University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections5734Stookey, Jeff, 1948-Jeff Stookey and
Jesse Bernstein papers1950-20101974-19917.32 cubic feet (6 boxes, 1 map folder, and 2 vertical
files)Collection materials are in
English.Jesse Bernstein was a writer and
performance artist associated with the Seattle Grunge scene. Jeff Stookey, a
longtime friend, helped him to put this collection together prior to
Bernsteins's death in 1991.The donor of this collection, Jeff Stookey, a life-long resident of
the Pacific Northwest, met Jesse Bernstein in the fall of 1971 while they both
worked at a Seattle area Goodwill store. They remained close friends until
Jesse's death in 1991.
Steven J. Bernstein (Jesse) was born in Los Angeles on on Dec. 4,
1950. He was writer and performance artist associated with the Grunge scene.
Jesse worked as a musician during his chaotic adolescence and early adulthood.
He suffered from infantile paralysis and mental illness, and later drug and
alcohol abuse as well. From 1966 on, he lived mainly in Seattle, working as a
poet, playwright, novelist, singer/songwriter and performance artist, often
collaborating with other Seattle artists. He often read at punk rock venues. He
died at Neah Bay, Washington in 1991.
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 5734-001, Jeff Stookey and Steven J. Bernstein
Collection, 1950-2010
- Accession No. 5734-002, Jeff Stookey and Jesse Bernstein papers,
1985-1995
- Accession No. 5734-003, Steven J. Bernstein and Jeff Stookey
Collection, 1980's-1990's
Correspondence, artwork, photographs, audio and video recordings, and
newspaper articles detailing Jesse's life, death, and artistic output at well
as Jeff and Jesse's friendship. Included are papers, articles, photographs,
correspondence, and ephemera related to the 2010 Bernstein documentary "I am
Secretly an Important Man", two postcards to Jeff Stookey, referencing Jesse
Bernstein (1986, 1995) and two postcards to Jesse Bernstein (1985).
For additional Bernstein resources please see the Steven J. Bernstein
Papers, 1972-2001 (Accessions 5244-001 and 5244-002).
Open to all users.
Request at
UW
Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact
Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Jeff Stookey, 2012-08-13, 2017-07-12, 2025-03-07
An art work entitled The Noodle, was separated from this collection
and cataloged separately
Bernstein, Steven J., 1950-1991--ArchivesStookey, Jeff, 1948---ArchivesPerformance artists--Washington (State)--SeattleArt--Washington (State)--SeattleGrunge music--Washington (State)--SeattleComposers--Washington (State)--SeattleMusicians--Washington (State)--SeattlePoets, American--Washington (State)--SeattlePerformance art--Washington (State)--SeattlePersonal correspondencePhotographsEphemeraStookey, Jeff, 1948- creatorPersonal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)SeattleMusicMoving ImagesPhotographsSound RecordingsPerforming Arts
Accession No. 5734-001: Jeff Stookey and Steven J. Bernstein Collection, 1950-2010 (bulk 1974-1991)cubic feet (6 boxes)Scope and Content: Correspondence, artwork, photographs, audio and video recordings,
and newspaper articles detailing Jesse's life, death, and artistic output at
well as Jeff and Jesse's friendship. Included are papers, articles,
photographs, correspondence, and ephemera related to the 2010 Bernstein
documentary "I am Secretly an Important Man".
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for
details.
Acquisition Info: Jeff Stookey, 8/13/12
General Notes: SJB = Steven "Jesse" Bernstein
Series 1Correspondence and news1/15734-001Birth and Death1950-19911/25734-001Bernstein letters to Stookey1974-19771/35734-001Bernstein: Correspondence1979-19901/45734-001Photos and Slides1970s-1980s1/55734-001SJB portraits1970s-1980s1/65734-001Choking on 6th, plus19791/75734-001Heather Hammond letters to Bernstein1982-19841/85734-001Bernstein letters to Stookey1979-19901/95734-001Original poster for "Prison" album
(oversized)undated1/105734-001"Faux Pas", featuring the work of SJB, #103 of
50019871/115734-001Newspapers with articles about Bernstein1990-19911/125734-001"Discrete Ephemera" #342 of 50019901/135734-001SJB archive-related material (misc)1991-19931/145734-001Obituaries/memorial tributes (photocopies and
originals)1991-19931/155734-001"Extra copies for Jeff's archives"- misc SJB
writings1988-19901/165734-001Leslie and SJB businessundated1/175734-001Leslie Fried business re: SJB archive letters and
obitsundated1/185734-001SJB related correspondence1993-20071/195734-001"I am Secretly an Important Man" (film) related
materials2010Series 2Multimedia25734-001Hugging tube25734-001Two DAT cassettes: SJB reading "Birds" and "Hi
Mom"25734-001Two DAT cassettes: Blanchard Street Studio Reading by
SJB and Mali Delaney2/15734-001Photos from "After Alison"2/25734-001SJB "Birds" on two audio cassettes2/35734-001SJB's interview on "Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under
Protest", copy on audio cassetteAugust 12, 19832/45734-001Bernstein archival Super 8 (3 rolls)2/55734-001Blanchard Street Studio Reading on 2 reels of 1/4 inch
reel-to-reel tape.2/65734-001Three audio cassettes: Greg Jamrock's Panic Merchants
(1984), Beaverchief, and Sue Ann Harkey's Nothing is Something19842/75734-001Three audio cassettes: SJB and Pete Leinonen's Words
and Music, Leinonen's Saturated Peaks, and the Pete Leinonen Quintet
(1984)19842/85734-001Two audio cassettes: SJB reads "Birds" and Bernstein
reads for his mother2/95734-001Three SJB audio cassettes: "Effects" (1988), "The Sad
Bag" (1990), and "Work-in-Progress #1" (1990).1988-19902/105734-001Audio cassette: Corsair @ SCUD meeting
recoringJuly 17, 19902/115734-001Western Movements, four films by Jeff Stookey, on VHS
and DVD2/125734-001SJB "Prison"- two audio cassettes, one is copy made by
Jeff Stookey2/135734-001Letter from David Hines (Trigger) to Jeff
StookeyDecember 1992Series 3Art and news3/15734-001Bernstein Catalog3/25734-001SJB mixed portraits3/35734-001SJB art- ink and brush (undated), line drawing (1984),
photo of watercolor (original retained by Stookey)19843/45734-001SJB's drawings, 1972-1984 (when dated) with Stookey's
inventory and commentary1972-19843/55734-001Rickie Lee Jones note and signed photo to
SJB3/65734-001SJB 1972 portraits and negatives, undated later photos
(photocopies) of SJB and Alison Slow Loris19723/75734-001Evil Live Poetry Reading photos and
negativesJuly 13, 19793/85734-001Contact sheet and negatives (color) or SJB and Alison
Slow Loris weddingWinter 19793/95734-001SJB play "God in all her Glory" photos, negatives, and
contact sheetsDecember 19803/105734-001Photos, contact sheets, and negatives, including
Wraith cover art1980-19813/115734-001Alison Slow Loris' art- color photocopy
work1980-19813/125734-001Letters from William S. Burroughs to SJB1982-19843/135734-001SJB watercolors and collages (to Jeff and
Pam)19843/145734-001Alison Slow Loris memorabilia19843/155734-001SJB misc, mostly undated1979-19883/165734-001SJB clippings, flies, and posters1980-19963/175734-001SJB papers- biography, resume, legal paperwork,
newspaper articles/clippings19903/185734-001Clippings of SJB post-humous newspaper
articles1991-20033/195734-001"I am Secretly an Important Man" related
papers/ephemera20103/205734-001Interview magazine issue with blurb on "I am Secretly
an Important Man"October 2010Series 4Writings4/15734-001SJB songs for Seligman deposition19744/25734-001"Easy Pickin's" by Jack Saunders (1979) and "Exposed
to the Elements" by Karen Waring (1976).1976-19794/35734-001"Fear of Piano Keys" (1976), "Message from the Sun",
"Your Tricycle's on Fire!" and "How I met my Present Wife" (1987)1976-19874/45734-001Poetry collection chap books: "Choking on 6th" (Outlaw
Press #1, 1979), "Exotic Disasters" (Outlaw Press #2, 1979), and "A Ghost of
His Former Self" (Outlaw Press #3, 1981)1979-19814/55734-001"Choking on 6th" (copy)19794/65734-001"Pleasure on Platforms" and "After TV"19794/75734-001"The Sanctuary19804/85734-001"The Wraith", inscribed to Jeff19844/95734-001Vagabond Press White Paper series, all by John
Bennett: "In the Course of Human Events", "Crime of the Century", and
"HIJACK!"19824/105734-001"Hermione", copy of original manuscript19824/115734-001"Frozen Sapphire" and letters from SJB to David Hines
(Trigger)1987-19914/125734-001SJB's work collected post-humously by Stookey:
"Letting the Horses Go" (1988), "Party Balloon" (1990), "Blood and Smoke"
(1989), "Howard and Shirley" (1987).1987-19904/135734-001Short pieces and songs used in public performance: "No
More Censorship"1989-19904/145734-001"The Noodle"1990Separated Material: Item cataloged separately
4/155734-001"Popo and Ginger"19904/165734-001"Personal Effects" first draft, Stookey personal
copy19904/175734-001"Personal Effects" first draft copy19904/185734-001"Personal Effects", copy of original final
draft19904/195734-001"Short Skirt"19914/205734-001John Harter gallery fliers (photocopies)1978-19914/215734-001Photos of SJB's artwork taken for Pete Sillen
(director of "I am Secretly an Important Man")4/225734-001Contact sheets and photocopies for Pete
Sillen4/235734-001Misc small pieces, copies and originals1970-1987Series 5Miscellaneous55734-001Framed photo of SJB's grandfather55734-001Crocheted pouch with bone/antler closure, contains 3
rocks55734-001Blank Seattle Post-Intelligencer notebook with SJB's
address written on cover and provenance note by Jeff Stookey55734-0012 copies "The Rocket" newspaper July 1988 edition
featuring SJB interview of William S. BurroughsJuly 198855734-001Triangular poster for "Words and Music: Jesse
Bernstein and Pete Leinonen"19845/15734-001"After the Break-Up, Alison/Jesse 1985"19855/25734-001Western Movements premier poster65734-001SJB mixed media, drawings, and collages1979-198765734-001Posters for SJB's performaces/readings: Battle of
Heavyweight Prose, Mitsu: the man who has had too much experience, and Evil
Live poetry reading with Mali Delaney.1979-19806/15734-001SJB artwork- ink, graphite, pastel and/or watercolor.
Only dated pieces are 19881988Series 6Oversize75734-001"I am Secretly an Important Man" film poster,
screenprinted201075734-001Seattle Art Museum Mike Spafford exhibit
poster198275734-001SJB mixed media (graphite, pastel, and paint) male
torso and genitaliaundatedAccession No. 5734-002: Jeff Stookey and Jesse Bernstein papers, 1985-19951 vertical fileScope and Content: Two postcards to Jeff Stookey, referencing Jesse Bernstein (1986,
1995) and two postcards to Jesse Bernstein (1985).
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington
Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Info: Jeff Stookey, 2017-07-12.
Accession No. 5734-003: Steven J. Bernstein and Jeff Stookey Collection, 1980s-1990s1 vertical folderScope and Content: Photo from wedding of Steven "Jesse" Bernstein and Western
Movements: four films by Jeff Stookey DVD - soundtrack features Jesse Bernstein
and Pete Leinonen
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Viewing copy is available in the Special Collections reading
room.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington
Libraries Special Collections.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Jeff Stookey, March 2025
VF 25734-003Steven J. Bernstein and Jeff Stookey
Collection1980s-1990sScope and Content: Photo from the wedding of Steven "Jesse" Bernstein and Western
Movements: four films by Jeff Stookey DVD - soundtrack features Jesse Bernstein
and Pete Leinonen