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Impossibilists publications collection, 1977-1985

Overview of the Collection

Title
Impossibilists publications collection
Dates
1977-1985 (inclusive)
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
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
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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.

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Content Description

This collection is composed solely of Impossibilists publications.

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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.

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Administrative Information

Location of Collection

Special Collections Repository 2

Acquisition 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.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: The Impossibilist Manifesto
    5 single sided 8.5 x 11" sheets stapled

    Printed by "Animal Trust, 2180 NW Irving, Portland, Ore 97210"

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Impossible Manifesto 2
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Impossibilist Manifesto 5
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Impossible Manifesto 6
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Paper wrapper for Musical Comedy 6 1/2: Trading Cards
    Fully illustrated single-sided 8.5 x 11" sheet wrapper for set of 48 trading cards.
    Dates: Summer 1980
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Musical Comedy 6 1/2: Trading Cards
    48 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 1980
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Imps 7
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Impossibleight
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Impossible 10: A Scrapbook
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Impossible 14
    Dates: 1979
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Impossibile 15: Points of Impact
    11 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. 1980
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Impossibilists 17
    20 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 1982
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Impossibilists 18: Impossible Women
    Fully 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 1983
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: Impossibilist Broadside 1: Let Me Go Now by Katherine Dunn
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: Impossibilist Broadside 3: Allen Ginsberg comes to Olympia 1969-1980
    Dates: 1980-06-03
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: Portland Assemblage
    Dates: c. 1980
    Container: 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.)
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