John Giorno began collecting his archives as a young poet. Inspired by the collecting of Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg, he carefully traced every passing event of his career from 1965 into the present day, organizing the materials by himself in an idiosyncratic way for nearly fifty years.
The John Giorno Collection includes published poems, manuscripts, correspondences, photographic materials, audiovisual materials, posters and flyers, Giorno Poetry Systems administration, original artwork mechanicals, press releases, Dial-A-Poem materials, family and ancestry materials, T-shirts, “consumer product poems,” and other ephemera. The bulk of the collection was processed and digitized 2013–2015, resulting in over 15,000 images. Most items are available as high resolution surrogates for research, publication, and exhibition purposes.
Still-unprocessed collections or archival series include the Giorno Poetry Systems Tape Archive, Dharma Papers, and a vast collection of correspondence between John Giorno and many art world figures.
Download the John Giorno Collection Finding Aid (Abridged)
The John Giorno Collection includes published poems, manuscripts, correspondences, photographic materials, audiovisual materials, posters and flyers, Giorno Poetry Systems administration, original artwork mechanicals, press releases, Dial-A-Poem materials, family and ancestry materials, T-shirts, “consumer product poems,” and other ephemera. The bulk of the collection was processed and digitized 2013–2015, resulting in over 15,000 images. Most items are available as high resolution surrogates for research, publication, and exhibition purposes.
Still-unprocessed collections or archival series include the Giorno Poetry Systems Tape Archive, Dharma Papers, and a vast collection of correspondence between John Giorno and many art world figures.
Download the John Giorno Collection Finding Aid (Abridged)
Rights & Reproductions
Established in 2015, the John Giorno Archives collects, preserves, manages, and provides access to its collection of artist papers and other documents of historical value related to John Giorno, his collaborators, and the time in which he lived. The Archives welcome research inquiries, and most items are available as high res digital surrogates for educational or scholarly purposes.
Giorno Poetry Systems acquires donations of papers related to the artist, particularly correspondence or photographic materials, on a select basis. Questions regarding potential donations of papers related to John Giorno can be sent to info@giornopoetrysystems.org.
Established in 2015, the John Giorno Archives collects, preserves, manages, and provides access to its collection of artist papers and other documents of historical value related to John Giorno, his collaborators, and the time in which he lived. The Archives welcome research inquiries, and most items are available as high res digital surrogates for educational or scholarly purposes.
Giorno Poetry Systems acquires donations of papers related to the artist, particularly correspondence or photographic materials, on a select basis. Questions regarding potential donations of papers related to John Giorno can be sent to info@giornopoetrysystems.org.
The digitally-reproduced archives on display for Ugo Rondinone: I ♥ John Giorno at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2015
Dial-A-Poem reading schedules from The Museum of Modern Art Log Book, 1970
Mechanical for The Dial-A-Poem Poets: Disconnected, 1974
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release. 1970
Contact sheet of John Giorno with Dial-A-Poem. 1970
Giorno Poetry Systems Matchbook Poems. 1970
The New York Times article about Central Park Poetry Events put on by Giorno Poetry Systems (from 1968-1969 Publicity Scrapbook 2). September 30, 1968
Jayne Cortez, John Giorno, William S. Burroughs, Diamanda Galás, and Jim Carroll. Bremen, Germany, May 7, 1986. Photo by Jochen Mönch
Photo album compiled by Nancy Giorno with photographs of John Giorno from infancy to age 10 and a half. Brooklyn, 1947
Flyer for the Nova Convention. 1978
John Giorno art work from time spent at Pratt Institute youth programs. 1948
Fashion Collegiate Clipping. December 2, 1968
Glamour Magazine clipping (from 1963-1968 Publicity Scrapbook 1). August 1967
Giorno Poetry Systems Matchbook Poems. 1970
Giorno Poetry Systems Records Catalog, 1979. Design by Les Levine and George Delmerico
Giorno Poetry Systems Catalog #20. 1993
Poster for John Giorno & Peter Schjeldahl at the Folklore Center, September 24, 1967. Design by Les Levine
Mechanical for the cover of Poems by John Giorno. 1967. Cover by Robert Rauschenberg
John Giorno reading at City Lights Italia Festival. Florence, Italy, May 4, 1998, Photo by Michele Corleone
