Willkie, Phil, 1952-

Administrative History

In March 1983, a group of gay male writers began meeting weekly at the Minneapolis writing center, the Loft, for the purpose of improving their skills and publishing their work. In October 1983, the first issue of The James White Review ( TJWR ) was published by the James White Review Association (JWRA), under the editorship of Phil Willkie, Greg Baysans, and Paul Edmond. Willkie was instrumental in the choice of name for the publication, which commemorated his friend, the local poet James L. White, and was also intended to obtain regional name recognition for the publication. The name had the desired effect and gained TJWR recognition from the local literary establishment. Six thousand copies of the first issue were distributed nationally, free of charge, to gay bookstores, newspapers, and writers. Although the first issue contained only regional materials, TJWR's wide distribution attracted over 170 submissions from throughout the U.S. and Canada.

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