Mike Topp Papers
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Abstract
Mike Topp is a poet, editor, and member of The Unbearables, a loosely organized group of Downtown writers and artists, known for protests against notions of "good" or "bad" literature and art. This collection consists of Topp's poem drafts and idea notes, plus published works he contributed to and edited.
Biographical Note
A poet and editor, Mike Topp is a member of The Unbearables, a loosely organized group of Downtown writers and artists, known for protests against notions of "good" or "bad" literature and art. He has worked closely with Ron Kolm and Sparrow, two other Unbearables. Online sources state that Topp was born in Washington, D.C., and currently lives in New York City "unless he has died or moved". He received a master's degree in English from New York University in 1983. Recent Topp books include Sasquatch Stories and 29 Mini-Essays.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged at the series level in three series: Series I: Notes, ideas, unpublished writing, web content; Series II: Printed published works and anthologies; Series III: Correspondence, photos, and ephemera.
Scope and Contents
The Mike Topp Papers consist of notes, writings, published poems, anthologies, and correspondence related to Topp's work. Materials document his creative process and professional relationships with other artists, publishers, and poetry organizations. Subjects covered include the Unbearables, poetry, creative writing, downtown artists, and sexuality. Document types include correspondence (handwritten notes and printed emails), photographs (printed and on CD-R), letterpress chapbooks, and ephemeral items, plus some original artwork.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy for materials in this collection were not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Mike Topp Papers; MSS 188; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
New York University purchased the collection from Mike Topp in 2005.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Born-digital materials have not been transferred and may not be available to researchers. Researchers may request access copies. To request that material be transferred, or if you are unsure if material has been transferred, please contact Fales Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. A staff member will respond to you with further information.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials were rehoused in archival folders and boxes, maintaining original order and labels when possible.
Repository
Series I: Notes, Ideas, Unpublished Writing, Web Content
Scope and Contents
Series I contains Topp's notes and ideas, poem drafts, manuscripts, and reviews. Also included are some works by other writers and artists.
Notebooks, diaries, undated
Writings, poems, notes, drafts, 1982-2004, inclusive
Realpoetik, Gargoyle, Timothy McSweeney, Exquisite Corpse, 1997-2005, inclusive
Happy Ending, 2002
Miranda July, 2004
My Weekend in Germany, 2004-2005, inclusive
Writings, poems, notes, drafts, 2004-2005, inclusive
Outlaw Bible of American Poetry, 2005
Own Your Own, 2005
Galerie St. Etienne, Self-Taught Artists, 2005
Greatest Hits, 2005
Really Small Talk, 2005
Really Small Talk, Monkey Bicycle, Stuyvesant Bee, 2004-2008, inclusive
Partial Bibliography, Public Illumination Magazine; List of published works, 1982-2008, inclusive
David Trinidad Magazine; This is Stupid, I Love You, 2008
Fromage to Eternity, Fastest Gun in the West, Five Stories, undated
Little Fish, undated
Return of the Dead Mother with New Problems; Tropicana, undated
Writings, poems, notes, drafts, undated
Series II: Printed Published Works and Anthologies
Scope and Contents
Series II contains poetry anthologies, newsletters, zines, and letterpress books Topp contributed to or edited.
Letterpress Chapbooks, Zines, Newsletters, Exhibitions, 1980-2004, inclusive
American Book Review, 2002
Angry Dog Midget Editions, 2001-2003, inclusive
Appearances, 1994-1998, inclusive
beet, 1994-1996, inclusive
Between C and D, 1984-1988, inclusive
Bookforum, Artforum, 1996-2002, inclusive
Brooklyn Review, 1989-1998, inclusive
Canary River Review, 2002
The Curse, 1999
Evergreen Review Reader, 1979-1993, inclusive
Exquisite Corpse, 1986-1997, inclusive
House Organ, 1997-2000, inclusive
Lit, 2004
LIz * Val, 1987
Long Shot, 1994-2001, inclusive
Lungfull!, 1996-2005, inclusive
Mudfish, 1997
New Observations, 1989-1995, inclusive
New York Press, 1992-1997, inclusive
Paris Review, 1968
Pink Pages, 1992-1998, inclusive
The Poetry Project, 1988-2005, inclusive
Public Illumination Magazine, 1981-2001, inclusive
Qualiteria, 1995
The Quarterly, 1993-1995, inclusive
Red Tape, 1984, 1992
Secret Agent Nick America, undated
Sirowitz, Hal, Chapbooks, 1994-1995, inclusive
The Styles, 2002
Talisman, 1992-1993, inclusive
The Toilet Paper, 2005
Unbearable Smoot, 1996
The Unbearables, 1988-2001, inclusive
L'Uomo Vogue Sport, 2002
Whirl, undated
Miscellaneous Publications: Brooklyn Review, Downtown, The Observatory, 1988-2002, inclusive
Series III: Correspondence, Photos, Ephemera
Scope and Contents
Series III contains correspondence (handwritten notes and printed emails), photographs (printed and on CD-R), and ephemeral items, plus some original artwork. Correspondents include Sparrow, Joe Brainard, Iggy Pop, John Cage, William Wegman, and Gillian McCain.
