The Little Mag (thә lĭťl măg) n.1. A type of literary magazine. 2. A small press poetry magazine published during the sixties in Niagara Falls, New York.
The Little Mag has been graciously accepted into the Robert Barthel and Loraine L. Baxter Niagara Poetry Collection at the Lewiston, N.Y. Public Library. Prior to this occasion the concern was that the magazine would eventually fade from memory. It was first published in 1968 during a time of Vietnam War protests, psychedelic flower power, passive resistance, non-violence ideology, the counterculture movement, and the underground small press literary scene. A product of the underground small press literary scene, the first issue began with help from my friend and mentor E.R. Baxter III in Niagara Falls, New York. Bob put me in touch with prospective contributors, and the word spread, resulting in numerous submissions. Paying contributors with copies, exchanging copies with other small press magazines, and selling subscriptions resulted in more submissions and the second issue of The Little Mag. The third issue of the magazine, published in 1969, featured commentaries about various poetry "scenes." It also contained the article "American Poets at the End of the Open Road," by the poet Peter Wild. The first issue is in the special collections of several U.S. universities. The Lewiston Public Library is the only library with all three issues. If you wish to read them, you can go to the Lewiston library, or read various selections on this website. To view a selection, click on any of the issues to the right. While you are viewing the selection, click on the "Free PDF . . . " button to download a complete copy of the magazine to your computer. Contact: [email protected]
"Growing up around Niagara Falls shaped my abilities as an artist. It is a constant force in my life, flowing within my view of things. A spectacular wonder . . . I am mesmerized by its beauty. I stand in awe of it." - Larry Coleman