Fredericks, Claude

The Banyan Press was a small press founded in 1946 by Claude Fredericks and Milton Saul. In 1948 they moved their operation, a single 10"x14" Golding press, to Pawlet, Vermont. Most design work was done by Fredericks (3 or 4 items were designed by Saul and 1 by Harry Prickett); after the first few books, Saul did most of the typesetting and Fredericks handled the paperwork. All type was set by hand except for one item, the introduction to The Poetry Center presents (1947), which was printed by linotype. After 1950 Fredericks ran the press alone under his own name, except for 1975-1978, when he was assisted by David Beeken.

American dramatist, poet, printer, and teacher.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Banyan Press was a small press founded in 1946 by Claude Fredericks and Milton Saul. In 1948 they moved their operation, a single 10 inch by 14 inch Golding press, to Pawlet, Vermont. Most of the book design and press work was done by Fredericks. Three or four items were designed by Saul, and one by Harry Prickett. Saul did most of the typesetting. All type was set by hand except for one item, the introduction to The Poetry Center Presents (1947), which was printed from Linotype. After 1950 Fredericks ran the press alone under his own name, except for the period 1975-1978, when he was assisted by David Beeken.

Biographical/Historical Note

Claude Fredericks is a dramatist and poet who taught at Bennington College from 1961-1992. He founded The Banyan Press and published the work of well-known poets and fiction writers. There are extensive files of letters received from literary figures, artists, dancers, and musicians.

Biographical/Historical Note

Claude Fredericks is an American dramatist, poet, printer and teacher. He has kept a journal since 1932; by 1988 it comprised, in its various forms, more than 50,000 pages. He founded the Banyan Press in 1946 and issued works by major literary figures. The Banyan Press imprints (see The Banyan Press archive 900230A), his correspondence and journal document his close friendships with major literary figures of the 1940s and 1950s (see also Claude Fredericks's papers 900230C).