Jeremy Randolph papers

1969-1974 [bulk 1972-1974]

Jeremy Randolph, an African-American actor, poet, playwright and founder of independent publishing houses, was born in 1947 in La Grange, Texas. In ca. 1970 he and Georgia Nicholas co-founded Rannick Playwrights Company, publisher and producer of dramatic poetry readings, which published his books of poetry, among other works. In January 1971 Randolph founded a second independent publishing company, Amuru Press, with offices at 161 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, to provide an outlet for black works. The press published poetry, plays, short stories, essays and novels. Although he sought to publish writers and non-writers, he focused on unpublished writers from around the country, many who were incarcerated. By May 1972, only fourteen months after its founding, Rannick Amuru Press had already published eight books of poetry with plans to publish five plays. The Press also sponsored two Annual Black Writers Conferences in 1971 and 1972, with two days of workshops, speakers, panel discussions, poetry readings and performances, held in Harlem. The Jeremy Randolph papers primarily document the activities of Randolph's small, independent black publishing company, Amuru Press during the brief period from 1972 to 1974. Files of close to two hundred writers, many who were never published previously, contain samples of their poetry, short stories, play scripts, and other writings. Many files consist only of correspondence between Amuru and the writer. There is also press and related information for the First and Second Annual Black Writers Conference he prepared in 1971 and 1972.