Dog Creek Press, located in Helena, Montana, began soliciting poetry, short fiction, essays, plays, translations and graphic arts for publication in the fall of 1977. The editorial board consisted of Lowell Uda, Phil Cohea, and Rick Newby. Publication began with Scratchgravel Hills 1 in March 1978. The purpose of this publication was to "showcase quality local and Montana writers ...in a well-designed literary magazine." The primary audience was to be Helena readers, although distribution was planned to include state and nationwide libraries, individuals, other magazines, and selected bookstores. Between 1978 and 198O Dog Creek Press published three issues of Scratchgravel Hills. In October 1980, Phil Cohea and Lowell Uda resigned from their positions. Although reorganization was attempted, Scratchgravel Hills 4 was never published.
The records of Dog Creek Press include general correspondence with incomplete correspondence log (1977-1982); financial records (1978-1981); legal documents (1978-1980); minutes (198O); news releases (198O); organization (198O-1981); writings (1977-198l) consisting of published and unpublished manuscripts submitted to Dog Creek Press; miscellany; and clippings. The miscellany series includes promotional flyers, a list of Montana writers (1979), and blank solicitation form letters which contain a brief summary of the publishers' objectives. The writings series includes annotated drafts of manuscripts published in Scratchgravel Hills by Mary Clearman Blew, Phil Cohea, Roger Dunsmore, Scott Hibbard, William Kittredge, William Lang, Arnie Malina, Rick Newby, and Lowell Uda. Drafts of published and unpublished material submitted by other authors are also in this series, including a draft biography of Frieda Fligelman, written by Arnie Malina and published in Scratchgravel Hills 1. Also included are letters from the authors concerning the manuscripts. The published manuscripts are arranged alphabetically within each edition.
This collection is arranged into ten series: General Correspondence (1977-1982); Financial Records (1978-1982); Legal Documents (1978-1980); Minutes (1980); News Releases (1980); Organization (1981); Print Material (transferred to Library); Writings (1973-1980, undated); Miscellany (1979-1980, undated); and Clippings (1977-1980, undated).
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Processed in 2005.
Artifacts have been separated to Museum. Printed Material have been separated to Library. See inventory below for more information.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection