Main content

Yarrowstalks (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records

Notifications

Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
SPC MSS PP 008
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
1.25 linear feet (4 boxes + 2 map folders)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Yarrowstalks (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records, SPC MSS PP 008, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1961-1975 (inclusive)
Form:
Drawings and Photographs
Abstract:

Yarrowstalks was one of the first underground publications born during the "Summer of love," published through May 1975 with a peak circulation of 10,000. Yarrowstalks was the brainchild of Brian Zahn, who promoted adherence to Eastern philosophies and non-radical politics. It was one of the first underground newspapers to explore the possibilities of cold-type offset printing, and it featured the work of cartoonist, Robert Crumb and his "Mr. Natural" strip. Twelve issues of Yarrowstalks were published in Philadelphia from 1967 until 1975. Most of the activity was concentrated at the beginning of the period, in the heyday of underground press activity.

This collection of manuscripts, original artwork, and photographs from this Philadelphia "underground" newspaper includes paste-ups of individual issues of Yarrowstalks. The artwork includes pen and ink drawings, silkscreen prints, pencil drawings, and watercolors, from such 1960s luminaries as Robert Crumb. The manuscripts include essays by the editor and publisher, Brian Zahn, and the work of Peter Bralver and Timothy Leary. Also included are some personal memorabilia and records from Brian Zahn. Note: illustrations by Robert Crump appear in Issue #1 (June 1967); Issue #2 (July 1967); Issue #3 (August 1967); Issue #6 (December 1968); Issue #8 (Dec./Jan. 1972/73); Issue #9 (June 1973); Issue #10 (June 1974); Issue #11 (Feb/Mar. 1975).

Material in the collection is arranged by issue. Unless otherwise specified, manuscripts, photographs and artwork were published. The paste-ups of the individual issues include original artwork not here described as well as reproductions of the described material. Titles followed by an asterisk do not appear on the item, but rather were given by the editor. Most of the artwork is unsigned, with the identity of the artists supplied by the editor. All photographs are black and white.

Placed on deposit by Brian Zahn in the Contemporary Culture Collection, February, 1975. MSS: donated later, not photos.

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards June 2017.

Subject

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
September 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Yarrowstalks (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records are the physical property of/on deposit with] the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Photographs: "Gatherings on the 600 block of South St., Philadelphia"*, contact sheet of 36 photographs by Steve Tilles; Gathering on South St. sidewalk, 5" x 8" print from previous sheet; "Mouth"*, 5" x 8" print by Peter Schiedt, undated.
Box 1 Folder 1
Manuscripts: Editorial by David Auten and Brian Zahn, (typescript), undated.
Box 1 Folder 2
2a Yarrowstalks, Issue #1, June 1967. 2 copies.
Box 3 Folder 1
Physical Description

2 copies

Artwork: Untitled watercolor by Brian Zahn (unpublished); "National Electric Un-Art Puzzel," ink stamped drawing by John Hawke (signed: Ekwah) (unpublished); 2 cartoon blocks after Robert Crumb, pen and ink by Brian Zahn, undated.
Box 1 Folder 3
Secondary Material: "The Original Noise" by Larry Lewis; "Universal Mutant" 3, undated.
Box 1 Folder 4
Yarrowstalks, Issue #7, December 1970. 4 copies.
Box 1 Folder 5
Physical Description

4 copies

Artwork: "Yarrowstalks" ink and pastel cover art by Ka Kavana (Richard Bohn) (unpublished); "Om is Where the Heart is"*, tempera by Brian Zahn (unpublished); Untitled gouache by Danielle Weber (unpublished); "Eye Seeks…" pen and ink drawing by Brian Zahn (unpublished); Untitled watercolor by Danielle Weber (unpublished); 2 untitled watercolors by Brian Zahn (unpublished); "I Stood and Held Your Hand, pen and ink drawing by Simon (unpublished); Tibetan symbol, block print by unidentified artist (published); Nonatal, hand painted postcard (unpublished), undated.
Box 1 Folder 6
Manuscripts: Autograph letter signed from Steve Ben Israel to Brother Rufus(unpublished); Poetry typescripts by Ka Kavana with additions, (holographs) (unpublished); Untitled short stories by Sunya (Alfred Emmanuel Sorenson) in carbon copy and mimeograph; Poetry and essays in typescript, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
Secondary Material: "Shri Ganeshaya Namah" by Guy Hamamouche, limited edition with hand colored plates; "Hastakara Yantra," Hindu painting, "Right Eating, by Rharatanand; Poems by Mahendra the Natha (Anton Miles Palmer); "Lila," broadside poster, undated.
Box 1 Folder 8
Photographs: Kumba Melah, 38 prints (with negatives and contact sheets) (unpublished); Sunya (Alfred Emmanuel Sorenson), 10" x 14" print for cover 4 negatives of artwork, undated.
Box 1 Folder 9
Yarrowstalks, Issue #8, December 1972. 3 copies.
Box 1 Folder 10
Physical Description

3 copies

Manuscripts: 2 Editorials by Brian Zahn, (holograph) with revisions; Typed letter signed from Captain Midnight (Jack Moore) to Uncle C, (Curtis Gurak); "The Movie," carbon copy correspondence from Curtis Gurak to Jack Moore (unpublished); Carbon copy letter signed, from Jack Moore to Curtis Gurak (unpublished); 3 cartoons of Nixon in magic marker by Brian Zahn, December 1972, undated.
Box 1 Folder 11
Secondary Material: "Bangla Desh," Xerox copy of unpublished paper by Brian Zahn; Temple News, including holograph notes of a professor's tenure defense; "Anti-Personnel Weapons in Vietnam," broadside pamphlet; "New Morning Press," broadside handout, November 1972, undated.
Box 1 Folder 12
Manuscripts: (typescript, Xerox copy) "The Emergence of Bangladesh," by Brian Zahn; "Hank," poem by Ira Einhorn, undated.
Box 1 Folder 13
Secondary Material: "Nutritional Taxeamia (sic), by Bharatananda, a reprint from Khadigramodyog; Mimeographed letter from George McGovern on behalf of the Bangladesh Emergency Relief fund; "Starvation Grips Bangladesh," clipping from the Philadelphia Inquirer; "Indian Erotic Miniature Painting," Galerie Krugier & Cie invitation; "Joey Tissue and the Dummies," Xerox copy with revisions, September 1973, undated.
Box 1 Folder 14
Photographs: "Sand Formation"*, 2 10" x 13" prints of the cover art by Stella Sneed; Portraits, 2 10" x 13" and 1 5" x 7" print by Dee Dee Contractor; Portrait 5" x 7" color print by Torben Huss; Passport photo of Brian Zahn, undated.
Box 1 Folder 15
Yarrowstalks, Issue #10, June 1974.
Box 1 Folder 16
Manuscripts: Entire issue in paste-up; "Non Violence" and "Law of the Universe," 2 holograph pages by Brian Zahn; "the Meaning of…," poem 1ℓ. Holograph, signed by Ira Einhorn; "Through Dark Tunnels of Glass," Typescript by Robert Brunswick (unpublished), undated.
Box 1 Folder 17
Photographs: 3 8" x 10" prints by Rayanne Rubinstein, Marjorie Leamy, and Spencer Zahn; Snapshot of Brian Zahn, undated.
Box 1 Folder 18
Yarrowstalks, Issue #11, February/March 1975.
Box 1 Folder 19
Manuscripts: Essays and notes; Holograph by Brian Zahn; Photographs and camera ready copy for the issue; "The Boy," Typescript story by William Sturm (unpublished); "Tree of Life Blue-print," Typescript by Tom Strife (unpublished) (Xerox copy); "Kulu Beni Adam," holograph by Ramdas-Pagaldas Bab (unpublished); Layout and advertising, Holograph and typescript; Note, from Angelo Lewis to Brian Zahn, holograph, undated.
Box 1 Folder 20
Photographs: "Henry," 8" x 10" print by Carol Lopez; Show at Etage, 2 8" x 10" prints by Robert Goodman (unpublished), undated.
Box 1 Folder 21
Secondary Material: "The Living Theatre Collective," broadside and pamphlet, undated.
Box 1 Folder 22
Yarrowstalks, Issue #12, April-May 1975. 4 copies.
Box 1 Folder 23
Physical Description

4 copies

Manuscripts: Salvador Dali material: Letter from J.C. Odell to Brian Zahn, concerning article in Yarrowstalks, typescript (signed); "Holograms: A Visit With Salvador Dali," by J.C. Odell, typescript; Instructions for publication, holograph; Peter Bralver material: "The Abbreviated Model of unified Design Field" by Peter Bralver, typescript; "Generalized Model Theory of the Unified Design-Field," holograph (unpublished); "Pairs," holograph (unpublished); "On the Definition of the Largeness of the Ennumerable Continuum," holograph, (unpublished); "On the Topology of the Continuum," holograph, 2ℓ (unpublished); "Equality," holograph (unpublished); "An Essay on the Moralities of Energy," typescript (signed) (unpublished), undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Yarrowstalks, Issue #2, July 1967.
Box 2 Folder 1a
Miscellaneous: "Poex 7", pamphlet by Brian Zahn and Ka Kavana in English and Dutch; Letterhead and form letters on advertising, undated.
Box 2 Folder 1
Material for projected monthly tabloid "B-JAM," including music, articles, drawings and photographs, undated.
Box 2 Folder 2
Philly Joe Jones Concert: Tickets, promotional material and housekeeping records for the concert on June 13, 1975, c. June 1975.
Box 2 Folder 3
Brian Zahn personal effects: "Mirror Magazine," Central High School; U.S. Passport; Statement of financial independence; 5 Photographs by Bonnie Nell Williams; Self-portrait, in water colors and ink; Resume, 1961-1975.
Box 2 Folder 4
Photographs: Male and female couple, 10" x 14" prints, by Bonnie Williams; Artwork for inside cover, undated. 8 ½" x 11" negative.
Box 3 Folder 3
Physical Description

8 ½" x 11" negative

Yarrowstalks, Issue #3, August 1967.
Box 3 Folder 4
Yarrowstalks, Issue #4, November 1967. 3 copies.
Box 3 Folder 5
Physical Description

3 copies

Yarrowstalks, Issue #5, December 1967. 2 copies.
Box 3 Folder 6
Physical Description

2 copies

Yarrowstalks, Issue #6, December 1968.
Box 3 Folder 7
Manuscripts, undated.
Box 3 Folder 8
Photographs: Cover print nude male and female embracing, 11" x 14" print by Bonnie Williams; 45 Erotic prints and negatives by Donnie Crockin; 67 prints of the Living Theatre production of Frankenstein at the Philadelphia YMHA in 1968 by Donnie Crockin; 7 negatives of pages in the issue, 1968, undated.
Box 3 Folder 9
Paste-up of Issue #6 as published, undated.
Box 3 Folder 10
Sunya Correspondence, December 1970.
Box 3 Folder 11
Paste-up of Issue #7 as published, undated.
Box 3 Folder 12
Artwork: Portrait in pen by Louis Delsarte with holograph essay, undated.
Box 3 Folder 13
Paste-up of Issue #8 as published, undated.
Box 3 Folder 14
Manuscripts: Essays and poems published in the issue are in typescript: Steve Ben Israel, Maurice Frydman as are long excerpts from Khadigramodyog; Essays and notes, 17p. in holograph by Brian Zahn; Unpublished editorial, 2 holograph pages, by Brian Zahn; "Alien Call" and "the Noosphere," Vimana Vidya," 3 poems in 5 holograph pages by Ira Einhorn (unpublished), undated.
Box 3 Folder 15
Artwork: Back cover pencil drawing by Paul Carlin, undated.
Box 3 Folder 17
Artwork: "Check the Oil," pen and ink drawing by Charles Parker, undated.
Box 3 Folder 18
Artwork: "Somebody Else's Trip," inked stamped drawings by John Hawke (unpublished); "Lady Bird with Carrot," pen and magic marker drawing recto and verso of one leaf by John Hawke (unpublished); "Flora"*, magic marker drawing, artist unidentified (unpublished); "Super Eight"* pencil drawing by Paul Carlin (unpublished); "Turn on at Midnight," silkscreen print by John Hawke with a second copy in different state (?) in red on vinyl; Untitled pen and ink drawing depicting three portraits by John Hawke (unpublished); Untitled silkscreen print of half-length female figure by John Hawke (unpublished); "Mod Hip," silkscreen on vinyl by John Hawke, undated.
Box 4 Folder 1
Reproductions of Artwork: Brownline proof by Jim McWilliams (unpublished); Untitled pen and ink drawing depicting figures in a surrealistic style by Larry Lewis (untitled); Brownline proof of cover art by Jim McWilliams, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
Paste-up of Issue #1 as published, undated.
Box 4 Folder 3
Artwork: Untitled watercolor by John Hawke; untitled pen and ink border by Ichabod for photographs by Peter Schiedt; Tracing for back cover by John Hawke; Lettering for editorial page by Jean Elliot; Untitled pen and ink drawing by John Hawke (unpublished); "Marriage of Heaven and Hell," pen and ink drawing by John Hawke (unpublished); three untitled pencil drawings by Paul Carlin (unpublished); Overlays for front and back cover; "Yarrowstalks" pen and ink drawings by Margie Leamy (unpublished); Advertising art in various media by unidentified artist, undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
Artwork, undated.
Box 4 Folder 5
by Ira Cohen; Clipping from Life Magazine on the Living Theatre, undated.
Yarrowstalks, Issue #9, June 1973.
Box 4 Folder 6
Paste-up and layout guide for issue as published, undated.
Box 4 Folder 7
Artwork: "Linda," "Leo," "Erotic Neon (2)," 2 pencil and 2 pen and ink drawings by Brian Zahn (unpublished), undated.
Box 3 Folder 16
Photographs: Harp player, 24" x 18" print by Steve Keller; Salvador Dali 5 5" x 8" prints by Chris Soliday, undated.
Box 4 Folder 8
Issue #13 (planned but never published): included are posters, cover art and negatives of artwork; Original Art: "Sigurd and Slasher," cartoon in magic marker by Charles Dixon; "Circus Vargas," crayon etching by D. Deichler, undated.
Box 4 Folder 9
Unidentified materials, undated.
Box 4 Folder 10
Unidentified materials, undated.
Box 4 Folder 11
Printing plates and negatives for issues of Yarrowstalks, undated.
Box 5 Folder 1
Printing plates and negatives for issues of Yarrowstalks, undated.
Box 5 Folder 2
Oversized materials, undated.
Map Folder M36d
Oversized materials, undated.
Map Folder M36d

Print, Suggest