Waterways book fairs promoted the work of poetry presses and individual poets. Among the presses were Shamal Books, Cross-Cultural Communications, Swamp Press, SZ Books, Sunbury Press, American Book Review, Contact/II, Helen Review, Home Planet News, Glassworks, Poetry in Public Places, The Smith, White Pine, Strawberry Press, Boss Books, Box 749, Downtown Poets Co-op, Warthog Press, Greenfield Review, and more.

The Beginnings...

The New York State Waterways Project

Twenty five small press publishers joined a consortium that brought poetry book fairs and readings to the New York State waterways.

The South Street Seaport 1979 & 80

NYS Waterways Project - 1979 1 by Ten Penny Players, Inc

Poetry from the Populist Readings at the South Street Seaport

Poetry reading July 4-6 1980 at South Street Seaport

The first Waterways poetry reading and book fair was held at the South Street Seaport Museum on July 4, 1979. It returned the following year.

The New York State Waterways Project grew out of a desire to present poetry along the state's waterways.

This program was given a seeding grant from the Literature Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The American Populist Poetry Series was held at the printer's shop on Water Street.

Barbara Fisher at South Street Seaport Richard Davidson, poet Mia Barkan at South Street Seaport Reading Poet reading at the South Street Seaport 1979 Poet reading at South Street Seaport 1979 Richard Spiegel at South Street Seaport