Guide to the Ira Silverberg Papers 1980-2007 MSS 110

Descriptive Summary

Title:	Ira Silverberg Papers
Dates:	1980-2007
Abstract:	Ira Silverberg has been an influential literary agent and editor in New York City for almost two decades. His papers contain the correspondence and manuscripts of many of the city's young talents. Additionally, his papers offer a unique insight into the world of New York City publishing. Of special interest in the Silverberg papers is the extensive amount of material relating to authors Kathy Acker, William S. Burroughs and Dennis Cooper.
Quantity:	52.0 Linear feet (52 boxes)
Call Phrase:	MSS 110

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Historical/Biographical Note:

Ira Silverberg has been influential in the Downtown scene in his capacity as both literary agent and editor. Silverberg has been a literary agent at Donadio & Ashworth, Editor-in-Chief at Grove/Atlantic Press, and editorial and publishing director at Serpent's Tail's U.S. projects, High Risk Books and Midnight Classics. He also developed the marketing and public relations firm, Ira Silverberg Communications, which as attracted such prestigious clients as: The Academy of American Poets, William S. Burroughs, Dennis Cooper, City Lights Publications, Re/Search Publications, and the estate of David Wojnarowicz.

Silverberg began his career in publishing in 1984 as an Editorial and Publicity Assistant at The Overlook Press. In 1985, he was named Publicity Director of Grove Press. He left Grove in 1990 to begin work for Serpent's Tail. He returned to Grove/Atlantic in 1997 before moving on to Donadio & Ashworth.

While working for Serpent's Tail, Silverberg co-edited two anthologies, High Risk (Dutton/Plume U.S.; Serpent's Tail U.K.) and High Risk 2 (Plume U.S.; Serpent's Tail U. K.), that proved influential in defining the Downtown aesthetic. Many of the then-unknown authors included went on to have successful and prolific careers.

In addition to his publishing and editorial duties Silverberg has become affiliated with many cultural institutions in New York City. He serves on the Board of Directors of BOMB magazine and the Member's Council of PEN American Center. He has also acted as judge for the Gregory Kolovakos Award for AIDS writing; he has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Program and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund; and he has acted as editorial advisor to the Portable Lower East Side. He has also served as a member of the visiting faculty at The New School for Social Research.

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Scope and Content

The Ira Silverberg papers contain correspondence, manuscripts, subject files, business/administrative files, personal files, cassette tapes, videos, books, periodicals, posters, and three-dimensional objects. The following is a brief series description that provides a general guide to the contents of each series.

Series I: Correspondence - Includes correspondence to and from Ira Silverberg, with correspondents such as Kathy Acker, Lawrence Chua, Dennis Cooper, Tim Dlugos, Gary Indiana, James Purdy, Jon Savage, Art Spiegelman, Lynne Tillman, John Waters, and David Wojnarowicz, as well as correspondence regarding certain writers, namely Kathy Acker and Jacqueline Susann. This series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Series II: Manuscripts - Includes manuscripts received by Ira Silverberg, such as those by Dennis Cooper, Lawrence Chua, Karen Finley, Allen Ginsberg, Lynne Tillman, David Trinidad, John Waters, and David Wojnarowicz. This series is arranged alphabetically by author.

Series III: Affiliations - Includes correspondence and related materials involving Ira Silverberg's affiliations, such as with the Academy of American Poets, CLMP, the New School, and PEN. This series is arranged alphabetically by institution.

Series IV: Business/Administration Files - Includes files relating to Ira Silverberg's various positions as editor and literary agent, such as activity reports, contracts, general business correspondence, events, insurance, tax files, mailing lists, and notebooks. This series also includes correspondence and related files regarding Silverberg's business associates and contacts, such as Donadio & Ashworth, Grove/Atlantic, Peake Associates, Re/Search Publishing, and Serpent's Tail/High Risk. The files in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Subseries A: General Business/Administration Files

Subseries B: Client Projects - Includes files related to projects by Silverberg's clients, especially projects by Kathey Acker, Dennis Cooper, Richard Grossman and Gary Indiana. Files are arranged by client name when known, or by original folder title when client is unspecificed.

Subseries C: Financial Files - The majority of this subseries consists of receipts, bills, and other financial documentation. Arranged aplphabetically by original folder title, and then chronologically.

Subseries D: Tear Sheets, Reviews and Clippings - Various press clippings relating to Silverberg's projects and clients. Arranged alphabetically by client name or subject when known, or chronologically as general "tear sheets" files.

Series V: Personal Files - Includes articles by and about Ira Silverberg, Silverberg bios, Personal correspondence, personal finances, and photographs. The 2005 accretion includes a large number of photographs and negatives. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series VI: Computer Files - Includes information downloaded from Silverberg's hard drive and computer disks, as well as the actual disks themselves. Files include, Kathy Acker, client lists, bios, William S. Burroughs, and email correspondence. This series is arranged alphabetically by the file names given by Silverberg. The actual disks are listed at the end.

Series VII: Other Media - Includes cassette tapes, compact disks, DVDs, and movie film arranged alphabetically by title.

Series VIII: Books/Periodicals - Includes books and periodicals collected by Silverberg and arranged alphabetically by title. Books and periodicals not found in the New York University catalog (Bobcat) were catalogued and are now shelved in the Downtown Collection in the Fales Library and Special Collections.

Series IX: Burroughs - Includes materials relating to William S. Burroughs, such as a variety of Burroughs's projects, Burroughs-related manuscripts, correspondence between Burroughs, James Grauerholz, and Ira Silverberg, Burroughs-related events, and Burroughs photographs. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject, based on original file titles.

Series X: Ephemera - Includes one box containing Jacqueline Susann publicity from Grove/Atlantic, and one box of three-dimensional objects.

Series XI: J.T. LeRoy - The majority is clippings and correspondence. The clippings are largely reviews of LeRoy's books, or articles about the LeRoy "hoax." The correspondence consists of email printouts, faxes, and letters, mostly about LeRoy, although some of the correspondence is from "J.T. LeRoy" to Silverberg. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title, and materials within are arranged chronologically.

Map Case 1: Oversize - Currently unprocessed. Includes movie posters and original artwork.

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Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject/author heading, and then chronologically.

The Ira Silverberg Papers are organized by subject into eleven series.

Group 1, Series I: Correspondence
Group 1, Series II: Manuscripts
Group 1, Series III: Affiliations
Group 1, Series IV: Business/Administrative Files
Group 1, Series V: Personal Files
Group 1, Series VI: Computer Files
Group 1, Series VII: Other Media
Group 1, Series VIII: Books/Periodicals
Group 1, Series IX: Burroughs
Group 1, Series X: Ephemera
Group 1, Series XI: J.T. Leroy
Group 2, Series I: Correspondence
Group 2, Series II: Manuscripts
Group 2, Series IV: Business/Administrative Files
Group 2, Series VIII: Books/Periodicals
Group 2, Series IX: Burroughs
Group 3, Series I: Correspondence
Group 3, Series II: Manuscripts
Group 3, Series III: Affiliations
Group 3, Series IV: Business/Administration Files
Group 3, Series V: Personal Files
Group 3, Series VI: Computer Files
Group 3, Series VII: Other Media
Group 3, Series VIII: Books/Periodicals
Group 3, Series IX: Burroughs
Group 3, Series X: Ephemera
Oversize I
Oversize II

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Related Material at the Fales Library and Special Collections

Dennis Cooper Papers

Tim Dlugos Papers

Serpents Tail/High Risk Archive

David Wojnarowicz Papers

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

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

Use Restrictions

Items have been closed and separated from the collection and may not be viewed for a period of 10 years (2011).

Photocopying restrictions apply to some materials. All writings, letters, etc. of William S. Burroughs and James Grauerholz may not be photocopied until written permission is secured either from the copyright holder, James Grauerholz, or his literary executor if permission is requested after his death.

Appointments are necessary for use of manuscript and archival materials. For more information, contact fales.library@nyu.edu. or call 212 998 2596.

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Access Points

People

Acker, Kathy, 1948-1997
Burroughs, William S., 1914-1997
Cooper, Dennis, 1953-
Dlugos, Tim
Indiana, Gary
Purdy, James
Silverberg, Ira
Spiegelman, Art
Susann, Jacqueline
Tillman, Lynne
Waters, Jon
Wojnarowicz, David

Subjects

Authors and publishers.
Authors, American -- 20th century.
Literary movements--United States.
Literature, Experimental.
Publishers and publishing in literature.

Organizations

High Risk Books (Firm).

Type

Audiotapes.
Books
Business Records
Magazines (periodicals)
Magnetic disks
Manuscripts for publication
Videotapes

Places

New York (N.Y.)
New York (N.Y.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century.

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Administrative Information

Provenance

The Ira Silverberg Papers were donated to the Fales Library by Ira Silverberg in 2008.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); The Ira Silverberg Papers; MSS 110; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.

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Container List

Group 1, Series I: Correspondence

Box