%xmlchars; ]> MS2242 Preliminary Guide to the Beth Joselow literary papers, 1968-2001 Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University 2007
2130 H. St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20052 Phone: 202-994-7549 Email: speccoll@gwu.edu
Machine-readable finding aid derived from Re:discovery database program and converted into xml; Code template by Archives and Information Associates (http://archivesandinformation.com), Alexandria, Virginia . 2007 Finding aid written in English Preliminary Guide to the Beth Joselow literary papers, 1968-2001 MS2242 Special Collections Research Center, The Gelman Library, The George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
Jennifer King, 2008 Jennifer King, 2008

copyright 2008 The George Washington University. All rights reserved.

 Descriptive Summary Joselow, Beth Beth Joselow literary papers, 1968-2001 MS2242 10 Linear feet This collection contains correspondence, drafts, and published poems, plays, and prose written by poet and writer Beth Joselow. The collection dates from 1968-2001. Having settled in Washington in 1970-, Beth was part of the Mass Transit Poets in Washington in the early 1970s. This Dupont Circle poetry group held weekly readings, produced five issues of Mass Transit, a poetry magazine, and led to the establishment of Some Of Us Press, which published chapbooks by Michael Lally, Terence Winch, Tim Dlugos, Lynne Dreyer and others. The George Washington University, The Gelman Library, Special Collections Research Center
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English Information for Users Preferred citation

Beth Joselow literary papers, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

 Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

 Acquisition Information

Purchased from Beth Joselow in 2008(Accession 2008.083)

 Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

 Historical or Biographical Note

Poet and writer Beth Baruch Joselow was born in Washington and raised in Baltimore. The city of Baltimore and the people Beth knew while growing up have heavily influenced her poetry, particularly her early work. She began writing poetry seriously in her 20s. Having settled in Washington in 1970-, Beth was part of the Mass Transit Poets in Washington in the early 1970s. This Dupont Circle poetry group held weekly readings, produced five issues of Mass Transit, a poetry magazine, and led to the establishment of Some Of Us Press, which published chapbooks by Michael Lally, Terence Winch, Tim Dlugos, Lynne Dreyer and others. Beth has published poetry, prose and plays, and her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies. She often has collaborated with artists and musicians, in this country and in Russia. Beth is the author of six books of poetry,: Ice Fishing (1974), Gypsies (1978), The April Wars (1983) Broad Daylight (1989). Excontemporary (,1993) , and Begin at Once (2007). Her chapbook, : Self Regard, was published by Chax Press in Tucson, AZ in 2000. She is also the author of Writing Without the Muse, a book of creative writing exercises. Beth has been awarded five grants for creative writing from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Her book, Life Lessons: 50 Things I Learned from My Divorce was published by Avon Books in 1994. Beth was an associate professor teaching writing and liberal studies at The Corcoran School of Art [from 1987 to 2004]. In addition to her Masters in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins she also earned a M.S. degree in Clinical Community Counseling. Beth has a psychotherapy practice in Lewes, Delaware.

 Collection Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence, drafts of poetry, prose, and plays, fliers, journals, magazines, and two audio cassettes. The collection comprises the literary files of author Beth Joselow and reflects her interactions with many poets in the Washington DC area for more than 30 years. The collection includes correspondence and magazines related to Mass Transit and other works related to the Avant Garde poetry movement in Washington, D.C. including the periodicals Mass Transit, Dog City and Everybody's Ex-Lovers. Many local poets are represented in this collection either their published works or in correspondence and other literary files. These poets include among others Doug Lang, Joan Retallack, P. Inman, Doug Lang, Michael Lally, Tina Darragh, Terence Winch, and Phyllis Rosenzweig. In addition to published journals and magazines that include Beth's work, the collection contains numerous folders of drafts of poems, prose, and plays some of which may never have been published at least not in that form.

The books that arrived with this collection including chapbooks published by SOS books and Some of Us Press have been added to the Special Collections' book collection. These materials are accessible through the book catalog. The Special Collections' book collection does not circulate and may only be used in the Special Collections' reading room.

Purchased from Beth Joselow in 2008, (Accession 2007.083 ).

Collection Organization

Organized into four series: Correspondence, Literary files, Drafts, and Periodicals.

 Indexing Terms Individuals Joselow, Beth Topics Poetry Poets, American Plays Geographic Locations Washington (D.C.) Detailed Description of the Records MS2242 Series 1 Correspondence, 1968-1996 1.5 Linear feet

This series contains correspondence between Beth Joselow and other writers, publishers, and granting agencies. The records in this series date from 1968-1996.

 1 1 Celia Bland, 1988-1992 1 2 Carmen Delzell, 1997-1999 1 3 [Tim] Dlugos, 1990-1992 1 4 Stephen Donatelli, 1976-1993 1 5 Paul Genega, 1978-1989 1 6 Harrison Fisher, 1978-1983 1 7 Grants and awards, 1984-1985 1 8 Lit [literary] Business, 1975-1991 1 9 Loose correspondence, 1968-1997 1 10 Howard Moss (the New Yorker), 1976-1986 1 11 Katie Kramer, 1983-1993 1 12 Mass Transit and S.O.U.P [Some of Us Press] poets, 1974-1993 1 13 A.L. Nielson, 08/05/1992-09/28/1992 2 1 Poetry correspondence, 1978-1981 2 2 Poetry correspondence, 1988 2 3 Proposals and submissions, 1992-1995 2 4 Queries, 1981-1986 2 5 Liam Rector, 1975-1980 2 6 References, 1985-1987 2 7 Mary Truitt, 1989-1990 2 8 Various writers [1/3], 1973-1986 2 9 Various writers [2/3], 1973-1986 2 10 Various writers [3/3], 1973-1986 3 1 Washington area writers, 1983-1999 3 2 Baron Wormser, 1989-1992 MS2242 Series 2 Literary files, 1974-1995 1.5 Linear feet

This series contains the literary files of Beth Joselow. These records date from 1974-1995. These records include grant applications and a listing of places Beth submitted her work. There are also records related to the Dupont Circle poetry group Mass Transit.

 3 3 The April Wars - reviews, 1983-1985 3 4 Calendar, 1991

[American poets greet the earth an annual calendar, proposal for Archtype Press]

 3 5 Catalogs, 3 6 Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1985 3 7 DC Grant Ap [application], 1992-1993 3 8 Grant Aps [applications], 1986 3 9 Grants-in-aid Application, 1990 3 10 Hopkins, 1975-1976 4 1 Index cards records of submissions [1/2], 1970 ca.-1990 -- --ca. 4 2 Index cards records of submissions [2/2], 1970 ca.-1990 -- --ca. 4 3 Literary life [1/2], 1993 4 4 Literary life [2/2], 1993 4 5 Mass Transit, 1988 4 6 Ana Mendieta, 1991-1992 4 7 Miss Lulu Bett, 1985-1986 4 8 NEA AP [application], 1984 4 9 NEA AP [application], 1987 4 10 NEA AP 1988 (a) [application], 1989 5 1 NEA, 1998-2002 5 2 Portugal, 1990-1998 5 3 Publicity, 1984-1992

This file contains reviews, event fliers and profiles. Some of the material is not dated.

 5 4 Record of submissions, 1974-1987 5 5 SOS Books [Sultan of Swat], 1979 5 6 [Story Line Press], 1995 MS2242 Series 3 Drafts, 1976-1990 3.5 Linear feet

This series contains drafts of poems, prose, and plays. Unless noted in the folder title the works are authored by Beth Joselow. Some of the works in this series are published or became part of published works. These materials date from 1976-1990.

 5 7 An American Voyage by Joe Ross, 5 8 The April Wars, 1976 5 9 The April Wars, 1976-1979 5 10 The April Wars SOS book [Sultan of Swat], 5 11 The April Wars drafts, 1978 5 12 Baltimore Story [title Eden], 1987 6 1 Bargaining at the Beach a trilogy of one-act plays, 6 2 Bargaining at the Beach a trio of one-act plays, 6 3 Beth Corning, 1988 6 4 Bread and Butter a play in two acts, 1982 6 5 Bread and Butter, 1982 6 6 Bread and Butter a play in two acts, 1984 6 7 Bread and Butter a play in two acts, 1984 6 8 Broad Daylight, 1989 6 9 The Body of No Sex, 6 10 To David [Alpher or Alplier] [poems], 6 11 Dormer Windows poems, 6 12 Drafts, 1987 6 13 Drafts of poems, 6 14 Drafts, 1976 7 1 Drafts of old poems, 7 2 Ducks a play in one act, 7 3 Ducks, 7 4 Eden, Susie Harvey 9/23/1990 and Hattie Powell interview 9/23/1990, 09/23/1990

This folder has a draft of the story and tape cassettes recording the interviews

 7 5 Envy and the Violin by Richard Zenith, 7 6 Ethan, 7 7 Excontemporary, 7 8 Fill These Shoes,

from the folder "A production of Corning Dancers & Company, conceived and choreographed by Beth Corning, written by Beth Joselow, directed by Kay Cummings.

 7 9 House Ideas, 7 10 Hurry Up Please a play in one act, 1984 7 11 Hurry Up Please, 8 1 Ice fishing, 8 2 I'll see you in the funny papers, a draft, 8 3 "Increase Long" simultaneously with "fine", 11/20/1987

This document is a hand-out that was used in a reading with Joan Retallack

 8 4 Intros, crit and reviews by BJ [Beth Joselow], 1981-1988 8 5 John Cage conversations with Joan Retallack,

Note: the full text appears in Aerial #6

 8 6 Lattice, 01/31/1987

hand-out for reading with Michael Anderson

 8 7 Log [job in/job out poems], 11/21/1972-1975 8 8 M.S. [poems etc.], 8 9 New Voices a showcase of one act plays, 1985

Suzanne by Beth Joselow; Bruises by Jude Adler; Change at Jamaica by Ronni Brenner.

 8 10 Non-fiction mss Eden, 8 11 Old Mss rough drafts, 8 12 On the Boards poems, 1982 8 13 Pass,

Eventually published as a chapbook.

 8 14 poems, 1977 8 15 poems, 9 1 poems, 9 2 poems, 9 3 poems, 9 4 poems, 9 5 poems, 9 6 poems, 9 7 poems, 9 8 poems, 1978-1979 9 9 poems, 10 1 poems, 10 2 poems, 10 3 poems and correspondence, 1980-1998 10 4 poems drafts, 10 5 poems: loose drafts [1/3], 10 6 poems: loose drafts [2/3], 10 7 poems: loose drafts [3/3], 10 8 poems: newly finished copies to send out, 10 9 poems old, 10 10 Poetry MS 1997 self-regard, 1997 11 1 Poetry submissions, 11 2 Primary writing #2 3 novels by Doug Lang, 11 3 Rattlebone by Maxine Clair [galley proofs] 11 4 Scape poems by Paul Genega, 1988 11 5 Story (ies), 11 6 III Survivors [poems], 11 7 Suzanne a play in one act, 11 8 The Weather Gallery by Liam Rector, MS2242 Series 4 Periodicals, 1973-2001 4.5 Linear feet

This series contains literary journals, newsletters, and magazines. Most of these are poetry publications and in many of them Beth Joselow's work is included. All donated periodicals have been retained in the collection regardless if Beth's work appeared because these materials share with a researcher the works that Beth feels are important to keep as an historical record.

 11 9 Abacus, 1986-1992

There are 3 issues in this folder.

 11 10 Aerial #3, 1987 11 11 Aerial #4, 1988 11 12 Aerial #5, 1989 11 13 Aerial 6/7, 1991 12 1 The American Poetry Review, 07/1981-08/1981 12 2 Anomoly issue no. 1, 2002 12 3 Anomoly issue no. 2, 2003 12 4 The Bellingham Review Vol. 5 no. 1, 1982 12 5 Big Allis no. 3, 1990 12 6 Big Allis no. 4, 1991 12 7 Big Allis no. 7, 1996 12 8 Big Ideal 3, 1975 12 9 Bird A Fly-By-Night Journal of D.C. Poets, 1974 12 10 Bingo Chow, 1978

The folder has two issues.

 12 11 The Blackbird Circle no. 5, 1974 12 12 Bogg no. 62, 1990 12 13 Discovering Motherhood, 1991 12 14 District Lines the Magazine for Young Writers issue #1, 1985 12 15 Dog City, 1977 12 16 Dog City no. 2, 1980 12 17 Everybody's Ex-lover [EEL], 1975-1977

The folder has three issues. Nos. 1,3 and possbily 2.

 13 1 Epoch, 1978 13 2 Exquisite Corpse, 1985-1986

This folder has six issues.

 13 3 Exquisite Corpse, 1987-1993

This folder has ten issues.

 13 4 Exposures issue 1, 1992 13 5 Exposures issue 2, 1992 13 6 Frank an international journal of contemporary writing and art no. 6/7, 1987 13 7 Goethe's Notes no. 1, 1975 13 8 the G.W. Review Vol. 2 no. 1 - Vol. 3 no. 1, 1981-1982

The folder has five issues.

 13 9 the G.W. Review Vol. 6 no. 1 - Vol. 6 no. 2, 1986

The folder has two issues.

 13 10 GW Washington Studies no. 11, 06/1984

Title "Evidence of Community: writing from the Jenny McKean Moore Workshops at George Washington University

 13 11 Hanging loose no. 27, 1976 14 1 Hanging loose no. 28, 1976 14 2 Hanging loose no. 42, 1982 14 3 Hoo-Doo no. 4, 14 4 Hot Bird MFG Vol. 1 no. 11, 02/1991 14 5 How(ever) Vol. 6 no. 4, 01/1992 14 6 The National Jewish Monthly, 01/1977 14 7 Kalliope a journal of women's art Vol. 9 no. 3, 1987 14 8 Kalliope a journal of women's art Vol. 12 no. 3, 1990 14 9 The Lamp in the Spine no. 6, 1973 14 10 The Little Magazine Vol. 9 no. 2, 1975 14 11 Loose Art no. 1, 14 12 The Love Project anabasis no. 2, 1993 14 13 lower limit speech a newsletter in poetics #1-13 [no #12],

The folder has twelve issues.

 14 14 The Manhattan Review Vol. 5 no. 1, 1990 14 15 Mass Transit a magazine of DC poets no. 1 - no. 5, 1973-1974 15 1 membrane 2, 1997 15 2 Mirage The Women's Issue #3, 1989 15 3 Mississippi Review no. 30, 1982 15 4 New. no. 24, 1974 15 5 The New Yorker, 03/13/1978 15 6 New Boston Review Vol. 4 no. 1 - Vol. 5 no. 5/6, 1978-1980

The folder has four issues.

 15 7 Open 24 Hours #12, 1996 15 8 Painted Bride Quarterly no. 36, 1988 15 9 Phoebe the george mason review, 1974-1980

The folder has four issues.

 15 10 Pivot no. 34, 1984 16 1 Plum no. 1, 1978 16 2 The Poetry Project #132,133, 138, 1989-1990

The folder has three issues.

 16 3 Potomac Vol. 10 no. 1, Vol. 11 no. 1, Vol. 11 no. 2, 1968-1969

The folder has three issues.

 16 4 Primary Writing #3, 1984 16 5 The Reaper, 1982-1987

The folder has three issues.

 16 6 Rhino Vol. 4 no. 2, 1985 16 7 Roof IX, 1979 16 8 The Salmon Nos. 16,17,20, 1986-1989

The folder has three issues.

 16 9 Salt Lick Vol. 4 nos. 1,2, 1998

The folder has two issues.

 16 10 Shiny the magazine of the future nos. 5 and 7/8, 1990-1992

The folder has two issues.

 16 11 So to Speak a feminist journal of language and art, 1998-1999

The folder has two issues.

 17 1 So to Speak a feminist journal of language and art, 2000 17 2 Sun & Moon a journal of literature and arts no. 6/7, 1978-1979 17 3 Sun & Moon a journal of literature and arts no. 9/10, 1980 17 4 Sun & Moon a journal of literature and arts no. 11, 1981 17 5 Texture, 1991-1995

The folder has issues 1-6

 17 6 They, 1991

The folder has two issues

 17 7 Three Mile Harbor, 1989-1991

The folder has three issues. Winter 1989-90, Spring 1990, and Vol. 2 no. 1

 18 1 Three Mile Harbor, 1992-1994

The folder has three issues. Vol. 3 no. 1, Vol. 3 no. 2, and Vol. 4 no. 1

 18 2 Toad Hiway nos. 3 and 4, 06/1990-1991 18 3 Upper Limit Music supplements #1 - #4, 18 4 Verse Vol. 7 no. 1, 1990 18 5 Washington Review Vol. 8 no. 2, 1982 18 6 Washington Review Vol. 9 no. 2, 1983 18 7 Washington Review Vol. 10 no. 2, 1984 18 8 Washington Review Vol. 11 no. 5 and Vol. 12 no. 2, 1986

The folder has two issues.

 18 9 Washington Review Vol. 14 no. 2 and Vol. 14 no. 3, 1988

The folder has two issues.

 18 10 Washington Review Vol. 14 no. 4 and Vol. 15 no. 5, 1988-1990

The folder has two issues.

 19 1 Washington Review Vol. 16 no. 3 and Vol. 16 no. 4, 1990

The folder has two issues. The folder includes a special issue devoted to the Mass Transit poets.

 19 2 Washington Review Vol. 16 no. 5 and Vol. 16 no. 6, 1991

The folder has two issues.

 19 3 Washington Review Vol. 17 no. 5 and Vol. 18 no. 4, 1991-1993

The folder has two issues.

 19 4 Washington Review Vol. 19 no. 1 and Vol. 19 no. 6, 1993-1994

The folder has two issues.

 19 5 Washington Review Vol. 20 no. 6 and Vol. 21 no. 1, 1995

The folder has two issues.

 19 6 Washington Review Vol. 21 no. 2 and Vol. 21 no. 3, 1995

The folder has two issues.

 19 7 Washington Review Vol. 22 no. 3 and Vol. 22 no. 4, 1996

The folder has two issues.

 20 1 Washington Review Vol. 22 no. 5 and Vol. 22 no. 6, 1997

The folder has two issues.

 20 2 Washington Review Vol. 23 no. 1 and Vol. 23 no. 2, 1997

The folder has two issues.

 20 3 Washington Review Vol. 26 no. 4 and Vol. 28 no. 3, 2000-2001

The folder has two issues.

 20 4 Water Pik, 20 5 Welcom Home, 11/1987-01/1989

The folder has four issues: Vol. 4, no. 11, Vol. 5 no. 2, Vol. 5 no. 10, Vol. 6 no. 1

 20 6 Window issue 1, 1976 20 7 Wormhole issue 1, 20 8 Yes Vol. 5 no. 1, 1974 20 9 6ix, 1992-1995

The folder has five issues. Vol. 2 no. 1, Vol. 2 no. 2, Vol. 3 no. 1, Vol. 3 no. 2, Vol. 4 no. 1