Untide Press
Encyclopedia
The Untide Press, founded in 1943, attempted to bring poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.
It was founded by writer William Everson
, architect and printer Kemper Nomland
, actor Kermit Sheets
and editor / librarian William Eshelman
, in a camp of conscientious objectors in Waldport, Oregon in 1943. The name was a challenge to the official camp magazine the Tide Press.
Camp Angel
was a Civilian Public Service
(CPS) camp, one of many camps across the United States where conscientious objectors were given unpaid jobs of "national importance" as a substitute for World War II military service.
Camp Angel was unique as the only Fine Arts Program camp in the entire CPS system.
The Untide Press developed a reputation for high-quality writing and innovative design. Writers included William Everson, Glen Coffield
, Jacob Sloan, George Woodcock
, John Walker, and Kenneth Patchen
.
William Everson said that "those of us of Untide rank among our biggest moments in CPS the completion of a book, and the very real sense of achievement it occasions."
The press produced the Illiterati magazine on an erratic schedule, and published several small books of poems. All work was set by hand.
Many of the poets and writers later formed the nucleus of the San Francisco literary renaissance
.
The last book produced at the Untide Press in Waldport was Kenneth Patchen
's An Astonished Eye Looks Out Of the Air, printed via letterpress in 1945 as the war was ending.
It was founded by writer William Everson
William Everson
William Everson , also known as Brother Antoninus, was an American poet of the San Francisco Renaissance and was also a literary critic and small press printer.-Beginnings:Everson was born in Sacramento, California...
, architect and printer Kemper Nomland
Kemper Nomland
Kemper Nomland Jr. was a modernist architect in Los Angeles, California and part of a father-son architectural team with his father Kemper Nomland. He was also a painter and printer of poetry and arts publications....
, actor Kermit Sheets
Kermit Sheets
Louis Kermit Sheets was an actor, director, playwright and an artistic partner with poet James Broughton.-World War II:...
and editor / librarian William Eshelman
William Robert Eshelman
William Robert Eshelman was an American pacifist, editor and librarian. He was active in causes such as preventing censorship, ending racial segregation and stopping the Vietnam war, while gaining distinction in his professional career.-Career:...
, in a camp of conscientious objectors in Waldport, Oregon in 1943. The name was a challenge to the official camp magazine the Tide Press.
Camp Angel
Camp Angel
Camp Angel was Civilian Public Service camp number 56, one of many camps across the United States where conscientious objectors were given unpaid jobs of "national importance" as a substitute for World War II military service....
was a Civilian Public Service
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
(CPS) camp, one of many camps across the United States where conscientious objectors were given unpaid jobs of "national importance" as a substitute for World War II military service.
Camp Angel was unique as the only Fine Arts Program camp in the entire CPS system.
The Untide Press developed a reputation for high-quality writing and innovative design. Writers included William Everson, Glen Coffield
Glen Coffield
Glen Coffield was an American poet and conscientious objector. He was born in Prescott, Arizona, and received a B.S. degree in education from Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1940...
, Jacob Sloan, George Woodcock
George Woodcock
George Woodcock was a Canadian writer of political biography and history, an anarchist thinker, an essayist and literary critic. He was also a poet, and published several volumes of travel writing. He founded in 1959 the journal Canadian Literature, the first academic journal specifically...
, John Walker, and Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen was an American poet and novelist. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the Dadaists, the Beats, and Surrealists...
.
William Everson said that "those of us of Untide rank among our biggest moments in CPS the completion of a book, and the very real sense of achievement it occasions."
The press produced the Illiterati magazine on an erratic schedule, and published several small books of poems. All work was set by hand.
Many of the poets and writers later formed the nucleus of the San Francisco literary renaissance
San Francisco Renaissance
The term San Francisco Renaissance is used as a global designation for a range of poetic activity centered on San Francisco and which brought it to prominence as a hub of the American poetic avant-garde. However, others The term San Francisco Renaissance is used as a global designation for a range...
.
The last book produced at the Untide Press in Waldport was Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen was an American poet and novelist. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the Dadaists, the Beats, and Surrealists...
's An Astonished Eye Looks Out Of the Air, printed via letterpress in 1945 as the war was ending.