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Word Works, Inc. records

 Collection
Identifier: MS2047

Collection Scope and Content

This collections contains by-laws, articles of incorporation, correspondence, personnel records, financial records, programs, the Word Works Washington Prize, publications, photographs, audiocassettes, and websites. The material dates from 1971-2023. Copies of manuscripts submitted by the young, aspiring poets who contributed to The Word Works are included in this collection. The collection also includes copies of unpublished manuscripts (along with reviewers' notes) for several Word Works publications. Additionally, the Word Works Collection contains correspondence between the poet and the Word Works editors and information on many of the programs conducted by Word Works such as the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series. The student of printing and publishing will be able to see how a book is written for publication, from raw manuscript to the finished form.

The records of Word Works were given to the Department of Special Collections at the Gelman Library, George Washington University, Washington, D. C., in 1990, with an additional accretion in 2002.

This collection is part of the Washington Writers Archives at Gelman Special Collections, which includes original manuscripts and records from writers's organizations in the Washington D.C. area.

Dates

  • Creation: 1971-2023

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Some records may be restricted.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical or Biographical Note

Since 1974, Word Works has been the center of literary life in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area. Because of its location, in the nation's capital, and the uniqueness of its mission, Word Works attracts the attention of poets nationwide and internationally. Word Works is a non-profit organization, originally funded exclusively by yearly grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The small amount of federal funding was supplemented by private donations and proceeds from book sales, much of which went toward the cost of materials for future publications. Its staff consists entirely of volunteers. In 1990, the records of Word Works were given to the Department of Special Collections at the Gelman Library, George Washington University, Washington, D. C., with an additional donation in 2002. The records of The Word Works, Incorporated document the activities of a small poets' collective in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Word Works was established in order to provide opportunities for young, little-known poets to gain recognition for their talents. Recognizing that the success of a poet's career often depends upon obtaining that "first" publication or chance at public exposure, Word Works sponsors public readings of local poets at various locations in the Washington, DC area, especially the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park every summer. Word Works also sponsors yearly poetry writing contests and publishes several books of poetry put together by local Washington, D. C. poets.

For more information on Word Works' current activities, see http://www.wordworksdc.com.

Extent

9.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection contains by-laws, articles of incorporation, correspondence, personnel records, financial records, programs, the Word Works Washington Prize, publications, photographs, audiocassettes, and websites. The material dates from 1971-2023. Copies of manuscripts submitted by the young, aspiring poets who contributed to The Word Works are included in this collection.

Collection Organization

Organized into six series: Administrative files, Activities files, Publications, Photographs, cassettes, and artifacts, Oversized materials, and websites (captured using the Internet Archive's Archive-it service in 2023 and then once a year after that).

Books

Eleven books have been seperated from acc#2010.035 and added to the Special Collections stacks.These books have the phrase “Gift of Word Works Inc.” within their catalog record.

Title
Preliminary Guide to the Word Works, Inc. records, 1971-2013
Status
Folder Inventory
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America