Jargon Society Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date of Item], Jargon Society Collection, WLU-Coll-0777, [Box Number], [Folder Number], [Folder Name]. Washington and Lee Special Collections and Archives, Washington and Lee University Library, Lexington, VA.

Summary

Extent:
.42 Linear Feet
Creator:
Ball, Gordon (1944-12-30) and Craven, Thorns, Class of 1962
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], [Date of Item], Jargon Society Collection, WLU-Coll-0777, [Box Number], [Folder Number], [Folder Name]. Washington and Lee Special Collections and Archives, Washington and Lee University Library, Lexington, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection primarily contains materials related to the Jargon Society and Jonathan Williams in addition to materials related to the small press community present in North Carolina. The Jargon Society materials include both published histories as well as promotional materials and subscription lists. The collection also contains materials related to Williams including correspondence between Williams and both Thorns Craven as well as Gordon Ball and materials created in memory of Williams.

Biographical / historical:

The Jargon Society, a small-press publisher founded in 1951 by Jonathan Williams, offers a wide variety of queer and nature themed poetry. As a publisher, Williams' goal was to give the artist and/or the poet "the book that they wanted". Following Williams' death in 2008 the official archive of the Jargon Society was transferred by his partner Thomas Meyer to Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center where the imprint remains active. Additional information about The Jargon Society can be found at the ,Black Mountain College (BMC) Website.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard