OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
North Country Anvil, Inc. (Winona,
Minn.).
North Country Anvil records,
1969-1990.
Records relating to the publication of the
North Country Anvil, a radical literary-political
magazine founded and published by Jack Miller.
3.7 cu. ft. (4 boxes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) section for box
locations.
HISTORY OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
ANVIL
The North Country Anvil was a
literary-political magazine founded and published in southern Minnesota by Jack
Miller as an alternative journalistic venture opposed to the establishment
press. North Country Alternatives, Inc., the magazine's publishing house, was
organized in Millville in 1971. The first issue of the magazine appeared in
June 1972. In 1980 the enterprise reorganized under the name North Country
Anvil, Inc., and in the mid-1980s the publishing venture moved to Winona. The
magazine attracted a number of prominent Minnesota political activists and
writers, among them Meridel Le Sueur, James M. Youngdale, Patricia Hampl, John
T. Bernard, Sigurd Olson, Ellery Foster, and Kenneth Tilsen. Publication
continued until 1989.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
The records include correspondence, minutes, financial information,
promotional materials, newspaper clippings, magazine articles. literary
manuscripts, and related materials. The correspondence contains information on
the press's operation, its writers, and disagreements over submissions (often
reflecting ideological differences). Fairly complete financial and subscription
records reveal the extent of the magazine's influence.
RELATED MATERIALS
North Country Anvil is separately
cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.
Ringing in the Wilderness: Selections from the
North Country Anvil, by Rhoda R. Gilman, is separately cataloged in the
Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
Criticism--Minnesota.
Journalism--Minnesota--Editing.
Literature--Periodicals.
Periodicals--Minnesota--Marketing.
Periodicals, Publishing of--Minnesota.
Poetry.
Politics and literature--Minnesota.
Radicalism--Minnesota.
Underground press publications--Minnesota.
Places:
Millville (Minn.).
Winona (Minn.)
Persons:
Bernard, John T.
Foster, Ellery.
Hampl, Patricia, 1946-
Le Sueur, Meridel.
Miller, Jack.
Olson, Sigurd F., 1899-
Tilsen, Kenneth E.
Youngdale, James M.
Organizations:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. North Country Anvil Records. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 14,360; 15,442
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, August 1991; Lara D.
Friedman-Shedlov, July 1999.
Catalog ID number: 09-00022471
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
148.J.3.3B
1
Background materials.
Corporation and legal records, 1974-1980.
North Country Alternatives, Inc. minutes and related
records, 1971-1973.
North Country Anvil, Inc. minutes and related records,
1981-1982.
Desk book, 1971-1972.
Includes background information on the magazine's publication.
Magazine ideas, 1973-1974.
Critique of magazine, 1973.
Comments on Anvil, undated
and 1978.
Correspondence, undated and 1969-January 1974.
23 folders
148.J.3.4F
2
Correspondence, February 1974-1989.
14 folders
Financial Data:
Monthly financial statements, 1980-1983.
Financial notebook, 1980-1983.
4 folders
Income sheets, 1980-1990.
Income tax returns, 1979-1982.
CETA employees. Invoices, 1980-1982.
Miscellaneous financial records, 1979-1981.
Circulation:
Subscriptions: Original orders, 1972-1974.
2 folders
148.J.3.5B
3
Subscriptions: Original orders, 1972-1974.
4 folders
Distribution, 1972-1974.
4 folders
Mailings of sample copies, 1972-1989.
North Country Anvil Festival fund raisers, 1973, 1974.
2 folders
Harrison Geillor Show benefit, [1981?].
148.J.3.5B
3
Promotion and publicity, 1972-1983.
3 folders
Includes newspaper clippings, magazine articles, correspondence,
and photographs.
Advertising, undated and 1980-1982.
Reader survey, 1981.
New Anvil Press building construction, 1972, 1976.
2 folders
The Anvil Press: Syndication of articles [?],
1973-1974.
North Country Anvil work
folders: Issue numbers 49-50, [1985].
2 folders
148.J.3.6F
4
North Country Anvil work
folders: Issue numbers 51, 52, 55, and 56, [1985-1987].
7 folders
Miscellaneous article manuscripts, [197-].
Nursing home legislation (Joint Religious Legislative
Committee), 1969-1974.
West Bank Tenants Union (Minneapolis), 1974.
Miscellaneous printed materials, 1973-1983.
2 folders