The Unbearables papers
Biographical / Historical note
The Unbearables is a diverse group of poets, writers, and performance artists who share the same love for fringe material. They describe themselves as "a loose collective of noir humorists, beer mystics, fusionistas, neophobes, and passionate debunkers." Gathering in bars around New York City beginning in the mid-1980s, the informal group considers their official "founding" to be in 1985 at the Tin Pan Alley Bar in the East Village. The group gradually became more intentional, with expressions as diverse as demonstrations outside the New Yorker building and annual recitations of their poetry lined up along the Brooklyn Bridge. Their material covers a wide range of genres from fiction and illustrations to jokes and erotic poetry. There is not an official leader, but Ron Kolm, a bookstore manager and published author, has worked to keep them organized. Other noteworthy members are Hal Sirowitz, a poet and humorist; Bart Plantenga, a writer who also had his own radio show; and a poet named Sparrow, whose work has been published in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Further details about the Unbearables may be found in the collection itself, including overview and feature articles from the press.
Scope and Contents
The Unbearables Papers includes both personal correspondence and public media relating to the New York City-based group. The collection contains advertisements and materials for shows, galleries, and readings involving The Unbearables as well as their individual members, from the mid-1980s to early 2019. There are also various reviews and articles on the work of members, ranging from underground magazines to the American Book Review and The New York Times. The correspondence contains emails between members that discuss poetry and publication endeavors.
Creator
- Unbearables (Literary group) (Organization)
Dates
- Creation: 1985-2019
Language of Materials
English
Extent
.5 cubic feet (1 box)
Access
The Unbearables Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.edu
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Unbearables Papers, D.374, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Subject
- Unbearables (Literary group) (Organization)
- Title
- The Unbearables papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Katelyn Gibson
- Date
- February 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- January 30, 2019: Updated to include accruals to the collection
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library