Finding Aid
Seripress fonds. 1972-1981. – 75 cm of textual records and graphic material.
Part I. Published Titles.
Oversize. Map Cabinet 5.
bp Nichol and Barbara Caruso. The Adventures of Milt the Morph in Colour. 1972. Oversize, in Map Cabinet 15.
F.1 Ms.
- [Frames] drawn by Caruso in pencil.
- “Testing for show time” drawn by Nichol.
- “A kind of absence” drawn by Nichol.
- “And Yet?” drawn by Nichol. Shows markings for printing and a pencil sketch designating colours for Caruso.
- “OH!” drawn by Nichol. Shows markings for printing and a pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso.
- “And all of this” drawn by Nichol.
- “Study #1: Blue” drawn by Nichol. Shows pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso. (1st ‘Milt’ drawing).
- “Study #2: Green” drawn by Nichol. Shows pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso. (2nd ‘Milt’ drawing).
- “Study #3: Red” drawn and cancelled by Nichol. (reject).
- “Study #3: Brown” drawn by Nichol. Shows pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso. (3rd ‘Milt’ drawing).
- “Study #4: Yellow” drawn by Nichol. Shows pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso. (4th ‘Milt’ drawing).
- A drawing begun, and cancelled by Nichol.
- “Study #5: White” drawn by Nichol. Shows pencil sketch designating colours by Caruso. (5th ‘Milt’ drawing).
The following three drawings show components for “Study #6: Red”, the 6th ‘Milt’ drawing:
- A drawing cancelled by Nichol.
- A drawing by Nichol.
- A pencil drawing by Caruso.
- A drawing by Nichol with note to Caruso in Nichol’s hand.
Note: the above pages are bound sheets of tracing paper, 19 x 24 inches.
- Pencil drawing of “Frames” by Caruso on disbound tracing paper sheet.
- Pencil graph for page [19] drawn by Caruso on opaque paper, 19 x 24 inches.
- Working sketches in pencil for the 6th ‘Milt’ prints drawn by Caruso on bond paper, 19 x 24 inches.
- Working sketches in pencil for the 6th ‘Milt’ prints drawn by Caruso on sheet, 8 ½ x 11 inches.
F.2 Pilot Prints:
- “And Yet?” printed by Caruso. 12 x 16 inches (undistributed).
- “OH!” printed by Caruso. 12 x 16 inches (undistributed).
F.3 Prints: All items measure 15 x 30 inches
- Title-page (typeset by Nelson Adams and printed at Coach House Press).
- “Introduction” (typeset by Nelson Adams and printed at Coach House Press).
- Colophon page (typeset by Nelson Adams and printed at Coach House Press). 15 x 30 inches.
- Artist’s proof of “Frames” (printed by Caruso), signed.
- Artist’s proof of “Colour Lock” (printed by Caruso), signed.
- Artist’s proof of “Study #2: Green” (printed by Caruso), signed by Caruso and Nichol.
- Artist’s proof of “Study #4: Yellow” (printed by Caruso), signed by Caruso and Nichol.
- Artist’s proof of “Study #5: White” (printed by Caruso), signed by Caruso and Nichol.
Box 1
F.4-6 Nelson Ball, Dry Spell 1973 and Our Arms are Featherless Wings. 1973.
F.4 Ms.: 4 typeset copies of the two poems.
F.5 Preparation/layout:
- Proofs of typeset poems (3 leaves stapled).
- 2 typeset camera ready copies of poems.
- 3 leaves of working sketches for prints (Caruso).
F.6 Prints:
- Artist’s signed proof for “Dry Spell” (Caruso).
- Artist’s signed proof for “Our Arms...” (Caruso).
F.7 bp Nichol, Aleph Unit. 1973.
- 8 leaves of Nichol’s concrete poem (screen printed by Caruso).
- Title-page (typeset by Nelson Adams and printed at Coach House Press).
F.8 bp Nichol, Unit of Four. 1973.
- 8 leaves of Nichol’s concrete poem (screen printed by Caruso).
- Title-page (typeset by Nelson Adams and printed at Coach House Press).
F.9 Nelson Ball, The Shore: A Poem, 1974. Barbara Caruso, Two Prints, 1974.
Preparation/layout:
- Title-page Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- The poem Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- A working drawing for the two prints.
F.10 Prints:
- “The Shore” poem screen-printed by Caruso. l leaf.
- Artist’s signed proof (white) for “The Shore” (Caruso).
- Artist’s signed proof (black) for “The Shore” (Caruso).
F.11 Steve McCaffery, Moon: A Post-Semiotic Sequence and H: A History. 1974.
Ms.:
- 3 leaves of poem sequence for “Moon...” drawn by McCaffery.
- l leaf of poem image for “H...” drawn by McCaffery.
F.12 Preparation/layout:
- title-page for “H...” Letraset on tracing mounted.
- title-page for “Moon...” Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- drawing of “H” image. (Barbara Caruso).
- 4 leaves of hand-written notes towards production. (Barbara Caruso).
F.13 Stephen Scobie, Air Loom. 1975.
Ms.: 14 leaves in envelope.
F.14 Preparation/layout:
- title-page Letraset on tracing paper.
- ts. for colophon.
- 2 leaves of working sketches for print. (Barbara Caruso).
F. 15 Print:
- Artist’s signed proof for “Air Loom” (Barbara Caruso).
F. 16 David Aylward, Crossword and Noneever. 1975.
Ms.:
- 2 leaves of concrete poems drawn by Aylward. (lacks one image).
Preparation/layout:
- l leaf of the Aylward alphabet drawn on graph paper. (Barbara Caruso).
- title for “Noneever” Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- title for “Crossword” Letraset on tracing paper, mounted on black cover stock.
- 4 leaves of drawings, remake of Aylward’s poems. (Barbara Caruso).
F. 18 Mike Doyle. Planes. Poems. 1975; P.K. Irwin Graphics. 1975.
- 8 leaves of ts. poems intended for “Going On” which became “Planes”.
- 1p. Ts(car.) of “Sea-Kings” (not published).
- 2 leaves. (signed) of “Sea-Kings” and “From the Attic” with ALs.
- Ts(car.) of “Building” (selected for “Planes”).
- Ts(photocopy) of “Discovery” (selected for “Planes”).
- Ts(car.) of “Echo of Song” (selected for “Planes”).
- Ts. of “One, Once, One” (selected for “Planes”).
- Ts(car.) of “Who” (selected for “Planes”).
- Ts(car.) of “From the Attic” (selected for “Planes”).
F. 19 Preparation/layout:
- 4 pp. of notes for “Going On”.
- small dummy of “Going On”.
- title-page for “Planes” Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- one of the poems Letraset on tracing paper
F.20 Prints:
- 4 serigraph prints of P.K. Irwin’s drawings (screenprinted by Barbara Caruso). Each print 10 x10 inches.
F.21 bp Nichol and Barbara Caruso. H: An Excursion. A Collaboration. 1976.
first attempts:
- 11 leaves of drawings with hand-written notes - some drawings on both sides.
Two of these pages were drawn by Nichol; the others by Caruso. 8 1/2 x14 inches.
- 1 p. of drawing 8 1/2 x 8 inches (Barbara Caruso).
F.22 Another approach:
- 10 leaves: 5 pp. of drawings by Nichol on paper overlaid by tracing paper with 5 contour drawings also by him.
- 7 leaves of working drawings (Barbara Caruso).
F.23 Resolution:
- 2 leaves of sketches for the resolved collaboration
F. 24 2 pp. of “Afterword” by Nichol. (unpublished).
F. 25 Preparation A:
- 9 leaves of drawings for “H: an Excursion” on 10 x 10 inch paper. (Barbara Caruso).
F.26 Preparation B:
- 7 leaves of drawings on tracing paper, mounted on 10
- title for “H: An Excursion” Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
F.27 Prints:
- 10 screenprinted pages of “H: An Excursion” in an incomplete cover folder.
F.28 Barbara Caruso. Colour Lock, Black Series. 1976.
Preparation/layout:
- 7 leaves of working sketches toward prints
- 1 title page Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- colophon page Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
F.29 Stephen Scobie. AirWaves/SeaLevel/Landlock. 1978.
- Ts. of poem. (1 p.).
F. 30 Preparation/layout:
- 2 leaves of working sketches. (Barbara Caruso).
- cover title Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- poem Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
Box 2
F.31 bp Nichol, Alphabet/Ilphabet. 1978.
- Ms. of page of letters for “Alphabet” drawn by Nichol.
- Ms. of page of letters for “Ilphabet” drawn by Nichol.
F.32 Ms. and preparation (not published).
- Ms. of page of letters built upon “J” drawn by Nichol.
- the “J” alphabet drawn on graph paper by Caruso.
F.33 Preparation/layout:
- 4 leaves of working drawings. (Caruso).
- letters drawn on graph paper (2 items).
- title page Letraset on graph paper and tracing paper, mounted.
- “Alphabet” drawn on graph paper, mounted (Caruso).
- “Ilphabet” drawn on graph paper, mounted (Caruso).
- Colophon page Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
F.34 Prints:
- 2 copies of screen-printed Alphabet.
- 2 copies of screen-printed Ilphabet.
- colophon page with Nichol
F.35 bp Nichol, From My Window. 1978.
Manuscript:
- l leaf with original concept for series drawn by Nichol.
F.36
Preparation/layout:
- title Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- colophon Letraset on tracing paper mounted.
-3 leaves of text words Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- a pencil drawing of the “window” image.
F.37 Prints:
- 5 pages of “From My Window” screen-printed.
- colophon page screen-printed with Nichol’s signature.
- an incomplete screen-printed cover folder.
F.38 bp Nichol, Absolute Statement for My Mother. 1979.
Manuscript:
-1 page drawn by Nichol.
F.39 Preparation/layout:
- 1 leaf with typed title and hand-written notes (Caruso).
- 1 leaf with cover text mounted.
- 2 dummies.
- 1 leaf of newsprint text for the palindrome, mounted.
- a cover for Absolute Statement for My Mother printed by Gestetner and hand scored for folding.
F.40 bp Nichol. Love Affair. 1979.
Preparation and prints:
- title Letraset on tracing paper, mounted.
- a pencilled graph to determine margins for text pages.
- 7 pp. of Love Affair screen-printed by Caruso.
F.41 bp Nichol. Movies. 1979.
- 9 leaves of drawings traced from Nichol’s pages and modified for printing by Caruso.
F.42 Preparation and prints:
- cover title Letraset and mounted on tracing paper.
- colophon Letraset and mounted.
- 9 leaves of Movies screen-printed by Caruso.
F.43 bp Nichol, Door To Oz. 1979.
- 8 leaves of drawings traced from the original drawings in Nichol’s bound diary by Caruso.
F.44 Unpublished version:
- 12 leaves of drawings traced from original drawings in Nichol’s bound diary and modified by Caruso.
- 10 leaves of drawings traced from original drawings in Nichol’s bound diary and modified by Caruso.
Note: Nichol’s ms. for Door to Oz consisted of 30 drawings dispersed throughout the pages of his bound diary. The diary was given to Caruso to redraw the images and it was returned to Nichol. The drawings here are remakes by Caruso from Nichol’s drawings. The pages from Door To Oz were edited to the first 8 of the series of 30 drawings.
F.45 Preparation and prints:
- title page Letraset on tracing paper, mounted. (2 leaves).
Part II. Unpublished Material
F. 46 Nelson Ball. The Marriage. 1973.
- 1 typeset camera ready copy of the poem.
F.47 Nelson Ball. A Star is Smaller. 1973.
- 1 typeset camera ready copy of the poem.
- artist’s proof signed print made for A Star is Smaller by Caruso. (undistributed).
F.48 O’Huigan, Sean. [untitled manuscript].
- 12 leaves of photocopied copy of a 12 page concrete poem sequence.
F.49 bp Nichol, 4 Visual Poems. (accumulated).
- “H 8” - a visual poem drawn by Nichol.
- “Oiseaux” - a visual poem drawn by Nichol.
- “Lines on a Lake” - a visual poem drawn by Nichol.
- “Eriticism” - a visual poem drawn by Nichol.
F. 50 bp Nichol and Barbara Caruso. Colour Wheel. (unresolved collaboration).
- 1 leaf of Colour Wheel - the visual poem drawn by Nichol; on verso: biography of Gerald Lampert in Nichol’s hand.
- 3 leaves of working sketches towards “Colour Wheel”by Caruso.
F.51 Doug Fetherling. Two Poems and Six O’Clock News From Buffalo. (2 titles intended for publication in 1980.)
- the poem “Six O’Clock News” Letraset on graph paper. ( 2 leaves).
- the poem “The Ocean...” Letraset on graph paper, mounted. (1 leaf).
- the poem “Poem Two” Letraset on graph paper, mounted. (1 leaf).
- title poem for “the ocean” Letraset on graph paper.
- 1 sheet of profilm with the poem “the ocean...” hand-cut, press ready stencil.
- 1 sheet of profilm with “Poem Two” hand-cut, press ready stencil.
- 1 sheet of profilm, uncut.
F.52 Douglas Barbour. Star Gazing. 1980.
- small dummy.
- 3 leaves of `star’ drawings by Caruso.
- 1 leaf of sketches toward make-up.
- 3 leaves of drawings for cover print by Caruso.
- 1 leaf ts.(car.) of poem “& With My Eyes”.
- title Letraset on graph paper.
- 3 leaves of the three poems Letraset on graph paper.
- 1 sheet of profilm with poem “Star Gazing” hand-cut, press ready stencil.
- 1 sheet of profilm with poem “Heaven...” hand-cut, press ready stencil.
F. 53 Curry, John. These Squares and Poom. 1980.
- 1 leaf of notes on These Squares by Caruso.
- reconstruction of These Squares, Letraset on graph paper by Caruso.
- 1 leaf of some letters of the alphabet for These Squares drawn on graph paper by Caruso.
- l leaf showing trials for the structure of These Squares on graph paper by Caruso; the complete sketch is hand-printed at the bottom edge of this page.
- 1 leaf of notes and sketches toward Poom by Caruso.
Part III. Correspondence
Box 3
F.54 Aylward, David.
TL(car.) Caruso to Aylward. 2 June 1975.
F.55 Barbour, Douglas.
TLs. Barbour to Caruso. 5 June 1979 (w/envelope).
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 23 July 1979 (w/envelope).
TLs. Barbour to Caruso. 1 August 1979.
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 12 September 1979.
TLs. Barbour to Caruso. 16 September 1979.
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 16 November 1979.
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 21 July 1980.
TLs. Barbour to Caruso 1 August 1980.
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 20 August 1980.
TL(car.) Caruso to Barbour. 18 March 1981.
TLs. Barbour to Caruso. 5 April 1981.
1 unused envelope.
F.56 Curry, John.
TL. Caruso to Curry. 19 March 1981.
F. 57 Doyle, Mike.
ALs. Doyle to Nelson [Ball]. 8 September
TLs. Doyle to Caruso. 27 September 1973.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 21 October 1973.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 8 November 1973.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 16 March 1974.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 22 March 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Doyle. 29 May 1974.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 25 July 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Doyle. 23 October 1974.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 1 November 1974.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 5 December 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Doyle. 3 January 1975.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso.11 February 1975.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 20 March 1975.
TLs. Doyle to Caruso.26 March 1975.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 6 April 1975.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 25 August 1975.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 29 August 1975.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle.11 December 1975.
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 30 December 1975.
TL(car.) Caruso to Doyle. 12 January 1976.
TLs. Doyle to Caruso. [n.d.].
ALs. Doyle to Caruso. 19 January 1976.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 1 February 1976.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 1 March 1976.
ALs(car.) Doyle to Caruso. 2 July 1976.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Doyle. 13 July 1976.
TLs. Doyle to Caruso. 20 July 1976.
F.58 Fetherling, Doug.
TLs. Fetherling to Caruso. 12 July 1979.
TL(car.) Caruso to Fetherling. 21 July 1980.
TLs. Fetherling to Caruso. 29 July 1980.
TLs. Fetherling to Caruso. [n.d.].
TL(car.) Caruso to Fetherling. 18 March 1981.
TLs. Fetherling to Caruso. 11 May 1981.
F. 59 Francis, Wynne.
TLs. Francis to Caruso.11 March 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Francis. 24 March 1974.
TLs. Francis to Caruso. 23 July 1974.
TL(car.) Francis to Caruso. 7 August 1974.
ALs. Francis to Caruso. 5 April 1975.
2 photocopied articles sent to Caruso by Francis.
F. 60 Irwin, P.K. (P.K. Page).
TLs. Page to Nelson Ball. 18 July 1972.
TL(car.) Ball to Page. 1 August 1972.
TLs. Page to Ball. 11 August 1972.
TL(car.) Caruso to Page. 12 January 1976
TLs. Page to Caruso. 15 January 1976
ALs. Page to Caruso. 20 Jan. [1976].
TL(car.) Caruso to Page. 1 Feb. 1976.
TLs. Page to Caruso. 19 Feb. [1976].
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Page. 5 March 1976.
TLs. Caruso to Page. 7 April 1976.
TL(car.) Caruso to Page. 13 April 1976.
TLs. Page to Caruso. 16 May 1976.
1 exhibition flyer announcing preview of P.K. Irwin’s show “Pieces of Eight” to open May 16
[1976] at the Backroom Gallery, Victoria, B.C.
F.61 Nichol, bp.
TL(car.) [Caruso] to Nichol. 20 Dec. 1978.
2 pages of miscellaneous - “A List of Names” and a page of Nichol’s bibliography.
F.62 Scobie, Stephen.
TLs. Scobie to Nelson Ball. 23 Oct. 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 1 Nov. 1974.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 5 Nov. 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 4 Dec. 1974.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 29 Dec. 1974.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 2 Jan. 1975.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 20 March 1975.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 31 March 1975.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 11 May 1975.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 20 May 1975.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 2 June 1975.
ALs. Scobie to Caruso, on Seripress letterhead, i.e. invoice statement dated 2 June 1975.
Ts. of Scobie’s poem “Air Loom”.
F.63 Scobie, Stephen. Airwaves.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 31 Jan. 1975.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 8 March 1977.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 8 Jan. 1978.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 18 Jan. 1978.
TL(car.) [B.C.] to Scobie. 31 May 1978.
TLs. Scobie to Caruso. 5 June 1978.
TL(car.) Caruso to Scobie. 24 August 1978.
ALs. Scobie to Caruso.
Part IV. Business Correspondence
Box 4
F. 64 The National Library.
TL(car.) Caruso to The N.L. 27 Feb. 1973.
TLs. N.L. to Caruso. 3 Feb. 1976.
TLs. N.L. to Caruso. 28 April 1976.
TLs. N.L. to Caruso. 25 Sep. 1979
1 copy of NLC Book Deposit Regulations, 1967.
Manual of ISBN, 1972.
Blank forms for NLC.
F. 65 John Coutts Library Services.
TL(car.) Coutts to Caruso. 23 April 1973.
TLs. Coutts to Caruso. 16 May 1973.
TL(photocopy) Coutts to Caruso. 24 Oct. 1977.
TL(car.) Caruso to Coutts. 28 Oct. 1977.
1 blank form from Coutts to suppliers.
F. 66 Miscellaneous:
20 items of correspondence, advertisement from businesses and libraries relating to information about Seripress, titles published, correspondence re titles, etc.
F. 67 Small Press material.
Lifeline. no. 31 (1975).
Lifeline. no. 46 (1976).
COSMEP Newsletter. Vol. 7, no. 10 (1976).
Letter from COSMEP.
The Pushcart Press - flier (1977).
Dustbulletin. (1975)
4 postcards from Dustbooks.
Part V. Reviews
F. 68 Review of Aleph Unit and Unit of Four by bp Nichol. Photocopy of review by Jack David published in Open Letter, Second Series, Number 9, Fall 1974. pp. 109-110.
F. 69 News From the Rare Book Room 1, No.18, December 1980. University of Alberta. pp. 102-104. Photocopy of Seripress listing by Maureen Bradbury, also photocopy of cover illustration. 4 pp.
F. 70 Essay by Barbara Caruso. Corrected carbon Ts(photocopy) of “The Seripress Collaborators: Nichol & Caruso”, published in Open Letter, sixth series, nos. 5-6: Summer/Fall 1986. pp. 37-46. 15 pp.
F.71 Open Letter, sixth series, No. 4: Spring 1986 containing “A Seripress Bibliography”. pp. 71-77.
Part VI. Advertising Flyers and Short Lists
Box 5
F.72 Drafts for Flyers.
- Ts. draft of flyer announcing Planes (1976).pp.
- Holograph (8 pp.) and ts. draft (3 pp.) of last list offering Seripress titles for sale and announcing the closing of the press. (1981). 5 pp.
- Ts. of final draft of last list (1981). 5 pp.
F.73 Flyers (printed).
- 9 fliers from 1973 - 1981.
F.74 Stock Lists.
- Records of inventory dated June 1978, September 1978, September 1979 and April 1981. (15 pp.).
Part VII. Business Records
F.75 Seripresss Business Register.
- “Declaration of Business” document dated 24 April 1973. 1 p.
- 1 blank form for renewal of registration.
- 1 renewal form for Seripress dated Jan. 24, 1973.
F.76 Cost Book.
- coilbound journal 5 x 8 inches listing a record of the costs of production for each Seripress publication, the poet’s payment for each title, and free copies distributed for the period 1972-1981.
F.77 Sales Book & Cash Records.
- coilbound journal, 5 x 8 inches listing a record of the sales and payments for Seripress titles and the number of copies sold for each publication.
- Listing of number of copies sold for 1979 titles. 4 pp.
- Petty cash records for the period 1973-81. 5 pp.
- Petty cash note: re postage. 1 p.
F.78 Invoices (paid). 1973.
F.79 Invoices (paid). 1974.
F.80 Invoices (paid). 1975.
F.81 Invoices (paid). 1976.
F.82 Invoices (paid). 1977.
F.83 Invoices (paid).1978.
F.84 Invoices (paid). 1979
F.85 Invoices (paid). 1980.
F.86 Invoices (paid). 1981.
Box 6
F.87 Receipts. 1973-1976.
F.88 Receipts. 1978.
F.89 Receipts. 1979-1980.
F.90 Receipts. 1981.
F.91 Accounts Receivable.
F.92 Bank statements. 1973-1982.
F.93 Seripress rubber stamp.
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