Anthony Rayson is a writer, artist, activist, and self-proclaimed anarchist. Along with creating and authoring zines, he collaborates with incarcerated people in the creation, publication, and distribution of their own zines. In 1998 Rayson established the South Chicago ABC Zine Distro–a distribution network providing zines to incarcerated people for free (South Chicago Anarchist Black Cross).
“We’re not interested in economics. We’re not selling anything. We’re just trying to, you know, provide ideas and let people go from there. And that’s the real power of zines in my opinion. They do have the potential to do that, you know. Books do too, for that matter, you know. But for our target audience, indigent prisoner[s], there’s no money to be had anyway. And some of the most brilliant people are in prison. And that’s kind of why they are in prison because they refuse to go along with the program.” – An excerpt from a conversation between Anthony Rayson and Michelle McCoy from the DePaul University Special Collections and Archives on October 11, 2008.
Anthony Rayson was politically active at a young age as the son of Leland Rayson–an Illinois state representative. His mom also contributed to his political awareness through her involvement in their community, school, and through her participation in Women for Peace during the Vietnam War. In his freshman year of high school Rayson was engaged with a movement that protested the sexist school policies requiring girls to wear dresses and skirts even during the cold Chicago winters. In his later high school years he got involved with anti-war organizing and protests.
Rayson’s first zine called “Peoples Polar Express” was distributed in 1974 as a stream of consciousness extravaganza. It detailed his thoughts and experiences exploring the country after dropping out of college and also includes collaborations with artists and poets. In 1996 he started his own zine called “Thought Bombs” and subsequently published four issues the following year.
In his search for revolutionary radical writing Rayson connected with Sean Lambert–a bisexual anarchist–who introduced Rayson to prisoners and prison zines. This started Rayson’s long standing relationship with prisoners. Rayson’s collaboration with prisoners has faced censorship challenges by the multiple prisons, administrations, and staff each day. Despite many hurdles, Rayson’s zine distribution has amplified incarcerated voices and continues to educate the public on the realities of prisons, anarchism, and justice.
Rayson’s collection also highlights the close relationship between prisons and immigration detention centers. In 2012 Rayson along with the Crete, Illinois, community protested the proposed Crete Immigration Detention Center. His zine collection includes works that discuss Arizona’s immigration laws, Trump’s 2017 increase in federal immigration jails, and the ways profit drives immigration enforcement and the prison industry.
In 2008 Rayson donated his extensive zine collection to the DePaul Special Collections and Archives. His collection holds zines discussing political social justice commentary, particularly focusing on incarceration. Zines are a popular format that allow individuals to distribute their ideas and knowledge without facing the publishing barriers for books and articles. Many of DePaul Special Collections and Archives’ zines focus on social justice and provide a platform for marginalized voices. Rayson works in continued collaboration with DePaul and this partnership has helped make his zine collection more widely available to the public. His collection fits within DePaul Special Collections and Archives’ collecting scope of social justice and the Chicago community.
Ellin M. Kelly Intern, Sarah Wilson, wrote this piece to highlight an interesting and extensive zine collection available at DePaul Special Collections and Archives. This collection was chosen with particular interest in Anthony Rayson’s life, his work with incarcerated populations, and his close connection to the Chicagoland area. Rayson’s collection holds significant relevance to researchers, activists, students, and the public particularly in the current political environment. Come visit DePaul University Special Collections and Archives to check out Anthony Rayson’s extensive zine collection!
Citations:
1. Photographs. (2000-2008) Box 3 Folder 20, Anthony Rayson Zine Collection. Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
2. Photographs. (Union Hall Prison Abolition Conference 2004) Box 3 Folder 20, Anthony Rayson Zine Collection. Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
3.“Interview: DePaul University Special Collections and Archives, Anthony Rayson Oral History Transcript.” (2008) Box 1, Folder 29, Anthony Rayson Zine Collection. Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
4.Thought Bombs #1. (1997) Box 13, Folder 25, Anthony Rayson Zine Collection. Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
5.Crete Immigration Detention Center: Why Does This Matter To You? (2012) Box 1, Folder 7, Anthony Rayson Zine Collection. Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
Thorough and insightful description of a collection that has grown in relevance as time as passed. Thanks so very much.