Ahsahta Press
Records, 1975-1998
Ahsahta Press was founded in Boise, Idaho, in 1975 as a not-for-profit literary publisher with the goal of preserving the best works by early poets of the American West. The founding editors (Tom Trusky, Orvis Burmaster, Dale Boyer, and James H. Maguire) were all members of the English Department faculty at Boise State University, and the press soon became affiliated with and supported by Boise State. Peggy Pond Church, H.L. Davis, Hazel Hall, Gwendolen Haste, Haniel Long, and Norman Macleod were among the early Western writers Ahsahta Press restored to print. Soon after its inception, the press began publishing contemporary poetry by Western poets along with its reprint titles. With the inception of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Boise State in 1998, Ahsahta Press expanded its scope, presenting the work of poets from across the nation selected through national competition or general submission. The word “Ahsahta” is the Mandan name for the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and was first recorded by members of the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The records listed in this finding aid were donated to the Boise State University Library by editors Tom Trusky and Dale Boyer in 1999 and represent their work in preparing titles for print. Included are files of correspondence with authors in the series, other papers relating to the authors and the printing of their books, and general working files of the editors. Authors represented by the largest correspondence files include Sandra Alcosser, Richard A. Blessing, Judson Crews, Kevin Hearle, Haniel Long (Anton V. Long), Leo Romero, Bill Witherup, and Carolyne Wright. Also included are audiotapes.
Additions to the collection are expected.
-- Derived from information provided by Ahsahta Press, 2002
Collection number: RG 443 in the Boise State University Archives
Inclusive dates: 1975-1998
Size of collection: ca. 5 ft.
Processed by: Mary Carter-Hepworth and Kathy Peterson, 2000
Group One: Papers from editor Tom Trusky
Tom Trusky’s files are divided into three series: Writers’ files, Correspondence with book reviewers, and Production files.
Box 1: Writers’ files
Folder 1 Alcosser, Sandra (1980-1998)
Folder 2 Baker, David (1981-1995)
Folder 3 Beasley, Conger (1978-1992)
Folder 4 Bierds, Linda (1984-1985)
Folder 5 Blessing, Richard (1976-1982)
Folder 6 Church, Peggy Pond (1976-1996)
Folder 7 Church, Peggy; Haste, Gwendolen; MacLeod, Norman Wicklund (1977)
Folder 8 Coles, Katharine (1992-1994)
Folder 9 Cooper, Wyn (1987-1996)
Folder 10 Crews, Judson (1978-1993)
Folder 11 Davis, H. L. (1978-1999)
Folder 12 Deal, Susan (1978-1991)
Folder 13 Ehrlich, Gretel (1979-1997)
Folder 14 Esarey, Gary (1994-1995)
Folder 15 Fay, Julie (1989-1995)
Folder 16 Ferril, Thomas (1983-1996)
Folder 17 Flanner, Hildegarde (1980-1991)
Folder 18 Greasybear, Charley John (1975-1984)
Folder 19 Hales, Corrinne (1985-1996)
Folder 20 Hall, Hazel (1978-1999)
Folder 21 Hannon, Nan (1988-1993)
Folder 22 Haste, Gwendolen (1976-1984)
Folder 23 Hess, Sonya (1994-1995)
Folder 24 Hogue, Cynthia (1989-1994)
Folder 25 Krieger, Robert (1976-1978)
Folder 26 Ligi, Elio (1986-1994)
Folder 27 Long, Haniel (1975-1990)
Folder 28 Macleod, Norman (1975-1988)
Folder 29 McCullough, Ken (1989-1992)
Folder 30 Meyn, Barbara (1988-1995)
Folder 31 Partridge, Dixie (1984-1987)
Folder 32 Payne, Gerrye (1990-1997)
Folder 33 Perreault, George (1983-1991)
Box 2: Writers’ files
Folder 1 Robertson, Howard (1986-1997)
Folder 2 Robertson, Howard: “Lee Douglas” books 2 & 3 (1991-1995)
Folder 3 Romero, Leo (1981-1997)
Folder 4 Schenker, Don (1987-1990)
Folder 5 Short, Gary (1992-1996)
Folder 6 Smith, David J. (1995)
Folder 7 Speakes, Richard (1981-1994)
Folder 8 St. Clair, Philip (1983-1991)
Folder 9 Taggard, Genevieve (1978-1997)
Folder 10 Walsh, Marnie (1976-1992)
Folder 11 Witherup, William (1986-1998)
Folder 12 Women Poets of the West (1978-1997)
Folder 13 Wright, Carolyne (1976-1993)
Folder 14 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence A-B
Folder 15 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence C-E
Folder 16 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence F-H
Folder 17 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence I-M
Folder 18 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence N-R
Folder 19 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence S
Folder 20 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence T-Z
Folder 21 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence: Foote, Ellis (1983-1985)
Folder 22 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence: Hepworth, James (1978-1985)
Folder 23 Authors: Miscellaneous Correspondence: Reedy, Penelope (1986-1994)
Box 3: Correspondence with Book reviewers
Folder 1 Bell, Mimi (1978-1979)
Folder 2 Hannifin, Jerry (1981-1983)
Folder 3 Reviewers: Miscellaneous Correspondence A-K
Folder 4 Reviewers: Miscellaneous Correspondence L-P
Folder 5 Reviewers: Miscellaneous Correspondence R-Z
Box 3: Production Files
Folder 6 Annual Reports (1975-1979)
Folder 7 Annual Reports and Policies (1982)
Folder 8 Correspondence: Boise State University; Administration (1977-1979)
Folder 9 Correspondence: Boise State University; Western Studies Center (1979-1980)
Folder 10 Correspondence: Boise State University; Information Services (1978)
Folder 11 Correspondence: General (1977-1998)
Folder 12 Correspondence: Internal Memos (1978-1991)
Folder 13 Correspondence: Tom Trusky (1980-1996)
Folder 14 Distribution Agencies (1975-1990)
Folder 15 Distribution: Boise State University, Bookstore (1976-1993)
Folder 16 Distribution, International
Folder 17 Distribution Lists (1976-1989)
Folder 18 Exhibits and Book Fairs (1976-1989)
Folder 19 Exhibits and Book Fairs; Bumbershoot (1990-1999)
Folder 20 Exhibits and Book Fairs; International Exhibits (1976-1990)
Folder 21 Exhibits and Book Fairs; International Exhibits; China (1980, 1985)
Folder 22 Exhibits and Book Fairs; International; National Endowment for the Arts (1985-1987)
Folder 23 Exhibits and Book Fairs; Small Press Exhibit Service (1975-1991)
Folder 24 Literary Competitions (1977-1987)
Folder 25 Literary Competitions; Pushcart Press (1977-1992)
Folder 26 Literary Grants and Awards (1977-1981)
Folder 27 Literary Indexes and Bibliographies (1973-1992)
Folder 28 Literary Indexes and Bibliographies: Granger Index to Poetry (1979-1989)
Folder 29 Literary Reviews: Citations (1977-1979)
Folder 30 Literary Reviews: Sources (1983-1997)
Folder 31 Literary Reviews: Sources: Listings (1978-1984)
Folder 32 Publications: Editors’ Notes (1977-1998)
Folder 33 Publications: Inventories (1980-1995)
Folder 34 Publications: Finances (1975-1992)
Folder 35 Publications: Insurance Claims (1986-1987)
Folder 36 Publications: LC and ISBN Numbers (1975-1994)
Folder 37 Publicity (1975-1985)
Folder 38 Publicity: Correspondence (1978-1987)
Folder 39 Publicity: Press Releases (1976-1995)
Folder 40 Publicity: Catalogs and Advertisements (197?-1992)
Folder 41 Publicity: Radio Announcements; James and Rinda Just (1997)
Folder 42 Submissions List (1978)
Group Two: Papers from editor Dale Boyer
Box 4: Writers’ files
Folder 1 Bierds, Linda (1984-1986)
Folder 2 Blessing, Richard (1976-1988)
Folder 3 Coles, Katharine (1991-1995)
Folder 4 Coles, Katharine, The One Right Touch (1992)
Folder 5 Cooper, Wyn (1985-1995)
Folder 6 Crews, Judson (1978-1986)
Folder 7 Crews, Judson, A Clock of Moss (1981-1982)
Folder 8 Hales, Corrinne (1982-1994)
Folder 9 Hearle, Kevin (1994)
Folder 10 Hearle, Kevin (1992-1996)
Folder 11 McCullough, Ken (1991)
Folder 12 McCullough, Ken (1991)
Folder 13 McCullough, Ken (1989-1993)
Folder 14 Partridge, Dixie (1983-1993)
Folder 15 Romero, Leo (1981)
Folder 16 Romero, Leo (1981)
Folder 17 Romero, Leo (1980-1985)
Folder 18 Romero, Leo (1986-1995)
Folder 19 Smith, David J. (1995)
Folder 20 Smith, David J. (1994-1996)
Box 5: Writers’ Files
Folder 1 Taggard, Genevieve (1980)
Folder 2 Taggard, Genevieve (1978-1996)
Folder 3 Witherup, Bill (1989)
Folder 4 Witherup, Bill (1989-1998)
Folder 5 Wright, Carolyne (1978)
Folder 6 Wright, Carolyne (1977-1993)
Box 5: Production Files
Folder 7 Ahsahta Press Sampler: Publications; Wood or Iron (1980-1981)
Folder 8 Annual Reports (1978-1979)
Folder 9 Correspondence: General (1977-1996)
Folder 10 Distribution Lists (1987-1994)
Folder 11 Literary Competitions (1985-1996)
Folder 12 Literary Indexes and Bibliographies (1987)
Folder 13 Literary Reviews: Citations (1978-1988)
Folder 14 Literary Reviews: Sources (1979-1982)
Folder 15 Miscellaneous Publications (1980-1993)
Folder 16 Publications: Editors’ Notes (1981)
Folder 17 Publications: Finances (1977-1996)
Folder 18 Publications: Inventories (1980-1986)
Folder 19 Publicity
Group III: Audio tapes
Box 6: Audio tapes
Folder 1 Trusky’s Greatest Hits: October 31, 1986
Folder 2 Oral History Assignment with Peggy Pond Church, 1984
Folder 3 Radio Advertisements: KGEM Radio; James and Rinda Just