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University of Chicago Library

Guide to the LVNG Records 1989-2003

© 2009 University of Chicago Library

Acknowledgments

The LVNG Records were processed and preserved as part of the "Uncovering New Chicago Archives Project," funded with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Descriptive Summary

Title:

LVNG. Records

Dates:

1989-2003

Size:

11 linear feet (12 boxes)

Repository:

Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.

Abstract:

LVNG, a free journal featuring poetry, fiction, essays, and art. The LVNG Records contain poetry and short story submissions, correspondence, mock-ups, galley proofs, photographs, visual designs, event posters, supplements and pvlmonar, and newspaper articles. These records document the literary and business aspect of LVNG, its editors, and contributors.

Information on Use

Access

The collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: LVNG. Records, [Box#, Folder#], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Historical Note

LVNG is an independent journal that features poetry, fiction, essays, and art. The first issue of LVNG was published in the fall of 1990 at Kenyon College. Michael O'Leary and Jay Sullivan, the journal's founding editors, collected poetry and artwork from friends in both Detroit and Chicago. The two assembled eighty copies of the thirty-six page inaugural issue and circulated it among friends and colleagues. The name of the journal was taken from a favorite song of both editors, "The Lung" by Dinosaur Jr., and was also an abbreviation of Living and Loving.

Influenced by traditional gift-giving economies and communities, O'Leary and Sullivan were committed to the free distribution of LVNG. Peter O'Leary joined the founders as an editor and helped with the dissemination of LVNG into Detroit and Chicago cafes, bookstores, and record stores.

Beginning in 2001, LVNG was published by Flood Editions, a small non-profit press founded by Michael O'Leary and Devin Johnston. Available online and in communities across the country, LVNG's primary purpose is "to provide a location for the ideas and aspirations of a collection of writers." The journal's unorthodox and informal distribution method - placing copies of LVNG in buses and trains, grocery stores and doctor's offices - offered people an opportunity to read contemporary poetry without having to purchase a poetry magazine. Later joined by Peter O'Leary and Joel Felix, LVNG produced eleven issues, the last of which appeared in 2004.

Michael O'Leary received a B.A. (1993) in Greek and Latin from Kenyon College, which later awarded him membership to Phi Beta Kappa, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering (2004) and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering (2008) from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1993 he moved to Chicago, where he worked for Morningstar, a financial publishing company. He later became the Associate for External Relations in the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago. He was a writing consultant for the Franke Family Foundation where he co-authored a novelization of a family history published by The University of Chicago Press. With Jay Sullivan, and later joined by Peter O'Leary and Joel Felix, he co-founded LVNG, a free poetry, fiction, and art magazine focusing on Midwest authors and artists. He also served as an editor for Chicago Review and Kenyon Review. O'Leary works as an engineer in Chicago.

Peter O’Leary received a B.A. (1990) with honors in English Literature from the College at University of Chicago, and a M.A. (1994) in Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a Ph.D (1999) in Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School specializing in Religion and Literature. In 1992, O’Leary met poet Ronald Johnson, who became his mentor until Johnson’s death in 1998. Johnson appointed O’Leary to be his literary executor. This charge resulted in two books: To Do As Adam Did: Selected Poems (Talisman House, 2000) and The Shrubberies, a collection of last poems (Flood Editions, 2001). In 1994, O’Leary traveled to Greece and visited the holy island of Patmos where Orthodox iconography was discovered. He also spent a year living in Vienna in 1997-1998. O’Leary resides in Chicago and is a teacher at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Jay Sullivan attended Kenyon College with Michael O'Leary. He is a lawyer in Boston.

Scope Note

LVNG is a free journal featuring poetry, fiction, essays, and art. The LVNG Records contain poetry and short story submissions, correspondence, mock-ups, galley proofs, photographs, visual designs, event posters, published issues, supplements and pvlmonar, and newspaper articles. These records document the literary and business aspects of LVNG, its editors, and contributors.

The LVNG Records are divided into six series: Series I, Administrative and Correspondence; Series II, Drafts, Proofs, and Mock-ups; Series III, pvlmonar and Supplements; Series IV, Manuscripts and Submissions; Series V, Photographs and Publicity; Series VI, Newspapers and Oversize;

Series I, Administrative and Correspondence, is arranged chronologically and includes letters from readers complimenting LVNG publications, order requests for journal copies, emails between the editors, invoices and other administrative correspondence. There are personal letters to Jay Sullivan from Michael O'Leary as well as correspondence to Michael O'Leary from close friends. Also included is a mailing list of LVNG contributors and buyers. Administrative and financial contain order receipts, invoices, and postage receipts. See Series II, IV, and V for correspondence kept with drafts and manuscripts.

Series II, Drafts, Proofs and Mock-ups, contains drafts, proofs, mock-ups and other material related to each LVNG issue. There are hand-written notations and critiques concerning drafts and proofs as well as artwork and visual designs. There is also a sketchbook of charcoal drawings. See Series IV for original submissions of manuscripts, artwork, and visual designs.

Series III, pvlmonar and Supplements, contains drafts, proofs, published issues, and other material of the poems and published supplements of LVNG. Authors and artists include Marton Koppany, John Taggart, and John Tipton.

Series IV, Manuscripts and Artwork, contains manuscripts and artwork submitted by authors and artists. Arranged alphabetically by last name. Unnamed artwork and manuscripts are grouped within folders labeled "Unidentified." See Series I for manuscripts kept with correspondence. See Series II for additional manuscripts and artwork.

Series V, Photographs and Publicity, contains event posters and photographs from LVNG and poetry events, as well as personal photographs of Jay Sullivan, Michael O'Leary, and friends.

Series VI, Oversize and Publications, contains Chicago based publications, the Reader, a free weekly publication, Letter eX, a free poetry newsmagazine, the Chicago Cultural Issue of Midnight Mind, and oversize LVNG supplements. Also included are stamps and a painting of the LVNG founders by an unknown artist.

Related Resources

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

Browse finding aids by topic.

Flood Editions. Records

Anania, Michael. Papers

Subject Headings

INVENTORY

Series I: Administrative and Correspondence

Box 1   Folder 1

Administrative and Financial, 1995-2002

Box 1   Folder 2

Administrative and Financial, 1996-1997

Box 1   Folder 3

Administrative and Financial, 1997

Box 1   Folder 4

Administrative and Financial, 2000

Box 1   Folder 5

Grant Application, 1996

Box 1   Folder 6

LVNG, Contributors, 1991-1994

Box 1   Folder 7

LVNG, 1995

Box 1   Folder 8

LVNG, 1996-1997

Box 1   Folder 9

LVNG, Mailing List, 1996-2000

Box 1   Folder 10

LVNG, 1998

Box 1   Folder 11

Personal, to Michael O'Leary, 1995

Box 1   Folder 12

Personal, Michael O'Leary to Jay Sullivan, 1991-1996

Box 1   Folder 13

Personal, Michael O'Leary to Jay Sullivan, 1991-1996

Series II: Drafts and Proofs

Box 1   Folder 14

LVNG, Drafts, 1990s

Box 2   Folder 1

LVNG 3, circa 1991

Box 2   Folder 2

LVNG 4, Draft, 1992

Box 2   Folder 3

LVNG 4, Draft, 1992

Box 2   Folder 4

LVNG 4, Draft, 1992

Box 2   Folder 5

LVNG 4, Proof, 1993

Box 2   Folder 6

LVNG 4, Proof, 1993

Box 2   Folder 7

LVNG 4, Proof, 1993

Box 2   Folder 8

LVNG 5, Draft, 1994

Box 2   Folder 9

LVNG 5, Draft, 1994

Box 3   Folder 1

LVNG 5, Draft, 1995

Box 3   Folder 2

LVNG 5, Draft, 1995

Box 3   Folder 3

LVNG 5, Proof, 1995

Box 3   Folder 4

LVNG 5, Proof, 1995

Box 3   Folder 5

LVNG 6, Draft, 1995

Box 3   Folder 6

LVNG 6, Proof, 1995-1996

Box 3   Folder 7

LVNG 6, Proof, 1995-1996

Box 3   Folder 8

LVNG 6, Proof, undated

Box 3   Folder 9

LVNG 8, Artwork, 1998

Box 4   Folder 1

LVNG 9, Draft, 2001

Box 4   Folder 2

LVNG 9, Proof, 2001

Box 4   Folder 3

LVNG 10, Cover Art, 2001-2002

Box 4   Folder 4

LVNG 10, Preview, 2001

Box 4   Folder 5

LVNG 10, Proof, 2002

Box 4   Folder 6

LVNG 10, Proof, 2002

Box 4   Folder 7

Sketchbook, 1994

Box 4   Folder 8

Drawings, undated

Box 4   Folder 9

Visual Designs, undated

Series III: pvlmonar and Supplements

Box 4   Folder 10

pvlmonar, Marton Koppany, undated

Box 4   Folder 11

pvlmonar, undated

Box 4   Folder 12

pvlmonar, undated

Box 4   Folder 13

Supplement, "It Is The Time," 1997

Box 5   Folder 1

Supplement, "Suspension," 1997

Box 5   Folder 2

Supplement, 1997

Box 5   Folder 3

Supplement, "a run/, thru/, the/, dic/,tionary" 1997

Box 5   Folder 4

Supplement, "52 Surfaces," undated

Series IV: Manuscripts and Artwork

Box 5   Folder 5

Artwork, "Characters," 1997

Box 5   Folder 6

Artwork, Erica Chappuis, 1993

Box 5   Folder 7

Artwork, Anthony Stagg, undated

Box 5   Folder 8

Articles, 1993

Box 5   Folder 9

Ashen Meal, 1995

Box 5   Folder 10

Alexander, Will, circa 1998

Box 5   Folder 11

Anania, Michael, 1998

Box 5   Folder 12

Ashk, Upendranath (trans. Daisy Rockwell), 1997

Box 5   Folder 13

Barocas, Zachery, undated

Box 5   Folder 14

Basisnki, Michael, 1996

Box 5   Folder 15

Bok, Christian, 1996

Box 5   Folder 16

Brady, D. Miles, 1995

Box 5   Folder 17

Carey, Sean, 2000

Box 5   Folder 18

Chadwick, Cydney, 2001

Box 5   Folder 19

Clark, Robert, 1996

Box 5   Folder 10

Clippinger, Annabelle, 1998

Box 5   Folder 21

Clippinger, David, 1996

Box 5   Folder 22

Cole, Peter, 1996

Box 5   Folder 23

Curzon, Gordon, 1994

Box 5   Folder 24

Cycholl, Garin, 2001

Box 5   Folder 25

deRous, Peter, 1998

Box 5   Folder 26

Downing, Brandon, 2003

Box 5   Folder 27

Emmert, Andrea, 1991

Box 5   Folder 28

Enslin, Theodore, 2001

Box 5   Folder 29

Eshleman, Clayton, 1996

Box 6   Folder 1

Evanson, Greg, 1998

Box 6   Folder 2

Felix, Joel, undated

Box 6   Folder 3

Fisher, Tom, undated

Box 6   Folder 4

Foss, Philip, 1999

Box 6   Folder 5

Foust, Graham, 1998

Box 6   Folder 6

Garofale, Douglas, undated

Box 6   Folder 7

Gartung, Karl, undated

Box 6   Folder 8

Glomski, Chris, 2003

Box 6   Folder 9

Golaki, Adam, 2003

Box 6   Folder 10

Golec, Michael, 1995

Box 6   Folder 11

Gould, Henry, 1995

Box 6   Folder 12

Green, Paul, 2001

Box 6   Folder 13

Hamilton, Jeff, 2003

Box 6   Folder 14

Harrison, Bob, 2003

Box 6   Folder 15

Harryman, Karla, 1998

Box 6   Folder 16

Harp, Jerry, 2001

Box 6   Folder 17

Heller, Michael, 2003

Box 6   Folder 18

Helminski, Joesph, undated

Box 6   Folder 19

Hewson, Mark, 1998

Box 6   Folder 20

Hoover, Paul, 1999

Box 6   Folder 21

Housh, Rich, undated

Box 6   Folder 22

Houston, Linda, 1997

Box 6   Folder 23

Hume, Christine, 2003

Box 6   Folder 24

Jenks, Philip, undated

Box 6   Folder 25

Johnston, Devin, 1999

Box 6   Folder 26

King, Basil, undated

Box 6   Folder 27

Koenigs, K.M., 1997

Box 6   Folder 28

Koppany, Marton, 1996

Box 6   Folder 29

Krayna, Philip, circa 1996

Box 6   Folder 30

Larsen, Alf (trans. Kimberly Youngsteadt), undated

Box 6   Folder 31

Lohier, Patrick, 1995-1998

Box 7   Folder 1

Lohier, Patrick, 1996-1998

Box 7   Folder 2

Lunbury, Clark, 1998

Box 7   Folder 3

Mackey, Nathaniel, 1998

Box 7   Folder 4

Marlin, Jeff, 1994

Box 7   Folder 5

Martone, John circa 2001-2002

Box 7   Folder 6

Miller, Errol, 1994

Box 7   Folder 7

Mills, Ralph J. Jr., 1998

Box 7   Folder 8

Mirra, Helen, 1998

Box 7   Folder 9

Murphy, Sheila, 1996

Box 7   Folder 10

Nallamothu, Sree, 1998

Box 7   Folder 11

Needell-Hollander, Claire, undated

Box 7   Folder 12

Nelson, Jeff, 1997

Box 7   Folder 13

Nguyen, Hoa, undated

Box 7   Folder 14

Norfolk, Lawrence, undated

Box 7   Folder 15

O'Brien, Geoffrey, undated

Box 7   Folder 16

O'Leary, Michael, circa 1998

Box 7   Folder 17

O'Leary, Peter, 1989-1990

Box 7   Folder 18

Plumpp, Sterling, 1997-1999

Box 7   Folder 19

Prevallet, Kristen, undated

Box 7   Folder 20

Pritchett, Patrick, undated

Box 7   Folder 21

Pusateri, Chris, 2003

Box 7   Folder 22

Rehm, Pam, undated

Box 7   Folder 23

Russo, Linda, 1998

Box 7   Folder 24

Sawyer, Larry, 2003

Box 7   Folder 25

Scalapino, Leslie, 2001

Box 7   Folder 26

Selby, Spencer, 2000

Box 7   Folder 27

Sheppard, Christian, 1996

Box 7   Folder 28

Sherlock, Frank, undated

Box 7   Folder 29

Stephens, Nathalie, 1999

Box 7   Folder 30

Sullivan, Jay, undated

Box 7   Folder 31

Sweeney, Meghan, 1998

Box 7   Folder 32

Synder, Rick, 1993

Box 7   Folder 33

Szymaszek, Stacy, 2003

Box 7   Folder 34

Taggart, John, undated

Box 7   Folder 35

Tarn, Nathaniel, 1995

Box 7   Folder 36

Tillman, Lynne, 1996

Box 7   Folder 37

Thilleman, Tod, undated

Box 7   Folder 38

Tipton, John, 1993

Box 7   Folder 39

Treadwell, Elizabeth 1997

Box 8   Folder 1

Tysh, Chris, undated

Box 8   Folder 2

Valente, Peter, 1998

Box 8   Folder 3

Wanless, J.,1991

Box 8   Folder 4

Weeks, P., 1996

Box 8   Folder 5

Wells, Conrad, undated

Box 8   Folder 6

Whalen, Peter, 2003

Box 8   Folder 7

Winters, Terry, undated

Box 8   Folder 8

Yandrich, Aaren, 1999

Box 8   Folder 9

Unidentified, Artwork, undated

Box 8   Folder 10

Unidentified, Manuscripts, undated

Series V: Photographs and Publicity

Box 8   Folder 11

Event, 1994

Box 8   Folder 12

Photographs, undated

Box 8   Folder 13

Poster, undated

Box 8   Folder 14

Poster, undated

Series VI: Oversize and Publications

Box 9   Folder 1

Letter eX, 1994

Box 9   Folder 2

Midnight Mind, 2002

Box 9   Folder 3

Reader, 1996-2001

Box 10   Folder 1

Supplements, undated

Box 11

Stamps, undated

Box 12

Painting, undated