Guide to the Fugs Archive
ca. 1963-1971

Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 998-2596
Fax: (212) 995-3835
Email: fales.library@nyu.edu

URL: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/collections/findingaids/

© 2003 Fales Library and Special Collections . All rights reserved.
New York University Libraries, Publisher
Tania Friedel, April 1999
Machine-readable finding aid derived from a text finding aid, 2003. Machine-readable finding aid created by Matt Moore. Description is in English.
2003, Fugsarchive finding aid converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by one2two.xsl.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Fugs
Title: The Fugs Archive
Dates: ca. 1963-1971
Abstract: The Fugs Archive is a part of the Avant Garde Collection at Fales Library, New York University. The Fugs Archive is a collection of correspondence and manuscripts about band members Ed Sanders, Tuli Kupferberg, and Ken Weaver. Materials are arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.
Quantity: .25 linear feet in 1 box
Call Phrase: The Fugs Archive
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Historical Note

The Fugs, a contrasting group of poet-musicians, were virtually conceived and developed on the off-Broadway stage. They performed first at the Bridge Theater. After a run of a full two weeks, Ed Sanders, poet, editor, owner of the fabled Peace Eye Book Store and leader of the group, decided the show was ready for a cross-country tour. In a borrowed Volkswagen bus, the Fugs stormed suprised academies from the Kinsey Institute in Bloomington, Indiana to the University of Kansas and on to Berkeley.

The Fugs satirized everything from political involvement and patriotism to rock and roll, from war and hate to super-abundant love. The Fugs performed about 15 of their 110 songs per show and presented 12 shows a week during their theater runs. Rather than object to the rigor of the long run, they became more and more intrigued by the possibibilities of the theater through constantly changing and adding to their repertoire. The Fugs were an ever-evolving improvisational review.

The Fugs consisted of three members: Tuli Kupferberg, native New Yorker and "one of the leading Anarchist theorists of our time," Ken Weaver, humorist and poet, and Ed Sanders, poet and leader of the group.

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Scope and Content Note

The Fugs Archive consists of a combination of correspondence, manuscripts, flyers, newsclippings, and publications from 1963-1971.

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Arrangement

The Fugs Archive is arranged in alphabetical and chronological order.
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Related Material at the Fales Library and Special Collections

Avant Garde Collection

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Separated Material

Several periodicals and chapbooks have been separated from the Fugs Archive and cataloged. These periodicals and chapbooks are searchable in Bobcat. Three posters have been removed from the collection and placed in the map case. These posters are listed at the end of the Box and Folder List.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers. Appointments are necessary for the use of manuscript and archival materials.

Use Restrictions

Collection use is subject to all copyright laws. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of Fales Library and Special Collections. For more information, contact
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012Phone: (212) 998-2596
Fax: (212) 995-3835
Email: fales.library@nyu.edu

URL: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/fales/cdfa.htm

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Access Points

Subject Names:
Kupferberg, Tuli
Sanders, Ed
Weaver, Ken
Subject Organizations:
Fugs (musical group)
Subject Topics:
American poetry--20th century
Avant-garde (Aesthetics)
Experimental theater--20th century
Performance art
Poets, American--20th century
Rock groups
Rock music
Rock musicians
Document Types:
Announcements
Correspondence
Flyers
Manuscripts
Photographs
Posters
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Administrative Information

Provenance

The Fugs Archive was purchased from Richard Aaron of Am Here Books in February 1975.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); The Fugs Archive; MSS 13; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections , New York University Libraries.

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Container List

[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]

 

Series I: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Flyers, Newsclippings, and Publications

Scope and Content:

Series 1 contains 1 box of correspondence and manuscripts written by the Fugs, various flyers, newsclippings and publications.

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 List of archive undated
1 2 Biography undated
1 3 Correspondence and manuscripts: Kupferberg, Tuli undated
1 4 Correspondence and manuscripts: Sanders, Ed undated
1 5 Correspondence and manuscripts: Weaver, Ken undated
1 6 Announcements regarding Ed Sanders undated
1 7 Archive 76: The Marijuana Newsletter, Issue 2; March 15, 1965 1965
1 8 Archive 80: A Valorium edition of the entire extant works of Thales undated
1 9 Archive 84: Maxims and aphorisms from the letters of D.H. Lawrence, compiled by Marguerite Harris undated
1 10 Archive 95, 97, 98: Ed Sanders catalogues 3, 4.5, 6
1 11 ESP-Disk order form undated
1 12 Fugs flip undated
1 13 Flyers undated
1 14 Logo undated
1 15 Photo undated
1 16 Poets at the Metro, vol. VIII, November 1963 1963
1 17 Transatlantic news and transatlantic letters undated
1 18 Sanders truckstop [bio] undated
1 19 Newsclips undated
Box Folder Title Date
Map Case Newsclip composit [1966]
Map Case The Fugs poster regarding ESP disk--black and white undated
Map Case The Fugs poster regarding ESP disk--color undated

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