Dave Church papers (Ms.2011.035)

The Dave Church papers is a comprehensive collection of the poet's correspondence, poetry and prose manuscripts, notebooks, broadsides, books and audiovisual materials. Although Church was a Rhode Island-based poet, his correspondence reflects the extent of his influence and includes A.D. Winans (Boxes 7-8), T. Kilgore Splake (Box 6) and Gerald Nicosia (Boxes 4-5). Church's life and work were deeply influenced by the Beat poets. Included in the collection is an extensive assortment of his manuscripts and published poetry along with titles by many of his contemporaries, often inscribed to Church. Also included are audio and video recordings of Church and others reading and discussing their work.

The papers are arranged into seven series. Series 1, Correspondence (1986-2008), is organized into two groupings: the first is an alphabetical arrangement of letters by author/recipient or journal title; the second is a chronological arrangement of submission letters from, and responses to, Church. The latter group includes submission letters sent to Church for inclusion in the Alternative Voices in American Writing Anthology.

Series 2, Notes (1970-2008), is a collection of notebooks, journals, poem drafts, address books, submission records and annotated articles.

Series 3, Manuscripts (1974-2008), is a collection of manuscript versions of prose and poetry works, both edited and unedited. This series also includes the galley copies of several works, including Alternative Voices in American Writing anthology.

Series 4, Publications (1976-2008), contains an extensive collection of Church's published poems, arranged by year and by publishing journal, his chapbook publications, reviews and submission lists. Also included are numerous poetry books by other authors, many of them inscribed to Church, as well as broadsides, posters and flyers.

Series 5, Artwork (1963-2004), includes drawings, collages and photographs, most by artists other than Church.

Series 6, Multimedia (1957-2007) contains audiocassette and compact disk recordings of poetry readings and musical performances, most by poets other than Church, as well as videocassette recordings and photographs. Several floppy disks containing Church's poetry are also included.

Series 7, Miscellaneous (1965-2008), includes several reference books and articles relating to proofreading and literary criticism along with a souvenir Green Bean Press keychain and Naked Lunch button (Box 22).