Prism Literary Magazine, 1972-2019
The Prism Literary Magazine consists of issues of Oregon State University’s student art and literary magazine. The magazine includes original content -- visual art, photography, poetry, short fiction, and essays -- created, edited, and published by Oregon State students. Some of the items in this collection are available online in Oregon Digital.
ID: PUB 013-9
Extent: 1.2 cubic feet
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Statement on Description:
We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our SCARC Anti-Racist Actions Statement online. SCARC describes the contents of its collections using the language and terminology of the collections themselves. Since culturally acceptable terminology shifts over time, some of the terms that appear in these materials are currently outdated or offensive.
The term “gypsy” is considered derogatory by many Roma people. It comes from the word “Egyptian,” where many Europeans mistakenly believed the Romani came from. In 1971, at the First World Roma Congress, a majority of attendees voted to reject the use of the term “gypsy,” however some still use it to self-identify.
In this collection, the term “gypsy” is used to describe Romani people. There are no references in the finding aid, but it does appear in materials that have been scanned and uploaded to Oregon Digital.
In order to provide historical context and to enable standardized searching and access across our collections, we have retained the original wording. We acknowledge the racism represented by the term “gypsy” and the harm it may cause our users. Providing access to these historical materials does not endorse any attitudes or behavior depicted therein. For more information, please see our blog post.
[Date of Acknowledgement: November 2024]
Preferred Citation: Prism Literary Magazine (PUB 013-9), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Acquisition Note:
This publication was received on distribution by the University Archives until 2011 and since then by the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.
Container List
- Series 1: Prism Issues, 1972-2019 Add to Shelf
- Series 1 comprises the bulk of this collection and consists of Prism issues published from 1972 to 2019. Most of the issues are available in paper form; some are available in both paper form and online in Oregon Digital; and a few issues are only available in born-digital form via Oregon Digital. Links to individual issues in Oregon Digital are provided below.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.01.1: Prism, 1972 Add to Shelf
- Term of publication not specified.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.01.2: Fall 1972, 1972 Add to Shelf
- Includes a history of literary magazines at Oregon State by Christi Duerr.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.01.3: Winter 1973, 1973 Add to Shelf
- Includes an editorial by Christi Duerr on reductions in science funding at Oregon State and possible impacts on the humanities.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.01.4: Spring 1973, 1973 Add to Shelf
- Includes a photograph by Chris Johns (sophomore in Agriculture).
- Box-Folder-Item 1.02.1: Fall 1974, 1974 Add to Shelf
- Includes an interview with Ursula K. Le Guin and a hamburger survey of Corvallis restaurants.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.02.2: Winter 1975, 1975 Add to Shelf
- Includes a drawing by Harley Jessup.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.02.3: Spring 1975, 1975 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 1.03.1: Winter 1976, 1976 Add to Shelf
- Harley Jessup was Art Director of this issue.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.04.1: Summer 1976, 1976 Add to Shelf
- Cover artist Harley Jessup; includes an article about the historic home at 1441 NW Grant in Corvallis.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.04.2: Winter 1977, 1977 Add to Shelf
- Includes advertisements for local businesses, including Grass Roots bookstore and the Hobbit Hole.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.04.3: Spring 1977, 1977 Add to Shelf
- Includes profiles of Jan Baross, Corvallis filmmaker, and Thyrza Anderson, retiring curator of the Horner Museum.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.05.1: Winter 1979, 1979 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 1.05.2: Spring 1979, 1979 Add to Shelf
- Includes a Prism beer report.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.06.1: Winter 1980, 1980 Add to Shelf
- Includes a cover article "Being gay at OSU: It's no fun" by Bob Danks.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.06.2: Spring 1980, 1980 Add to Shelf
- Includes articles on Vietnam War veterans, the men's basketball team, and President Robert W. MacVicar.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.07.1: Spring 1981, 1981 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 1.08.1: Winter 1982, 1982 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 1.08.2: Spring 1982, 1982 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 1.09.1: Prism, 1984 Add to Shelf
- Volume 12, numbers 1-2; no term of publication indicated on the issue.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.10.1: Prism, 1985 Add to Shelf
- Published in spring 1985; perhaps only issue during the year; volume 13, numbers 1 and 2.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.11.1: Prism, 1986 Add to Shelf
- Published in spring 1986 as the annual issue for 1985-1986 (?); volume 14, no. 1.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.12.1: Prism, 1987 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1986-1987 published in spring 1987 (volume 15, no. 1).
- Box-Folder-Item 1.13.1: Prism, 1988 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1987-1988 published in spring 1988 (v. 16, no. 1). A publisher's note included as errata indicates that an artwork published on page 41 is not an original piece as required by the acceptance guidelines for the publication.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.14.1: Prism, 1989 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1988-1989 published in spring 1989 (v. 17, no. 1). In addition to art, photography, prose, and poetry, this issue includes a piece of music composed by Michael James Rowe.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.15.1: Prism, 1990 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1989-1990 published in spring 1990 (v. 18, no. 1). Includes publication of the 1990 Provost Undergraduate Literary Award, Starburst Balls by Marc A. Wondra, and poems that received the 1990 Weaver Undergraduate Poetry Award written by Britney Gress.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.16.1: Prism, 1991 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1990-1991 puiblished in spring 1991 (v. 19, no. 1). Includes publication of the recipient of the 1991 Provost Undergraduate Literary Award -- Victoria by Britney Gress.
- Box-Folder-Item 1.17.1: Prism, 1992 Add to Shelf
- Annual issue for 1991-1992 published in spring 1992 (v. 20, no. 1). Includes the recipients of the 1992 Provost Undergradaute Literary Award, Hold Your Babies When They Cry by J.L.S Morris, and the 1992 Weaver Undergraduate Poetry Award recipient, The Woman Race by Michele Thompson.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.01.1: Prism, 1993 Add to Shelf
- Published annually for 1992-1993 in spring 1993 (volume 21). Includes the recipient of the 1993 Provost Undergraduate Literary Award presented to Erin Ergenbright for 2 poems.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.02.1: Prism, 1994 Add to Shelf
- Volume 22. Includes three poems by Michele Thompson that were awarded the 1994 Provost's Literary Prize.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.03.1: Prism, 1995 Add to Shelf
- Volume 23 published in spring 1995. Includes works by Danie Sunday and Erin Ergenbright that received the 1995 Undergraduate Literary Award.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.04.1: Fall 1995, 1995 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.04.2: Spring 1996, 1996 Add to Shelf
- Includes recipients of the Weaver Undergraduate Poetry Award, Jason Cooper for "Things I Know Now", and the Provost's Literary Prize, Cheryl Hills for "Franken Poodle Tornado Head Blondo from Beyondo and John".
- Box-Folder-Item 2.05.1: Winter 1997, 1997 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.05.2: Spring 1997, 1997 Add to Shelf
- Includes the recipient of the 1997 Provost Literary Award, "Ilima Flowers" by Elissa Minor.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.06.1: Winter 1998, 1998 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.06.2: Spring 1998, 1998 Add to Shelf
- Includes recipient of 1998 Provost's Literary Prize, "In Search of Cool" by Jeff Chapman.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.07.1: Winter 1999, 1999 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.07.2: Spring 1999, 1999 Add to Shelf
- Includes the recipient of the 1999 Provost Undergraduate Literary Award, "Motel Del Sol" by James Donnelly.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.08.1: Winter 2000, 2000 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.08.2: Spring 2000, 2000 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.09.1: Winter 2001, 2001 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.09.2: Spring 2001, 2001 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.10.1: Winter 2002, 2002 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.10.2: Spring 2002, 2002 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.11.1: Winter 2003, 2003 Add to Shelf
- This issue includes two poems by Adrienne Platero, a teaching assistant and student in the MFA program at Oregon State University, who was diagnosed with leukemia and died soon after submitting these poems for the literary magazine.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.11.2: Spring 2003, 2003 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.12.1: Winter 2004, 2004 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.12.2: Spring 2004, 2004 Add to Shelf
- Includes the winner of the 2004 Provost Literary Award, "All by Myself", by Kaitlyn Kernek.
- Box-Folder-Item 2.13.1: Winter 2005, 2005 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 2.13.2: Spring 2005, 2005 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 3.01.1: Fall 2005, 2005 Add to Shelf
- Volume 42, no. 1.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.01.2: Winter 2006, 2006 Add to Shelf
- Volume 42, no. 2. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.01.3: Spring 2006, 2006 Add to Shelf
- Volume 42, no. 3; includes the 2006 Provost's Literary Prize Winner, "Hollywood Revisited" by Gavin McQuillan. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.02.1: Fall 2006, 2006 Add to Shelf
- Volume 43, no. 1.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.02.2: Winter 2007, 2007 Add to Shelf
- Box-Folder-Item 3.02.3: Spring 2007, 2007 Add to Shelf
- Volume 43, no. 3; includes the 2007 Provost's Literary Prize for Poetry, "Nephew" by Sara Gingrich, and the 2007 Provost's Literary Prize for Prose, "Petrification" by Christie VanLaningham.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.03.1: Fall 2007, 2007 Add to Shelf
- Volume 44, no. 1.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.03.2: Winter 2008, 2008 Add to Shelf
- Volume 44, no. 3. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.03.3: Spring 2008, 2008 Add to Shelf
- Volume 44, no. 3; includes the recipient of the Provost's Award for Poetry, "A Portrait of Every Child" by Tabitha Stickel, and for Prose, "Napa Valley" by Katie Westerman.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.04.1: Fall 2008, 2008 Add to Shelf
- Volume 45, no. 1. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.04.2: Winter 2009, 2009 Add to Shelf
- Volume 45, no. 2. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.04.3: Spring 2009, 2009 Add to Shelf
- Volume 45, no. 3; includes the recipient of the Provost's Literary Prize for poetry, "I Can't Help You" by Katherine Westermann, and for prose, "Line of Sight" by Alex McElroy.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.05.1: Fall 2009, 2009 Add to Shelf
- Volume 46, no. 1. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.05.2: Winter 2010, 2010 Add to Shelf
- Volume 46, no. 2. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.05.3: Spring 2010, 2010 Add to Shelf
- Volume 46, no. 3; includes recipient of the Provost's Literary Prize for prose, "Another World" by Mark Walsh, and for poetry, "Prelude" by Leila Giovannoni.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.06.1: Fall 2010, 2010 Add to Shelf
- Volume 48, no. 1.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.06.2: Winter 2011, 2011 Add to Shelf
- Volume 48. no. 2.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.06.3: Spring 2011, 2011 Add to Shelf
- Includes the Provost's Literary Prize for poetry, "Kayumunggi" by Malaya Lualhati, and for prose, "Seven Points" by Natasha Mackey. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.07.1: Fall 2011, 2011 Add to Shelf
- Volume 48, no. 1. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.07.2: Spring 2012, 2012 Add to Shelf
- Volume 48, no. 3; includes the Provost's Literary Prize winners: "In the House of the Dying" by Kayla Harr (short story) and "Patient 152" by Traci Porter (short story).
- Box-Folder-Item 3.08.1: Fall 2012, 2012 Add to Shelf
- Volume 49, no. 1. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.08.2: Winter 2013, 2013 Add to Shelf
- Volume 49, no. 2. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.08.3: Spring 2013, 2013 Add to Shelf
- Volume 49, no. 3; includes Provost's Literary Prize winners: "All a Person Really Needs" by Ben Davis (short story) and "Remains of the Family" by Kayla Harr (poetry). Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.09.1: Fall 2013, 2013 Add to Shelf
- Volume 50, no. 1. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.09.2: Winter 2014, 2014 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.09.3: Spring 2014, 2014 Add to Shelf
- Volume 50, no. 3; includes winner of Provost's Literary Prize winners "Repeat" by Jessican Kibler (non-fiction prose) and "The Mask" by Amanda Dority (poetry).
- Box-Folder-Item 3.10.1: Fall 2014, 2014 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.10.2: Winter 2015, 2015 Add to Shelf
- Volume 51, no. 2. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 3.10.3: Spring 2015, 2015 Add to Shelf
- Volume 51, no. 3; includes Provost's Literary Prize winners "Someday a Life" by Gwendolyn Hill (poetry) and "Green-eyed Girl" by Brittany Sandberg (short story). Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.1.1: Fall 2015, 2015 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.1.2: Winter 2016, 2016 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.1.3: Spring 2016, 2016 Add to Shelf
- Includes Provost Short Story Prize winner, "When You Were Here" by Nina Poloni, and Provost Poetry Prize winner, "Waves" by Eric Callahan. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.2.1: Fall 2016, 2016 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Digital File 1: Winter 2017, 2017 Add to Shelf
- Only available online in Oregon Digital.
- Digital File 2: Spring 2017, 2017 Add to Shelf
- Includes the winners of the Provost's Literary Prize -- an excerpt from "Gender Trouble" by Monica Anderson and "oranges & origins" by Jade Yeen Onn. Only available online in Oregon Digital.
- Digital File 3: Fall 2017, 2017 Add to Shelf
- Only available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.3.1: Winter 2018, 2018 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.4.1: Spring 2018, 2018 Add to Shelf
- Includes the 2018 Provost's Literary Prize for poetry ("On the Softsupple Banks of Hwy 205" by Ethan Heusser) and for prose ("Fortuna" by Cade Windell). This issue has a social justice theme. Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.4.2: Fall 2018, 2018 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.4.3: Winter 2019, 2019 Add to Shelf
- Available online in Oregon Digital.
- Digital File 4: Spring 2019, 2019 Add to Shelf
- Includes 2019 Literary Prize winners -- "Discomposed" by Rebecca Cyr (poetry) and "Genevieve" by Andrea Fennimore (prose). Only available online in Oregon Digital.
- Series 2: Aura Magazine, 1978 Add to Shelf
- Series 2 consists of the two issues of the literary magazine published in 1978 with the title Aura.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.5.1: Aura ... of the mountains, 1978 Add to Shelf
- Published in January 1978.
- Box-Folder-Item 4.5.2: Aura ... of the coast, 1978 Add to Shelf
- Published in April 1978.