(Carson, CA) The Gerth Archives and Special Collections at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) is proud to announce the acquisition of the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center archive. This historic transfer ensures the long-term preservation and expanded access to one of Southern California’s most significant literary collections. The archive documents a major portion of the region’s literary history from the late 20th century to the present.
Founded in 1968 in Venice, California by George Drury Smith, Beyond Baroque began as a literary magazine for experimental writing and quickly evolved into a vibrant community space hosting readings, exhibitions, and cultural gatherings. Over more than five decades, the center has been a launchpad for generations of poets, writers, and artists, nurturing such notable figures as Wanda Coleman, Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Dennis Cooper, Amanda Gorman, and many others. The institution’s legendary Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop and extensive public programs fostered a creative ecosystem that has profoundly shaped the voice and vision of Los Angeles literature.
The archive—which was organized and documented over several years by a team of students and volunteers working under the direction of Johanna Drucker, Breslauer Professor Emerita of Bibliographical Studies in the Department of Information Studies at UCLA—is housed in close to 400 boxes. It includes institutional records, rare chapbooks and journals, correspondence, flyers, audiovisual materials, and ephemera. It provides an unparalleled lens into the grassroots networks that have defined and diversified American literature through movements ranging from the Beats and Punk to LGBTQ and disability arts communities.
“The Beyond Baroque archive is an essential record of Los Angeles literary and cultural history,” said Quentin Ring, Executive Director of Beyond Baroque. “Its home at CSUDH’s Gerth Archives ensures that it will remain a living resource for scholars, writers, and community members. We are excited to continue collaborating with the university on future programming and archival materials.”
“The Gerth Archives at CSU Dominguez Hills is thrilled to be the home of the Beyond Baroque Archive,” said Gregory Williams, Director of the Gerth Archives. “This vast collection will be an invaluable resource for students, faculty, and the public. Once available—within the next year or two—it will stand among the most extensive collections of community-based literature in the nation.”
Beyond Baroque’s decision to partner with CSUDH is rooted in a shared commitment to the grassroots cultural history of Southern California, and to making that history accessible to scholars and to the public. The Gerth Archives’ mission to preserve and make accessible materials representing the diverse histories of Southern California aligns with Beyond Baroque’s legacy as an inclusive and radically open space for experimentation, dialogue, and community-building.
The archive will continue to grow through periodic deposits, and Beyond Baroque will contribute to public programming and research initiatives in collaboration with CSUDH.
Republished with permission from Beyond Baroque.
