Scopcraeft Press Publications

In 1966, Antony Oldknow moved from Quebec City, Canada to Fargo, North Dakota. He went to North Dakota State University to be Assistant Professor of English and Modern Languages, and began a literary magazine, entitled Scopcraeft. The name came out of the Old English words "scop" meaning minstrel/historian/repository of the national/tribal folklore and culture and "craeft" meaning craft, or skill. At the beginning, Oldknow envisaged a largely student-run literary magazine which published poems, short stories, drama, artwork, and articles, and he was the Faculty Advisor for three issues. After financial and editorial problems, he took over the running and financing himself. Volume Two inaugurated a new policy, and tried to attract material from anywhere and everywhere, although it desired to include a high proportion of works from writers in the Red River Valley. Scopcraeft was funded for the first issue in October 1966 by Dean Seth Russell of the College of Arts and Sciences, NDSU. After that, it was assisted by proceeds of sales aided by liberal injections of cash from Oldknow's salary. Volume Three was produced by Dennis Dau and Steve Ward, while Oldknow was on leave. Offset covers made an appearance at that time. The magazine ran for five volumes, issued generally bimonthly, though a total of 29 issues were actually published. Oldknow used the bonus seventh issue of Volume Five to publish material already accept for the projected Volume Six and then terminated Scopcraeft. Oldknow assisted with several other publications, including Poetry North, the Refugee Journal of Poetry, Poetry and Audience, the Fifth Horseman, Poetry North Penny Poems, the Mainstreeter, and First Draft. In 1975, Oldknow incorporated the Scopcraeft Press as a non-profit corporation in the State of North Dakota and received a $1,000 grant from the North Dakota Council of the Arts and Humanities. He edited the Mainstreeter, and in conjunction with the North Country Writers' Workshop, started a new worksheet/magazine entitled First Draft. Source: "The Scopcraeft Press, 1966-present–summary and publications list" Box 1, Folder 1

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