Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], [Date of Item], Jargon Society Collection, WLU-Coll-0777, [Box Number], [Folder Number], [Folder Name]. Washington and Lee Special Collections and Archives, Washington and Lee University Library, Lexington, VA.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Biographical / Historical

The Jargon Society, a small-press publisher founded in 1951 by Jonathan Williams, offers a wide variety of queer and nature themed poetry. As a publisher, Williams' goal was to give the artist and/or the poet "the book that they wanted". Following Williams' death in 2008 the official archive of the Jargon Society was transferred by his partner Thomas Meyer to Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center where the imprint remains active. Additional information about The Jargon Society can be found at the , Black Mountain College (BMC) Website.

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily contains materials related to the Jargon Society and Jonathan Williams in addition to materials related to the small press community present in North Carolina. The Jargon Society materials include both published histories as well as promotional materials and subscription lists. The collection also contains materials related to Williams including correspondence between Williams and both Thorns Craven as well as Gordon Ball and materials created in memory of Williams.

Separated Material

In addition to archival materials, this collection also includes published volumes that have been described bibliographically in the library catalogue. To access this collection of Jargon imprints as well as other materials published by Jargon affiliates, pleaes visit The Jargon Society

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Ball, Gordon (1944-12-30)
• Craven, Thorns, Class of 1962
• Jargon Society
• Meyer, Thomas, 1947-
• Williams, Jonathan (Jonathan Chamberlain), 1929-2008