Special Collections Department
Archive of
Salmon Publishing, Ltd.
1982 - 1997
Manuscript Collection Number: 438
Accessioned: Purchase, June 1998
Extent: 11 linear ft.
Content: Letters, manuscripts,
proofs, publicity, reviews
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: March 2002, by
Kevin Burke.
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
IntroductoryNote
Salmon Publishing, Ltd. of Clare, Ireland, is a leading Irish and international publisher of poetry collections, particularly noted for its publication of women and new poets. Founded by the American-Irish poet Jessie Lendennie and her husband, Mike Allen, Salmon had its origins in the Galway Writers Workshop associated with University College, Galway. In 1982, Lendennie and Allen, both members of the Workshop, began publication of The Salmon International Literary Journal, a quarterly dedicated to “providing a forum for voices which were not being represented by the dominant literary outlets in Dublin.” The Salmon ceased publication in 1991. Salmon began its book publishing activities in 1984 with collections by Eva Bourke and Rita Ann Higgins. Lendennie and Allen separated in 1987 and Lendennie remained as Managing Director of Salmon. In 1994, Salmon Publishing moved from Galway to Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland. In addition to book publishing, Salmon Publishing runs regular Creative Writing Workshops and a bookstore.
Salmon has produced over 150 volumes of poetry. Many established Irish poets published their initial collections with Salmon, including Rita Ann Higgins, Eva Bourke, Theo Dorgan, and Moya Cannon. In addition, Salmon has “published a range of international poets including Adrienne Rich, Marvin Bell, Richard Tillinghast, Carol Ann Duffy, R. T. Smith, Linda McCarriston, Ron Houchin, and Ben Howard.” Although Salmon has never been exclusively a “women’s press,” it has been instrumental in discovering, publishing, and promoting the work of a significant number of Irish women poets including the 1999 anthology edited by Joan McBreen, The White Page/An Bhileog Bhan: 20th Century Irish Women Poets.
Sources:
Salmon Poetry, Ireland. (n.d.). Retreived March 22, 2002, from http://www.salmonpoetry.com.
Wilson, Joyce. “Poetry Out of the Whirlwind.” Poetry Porch, 2001. Retreived March 22, 2002, from http://world.std.com/~jpwilson/jlinterview.html.
Other information derived from the collection.
Scope and Content Note
The Archives of Salmon Publishing covers the activity of Salmon Publishing Ltd. of Clare, Ireland, from its inception in 1982 through 1997. Founded and directed by the American-Irish poet, Jessie Lendennie, Salmon Publishing is noted particularly for its promotion of the work of new women poets. Salmon Publishing began in 1982 with The Salmon, a literary quarterly dedicated to providing a forum for new poets outside of Dublin. In 1984, Salmon began to publish books by these same poets. When The Salmon ceased publication in 1992, the book publishing operation continued, and it is with book publishing that the bulk of the material in the Salmon Archives is concerned. The collection is divided into a series of Publishing Files and a series of Administrative Files.
The Publishing Series consists of files related to the publication of individual books. These files vary greatly in completeness. Typical contents include correspondence between author and publisher, publicity materials related to the promotion of the book, and reviews from Irish and other newspapers and journals. Many files also include manuscripts and copies of corrected proofs. At their most complete these files document the entire publication history of particular works from the initial contacts between author and publisher through negotiations over contract terms and related matters, the editing and revision of texts leading to publication, and the promotion and initial reception of the work.
Noteworthy among the Publication files are those related to the Irish publication of Adrienne Rich’s Selected Poems by Salmon. These files include an extensive correspondence between Rich and Salmon publisher, Jessie Lendennie, as well as correspondence between Salmon and W.W. Norton, Rich’s American and U.K. publishers, regarding the terms of publication. Rich’s corrected proofs are also included in these files. Joan McBreen’s The White Page/An Bhileog Bhán (1999) is a major anthology of Irish women poets. Files in the collection include McBreen’s master’s thesis, which became the basis for the book, correspondence with many of the poets included in the anthology, and corrected proofs. The Salmon Archives includes publication files for books by Irish poets including Rita Ann Higgins, Theo Dorgan, Moya Cannon, Mary O'Donnell, Eamonn Wall, Mary O’Malley, Eva Bourke, Janice Fitzpatrick-Simmons, and Gerard Donovan. The American poets Marvin Bell and Richard Tillinghast are among the non-Irish poets represented in the Salmon Archive. The collection includes files related to Lendennie’s books The Salmon Guide to Poetry Publishing in Ireland and The Salmon Guide to Creative Writing in Ireland. Files in the Publication series are arranged by author name and title of the individual book.
The Administrative Series includes general correspondence and correspondence with Irish funding agencies (the Arts Council, the Galway Corporation) and trade and professional organizations (CLE, Poolbeg, Poetry Ireland). Other files relate to Auburn House, an imprint of Salmon Publishing specializing in “new age” books on health and spirituality, and to The Salmon, the literary quarterly published by Salmon from 1982-1992. Additional files contain information on literary competitions and festivals, and on educational programs and trade fairs, mostly in Ireland. Files of poets’ photographs and book covers complete the Administrative Series.
Arrangement Note
Insert Arrangement Note, or delete section
Series List
Contents List
Box -- Folder -- Contents
Series I. Publishing Files 1 Archer, Nuala. The Hour of Pan/Amá, 1992 F1 Manuscript and Proofs F2 Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews Bardwell, Leland. The White Beach: New and Selected Poems 1960-1998, 1998 F3 Manuscript F4 Proofs F5 Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews Note: Includes autograph card from Maeve Binchy to the publisher. Bell, Marvin. Wednesday: Selected Poems 1966-1997, 1998 F6 Manuscript F7 Proofs, July 1997 F8 Proofs, November 1997 F9 Proofs, January 1998 F10 Correspondence F11 Publicity and Reviews Boran, Pat. The Portable Creative Writing Workshop, 1999 F12 Manuscript F13 First Proofs F14 Second Proofs F15 Correspondence, Publicity F16 Boran, Pat. Strange Bedfellows, 1991 F17 Bourke, Eva. Gonella, 1985; Litany for the Pig, 1989 F18 Brennan, Rory. The Old in Rapallo, 1996 F19 Brett, Heather. Abigail Brown, 1991 2 Brogan, Patricia Burke. Above the Waves Calligraphy, 1994 F20 Manuscript Note: Includes two early versions of the text, entitled Sanctuary. F21 Manuscript F22 Publicity and original graphics by the author F23 Brogan, Patricia Burke. Eclipsed, 1994 Burnside, Sam. Walking the Marches, 1990 F24 Manuscript F25 Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews, and Photographs Callaghan, Louise C. The Puzzle-Heart, 1999 F26 Manuscript F27 First and Second Proofs F28 Correspondence and Publicity Cannon, Moya. Oar, 1990 F29 Manuscript and Proofs F30 Correspondence and Publicity Chadwick, Jerah. Story Hunger, 1999 F31 Manuscript and Proofs F32 Correspondence and Publicity Chapman, Patrick. The New Pornography, 1996 F33 Proofs F34 Correspondence and Publicity 2 F35 Cowman, Roz. The Goose Herd, 1989 F36 Crowley, Vicki. Oasis in a Sea of Dust, 1992 Note: Includes photographs and slides of author's artwork. F37 Donovan, Gerard. Columbus Rides Again, 1992 F38 Donovan, Gerard. Kings and Bicycles, 1995 Donovan, Gerard. The Lighthouse, 2000 F39 Manuscript, First Version (May1999) F40 Manuscripts, Two Revisions (November 1999, January 2000) F41 Correspondence F42 Dorcey, Mary. Moving into the Space Cleared by Our Mothers, 1991 F43 Dorcey, Mary. The River That Carries Me, 1995 F44 Dorgan, Theo. The Ordinary House of Love, 1990 F45 Dorgan, Theo. Rosa Mundi, 1995 Duffy, Carol Ann. The Salmon Carol Ann Duffy, 2000 F46 Manuscript F47 Proofs F48 Correspondence and Publicity F49 Egan, Michael. We Came Out Again To See the Stars, 1986 3 F50 Ellis, Patricia. Swans and Angels, 1996 F51 Enzweiler, Joseph. A Curb in Eden, 1999 Fanning, Michael. Verbum et Verbum, 1997 F52 Manuscript F53 Proofs Note: Includes signed copy of the book with annotations for a projected second edition. F54 Correspondence, Publicity, and Reviews Fitzmaurice, Gabriel. Kerry On My Mind, 1999 F55 Manuscripts, Two Versions F56 First Proofs F57 Second Proofs F58 Correspondence F59 Fitzpatrick-Simmons, Janice. Settler, 1995 Fitzpatrick-Simmons, Janice. Starting at Purgatory, 1999 F60 Manuscript F61 Proofs F62 Correspondence F63 Genaga, Paul. Striking Water, 1989 Golden, Frank. The Interior Act, 1999 F64 Manuscripts, Two Versions F65 Correspondence and Publicity F66 Gorman, Michael. Up She Flew, 1991 F67 Greene, Angela. Silence and the Blue Night, 1993 Harmon, Maurice. The Last Regatta, 2000 F68 Manuscript F69 Correspondence 3 Hartigan, Anne Le Marquand. Clearing the Space, 1996 F70 Manuscript Note: Includes manuscript of La Corbiére, a play by Hartigan that was included in her collection, Immortal Sins. F71 Correspondence, Publicity, and Reviews F72 Hartigan, Anne Le Marquand. Now is a Moveable Feast, 1991 Heffernan, Michael. Another Part of the Island, 1999 F73 Manuscript F74 Correspondence F75 Heffernan, Michael. The Back Road to Arcadia, 1994 Higgins, Michael D. The Betrayal, 1990 F76 Manuscript F77 Manuscript, First Revision F78 Manuscript, Second Revision F79 Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews 4 F80 Higgins, Rita Ann. Face Licker Come Home, 1991 F81 Higgins, Rita Ann. Goddess and Witch, 1990 F82 Higgins, Rita Ann. Higher Purchase, 1996 F83 Higgins, Rita Ann. Philomena’s Revenge, 1992 Hildebidle, John. Defining Absence, 1999 F84 Manuscript, Two Versions F85 Correspondence Houchin, Ron. Death and the River, 1997 F86 Proofs Note: Includes Houchin’s chapbook, The Falling Boy. F87 Correspondence and Publicity Howard, Ben. Midcentury, 1997 F88 Manuscript F89 Proofs F90 Correspondence and Reviews Hull, Gerald. Falling into Monaghan, 1999 F91 Manuscript and Proofs F92 Correspondence and Publicity F93 Johnston, Fred. Song at the Edge of the World, 1988 Johnston, Fred. True North, 1997 F94 Manuscript F95 Proofs F96 Correspondence and Publicity F97 Kavanagh, John. Etchings, 1991 Kavanagh, John. Half-Day Warriors, 1999 F98 Manuscript F99 Proofs F100 Correspondence F101 Kennedy, Anne. Buck Mountain Poems, 1989 5 Lendennie, Jessie. Daughter, 1988 F102 Correspondence, Publicity F103 Newspaper clippings F104 Lendennie, Jessie and Hickson, Paddy. The Salmon Guide to Creative Writing in Ireland, 1991 F105 Lendennie, Jessie. The Salmon Guide to Poetry Publishing in Ireland, 1989 F106 Liddy, James. Gold Set Dancing, 2000 F107 Lott, Clarinda Harriss. The Night Parrot, 1988 F108 McBreen, Joan. A Walled Garden in Moylough, 1995 McBreen, Joan. The White Page/ An Bhileog Bhán, 1999 F109 Manuscript of A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Irish Women Poets Note: This M.A. thesis, submitted by the author to Dublin's University College in 1997, provided the basis for The White Page. F110 Manuscript, t.p. through p. 100 F111 Manuscript, pp. 101-237 F112 Proofs F113 Correspondence and Proofs: March 1997, Jan-Aug 1999 F114 Correspondence and Proofs: September 1999 F115 Correspondence and Proofs: 1-15 October 1999 F116 Correspondence and Proofs: 18 Oct-Nov 1999 F117 Copies of Poems, Correspondence, and Publicity F118 Corrected Proofs for Second Printing (2000) F119 Related Materials Note: Includes text of a talk, "Women’s Poetry in Contemporary Ireland," given by McBreen in August 1994; also, manuscript of a thesis, "Ireland’s Hidden Traditions: Contemporary Irish Female Poet’s," by Sarah L. Roesler that contains many references to Salmon poets. McCarriston, Linda. Little River: New and Selected Poems, 2000 F120 Manuscript F121 Correspondence and Publicity F122 MacCarthy, Catherine Phil. This Hour of the Tide, 1994 McCormick, Jeri. When It Came Time, 1998 F123 Manuscript and Revised Manuscript F124 Correspondence and Publicity 6 F125 McNulty, Ted. On the Block, 1995 F126 McNulty, Ted. Rough Landings, 1992 Medbh, Máighréad. Tenant, 1999 F127 Manuscript F128 Proofs F129 Correspondence and Publicity Menaghan, John. All the Money in the World, 1999 F130 Manuscript F131 Proofs F132 Correspondence F133 Miller, Áine. Goldfish in a Baby Bowl, 1994 Miller, Áine. Touchwood, 2000 F134 Manuscript, Early Version F135 Manuscript, Second Version F136 First Proofs F137 Second Proofs F138 Final Proofs and Correspondence F139 Monahan, Noel. Curse of the Birds, 2000 Monahan, Noel. Opposite Walls, 1991 F140 Manuscript, Two Versions F141 Proofs F142 Correspondence and Clippings F143 Monahan, Noel. Snowfire, 1995 Morgan, Tom. In Queen Mary's Garden, 1991 F144 Manuscript F145 Proofs and Correspondence F146 O'Brien, Jean. The Shadow Keeper, 1997 7 O'Connor, Claire. When You Need Them, 1989 F147 Manuscript F148 Proofs, Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews F149 O'Donnell, Hugh. Roman Pines at Berkeley, 1990 F150 O'Donnell, Mary. Reading the Sunflowers in September, 1990 O'Donnell, Mary. Unlegendary Heroes, 1998 F151 Manuscript and First Proofs F152 Second Proofs F153 Correspondence and Publicity F154 O'Donohue, John. Echoes of Memory, 1994 F155 O'Driscoll, Ciaran. Gog and Magog, 1987 F156 O'Grady, Desmond. Tipperary, 1991 Note: Includes a copy of the catalog for the exhibition of the photographs of John Minihan, "Bacon, Beckett, and Burroughs," signed by Minihan. F157 O'Hagan, Sheila. The Peacock's Eye, 1992 F158 O'Hagan, Sheila. The Troubled House, 1995 7 F159 O'Malley, Mary. A Consideration of Silk, 1990 O'Malley, Mary. The Knife in the Wave, 1997 F160 Manuscript F161 Proofs F162 Correspondence, Publicity, Reviews Note: Includes correspondence concerning the poet's 1993 collection, Where the Rocks Float. O'Malley, Tom. Journey Backward, 1998 F163 Early Correspondence and Manuscript F164 First Proofs F165 Second Proofs F166 Third Proofs F167 Parkinson, Barbara. Any Change for the Jugglers, 1995 F168 Parry, Gwyn. Crossings, 1998 Patten, Angela. Still Listening, 1999 F169 Manuscript F170 Proofs and Correspondence F171 Pleasants, Virginia. Healthy Choices, 1996 Pye, Joyce. Ireland's Musical Instrument Makers, 1990 F172 Manuscript F173 Correspondence and Publicity 8 F174 Rhatigan, George. Dreams: Secret Language of the Soul, 1996 Rich, Adrienne. Selected Poems: 1950 – 1995, 1996 F175 Manuscripts, Photocopies, Proofs Note: Includes photocopies of Rich's poems selected by Salmon for inclusion in the book, supplemented with copies of poems provided by Rich; also, Rich's corrections to pages of the proofs, and the manuscripts and corrected proofs of Eavan Boland's Introduction to the book and Jean Valentine's Afterword. F176 Proofs F177 Correspondence and Publicity Note: includes correspondence between Rich and Jessie Lendennie, publisher of Salmon; also correspondence between Salmon and W.W. Norton, Rich's American and UK publisher; also contains publicity materials for the book and newspaper clippings documenting Irish reception of the book and its author. F178 Roper, Mark. The Hen Ark, 1990 F179 Sexton, Tom. Autumn in the Alaska Range, 2000 F180 Shepperson, Janet. The Aphrodite Stone, 1995 Simmons, James. The Company of Children, 1999 F181 Manuscript F182 First Proofs F183 Second Proofs and Correspondence F184 Simmons, James. Mainstream, 1995 F185 Skinner, Knute. The Bears and Other Poems, 1991; Learning to Spell Zucchini, 1988 F186 Skinner, Knute. The Cold Irish Earth, 1996; What Trudy Knows, 1994 F187 Slade, Jo. Certain Octobers, 1997; The Vigilant One, 1994 F188 Slade, Jo. In Fields I Hear Them Sing, 1989 F189 Slonims, Shula. Flight of the Raven, 1996 Smith, R.T.. Split the Lark, 1999 F190 Manuscript and Proofs F191 Correspondence and Reviews F192 Strong, Eithne. Let Live, 1990 F193 Sullivan, Breda. After the Ball, 1998 F194 Sullivan, Breda. A Smell of Camphor, 1992 F195 Teck, Jill. Becoming the Tree, 1997 9 F196 Tillinghast, Richard. A Quiet Pint in Kinvara, 1991 Tillinghast, Richard. Today in the Café Trieste, 1997 F197 Manuscript and Proofs F198 Correspondence and Reviews F199 Tyaransen, Olaf. The Consequences of Slaughtering Butterflies, 1992 F200 Unrau, John. Iced Water, 2000 F201 Valentine, Jean. The Under Voice, 1995 F202 van de Kamp, Peter. Notes, 1999 Vassal, Michelle. Sandgames, 2000 F203 Manuscript F204 Proofs and Correspondence Wall, Eamon. The Crosses, 2000 F205 Manuscript F206 Proofs and Correspondence Wall, Eamon. Iron Mountain Road, 1997 F207 Manuscript and Proofs F208 Correspondence and Reviews Walmsley, Gordon. Terebinthos, 1999 F209 Manuscript and Correspondence F210 Proofs Wichert, Sabine. Sharing Darwin, 1999 F211 Manuscript F212 Proofs F213 Wichert, Sabine. Tin Drum Country, 1995 Zell, Ann. Weathering, 1998 F214 Manuscript F215 Proofs F216 Correspondence Series II. Administrative Files 10 F217 Salmon: General Publicity Note: Includes text of a paper by Victor Luftig of Yale University, “No Frontiers: Salmon Publishing and the Frontiers of Irish Poetry,” presented to Midwest MLA November 1990; also, journal and newspaper articles, and testimonial letters. Salmon General Correspondence Note: Much of this correspondence is from poets submitting work to The Salmon; other correspondence covers a wide range of business, promotional, and personal activities of poets and others associated with Salmon. F218 1982-1983 F219 1985-1986 F220 1987 F221 1988: I F222 1988: II F223 1989 F224 1990 F225 1991-1992 F226 Undated F227 Arts Council: Correspondence and Grant Applications F228 Galway Corporation: Correspondence and Grant Applications F229 CLE (Irish Book Publishers Association) Reports Poolbeg: Correspondence, Minutes, Reports F230 1993-1994 F231 1995-1997 F232 Poetry Ireland: Correspondence and Newsletters 11 F233 Auburn House Note: Auburn House was an imprint of Salmon Publishing specializing in “new Age” health and spirituality. F234 The Salmon: Publicity and Articles Includes copy of The Salmon no. 12 and cover art. The Salmon: Poets' Biographies Note: The majority of these are autobiographical, submitted by the poets for inclusion in The Salmon. F235 A-L F236 M-Z 12 F237 Competitions F238 Educational Programs Series II. Administrative Files F239 Festivals F240 Trade Fairs 13 F241 Poets' Photographs (63 items) Boran, Pat (2 copies) Brett, Heather Burnside, Sam (2 copies) Cannon, Moya (3 photographs) Dorcey, Mary Egan, Michael (2 copies) Genaga, Paul (with Victor Luftig) Genaga, Paul Gorman, Mickey (1985, “from a painting by Anne Costelloe”) Greene, Angela Higgins, Michael (with Sabrina Higgins) Higgins, Michael (3 photographs; with Rita Ann Higgins and Joan McBreen) Higgins, Michael (2 photographs; with unidentified) Higgins, Rita Ann (photograph by Anne Kennedy) Johnston, Fred Johnston, Fred (1989) Joselow, Beth (“delivering toast Book party New York 12/89”) Kavanagh, John (2 copies) Lendennie, Jessie Lendennie, Jessie (2 copies) Lendennie, Jessie (with Rita Ann Higgins; 2 copies) Lendennie, Jessie (with Paul Genaga, Dave Cesario, Viviene Leone; “Launch of 7th Anniversary Issue of ‘The Salmon’ New York City, 1989”) Lendennie, Jessie (with Mike Murphey and Deborah Evers; 2 copies) Lendennie, Jessie (3 photographs: with dog Zookie; with Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith; at Listowel Writers’ Week with Hugh O’Donnell, Eithne Strong, Gabriel Fitzmaurice) McBreen, Joan (“at Poets House, Donegal”) McBreen, Joan (with Joe McBreen, 1995; “Poet’s House, Co. Donegal”) Monahan, Noel (April 1991) Monahan, Noel (April 1991) O’Connor, Claire O’Connor, Claire (1989) O’Donnell, Hugh O’Donnell, Mary O’Grady, Desmond (Kinsale 1990; photograph by John Minihan) O’Hagan, Sheila (2 Copies) 13 O’Hagan, Sheila Roesler, Sarah Roper, Mark Salmon Bookstore and Writer’s Center (2 copies) Skinner, Knute (2 photographs; with Edna Kiel) Slade, Jo Strong, Eithne Sullivan, Breda (1992) Tillinghast, Richard (2 photographs; 1992) Tyaransen, Olaf (2 copies) F242 Book Covers Includes promotional postcards, paperback covers, and dust jackets for hard cover copies for both Salmon and Auburn House publications.
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