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Draft Magazine records

 Collection — Box: 1- 2011-2013
Identifier: RITArc-0519

Scope and Contents

Two notebooks of records documenting the production process of Draft 9 & 10, 2012 and 2013 issues produced completely by RIT students. Included are a history of Draft Magazine, 2013 production timeline calendar, meeting notes, budget and other financial records, gallery records (exhibition spaces), Draft 10 participation agreement, and donor information. A timeline for Draft 9, budget materials, exhibition space, promotional materials, submission records, and information about creating a website.

Additionally, two copies of Draft 11 and one copy of Draft 10 were donated which are cataloged in The Wallace Library. These and other issues of Draft Magazine can be found at RIT TR640.D73 in the Archive Collections.

Dates

  • Creation: 2011-2013

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical Information: Draft magazine

In 2005, Professor Owen Butler offered a bookmaking course with an emphasis on self-publishing and distribution. The class gave a few registered students the opportunity they had been looking for to create a school-wide magazine where students could express themselves outside the boundaries of critiques, classrooms and the academic institution.

After hearing their intention to create a large, multiple volume publication, Professor Butler was skeptical that the magazine could be produced without funding from the school. The small group set out to prove him wrong. They gathered friends and their photographs, and went on to figure out a budget, a layout, and a binding to make it happen.

Editors Laura Estroff, Paul Louis Nelson, Jeremy Oversier, Josh Poehlein, and Matthew Thomas released the first issue of Draft Magazine in 2005 outside of the opening night of that years Student Honors Show. The modest 30-page, 5 x 7 inch publication featured photographs by their friends and fellow students Draft 2 came out later that year, featuring a collection of photographs, drawings, paintings and writing.

Expanding even further, Draft 3 moved overseas in 2006 to the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland when Matthew Thomas and Jeremy Oversier attempted to broaden their horizons with the influence of a study abroad program. Draft 4 would see the end of the first generation of Draft editors.

Over the years, Draft developed an accompanying gallery exhibition to coincide with the release of its annual publication in order to increase community viewership and involvement. The first of which was held in The Hungerford Building in 2007 for the release of Draft 4. The following year, Professor Dan Larkin hosted the Draft 5 exhibition in his studio at the Cumberland Business Park and again the following year for Draft 6. Growing in popularity and now with full financial support from the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, Draft 7 was exhibited at The Hungerford Gallery in 2010, at an empty industrial space turned into a pop-up gallery on St. Paul Street for Draft 8 in 2011; and at The Yards Gallery for Draft 9 in 2012.

With the release of Draft 10, for the first time film and video performances were included; and a return to independent fundraising, printing and distribution without the help of the institute's financial, editorial or aesthetic guidance.

The first Draft Magazine affirmed on its cover page, "'This is our first attempt to start communication among ourselves. This is our way of trying to find that again, knowing now it is our responsibility as students to make it happen." (2013)

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (2 notebooks = 1/2 doc box)

Language

English

Overview

The Draft Magazine records consist of administrative records such as meeting minutes, financial records, participant submission forms, and donor information for the 9th (2012), and 10th (2013) editions of this student run publication.

Arrangement

The records are arranged by date and series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Draft Magazine records were donated to the RIT Archives in May 2014 by students involved in the 2014 project.

Accession number(s): 2014:056

Processing Information

Finding aid created by Jody Sidlauskas in June 2014.

Title
Draft Magazine records
Status
Published
Subtitle
RIT Archives
Author
Jody Sidlauskas
Date
20 June 2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the RIT Archives Repository

Contact:
Rochester NY 14623 USA