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Northern House Publishing Archive

Archive Collection: BC MS 20c Northern House

Details

Type of record: Archive

Title: Northern House Publishing Archive

Level: Collection

Classmark: BC MS 20c Northern House

Date(s): 1962-2006

Language: English

Size and medium: 15 boxes; 66 files

Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/18467

Collection group(s): Leeds Poetry | English Literature

Description

This collection comprises papers relating to Northern House publishing venture established by Andrew Gurr and Jon Silkin at the University of Leeds, and its publishing activities. Includes papers relating to the production of the Northern House Pamphlet Poets series including drafts, proofs, correspondence and reviews; papers relating to the administration and finances of Northern House, including records of subscriptions and donations, orders and invoices, account books, statements and correspondence; Northern House papers collected by Andrew Gurr, including printing samples; correspondence relating to John Barnard's involvement with Northern House; and a collection of miscellaneous papers and small magazines.

Biography or history

The Northern House publishing venture was established by Andrew Gurr and Jon Silkin in the Department of English Literature at Leeds in 1963. At Gurr's suggestion, the Chair of English Literature, A. Norman Jeffares, had agreed to provide funding for the acquisition of a hand printing press for the use of bibliography students. Gurr acquired an old double demy Albion hand press, typefaces and other equipment for just over £250, and the press was set up in the basement of the University gym, at that time underneath the Students' Union.

Provenance

3 large boxes of papers relating to Northern House were deposited in the Brotherton Collection at Leeds University Library as part of the Silkin Archive in 1995. These papers constitute the bulk of the collection. 1 box of administrative papers relating to Northern House was separated from the Stand Archive Business Files (Brotherton Collection MS 20c Stand/1) by Jon Glover in June 2000. (The Stand Archive was also acquired by the Brotherton Collection in 1995). Papers formerly in the possession of Andrew Gurr and John Barnard were deposited in the Brotherton Collection via John Barnard in 1997.

System of arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following subfonds (sub-collections): Publications Administrative Papers Andrew Gurr Papers John Barnard Papers Miscellanea

Access and usage

Access

This collection is subject to various access conditions. Please see individual catalogue descriptions for further details on access.

On our website

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Research spotlight: Stand and Northern House

A history of the published periodicals Stand and Northern House. Stand was founded by Jon Silkin in 1952. Northern House was founded by Andrew Gurr and Jon Silkin in 1963 in the Department of English Literature at the University of Leeds.

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