Ithaca House (Firm)

Ithaca House was a small poetry press founded by Baxter Hathaway, Professor of English at Cornell University, in December 1969. It published more than 100 titles during its 15 year existence which were produced by letter press and distributed through Serendipity (the forerunner of what is today Small Press Distribution) in Berkeley, CA. Ithaca House poets include Ron Silliman, Ray DiPalma, Bob Perelman, Maxine Chernoff, Tom Mandel, Stephen Shrader, Steve Katz, Rochelle Nameroff, and David Gitin. Also included are the works of Native American poets Joe Bruchac, Ralph Salisbury, and Peter Wild; as well as the work of African-American poets C. S. Giscombe, William J. Harris, and Kenneth McClane. Ithaca House Gallery and Bookstore opened in 1970 and sold books published by Ithaca House Press as well as crafts made by local artisans.