Impossibilists publications collection, 1977-1985
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Impossibilists publications collection
- Dates
- 1977-1985 (inclusive)19771985
- Quantity
- 1 box
- Collection Number
- OLPb030IMP
- Summary
- Collection of publications by the Impossibilists, a group of artists and writers active as performers and impresarios in Portland, Oregon in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Repository
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Lewis & Clark College, Special Collections and Archives
Aubrey R. Watzek Library
615 S. Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR
97219
Telephone: 5037687758
Fax: 5037687282
archives@lclark.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical Note
Co-founded in 1977 by Mark Sargent (aka Animal Trust, Max Deadtoe Delaney) and Tom Cassidy (aka Spaceangel and Musicmaster), The Impossibilists were a group of artists and writers active as performers and impresarios in Portland, Oregon in the late 1970s and early '80s. The other original or core Imps were mail-artist Kay Hockett aka Rhoda Mappo, Robert Lurie aka Rider, Marti Barrett aka Reynarda Wally, Alaina Lara aka Lipps, and honorary Imp Ijme Van Sloten. Their aesthetics were primarily absurdist, and expressed in graphics, poetry, prose, several "Dada Spectaculars" (which drew hundreds of people and included performances by Ken Butler, Lowell Darling, Dana Atchley, Billy Oskay, Norman Gould, Bob Gardiner, Cees Francke, Al Ackerman, Ken Friedman etc.), comic strips, manifestos, and events, many staged at Cassidy's junkshop arcade, Keep 'Em Flying. Among the contributors to their publications were Katherine Dunn, John Shirley, John Bennett, Walt Curtis, Ken Butler, Dan Raphael, Keith Rahmmings, Scott Helmes, Bob Phillips, Doug Spangle, and SubWaxin Haddock. They continued to release ephemeral publications through the 1980s.
This collection includes a variety of Impossibilits publications.
Content Description
This collection is composed solely of Impossibilists publications.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Watzek Library Special Collections and Archives does not hold copyright to the materials in this collection. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright and other restrictions.
Preferred Citation
[item description] The Impossibilists Publications collection, Lewis & Clark College Special Collections and Archives, Portland, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Location of Collection
Special Collections Repository 2Acquisition Information
Collection assembled by Charles Seluzicki and sold to Lewis & Clark College in 2008. Additional material was purchased in 2024 from Burnside Rare Books.
Processing Note
Originally processed in 2008. Publications housed in acid-free folders. Finding aid revised and re-published with additional material in 2024.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: The Impossibilist Manifesto5 single sided 8.5 x 11" sheets stapled
Printed by "Animal Trust, 2180 NW Irving, Portland, Ore 97210"
Dates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 1 -
Description: Impossible Manifesto 2Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Impossibilist Manifesto 5Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Impossible Manifesto 6Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Paper wrapper for Musical Comedy 6 1/2: Trading CardsFully illustrated single-sided 8.5 x 11" sheet wrapper for set of 48 trading cards.Dates: Summer 1980Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Musical Comedy 6 1/2: Trading Cards48 single-sided 3.5 x 2.25" trading cards printed on card stock (blue, tan, and cream).
Trading cards includetext and artwork by: Walt Curtis, Dan Lissy, Lon Spiegelman, John Bennett, Musicmaster, Buzz Blur, Katherine Dunn, Lady C., Dr. Trust, Tri-X, Keith Rahmmings, Desnos, and Rider.
Dates: Summer 1980Container: Box 1, Folder 6 -
Description: Imps 7Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: ImpossibleightContainer: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Impossible 10: A ScrapbookContainer: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Impossible 14Dates: 1979Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: Impossibile 15: Points of Impact11 single sided 8.5 x 11" sheets stapled
Printed by "The Impossibilists." Includes works by Rider, Lipps Inc., Musicmaster, Max Deadtoe Delaney, Dan Raphael, Lips, Trust, and Katherine Dunn.
Dates: undated, ca. 1980Container: Box 1, Folder 11 -
Description: Impossibilists 1720 pages (counting cover) 8.5 x 11" saddle stapled booklet
Editor: Musicmaster. Contributors Contributors: Buz Blurr, John Bennett, Katherine Dunn, Dan Lissy, Scott Helmes, Inex, Michiel VanDijk, Dr. Blaster, Dr. ID, Dr Trust, Keith Rahmmings, and Tri-X.
Dates: Spring 1982Container: Box 1, Folder 12 -
Description: Impossibilists 18: Impossible WomenFully illustrated envelope with 21 loose sheets (approx. 8.5 x 11"), each featuring artwork and writing.
Includes works by: Reynarda Wally, Katherine Dunn, S.L. Ames, Rhoda Mappo, Mrs. Blaster, Inex, Lon Spiegelman, Dominick Fucci, Carol Stetser, Marilyn Rosenberg, Ryder, Annie, Dan Lissy, Roxy Gordon, Dr. ID, Musicmaster.
Dates: Spring 1983Container: Box 1, Folder 13 -
Description: Impossibilist Broadside 1: Let Me Go Now by Katherine DunnContainer: Box 1, Folder 14
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Description: Impossibilist Broadside 3: Allen Ginsberg comes to Olympia 1969-1980Dates: 1980-06-03Container: Box 1, Folder 15
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Description: Portland AssemblageDates: c. 1980Container: Box 1, Folder 16
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Personal Names
- Barrett, Marti
- Bennett, John
- Butler, Ken
- Cassidy, Tom
- Curtis, Walt
- Dunn, Katherine, 1945-2016
- Haddock, Sub Waxin
- Helmes, Scott
- Hockett, Kay
- Lara, Alaina
- Lurie, Robert
- Mappo, Rhoda
- PHillips, Bob
- Rahmmings, Keith
- Raphael, Dan
- Sargent, Mark
- Shirley, John
- Van Sloten, Ijme
Corporate Names
- The Impossibilists
Geographical Names
- Portland (Or.)
