Guide to the Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archives
ca. 1990-1997

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/research/fales/cdfa.htm

© 2002 Fales Library and Special Collections . All rights reserved.
New York University Libraries, Publisher
Processed by Tania Friedel from November 1997-July 1998
Machine-readable finding aid created by Brian Stevens - derived from the HTML finding aid, 2002. Description is in English.
2003, High Risk converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by one2two.xsl.2005-11-02, Revised by Leslie Myrick.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Serpents Tail (Firm) and High Risk Books (Firm)
Title: Serpent's Tail/High Risk archive
Dates: ca. 1990-1997
Abstract: High Risk Books was founded in New York City in 1993 by Ira Silverberg as an imprint of Serpent's Tail Press in London. Dedicated to publishing challenging, innovative, and progressive literature, High Risk Books transcended the traditional boundaries of publishing to provoke and inspire a new generation of writers and readers. While connected by a certain subversive impulse, authors as diverse as William Burroughs, Kathy Acker, Tim Dlugos, Diamanda Galas, Robert Glary Indiana, June Jordan, Cookie Mueller, Lynne Tillman, Pagan Kennedy, John Giorno, Sapphire and many others are published by High Risk. As a small press, High Risk played a crucial role in providing a space for writers, many just beginning their careers, who would otherwise have found it difficult to get published in mainstream houses. In January 1997, High Risk Books ceased operation due to disagreements with the Serpent's Tail office in London. Serpent's Tail Press continues to publish from the United Kingdom.
Quantity: 37.5 Linear ft. (25 Boxes)
Call Phrase: Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archives, MSS 86
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Historical/Biographical Note:

High Risk Books was founded in New York City in 1993 by Ira Silverberg as an imprint of Serpent's Tail Press in London. Dedicated to publishing challenging, innovative, and progressive literature, High Risk Books transcended the traditional boundaries of publishing to provoke and inspire a new generation of writers and readers. Ira Silverberg told The New York Times in a March 13, 1994 interview that he and his co-editor Amy Scholder wanted to "catch an area of the market that's being overlooked by mainstream houses. . . . We're working with a lot of gay men, lesbians, and African Americans, because the voices of under served communities tend to shed more light on societal conditions than the voices of the people who have the franchise. That's not to say we won't publish straight white men". While connected by a certain subversive impulse, authors as diverse as William Burroughs, Kathy Acker, Tim Dlugos, Diamanda Galas, Robert Glary Indiana, June Jordan, Cookie Mueller, Lynne Tillman, Pagan Kennedy, John Giorno, Sapphire and many others are published by High Risk.

As a small press High Risk played a crucial role in providing a space for writers, many just beginning their careers, who would otherwise have found it difficult to get published in mainstream houses. Anny Patty, editor-at-large at Crown Publishing, complimented Ira Silverberg for "publishing a kind of book that's very hard for corporate publishers to get past committees, which tend to homogenize things. He's able to publish non-homogenized writing and to sort out those who are posing from those who really have something to say." Ira's larger agenda for High Risk Books can be summed up in his statement to The New York Times: "I hope we'll be seen as the diamond in the coal bin that publishing is right now. I want to prove to the world that literary publishing has a future".

In January, 1997, High Risk Books ceased operation due to disagreements with the Serpent's Tail office in London. Serpent's Tail Press continues to publish from the United Kingdom.

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Scope and Content Note

The Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archive is a part of the Downtown Collection at the Fales Library, New York University. The Fales Library is the primary special collections division of the NYU libraries, housing over 167,000 volumes of English and American literature from 1700 to the present. Strengths of the collection include the development of the English and American novel, with an emphasis on the Gothic and the Victorian novel. The Downtown Collection, of which the High Risk Archive is a part, is a comprehensive collection of author and business files, printed materials, manuscripts, photographs and other materials related to the Downtown New York scene from ca. 1975 to the present.

The archival portion of the Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archive is comprised of the correspondence, manuscripts and contracts of authors who published with High Risk Books, press binders on High Risk and Serpent's Tail authors, business and administration files, production files, publicity, reviews, photographs, sales catalogues, posters, ephemera, and some audio/visual and printed material. The Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archive contains a comprehensive collection of High Risk Books files during the years of its operation. Ira Silverberg's original organization of the archive was preserved as much as possible.

Series I (Author files) subseries A contains four boxes of High Risk author files. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by author and includes information on appearances and events, contracts, royalty and sub-rights, correspondence, author data, production, publicity, and reviews. Series I, subseries B contains three boxes of Serpent's Tail author files, arranged by author and further subdivided by title. Also included are authors/titles published collaboratively by both Atlas Press and Serpent's Tail.

Series II (Business and administrative files): Contains five boxes of editorial and general correspondence, as well as correspondence with the U.K. office, Atlas Press, and Consortium Book Sales and Distribution. It also includes business files pertaining to customer accounts, advertising, events, trade shows, the High Risk website, marketing research, academic and review requests, publication schedules, permissions, and budgets.

Series III (Manuscripts): Contains five boxes of manuscripts found scattered throughout the collection. This series also includes versions of texts that reflect the various stages of production (from manuscript to advance uncorrected proof).

Series IV (Production files): Contains two boxes of production materials, sometimes with manuscripts. All galleys were removed and catalogued for the Fales Downtown Collection.

Series V (Publicity and Promotion), subseries A contains three boxes of promotional materials, sales kits, and material removed from press binders and put in folders for the collection. Series V, subseries B contains author photographs and slides of authors and cover art. Series 5 subseries C contains sales catalogues from High Risk, Serpent's Tail, and Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.

Series VI (Miscellaneous), subseries A contains subject files on Paul Miller, a.k.a. DJ Spooky, and Richard Tremblay, a.k.a. Rick Trembles. Series VI, subseries B contains printed material. Series 6 subseries C contains ephemera. Series 6 subseries D contains computer disks from the High Risk office.

Flat: There is one flat oversize box that contain oversize materials from series 1, 5 and 6. Posters of William Burroughs from series I are located in the map case.

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Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically by name/subject within each series. Oversize materials are separated into their own container.
The files are grouped into six subject oriented series.
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Related Material at the Fales Library and Special Collections

The Avant-Garde Collection

Between C and D Archive

Tim Dlugos Papers

Downtown Collection

The Dennis Cooper Papers

The David Wojnarowicz Papers

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Separated Material

There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.

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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 10012

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Access Points

Subject Names:
Acker, Kathy, 1948-
Burroughs, William S., 1947-
Dlugos, Tim.
Gal Diama.
Giorno, John.
Glück,Robert.
Indiana, Gary.
Jordan, June, 1936-
Kennedy, Pagan, 1962-
Mueller, Cookie.
Sapphire, 1950-
Silverberg, Ira.
Tillman, Lynne.
Subject Organizations:
High Risk Books (Firm).
Serpents Tail (Firm).
Subject Topics:
Atlas Press (Firm).
Authors, American--20th century.
High Risk Books (Firm).
Literature, Experimental.
Literature, Modern--20th century.
New York (N.Y.)--Intellectual life--20th century.
Poets, American--20th century.
Serpent's Tail (Firm).
Small presses--New York (State)--New York.
Subject Places:
New York (State)--New York.
Document Types:
Business records.
Contracts.
Correspondence.
Ephemera.
Manuscripts for publication.
Manuscripts.
Photographs.
Press kits.
Reviews.
Sales catalogs.
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Administrative Information

Provenance

The Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archive was donated February, 1997 by Ira Silverberg. The initial organization of the collection was done by High Risk staff as they packed the materials for shipment.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Serpent's Tail/High Risk archive; MSS 86; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections , New York University Libraries.

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Container List

 

Series I: Author Files

 

Subseries A: High Risk author files

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Acker, Kathy--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 2 Acker, Kathy--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 3 Acker, Kathy--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 4 Acker, Kathy--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 5 Acker, Kathy--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 6 Bornstein / Sullivan--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 7 Bornstein / Sullivan--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 8 Bornstein / Sullivan--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 9 Bornstein / Sullivan--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 10 Bornstein / Sullivan--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 11 Bornstein / Sullivan--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 12 Burroughs, William--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 13 Burroughs, William--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 14 Burroughs, William--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 15 Burroughs, William--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 16 Burroughs, William--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 16a Burroughs, William--posters (see folder in map case) undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 17 Burroughs, William--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 18 Burroughs, William--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 19 Bush, Catherine--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 20 Bush, Catherine--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 21 Bush, Catherine--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 22 Bush, Catherine--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 23 Bush, Catherine--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 24 Bush, Catherine--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 25 Bush, Catherine--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 26 Camus, Renaud--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 27 Camus, Renaud--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 28 Camus, Renaud--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 29 Camus, Renaud--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 30 Camus, Renaud--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 31 Camus, Renaud--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 32 Camus, Renaud--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 33 Carter, Charlotte--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 34 Carter, Charlotte--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 35 Cortez, Jayne--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 36 Cortez, Jayne--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 37 Cortez, Jayne--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 38 Cortez, Jayne--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 39 Cortez, Jayne--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 40 Cortez, Jayne--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 41 Davis, Lydia--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 42 Davis, Lydia--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 43 Davis, Lydia--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 44 Davis, Lydia--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 45 Davis, Lydia--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 46 Davis, Lydia--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 47 Dlugos, Tim--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 48 Dlugos, Tim--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 49 Dlugos, Tim--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 50 Dlugos, Tim--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 51 Dlugos, Tim--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 52 Dlugos, Tim--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 53 Galas, Diamanda--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 54 Galas, Diamanda--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 55 Galas, Diamanda--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 55a Galas, Diamanda--misc (see flat box) undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 56 Galas, Diamanda--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 57 Galas, Diamanda--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 58 Gilroy, Paul--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 59 Gilroy, Paul--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 60 Giorno, John--appearance / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 61 Giorno, John--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 62 Giorno, John--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 63 Giorno, John--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 64 Giorno, John--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 65 Giorno, John--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 66 Giorno, John--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
1 67 Giorno, John--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616966
Box Folder Title Date
2 68 Glück, Robert--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 69 Glück, Robert--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 70 Glück, Robert--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 71 Glück, Robert--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 72 Glück, Robert--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 73 Glück, Robert--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 74 Glück, Robert--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 75 Glück, Robert--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 76 Goodis, David--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 77 Goodis, David--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 78 Goodis, David--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 79 Guibert, Herve. contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 80 Guibert, Herve. correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 81 Guibert, Herve. data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 82 Guibert, Herve. production undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 83 Guibert, Herve. publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 84 Guibert, Herve. reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 85 Guibert, Herve. royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 86 Home, Stewart--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 87 Home, Stewart--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 88 Home, Stewart--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 89 House, Richard--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 90 House, Richard--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 91 House, Richard--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 92 Indiana, Gary--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 93 Indiana, Gary--contracts undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 94 Indiana, Gary--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 95 Indiana, Gary--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 96 Indiana, Gary--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 97 Indiana, Gary--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 98 Indiana, Gary--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 99 Indiana, Gary--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 100 Johnston, Jill--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 101 Johnston, Jill--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 102 Jordan, June--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 103 Jordan, June--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 104 Jordan, June--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 105 Jordan, June--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 106 Jordan, June--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 107 Jordan, June--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 108 Jordan, June--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 109 Jordan, June--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 110 Kennedy, Pagan--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 111 Kennedy, Pagan--contracts undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 112 Kennedy, Pagan--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
2 113 Kennedy, Pagan--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616974
Box Folder Title Date
3 114 Kennedy, Pagan--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 115 Kennedy, Pagan--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 116 Kennedy, Pagan--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 117 Kennedy, Pagan--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 118 Kertess, Klaus--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 119 Kertess, Klaus--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 120 Kertess, Klaus--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 121 Kertess, Klaus--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 122 Klein, Adam--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 123 Klein, Adam--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 124 Klein, Adam--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 125 Klein, Adam--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 126 Klein, Adam--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 127 Klein, Adam--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 128 Klein, Adam--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 129 Klein, Adam--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 130 Lambert, Gavin--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 131 Lambert, Gavin--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 132 Lambert, Gavin--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 133 Lambert, Gavin--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 134 Lambert, Gavin--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 135 Levin, Ira--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 136 Levin, Ira--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 137 Levin, Ira--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 138 Lewis, Heather--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 139 Lewis, Heather--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 140 Lewis, Heather--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 141 Lewis, Heather--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 142 Lewis, Heather--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 143 Lewis, Heather--reviews undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 144 Lewis, Heather--royalties / subrights undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 145 McCoy, Horace--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 146 McCoy, Horace--correspondence undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 147 McCoy, Horace--data undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 148 McCoy, Horace--production undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 149 McCoy, Horace--publicity undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 150 McCoy, Horace--royalties undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 151 Meer, Ameena--appearances / events undated     Barcode: 31142040616982
3 152 Meer, Ameena--contract undated     Barcode: 31142040616982