Blue, Janice

Facsimile & Manuscript Correspondence between Janice Blue & Thomas Rain Crowe with: Original Mailing Envelope

San Francisco, CA: n/p, 2003. Original Correspondence. Single Sheets. A packet of correspondence from Second San Francisco Renaissance poet, Janice Blue (1942-2017) and Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the Renaissance’s co-authorial founder. The correspondence contains, among other things, [1] A cover letter from Janice Blue to Thomas Rain Crowe regarding his requests for material (poems; & a short biography) eventually published in France by La Main Courante as Baby Beat Generation: An Anthology (See TMB Item No. 7349); [2] the preface to a forthcoming work by Blue (titled Backroom Trains) that she assures Thomas will work for his purposes; and [3] the initial letter (from Thomas, to Janice) that prompted her response. This is the order in which we found them: first-to-third according to their placement in the large, manilla envelope Crowe stored them in). Contextualizing this lot requires we remember that the Second San Francisco Renaissance and Baby Beat Generation was first rescued from obscurity, in France by Mathias de Breyne (“Litterature en Marche 2002,” TMB Item No. 3806). As a work of anthology, it left much to be desired in the way of transmitting a wider historical understanding to its readers. Yet it wasn’t for lack of trying, as this sheaf of correspondence shows. Blue declines to write something new, & instead tenders Crowe the introduction for a forthcoming volume, titled Backroom Trains. The letter, notably, is sent from jail: and this, because in 1996, Blue murdered a longshoreman; and what a film noir plot that is. She did what the criminals of Times Square in the mid-1940s would’ve called “a real bit” for this: hence the startling return address of its author. She somewhat hilariously published even more great poetry after her release — and, for my money, she’s at least as good of a poet as Charles Manson was a songwriter. Charlie’s unintentional Murder-Folk classic, “Look At Your Game Girl,” is sadly just too g0od not to dig. At any rate, on the back of [1], Blue has written several addenda relating to the manufacture of de Breyne’s anthology. The notes relate to things like the author photo La Main Courante (its French publisher) planned to use; the poems Blue wanted in; and nuts-&-bolts matters similar to these that Thomas was long-trained to deal with. Here Crowe was, all these years later, still doing “The Real Work” (as Gary Snyder [b. 1930] might have it) of the Mimeograph Revolution. By this, we mean — [1] assembling manuscripts; [2] working with venues; [3] planning events; [4] coordinating with publishers; [5] handling press; things like that. The “nuts-and-bolts” part of social movement organization: which is EXACTLY the type of work Thomas was doing all the way back in the mid-to-late 1970s in North Beach. Anything describable as “epistolary”— when it comes to the letters, lives, & literature of those describable as Beats — is very, very important (from a literary-historical viewpoint); & this trustiest of Beat-scholastic maxims is made good on, here once again. Through this packet of correspondence, we can see two of the most integral contributors to the Second San Francisco Renaissance ferment seamlessly replicate their working relationship. Stated plainly, this correspondence further clarifies the working relationships & sense of movement organization required to build a movement like theirs. [1] Double-sided single sheet: feat. typed letter on recto, & hand-written (although here printed) inscriptions on verso; [2] Five stapled, single sheets printed only on rectos: printed for “Review” (in essence) by Blue & sent to Crowe, per item description, above; and [3] A printed copy of TRC’s original, outgoing letter (of 1/2/2003) to Blue. From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. The TRC archive was acquired, assembled & curated by Third Mind Books as a single item (see our item No. 1010), & its vast number of individual pieces are now being offered incrementally throughout this new year of 2025. The TRC archive collectively represents the entire legacy of the BBG/SSFR, & its critical collaborations-mentorships by the key figures of the original Beat Generation/San Francisco Renaissance. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, to obtain a thorough understanding of this important literary phenomenon from TRC himself. All items in generally fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light-bumping to fine-edges & corners of recto & verso sides, & lowly enunciated artifacts similar to these (no text obscured); otherwise, clean. Fine. [Item #7708]

Price: $45.00