Knowledge Bank

This paper draws on archival material to tell the story of Diane di Prima’s Poets Press. Although di Prima’s 1960s publishing venture has been overlooked, several aspects make it worthy of attention. Founded by the most prominent woman poet of the Beat Generation and one of the rare women-run presses of the era, Poets Press published more than two-dozen volumes, including works by major underground poets as well as the first publications of important new writers. This paper explores the history of Poets Press, its books, and its successes and shortcomings.