Bureau of Public Secrets
The Bureau of Public Secrets was preceded by three organizations: The Council for the Eruption of the Marvelous, January-June 1970; 1044, July-November 1970; Contradiction, December 1970-September 1972. The CEM and 1044 were self-described neo-realist/quasi-situational organizations. Their publications were distributed almost exclusively in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contradiction was a situationist organization which aimed at criticizing existing leftist movements. Members of the organization were members or ex-members of the Situationist International. Their publications were distributed in the Bay Area, major U.S. and Canadian cities, and in Western Europe.
The Bureau of Public Secrets was formed in the early part of 1973, and there is no documentation of its dissolve in this collection. Its key figure, who referred to himself as Special Investigator, was Ken Knabb; financing and distribution of Bureau material were done by him. Bureau publications consist of some reprints of writings by the Situationist International, though the Bureau maintained autonomy from this organization. The objective of the Bureau was to disseminate information on situationist politics and philosophy.
From the description of Records, 1961-1978. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 477247546
The Bureau was preceded by three organizations: "The Council for the Eruption of the Marvelous," January-June 1970; "1044," July-November 1970; "Contradiction," December, 1970 - September, 1972. The "CEM" and "1044" were self-described "neo-realist/quasi-situational" organizations. Their publications were distributed almost exclusively in the San Francisco Bay Area. "Contradiction" was a situationist organization which aimed at criticizing existing leftist movements. Members of the organization were members or ex-members of the Situationist International. Their publications were distsributed in the Bay Area, major U.S. and Canadian cities, and in Western Europe.
The Bureau of Public Secrets was formed in the early part of 1973, and there is no documentation of its dissolve in this collection. Its key figure, who referred to himself as "Special Investigator," was Ken Knabb; financing and distribution of Bureau material was done by him. Bureau publications consist of some reprints of writings by the Situationist International, though the Bureau maintained autonomy from this organization. The objective of the Bureau was to disseminate information on situationist politics and philosophy.
Sources:
- For additional background information on the Situationist International see: Knabb, Ken, Situationist International Anthology, Berkeley, CA, Bureau of Public Secrets, 1981.
From the guide to the Bureau of Public Secrets Records, 1961-1978, (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| creatorOf | Bureau of Public Secrets. Records, 1961-1978. | Churchill County Museum | |
| creatorOf | Bureau of Public Secrets Records, 1961-1978 | Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives |
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Contradiction. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Council for the Eruption of the Marvelous. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Internationale situationniste. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Knabb, Ken. | person |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (Calif.) | |||
| United States | |||
| California |
| Subject |
|---|
| Anarchism |
| Anarchism |
| Anarchists |
| Anarchists |
| Avant-garde (Aesthetics) |
| Avant-garde (Aesthetics) |
| Libertarianism |
| Libertarianism California |
| Libertarians |
| Libertarians |
| New Left |
| New Left |
| Radicalism |
| Radicalism |
| Radicalism |
| Radicals |
| Radicals |
| Radicals |
| Occupation |
|---|
| Activity |
|---|
Corporate Body
Active 1961
Active 1978
