Mark Green papers, 1954-1991, bulk 1954-1978

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A Finding Aid to the Mark Green Papers, 1954-1991, bulk 1954-1978, in the Archives of American Art, by Jayna Hanson

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Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

Mark Green (1932-) moved to San Francisco and became active in the "Beat Movement" as a photographer, writer, and arts advocate. He helped organize two major group exhibitions of beat-era arts and also founded the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery in San Francisco.

Green was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 1932, and attended the University of Miami, Florida from 1950-1952. After taking classes in journalism and philosophy, Green began a career in media and worked as a copy-boy, reporter, and correspondent at various newspapers throughout the United States until 1956.

In 1957, Green moved to San Francisco and worked as a bartender at the Co-Existence Bagel Shop, a local spot for Beat gatherings. It was during this time that Green became involved with the Beat Movement and the San Francisco Renaissance. Green became friends with "Beatnick" figures including Edward Silverstone Taylor and Patricia Marx who encouraged him to take up photography. Green's poems were published in Beatitude and The Real Bohemia.

A more prolific photographer than poet, Mark Green exhibited his photographs at Seven Arts Gallery, the Critic's Choice San Francisco Art Festival (1964), the Focus Gallery, and the "San Francisco Renaissance" at the Gotham Book Mart and Gallery (1975). He was active in organizing group exhibitions including the "Rolling Renaissance" (1968) and "A Kind of Beatness: Photographs of a North Beach Era, 1950-1965" (1975). Additionally, Green founded the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery (1972-1974) to give little-known artists an outlet to exhibit their works.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The papers of San Francisco Beat photographer, journalist, and poet Mark Green consist of biographical information, correspondence, exhibition files, printed materials, scattered writings, and photographs. Photographs by Mark Green are of notable figures and places in the Beat movement, including Allen Ginsberg, Robert Rauschenberg, and Clyfford Still, as well as photographs by others of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Mark Green, and Jack Kerouac among others.

One folder of correspondence includes letters from Jay DeFeo, Wallace and Shirley Berman, and Robert Emory Johnson. Exhibition files are found for two Beat exhibitions that Mark Green assisted in organizing: "Rolling Renaissance", 1968 and "A Kind of Beatness: Photographs of a North Beach Era, 1950-1965", 1975. Exhibition files contain correspondence, photographs of work exhibited and installation views, clippings, announcements and catalogs. Photographs are of Thomas Albright, Francis Ford Coppola, Allen Ginsberg, Leonard Hull, Robert Emory Johnson, Bob Kauffman, J. Oliver Mitchell, Francis Rigney, Jerome Stauber, and Edward Silverstone Taylor. Correspondents include include Thomas Albright, Wallace Berman, Bill Eisenlord, Alfred Frankensten, Allen Ginsberg, Helen Johnson of the Focus Gallery, Robert Emory Johnson, Chester Kessler, and Philip Whalen.

Mark Green's writings include a history of the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery, a statement about his photography, and various notes.

Printed materials consist of clippings, exhibition announcements for the San Francisco area and Nanny Goat Hill Gallery, and comic books.

The series of photographs is particularly rich due to Green's thoughtful and informative reflections written on the back of many of the photographs. The majority of the photographs identify the photographer, sitter, date, and place. Many times, Green included his own recollections of the particular sitter or photographer as well. In addition to photographs of Mark Green, there are photographs taken by Green and others of important Beat Movement figures. There are also photographs of beatnick "hot-spots" including the Co-Existence Bagel Shop, The Cellar, and The Place.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged into 6 series:

• Series 1: Biographical Information, 1967-1970s (Box 1; 1 folder)
• Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1976 (Box 1, 3; 1 folder)
• Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1954-1975 (Box 1, 3; 13 folders)
• Series 4: Writings and Notes, 1974-1978 (Box 1; 3 folders)
• Series 5: Printed Material, 1959-1978 (Box 1-3; 8 folders)
• Series 6: Photographs, 1950s-1970s (Box 2-3; 0.3 linear feet)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

Mark Green donated his papers in 1974, 1976, 1979, and 1991.

Separated and Related Materials

The Archives of American Art holds an oral history interview with Robert Emory Johnson by Paul Karlstrom on March 14, 1975 that details the history of the Rolling Renaissance exhibition organized in part by Mark Green.

How the Collection was Processed

A portion of the Mark Green papers was microfilmed upon receipt in 1974 on reels 981-982. The remaining accessions were merged and processed by Jayna Hanson in 2008. The papers were digitized in 2010 with funding provided the Terra Foundation for American Art.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Mark Green papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Available Formats

The collection was digitized in its entirety in 2010 and is available via the Archives of American Art's website.

How to Cite this Collection

Mark Green papers, 1954-1991, bulk 1954-1978. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Information, 1967-1970s (Box 1; 1 folder)

Biographical information includes Mark Green's resume, a xerox copy of a guest book of a Mark Green photo exhibition, and copies of exhibition announcements in which Green participated.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

Series 2: Correspondence, 1959-1976 (Box 1, 3; 1 folder)

Correspondence is between Mark Green and others, including Wallace and Shirley Berman, Jay DeFeo, and Robert Emory Johnson. Correspondence is arranged by date.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1954-1975 (Box 1, 3; 13 folders)

This series consists primarily of materials relating to exhibitions that Mark Green helped to organize: "A Kind of Beatness" (1975) and "Rolling Renaissance" (1968). Also found is a catalog for "North Beach Memorabilia, the 40s to the 60s," (1968). Exhibition files include correspondence, clippings, catalogs, photographs, writings, announcements, and press releases. Photographs are of Thomas Albright, Francis Ford Coppola, Allen Ginsberg, Leonard Hull, Robert Emory Johnson, Bob Kauffman, J. Oliver Mitchell, Francis Rigney, Jerome Stauber, and Edward Silverstone Taylor. Correspondents include include Thomas Albright, Wallace Berman, Bill Eisenlord, Alfred Frankensten, Allen Ginsberg, Helen Johnson of the Focus Gallery, Robert Emory Johnson, Chester Kessler, and Philip Whalen.

Exhibition Files are arranged into 3 subseries:

• Subseries 3.1: "A Kind of Beatness: Photographs of a North Beach Era, 1950-1965," 1954-1970s
• Subseries 3.2: "North Beach Memorabilia: the 40s to the 60s" [1968], circa 1970s
• Subseries 3.3: "Rolling Renaissance" [1968], 1967-1969

Subseries 3.1: "A Kind of Beatness: Photographs of a North Beach Era, 1950-1965," 1954-1970s

Writings, correspondence, and clippings relating to "A Kind of Beatness" exhibition which took place at the Focus Gallery in San Francisco, California in 1975. Also found are photographs which were included in the exhibition and photographs taken during the show.

This sub-series has been scanned in its entirety.

Subseries 3.2: "North Beach Memorabilia: the 40s to the 60s" [1968], circa 1970s

This subseries consists of one exhibition catalog.

This sub-series has been scanned in its entirety.

Subseries 3.3: "Rolling Renaissance" [1968], 1967-1969

This subseries includes writings, correspondence, exhibition announcements, and press releases from the "Rolling Renaissance" exhibition held thoughout San Francisco in 1968. Notable letters are written to and by Allen Ginsberg and Thomas Albright. Photographs taken during the exhibition include Allen Ginsberg, Thomas Albright, Robert Emoy Johnson, Dr. Reidar Wennesland, and Francis Rigney.

This sub-series has been scanned in its entirety.

Series 4: Writings and Notes, 1974-1978 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Writings and notes by Mark Green include a history of the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery and statements about his photography. Also found are unidentified writings.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

Series 5: Printed Material, 1974-1978 (Box 1-3; 8 folders)

Printed materials include clippings and newspapers, miscellaneous Beatnick publications, and comic books. Many clippings relate to the San Francisco Renaissance and the Beat Movement. Also found are materials from the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery including exhibition announcements, forms, and gallery schedules.

The bulk of this series has been scanned. Only relevant clippings and the covers of comic books have been scanned.

Series 6: Photographs, 1950s-1970s (Box 2-3; 0.3 linear feet)

This series includes photographs of Mark Green, by Mark Green, and by other photographers. Photos are arranged by photographer and subsequently by date that Mark Green specified. Unidentified photographs do not have any identifying descriptions on the back.