Martin Beck Sources (incomplete parts)
January 15–February 20, 2021
“Sometimes … most times … communes fail. So do the world’s big institutions … but they go on and on, like the walking dead. At least communes know when and how to die, leaving a little residue of wisdom behind like seed.”1
This presentation features a collection of books on commune living published between 1968 and 1980. The books document countercultural experiments with new ways of living together—sharing space, time, and resources—during the 1960s and ’70s in the US.
I started buying the first of these books in 2008 while following research trails extending from an exhibition project I had done on the 1970 International Design Conference in Aspen. I quickly became fascinated and wanted more. I followed leads in the books’ references and read recent academic literature on the subject, scanning footnotes for additional titles. I started thinking of the accumulated purchases as a collection and developed the ambition to gather all the books published on the subject during the period in which countercultural communes initially thrived.
The collection is not complete—how could it be? But, it gives a solid chronological overview of the publishing phenomenon that accompanied the movement. While newspapers and magazines reported these communes as emerging, books started to appear a few years later. The first book in the chronology is a slim how-to publication, making a case for the spiritual advantages of communal living. Other early books give advice, share resources, tell stories, and report about the pleasures and challenges of living together. Illustrated mass-market books joined the list early on, offering images of young (mostly white) people in pioneer settings. In 1972, the first scholarly study provided sociological analysis, followed later in the decade by a dozen other academic titles. Throughout the 1970s, journalists wrote travelogues about their visits, and communards penned memoirs, conveying the best ways to resolve conflicts or make a tasty goat meat stew. Few books are published in the late 1970s, and the boom comes to a halt in 1980 with a detailed statistical survey of communal relationship models and sexual practices.
I have read all these books, most of them while spending time alone. Some of the books were entertaining, some insightful, some boring, and some even tedious. Intermittently, I came upon a page or fragment thereof, which I found emblematic to the point that I ripped it out of the book to have as a separate physical object. I repeatedly looked through all these books as a collection, and what held my attention was their visual and verbal rhetoric. Their covers’ frequent use of specific phrases, colors, and shapes, as well as a preference for inset images and type aligned around semi-circles, reveals a shared language across different publishing contexts and intentionality. However, crude or slick, the books’ design and materiality convey a spirit that—sometimes hopeful, sometimes skeptical—represents a search for community and finding better ways to live together.
1Patsy Richardson, “No More Freefolk,” in Theodore Roszak (ed.), Sources: An anthology of contemporary materials useful for preserving personal sanity while braving the technological wilderness (New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1972), 308
Swami Kriyananda Cooperative Communities: How to Start Them and Why
(Nevada City, CA: Ananda Publications, 1968)
Softcover: 104 pages
Handwritten note: John Palocy, 442-8696
Swami Kriyananda Cooperative Communities: How to Start Them and Why
(Nevada City, CA: Ananda Publications, 1968)
Softcover: 104 pages
Handwritten note: John Palocy, 442-8696
Steve Bear Dome Cookbook
(Corrales, NM: Cookbook Fund – Lama Foundation, 1968)
Stapled: 40 pages
Steve Bear Dome Cookbook
(Corrales, NM: Cookbook Fund – Lama Foundation, 1968)
Stapled: 40 pages
Raymund Mungo Total Loss Farm: A Year in the Life
(New York: Bantam, 1970)
Hardcover: 184 pages
Library card: Los Angeles Public Library
Stamped: Altamont High School Library (partially crossed out)
Torn page: 5
Raymund Mungo Total Loss Farm: A Year in the Life
(New York: Bantam, 1970)
Hardcover: 184 pages
Library card: Los Angeles Public Library
Stamped: Altamont High School Library (partially crossed out)
Torn page: 5
Alicia Bay Laurel Living on the Earth
(New York: Random House, 1970)
Softcover: 216 pages
Alicia Bay Laurel Living on the Earth
(New York: Random House, 1970)
Softcover: 216 pages
William Hedgepeth, Dennis Stock The Alternative: Communal Life In New America
(New York: The Macmillan Company, 1970)
Hardcover: 192 pages
Stamped: Library stamp (illegible)
Stamped: Withdrawn
Torn page: 142
William Hedgepeth, Dennis Stock The Alternative: Communal Life In New America
(New York: The Macmillan Company, 1970)
Hardcover: 192 pages
Stamped: Library stamp (illegible)
Stamped: Withdrawn
Torn page: 142
Robert Houriet Getting Back Together
(New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc., 1971)
Hardcover: 412 pages
Robert Houriet Getting Back Together
(New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc., 1971)
Hardcover: 412 pages
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian, Communes, U.S.A. vol. 5 #1, 2, 3
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1971)
Softcover: 187 pages
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian, Communes, U.S.A. vol. 5 #1, 2, 3
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1971)
Softcover: 187 pages
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian: Modern Man in Search of Utopia
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1971)
Softcover: 195 pages
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian: Modern Man in Search of Utopia
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1971)
Softcover: 195 pages
Peter Rabbit Drop City
(New York: The Olympia Press, Inc., 1971)
Softcover: 166 pages
Peter Rabbit Drop City
(New York: The Olympia Press, Inc., 1971)
Softcover: 166 pages
Ron Roberts The New Communes: Coming Together in America
(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Rentice-Hall, 1971)
Softcover: 146 pages
Ron Roberts The New Communes: Coming Together in America
(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Rentice-Hall, 1971)
Softcover: 146 pages
Benjamin David Zablocki The Joyful Community: An Account of the Bruderhof—a communal movement now in its third generation
(Baltimore: Penguin Books, Inc., 1971)
Softcover: 368 pages
Stamped: A Swindler/C S Fischer, 4118 20th St, San Fran CA 94114
Benjamin David Zablocki The Joyful Community: An Account of the Bruderhof—a communal movement now in its third generation
(Baltimore: Penguin Books, Inc., 1971)
Softcover: 368 pages
Stamped: A Swindler/C S Fischer, 4118 20th St, San Fran CA 94114
Rosabeth Moss Kanter Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective
(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972)
Softcover: 304 pages
Torn page: 97
Rosabeth Moss Kanter Commitment and Community: Communes and Utopias in Sociological Perspective
(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1972)
Softcover: 304 pages
Torn page: 97
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian: Utopia U.S.A.
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1972)
Softcover: 232 pages
Richard Fairfield (ed.) The Modern Utopian: Utopia U.S.A.
(San Francisco: Alternatives Foundation, 1972)
Softcover: 232 pages
Richard Fairfield Communes USA: A Personal Tour
(Baltimore: Penguin Books, Inc., 1972)
Softcover: 406 pages
Torn page: X
Richard Fairfield Communes USA: A Personal Tour
(Baltimore: Penguin Books, Inc., 1972)
Softcover: 406 pages
Torn page: X
Keith Melville Communes in the Counter Culture: Origins, Theories, Styles of Life
(New York: William Morrow & Company Inc., 1972)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Stamped: Lima Public Library, Main Library
Stamped: Withdrawn
Keith Melville Communes in the Counter Culture: Origins, Theories, Styles of Life
(New York: William Morrow & Company Inc., 1972)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Stamped: Lima Public Library, Main Library
Stamped: Withdrawn
Hiley H. Ward The Far-Out Saints of the Jesus Communes
(New York: Association Press, 1972)
Hardcover: 192 pages
Hiley H. Ward The Far-Out Saints of the Jesus Communes
(New York: Association Press, 1972)
Hardcover: 192 pages
Lucy Horton Country Commune Cooking
(New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc., 1972)
Spiral bound: 240 pages
Torn page: 138
Lucy Horton Country Commune Cooking
(New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc., 1972)
Spiral bound: 240 pages
Torn page: 138
Theodore Roszak Sources: An anthology of contemporary materials useful for preserving personal sanity while braving the technological wilderness
(New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1972)
Softcover: 578 pages
Library Stamp: The Property of Unitarian Universalist Church, Fort Myers, Florida
Stamped: Withdrawn
Torn page: 289
Theodore Roszak Sources: An anthology of contemporary materials useful for preserving personal sanity while braving the technological wilderness
(New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1972)
Softcover: 578 pages
Library Stamp: The Property of Unitarian Universalist Church, Fort Myers, Florida
Stamped: Withdrawn
Torn page: 289
Kathleen Kinkade A Walden Two Experiment: The First Five Years of Twin Oaks Community
(New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1973)
Hardcover: 274 pages
Kathleen Kinkade A Walden Two Experiment: The First Five Years of Twin Oaks Community
(New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1973)
Hardcover: 274 pages
Unohoo, Coyote, Rick, and the Mighty Avengers (eds.) The Morning Star Scrapbook
(Occidental, CA: Friends of Morning Star, 1973)
Softcover: 192 pages
Unohoo, Coyote, Rick, and the Mighty Avengers (eds.) The Morning Star Scrapbook
(Occidental, CA: Friends of Morning Star, 1973)
Softcover: 192 pages
Elaine Sundancer Celery Wine: The Story of a Country Commune
(Yellow Springs, OH: Community Publications Cooperative, 1973)
Softcover: 176 pages
Stamped: Order From: Community Service, Inc. P.O.Box 243, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Elaine Sundancer Celery Wine: The Story of a Country Commune
(Yellow Springs, OH: Community Publications Cooperative, 1973)
Softcover: 176 pages
Stamped: Order From: Community Service, Inc. P.O.Box 243, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
Richard Wizansky (ed.) Home Comfort: Stories and Scenes of Life on Total Loss Farm
(New York: Saturday Review Press, 1973)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Richard Wizansky (ed.) Home Comfort: Stories and Scenes of Life on Total Loss Farm
(New York: Saturday Review Press, 1973)
Hardcover: 336 pages
Wavy Gravy The Hog Farm and Friends as Told to Hugh Romney and Vice Versa
(New York: Links, 1974)
Softcover: 196 pages
Wavy Gravy The Hog Farm and Friends as Told to Hugh Romney and Vice Versa
(New York: Links, 1974)
Softcover: 196 pages
Dave Jackson Living Together in a World Falling Apart
(Carol Stream, IL: Cremation House, 1974)
Softcover: 304 pages
Stamped: Christian Life Book Center, Inc., 196 Newport Avenue, Rumford, R.I. 02916
Dave Jackson Living Together in a World Falling Apart
(Carol Stream, IL: Cremation House, 1974)
Softcover: 304 pages
Stamped: Christian Life Book Center, Inc., 196 Newport Avenue, Rumford, R.I. 02916
January Thaw: People at Blue Mountain Ranch Write About Living Together in the Mountains
(New York: Times Change, 1974)
Softcover: 160 pages
January Thaw: People at Blue Mountain Ranch Write About Living Together in the Mountains
(New York: Times Change, 1974)
Softcover: 160 pages
Judson Jerome Families of Eden: Communes and the New Anarchism
(New York: The Seabury Press, 1974)
Hardcover: 274 pages
Judson Jerome Families of Eden: Communes and the New Anarchism
(New York: The Seabury Press, 1974)
Hardcover: 274 pages
Stephen and the Farm Hey Beatnik: This Is The Farm Book
(Summertown, TN: The Book Publishing Co., 1974)
Softcover: unpaginated
Stephen and the Farm Hey Beatnik: This Is The Farm Book
(Summertown, TN: The Book Publishing Co., 1974)
Softcover: unpaginated
Ernest Callenbach Ecotopia: the novel of your future
(New York: Bantam Books, 1977 [first published by Banyan Tree Books 1975])
Softcover: 216 pages
Torn page: 1
Ernest Callenbach Ecotopia: the novel of your future
(New York: Bantam Books, 1977 [first published by Banyan Tree Books 1975])
Softcover: 216 pages
Torn page: 1
Paul Kagan New World Utopias: A Photographic History of the Search for Community
(New York: Penguin, 1975)
Softcover: 192 pages
Paul Kagan New World Utopias: A Photographic History of the Search for Community
(New York: Penguin, 1975)
Softcover: 192 pages
John Rothchild The Children of the Counterculture
(Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1976)
Hardcover: 210 pages
Library Card
Stamped: Yazoo Library Association, 310 North Main, Yazoo City, Miss. 39194
John Rothchild The Children of the Counterculture
(Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1976)
Hardcover: 210 pages
Library Card
Stamped: Yazoo Library Association, 310 North Main, Yazoo City, Miss. 39194
Hugh Gardner The Children of Prosperity – Thirteen Modern Communes
(New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1978)
Hardcover: 282 pages
Hugh Gardner The Children of Prosperity – Thirteen Modern Communes
(New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc., 1978)
Hardcover: 282 pages
Eric Raimy Shared Houses, Shared Lives: The New Extended Families and How They Work
(Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1979)
Hardcover: 216 pages
Library Card
Stamped: Pawtucket Public Library
Stamped: Discarded
Eric Raimy Shared Houses, Shared Lives: The New Extended Families and How They Work
(Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1979)
Hardcover: 216 pages
Library Card
Stamped: Pawtucket Public Library
Stamped: Discarded
Paul Freundlich et al. (eds.) A Guide to Cooperative Alternatives
(New Haven, CT, and Louisa, VA: Community Publications Cooperative, 1979)
Softcover: 184 pages
Paul Freundlich et al. (eds.) A Guide to Cooperative Alternatives
(New Haven, CT, and Louisa, VA: Community Publications Cooperative, 1979)
Softcover: 184 pages
Benjamin Zablocki Alienation and Charisma: A Study of Contemporary American Communes
(New York: Free Press/ Macmillan, 1980)
Hardcover: 456 pages
Library card: Fitchburg Public Library
Stamped: Pittsburg Public Library
Stamped: Fitchburg, Mass.
Stamped: This Book was purchased with state funds
Benjamin Zablocki Alienation and Charisma: A Study of Contemporary American Communes
(New York: Free Press/ Macmillan, 1980)
Hardcover: 456 pages
Library card: Fitchburg Public Library
Stamped: Pittsburg Public Library
Stamped: Fitchburg, Mass.
Stamped: This Book was purchased with state funds