required Dance, [original manuscript], undated
38. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Flesh of a New Moon, original ms. & blurbs, 1991
39. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Flesh of a New Moon, page proofs with corrections, 1991
40. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Flesh of a New Moon, final page proofs, 1991
41. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Flesh of a New Moon, on disk with note from PJ Laska to Kidd, [1991]
42. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Hole in the Heart, undated
43. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Irish, Italian, & Scorpio, 1997
44. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Tattoos, undated
45. Manuscripts -- Kemmett, Tattoos, [2nd draft], 1996
46. Manuscripts -- Kidd, Bear Stew, 1996
47. Manuscripts -- Laska, The Day the 80s Began, 1991 (includes blurbs, cover art, author photo)
48. Manuscripts -- Martian, Napkin Apologies, undated
49. Manuscripts -- Pickin, Waiting Room, 1992
50. Manuscripts -- Snyder, Laska, & Barrett, The Mason Dixon Sutra, 1996
51. Newspaper Clippings -- Bob Kaufman obituary, San Francisco Chronicle, 1986
52. Photographs -- unidentified boy, undated
53. Poems -- Blevins, A Flock of Landscapes, undated
54. Poems -- Blevins, "The Morrison Poem" (bound), 1992
55. Poems -- Blevins, "Roman Zero", 1998
56. Poems -- "On the Death of Bob Kaufman", A.B. (author), [1986?]
57. Poems -- Joel Oppenheimer, undated
58. Poems -- Robert Podgurski, 1997
59. Reviews/Essays -- Blevins, Objects of Thought, Attempts at Speech & Gnostic Blessing (book reviews by Blevins), 1992
60. Reviews/Essays -- Kidd, White Man Appears on S. California Beach (book review by Kidd), [1991]
61. Reviews/Essays -- Laska, "Ecology and Ideology" (essay by Laska) & excerpt from Greek Civilization by Audre Bonnard, 1997
62. Reviews/Essays -- Laska, "Revisioning the Millenium", (essay by Laska), 1999

Box 3 (Oversized Items)
Folder -- Contents

1. Correspondence -- Hal Eskesen, poem, 1997
2. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, book review from Gloucester Daily Times, 1988
3. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, article from Gloucester Daily Times, 1990
4. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, 1991
5. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, article from North Shore Sunday, 1994
6. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, book review, 1997
7. Correspondence -- Vincent Ferrini, review, 1997
8. Correspondence -- Sophie Kidd, undated
9. Correspondence -- PJ Laska, 1991
10. Correspondence -- Poets & Writers, 1991
11. Correspondence -- Jean Stimmell, article on poetry from NH Seacoast Sunday, 1988
12. Essay -- Bob Snyder, "After the Reading", 1988