First Casualty Press Records

Collection

Identifier: 1973-0001

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection consists primarily of poetry and fiction written by Vietnam War veterans reflecting on their war experiences, submitted to First Casualty Press for consideration for publication. The collection also contains correspondence between First Casualty Press and authors, publishers, readers, and war veterans and materials related to the publication process, such as typescripts, proofs, promotional materials and reviews. Published books and periodicals were removed from this collection and placed in the Archives & Special Collections general collection. The bulk of the collection dates from 1970 to 1973. Of note are letters from Coretta Scott King and Senator George McGovern applauding First Casualty Press for their work in the anti-war movement. Due to the subject matter of this collection, some materials illustrate and/or describe extremely graphic violence.

Dates

1960-1981

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

History

Vietnam War veteran Basil T. Paquet founded First Casualty Press in September 1971 with fellow veterans Larry Rottmann and Jan Barry Crumb. Paquet both edited and contributed to Winning Hearts and Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans and Free Fire Zone: Short Stories by Vietnam Veterans. Paquet won the Wallace Stevens Award for Poetry in 1969.

Extent

7.84 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Organization

Series I: Correspondence (1969-1981).

Series II: Writings (1960-1978).

Series III: Photographs and Drawing (undated).

Arrangement

The materials have been refoldered and subdivided for easy access. Correspondence is subdivided into author correspondence and general correspondence. Writings are subdivided according to publication: Winning Hearts and Minds, Free Fire Zone, and Post-Mortem. Writings also include general submissions by authors that were never published and papers related to press business. Photographs and drawing are arranged alphabetically by name of the photographer/artist.

Acquisition Information

The collection was purchased in 1973.

Separated Material

The following materials have been removed from the collection and catalogued.

Books

Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers. Cosmep Bookstore Survey, COSMEP, 1971.

Committee of Small Magazine Editors and Publishers. The Small Publisher's Book, COSMEP, 1972.

DeLuca, Angelo. Legacy of Life: Ariel and Frankenstein Come to Grips, Western World Press, 1972.

Henderson, Bill, ed. The Publish-It-Yourself Handbook, Yonkers, NY: Pushcart Book Press, 1973. [Chapter about First Casualty Press, p.139-142]

Kushner, [Steam Smoke?]. Lifesavers, Hillside, NJ: Mont Sainte Victoire, 1972. WPS 3652

Livingstone, Richard. Vietnam Verses...Speak in Shame and Sorrow, Movement Labor New England Free Press, 1970.

Martin, Earl E.A Poet Goes to War, Bozeman, MT: Big Sky Books, 1970.

McKeown, Tom. The Cloud Keeper, Dublin: Seafront Press, 1972.

Paquet, Basil T., Wayne Karlin and Larry Rottmann. Free Fire Zone: Short Stories by Vietnam Veterans, Coventry, CT: First Casualty Press Fund, 1973. A 4587, A 4588

Paquet, Basil T., Wayne Karlin and Larry Rottmann. Free Fire Zone: Short Stories by Vietnam Veterans, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Paperbacks, 1973. A 4589

Paquet, Basil T., Jan Barry and Larry Rottmann. Winning Hearts and Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans, Brooklyn, NY: First Casualty Press, 1972.

Paquet, Basil T., Jan Barry and Larry Rottmann. Winning Hearts and Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans, 2nd edition, Brooklyn, NY: First Casualty Press, 1972.

Paquet, Basil T., Jan Barry and Larry Rottmann. Winning Hearts and Minds: War Poems by Vietnam Veterans, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1972.

Taylor, John. 21 Poems, Portland, OR: Tree Frog, 1972. WPS 3653

Whitaker, T. J.The Empty Road, T.J. Whitaker, 1971.

Periodicals

Ark River Review, poems by Danny Rendleman, p.6-71972.

Aspect, review, p.25-28, Oct./Nov. 1972.

College English, review & poem re-prints, p.1022-1026, Apr. 1973.

Commentaries, advertisement , p.20, Spring 1973.

Entertainment Gallery, review, p.28, Mar. 1973.

Fervent Valley, poems by Fielding Dawson, Spring 1972.

Freedomways, poem re-prints, p.217-221, Summer 1972.

Friends Journal, review, p.388, July 1/15, 1972.

Friends Journal, review, p.334, June 1/15, 1973.

Glamour, article, p.123, Dec. 1972.

Liberation News Service (LNS) [oversized] 538, 539, July 11, 14, 1973.

Long Island Review, review, p.30-33, Winter 1973.

Midwest Quarterly, review, p.455-456, Summer 1972.

New Republic, review, p.33, May 27, 1972.

New Republic, War Hero by Ward Just (Clyde Reeves), Jul. 21, 1973.

Occum Ridge Review, advertisement, p.393, Spring/Summer 197.

Progressive, advertisement, p.39, Aug. 1972.

Progressive, advertisement, p.53, Sept. 1972.

Progressive, VVAW letter to CBS, p.49, May 1973.

Scholastic Voice, poem re-print, p.2, Feb. 26, 1973.

Science for the People, review, p.14-15, Nov. 1972.

Scope, poem re-prints, p.4-11, Mar. 12, 1973.

Saturday Review, VVAW article, p.7-26, Oct. 1972.

Saturday Review, interview with poet Mike McCusker, p.61, Dec. 1972.

Student Lawyer, poem re-prints, p.44-48, Sept. 1972.

Sundance, review, p.87, Aug.-Sept. 1972.

West Coast Review, advertisement, p.89, Jan. 1973.

Subjects

Administrative records Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
American poetry Subject Source: Fast
Anthologies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Authors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Authors and publishers Subject Source: Fast
Connecticut (state) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Coventry (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Editors Subject Source: Fast
Fiction Subject Source: Fast
Fliers (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Galley proofs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Literature Subject Source: Fast
Monographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Photocopies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Poems Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Poetry Subject Source: Fast
Posters Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Press releases Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Publications (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Publishers and publishing Subject Source: Fast
Reviews (document genre) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Short stories, American Subject Source: Fast
Small presses Subject Source: Fast
Twentieth century. Subject Source: Fast
Typescripts Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
United States (nation) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Veterans' writings, American Subject Source: Fast
Vietnam War (1961-1975) Subject Source: Fast
manuscripts (document genre) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus