Chax Press records
An elaborate illustrative printing plate, intricate paper, and a copy of Sharon Wright Pettus's "The Sacred Path to Paradise" are among the unique items in the Chax Press records, 2013 (MS 666 Box 33 and Box 49).
Collection dates: 1977-ongoing
The bulk of this collection includes documents and other various material pertaining to the creation of books published by Chax Press including manuscripts, edits, cover art, broadsides, conceptual designs, letterpress plates, printing material, and published copies. Other resources pertain to business related materials concerning Chax Press and its founder, Charles Alexander, including professional and personal correspondence, financial material, printing suppliers, and their work with the Tucson Poetry Festival and other art organizations.
Chax Press is a small, Tucson based publishing house founded in 1984. Since opening they have published hundreds of books by creative, and innovative poets. They are known for their unique style of books that include both soft-bound offset books as well as hand-printed limited editions, combining both complex visual dynamics and more various book structures throughout all of their letterpress books. Their goal has also been to produce non-traditional literary fine press art in the form of books and other hand printed materials.
As a non-profit arts organization, Chax Press, founded by Charles Alexander, Poet and Executive Director, has since become a large part of the arts community in Tucson. Chax Press organizes and supports local events such as readings, workshops, and exhibits to highlight the various authors they are proud to work with. Today, Chax published 8-10 books a year, mostly in paperback, that are distributed throughout the United States and beyond.
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