James Sherry Papers, circa 1962-2016

Creator:

Abstract:

James Sherry (b. 1946) is the author of 13 books of poetry and theory and a leading proponent of both Language Writing and Environmental Poetics. The papers include address books, appointment books, catalogs, correspondence, editorial files, event fliers, manuscripts, notebooks, professional files, and publications.

Extent:

24.5 linear feet 18 record cartons, 2 manuscript boxes, and 1 card file box

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

The James Sherry Papers document Sherry's prose and poetry writing, publishing career, and his work with the Segue Foundation and in the private sector. The papers include address books, appointment books, catalogs, correspondence, editorial files, event fliers, manuscripts, notebooks, professional files, and publications.

Biographical / historical:

James Sherry was born on December 30, 1946, in Philadelphia. He graduated from Reed College in 1968 with a Woodrow Wilson fellowship to Brandeis University in History of Ideas.

Sherry is the author of 13 books of poetry and theory and a leading proponent of both Language Writing and Environmental Poetics. His books include The Oligarch: Rewriting Machiavelli's The Prince for Our Time (Palgrave MacMillan, 2018), Entangled Bank (Chax, 2016), Oops! Environmental Poetics (BlazeVox, 2013), Four For (Meow, 1995), Our Nuclear Heritage (Sun and Moon Press, 1991), Lazy Sonnets (Potes and Poets Press, 1986), In Case (Sun and Moon Press, 1980), and Part Songs (Awede Press, 1978). His work has been translated into nine languages including the Chinese edition of Selected Language Poems (Sichuan Literature and Art Publishing House: Chengdu, 1993), translated by Ziqing Zhang and Huang Yunte.

Sherry founded Roof Magazine, a magazine of innovative writing, in 1976. The magazine is known for documenting the New York School, Beat poetry and as a seminal publication of Language Writing. The magazine was published quarterly for ten issues. Sherry started the Segue Foundation, a multi-service arts organization based in lower Manhattan, in 1977. To date, Segue Foundation has produced over 10,000 events in New York City. In 1979, Sherry started Roof Books, which has published more than 150 titles of poetry and criticism.

Sherry began working for IBM and other Wall Street firms in the early 1980s. Sherry worked as a technologist and consultant in publishing and banking from 1981-1999, and did work for Hearst Corporation, Von Holtzbrinck, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley and other firms. In addition, he worked as a systems analyst and business development manager for IBM until 2012. At IBM, Sherry participated in patents in computer to computer communications, secure broker technology and inefficient computing using multicasting. Sherry also became involved with the Occupy Alternative Bank subgroup in 2011.

Sherry is currently editor and publisher of Roof Books and President of The Segue Foundation, Inc. He resides in New York City with his wife, Deborah Thomas, publisher of Extra!, the newsletter of Fairness And Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR).

Acquisition information:

2015.2016.M147: Source of acquisition--James Sherry. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--5/19/2016.

Processing information:

Collection-level record describing unprocessed material made public in summer 2018 as part of the Hidden Collections initiative.

This collection was processed by Veronica Belafi (GSAS) in 2018-2019.

Finding aid written by Veronica Belafi (GSAS) and Catherine C. Ricciardi in September 2019.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in six series and several subseries.

Series I: Correspondence, circa 1962-2014 Series II: James Sherry Personal Papers, circa 1968-2014 Subseries II.1: Personal Notebooks, circa 1968-1978 Subseries II.2: Address and Appointment Books, 1981-2001 Subseries II.3: Technology and Consulting Files, 1993-2013 Subseries II.4: Miscellaneous Personal Documents, 1977-2014 Series III: Manuscripts and Editorial Files, 1962-circa 2014 Subseries III.1: James Sherry Manuscripts and Editorial Files, 1962-2013 Subseries III.2: Other Manuscripts and Editorial Files, 1969-circa 2014 Subseries III.3: Grant Applications, 1976-circa 1997 Series IV: Segue Foundation, 1976-2016 Subseries IV.1: Administrative and Financial Records, 1976-2016 Subseries IV.2: Related Foundation Records, 1979-1989 Series V: Publications, 1976-2016 Series VI: Archived Web Site, 2018-

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); James Sherry Papers ; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection