The University of Iowa Libraries
Special Collections and University Archives
Finding Aid
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William Gaglione Papers Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research. Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department. Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials. Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement. Acquisition and Processing Information: Processed by Jessica McBride & Anne Covell. Posted to the internet 7 May 2009. Photographs: Box 2, folder 5 |
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Scope and Contents
The collection contains William Gaglione’s works and papers, including various Dadaland mail art works, visual poems, and sound poems. He also collected newspaper articles and cartoons that pertained to mail and postal services. Additionally, Gaglione collected gallery announcments and other publications that he received or published for personal exhibitions.
The collection consists of 2 boxes, arranged in the following series:
Series I – Gallery Catalogs and Announcements
Series II – Personal Papers
Series III – Correspondence
Series IV – Art Materials and Artworks
Biographical Note
William Gaglione, born in New York City in 1943, became an influential leader of the mail art movement during the 1960s. From that point he took an active role in the New York Correspondence School, along with his friend Ray Johnson, where he created his coded name “Dadaland”. Long before the general public was aware of the artistic possibilities, mail artists were using rubber stamps to decorate their envelopes, finding abstract applications, and developing techniques. Rubber stamp art became an important genre within mail art, along with publications, postage stamps, photocopy, and audio cassette trade, and began to generate its own shows, magazines, and conventions. From being a contributor in the movement, Gaglione’s position was to publicize the up and coming genre by utilizing the publications, shows, magazines, and audio cassettes.
Gaglione left New York and moved to California during the 1970s, where he founded his first company dedicated to mail art, Stamp Francisco. While living in San Francisco, he befriended other mail artists, including Darlene Domel, who he later married, and Anna “Banana” Lee. During this time, he contributed to artistamp, which is the art form of a postage stamp, but not meant to be considered real. Additionally, it was with Anna Banana that Gaglione developed Vile Magazine, which gave the opportunity for mail artists to publish their art and other publications. As Gaglione became more empowered with the mail art movement, he was known as a pioneer and developed the name “Picasso” Gaglione for all of the techniques he created.
During the 1990s, Gaglione focused his attention on the fine art of rubber stamping and his role as curator for the Stamp Art Gallery in San Francisco. Currently, Gaglione resides in Chicago with Darlene Domel. He owns a company, Stampland, which consists of fine art rubber stamps that he sells.
Related Materials
ATCA Artists' Works and Correspondence (MsC 764) – Contains work by similar mail artists
ATCA Rubber Stamp Art Collection (MsC 788) – Contains correspondence from Gaglione
ATCA homepage - Overview of the ATCA collection with links to finding aids
Box Contents List
Box 1
Series I: Gallery Catalogs and Announcements
Folder 1: Inter Dada, 84
Italianfuturistheatre (programs)
Folder 2: Fliers and announcements
Dada sound poems
NO show flyers
The Shooting gallery
Futurist Scientesi performance
New sound poems flyer
World Art magazine ad
Pro-vision flyer
Artists talk on art
Publication for rubber stamp shows
Gas Heart
Dadaland postcard show
Poetry for the body: clothing for spirit
Return of tut
Futurist sintesi
Fluxshoe: scenes & zines
Celebrate xmas in dadaland
Futurist sintesi audio player
World premier: rocket to mars
Performance marathon
Wild men
Live networking
NO show performance
Shozo in America
Leap nite at jet wave
New sound poems
The illusion
Illusion de gendre
Envelope 1979, Common press #22 material
2 Dadaland envelopes, (1 “Dada is Never Right” stickers, 1972.)
Misc. envelopes & announcements
871 Fine Arts
Pressworks
Brochure
Parallelogramme
Stampa Barbara
Ty-Mark Industries
Opeongo Inc.
w/stamps
to Darlene from Japanese co.
Molly Cleaton; Nihilist
Folder 3: Materials relating to Vile Magazine
Letter for a collating party for Vile, 1980
Vile Magazine ad flyer
Call for works for Vile #7
Subseries: Clippings
Folder 1: Clippings focused on US & international mail
Folder 2: Cartoon clippings centered on US mail
Folder 3: Postal services
Federal laws & government
US mail booklet
newspaper clipping of mail
postal instant press (box)
Folder 4: Miscellaneous clippings
“June 86”
“Strange Deaths”
“Leap”
Cartoon and magazine clippings
Kissing (article)
Folder1: European trip mementos
Folder 2: Personal memos (2 planners, 1 notebook, 1 notebook w/comments & addresses)
Folder 3: Miscellaneous
Series III: Correspondence
Folder 1: To Gaglione
Candy
PC Fencotti
Darlene Domel
Dawn Gaglione
JR Morina
Nessi Gaglione
Stephen Perkins
Jackie
Madeline (little girl stamper from “Make Your Mark”)
Larry C
Miscellaneous Valentine’s Day cards
Folder 2: General; from Gaglione
Lauren Hall
Julie P
Karl Kempton
Stephen Morrissey
James Minor
Geoff A Cook
Larry Wendt
Loris Essary
Don Voisine
Michael Phillips
Sarah Stro
Howard Robertson
“Uncle Don”
Lisa
OK Magazine/Nihilist Press
Art Orr
Sandra Kocher
Milt Jines
Lin Fife
Lauren Mukamal-Camp
Joslin Fields
Billy Curmano
Diana Arseneau
Hreinn Frideinnsson
Mike M Mollett
Stephanie Comer
Lon Spiegelman
Sherry
“Skoote”
Marcello Diotallevi
Dr. Frank R Scheer
John Held Jr.
Nina M Berg
Carol Prestia
Clive Phillpot
Dr. Klaus Groh
Joseph BL Bourgeois
Robert Terry
Jeff Berner
Peter R Meyer
Florence Crittention service
Folder 3: Financial records
Research & Recommendations (bill/receipt included w/ newsletter)
Sanitation bill
East TX Engraving
Quiz Graphic Arts
BC Monthly (IHC Dept. funds/benefits, bank statements, invoices)
Tharco Box Services
Rates
WM Mastercard
Folder 4: Chain letters
Box 2
Series IV: Art materials and Artworks
Folder 1: Darlene Domel
Folder 2: Mail art
Folder 3: Stamps
Folder 4: Stickers
Folder 5: Photographs (including photo booth)
Folder 6: Templates and mock-ups
Mock artwork
The illusion
Bay area artists books & Dick Higgins visual poetry
Visual poems
A futurist sintesi
West coast international sound poetry festival
Futurlustra
The illusion: a surrealist film/drama
Illusion de gendre
Dadaland postcard show
Visual poem
Folder 7: Miscellaneous artworks
Cloth “NO WAR” artwork
Art of Future