Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities

Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities was an American little magazine published in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, from 1931 to 1934. It emerged from a group of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill associates who wanted to create a flexible forum for experimental literature, criticism, political discussion, and new ideas. The project was closely associated with the Intimate Bookshop, a small bookselling operation that initially occupied a dormitory room before moving to Franklin Street. Milton Avant Abernethy and Anthony J. Buttitta became the magazine's principal editors after several of the original participants left Chapel Hill or moved into other roles. The magazine belonged to the broader little-magazine movement that helped introduce and normalize modernist literary and visual practices in the United States. Its original subtitle, A Review of Ideas and Personalities, reflected an editorial scope that extended beyond conventional book reviewing. Contempo printed poetry, short stories, prose, literary essays, political commentary, reviews, serialized fiction, and unfinished or developing work. Its outlook was broadly sympathetic to radical and left-oriented debate, although the publication presented itself less as the organ of a fixed faction than as an open venue for argument. Abernethy's stated editorial principles emphasized independence from literary cliques, protection for authors who felt unfairly treated, encouragement of controversy, and rapid consideration of new ideas. One of the magazine's distinctive features was the author-review, which allowed writers to comment directly on their own work. This helped make Contempo attractive to contributors despite its limited resources and lack of payment. Like many little magazines of the period, it was a non-commercial cultural venture rather than a conventional profitable publishing business. Its importance came from the range and prominence of its contributors, its willingness to combine literary and political material, and its role in giving emerging and established writers a platform outside mainstream commercial periodicals. Contempo gained particular attention through special issues. Its coverage of the Scottsboro Boys trial in 1931 increased circulation sharply, with the December issue reportedly reaching 6,500 printed copies compared with approximately 1,500 for the July issue. Langston Hughes contributed writing to the Scottsboro coverage, including the poem "Christ in Alabama," which appeared prominently. Other notable projects included a William Faulkner issue in February 1932, issues devoted to individual writers such as Bob Brown and Hart Crane, a Southern writers issue, and the serialization of Nathanael West's Miss Lonelyhearts beginning in July 1932. The magazine also published commentary and reviews by writers including William Carlos Williams. The publication's history was disrupted by a break between Abernethy and Buttitta in 1932. Minna Karp Abernethy joined Milton as co-editor, while Buttitta moved to Durham and produced two issues under the Contempo name. A public dispute over editorial control and ownership followed. Buttitta's version was ultimately denied the rights claimed by the Abernethys, but the conflict damaged both publishing efforts. The Chapel Hill version continued under Milton and Minna Abernethy, with Stuart Gilbert serving as guest editor for the final issue. Contempo ended publication in 1934. Its surviving papers, manuscripts, correspondence, and business records are held in several research collections, allowing the magazine to remain an important source for scholars of American modernism, literary networks, regional publishing, and 1930s political culture.

Contempo developed from the literary and political interests of five college classmates associated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Milton Avant Abernethy, Anthony J. Buttitta, Shirley Carter, Philip Liskin, and Vincent Garoffolo. Their first issue appeared in May 1931, produced from a dormitory room. The same group established the Intimate Bookshop as a physical center for the project. The shop soon moved to Franklin Street, providing a more visible base for the magazine and its readers. The original group did not remain intact. Carter left for Washington, Liskin moved to Russia, and Garoffolo shifted from editorial work toward poetry. By late 1931, Abernethy and Buttitta had become the central editors. They sought contributors and advisers from a broad literary network, although the magazine did not maintain a stable ideological or editorial faction. Ezra Pound was initially listed as a contributing editor but later asked for his name to be removed, stating that the magazine contained material with which he did not identify. The contributing-editor list was subsequently discontinued. Contempo's early issues were eclectic, combining literary criticism, political essays, poetry, fiction, book reviews, and experimental material. The editors promoted an anti-clique policy and sought to make the magazine a refuge for authors who wanted to answer criticism or publish work rejected elsewhere. Its author-review feature formalized that approach by giving writers space to discuss their own work. Contributors generally received no payment, and the magazine operated as a non-commercial little-magazine venture. The publication's strongest early response came from its coverage of the Scottsboro Boys trial. Issues in July and December 1931 treated the case as both a political and literary subject. Langston Hughes supplied poetry and prose, including "Christ in Alabama." The December issue reportedly reached a print run of 6,500 copies, compared with 1,500 for the July number. This episode showed that a small regional magazine could attract national attention when it connected literary culture with urgent public controversy. Contempo then developed a practice of organizing issues around individual authors, regional groups, and literary events. The February 1932 William Faulkner issue included poems, a short story, discussion of his novels, and related reviews. Later issues focused on writers such as Bob Brown and Hart Crane, while a September 1932 issue examined Southern writing. The magazine began publishing Nathanael West's Miss Lonelyhearts in serialized form in July 1932 and supplemented the serialization with an author-review and favorable commentary, including a review by William Carlos Williams. Editorial relations deteriorated during 1932. Minna Karp, who met Abernethy while he was working for the United States Department of Agriculture, joined him as editor in the autumn and later became his wife. Buttitta's association with the Chapel Hill publication ended, although his name remained temporarily connected with an issue to recognize earlier work. The Abernethys stated in January 1933 that the preceding issues had been financed and published without Buttitta's assistance. Buttitta moved to Durham and produced two issues under the Contempo name. He believed he retained rights to the publication, while Abernethy asserted that only the Chapel Hill edition was the authentic continuation and that Buttitta's publication had no claim to its subscriber base, editorial materials, or reputation. The dispute over the title was public and damaged the continuity of the magazine. Buttitta ultimately lost the legal rights claimed in the conflict, but the episode helped bring both versions to an end. The Abernethys continued the Chapel Hill publication into 1934. A final issue was placed in the hands of guest editor Stuart Gilbert, after which Contempo ceased publication. Its legacy is preserved through surviving copies, correspondence, manuscripts, and business records. Collections at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of South Carolina document the magazine's contributors, editorial practices, publishing disputes, and relationship to American modernism.

1. 1934Publication ends

   The magazine ended after a final issue edited by Stuart Gilbert.

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2. 1933Competing Durham edition

   Buttitta published two issues under the Contempo name from Durham, creating a public dispute over ownership and continuity.

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3. 1932Faulkner issue and Miss Lonelyhearts serialization

   The magazine issued a major William Faulkner number and began serializing Nathanael West's Miss Lonelyhearts.

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4. 1932Minna Abernethy joins the editorial operation

   Minna Karp Abernethy became an editor as the relationship between Milton Abernethy and Anthony Buttitta broke down.

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5. 1931First issue appears in Chapel Hill

   The founding group produced the first issue from a University of North Carolina dormitory room and launched the associated Intimate Bookshop.

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6. 1931Abernethy and Buttitta become principal editors

   After departures by several founding participants, the magazine settled into a dual-editorship led by Milton Abernethy and Anthony Buttitta.

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7. 1931Scottsboro Boys special issues

   Coverage of the Scottsboro trial, including work by Langston Hughes, became the magazine's most commercially visible editorial project.

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An independent, experimental little magazine positioned as an open forum for modernist literature, literary controversy, political ideas, and emerging writers.

• Contempo magazineLiterary magazine1931

  The principal product was a non-commercial little magazine combining book reviews, literary and political essays, poetry, fiction, experimental writing, serialized novels, and commentary on contemporary authors. Its editorial identity favored openness, controversy, and modernist experimentation over a single house style.

• Intimate BookshopIndependent bookseller1931

  The Intimate Bookshop operated alongside the magazine and served as its early physical base. It began in a dormitory room and later moved to Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. After the magazine ended, the Abernethys developed the bookstore as a separate commercial activity.

• 1931Scottsboro Boys trial coverage

  United States

  Contempo devoted issues to the Scottsboro Boys trial, treating the case as a major subject of political and social commentary. The project included contributions from Langston Hughes and helped the magazine reach readers beyond its Chapel Hill base.

  Outcome. The coverage produced a pronounced increase in reported circulation and became one of the defining episodes in the magazine's short history.

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• 1933Contest ownership of the Contempo nameOther

  After Buttitta issued two Durham numbers using the Contempo name, the Abernethys challenged his claim to the publication's title, materials, and subscriber relationships.

  What changed. The Abernethy edition publicly disclaimed any connection with Buttitta's version and asserted its own editorial and legal continuity.

  Aftermath. Buttitta lost the legal rights at issue, but the public conflict damaged both editions and hastened the magazine's disappearance.

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• 1932Shift toward editor-led publicationStrategy

  Several original participants had left or changed roles, while the working relationship between Abernethy and Buttitta was deteriorating.

  What changed. Milton and Minna Abernethy continued the Chapel Hill edition after Buttitta's departure and presented it as the authentic continuation of Contempo.

  Aftermath. Buttitta's separate Durham issues led to a dispute over the title and contributed to the eventual collapse of the publication.

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• 1934Contempo ceases publication

  The Abernethys withdrew from editing after the magazine's final issue, which was handled by guest editor Stuart Gilbert.

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• 1933Competing Contempo editions trigger an ownership dispute

  After moving to Durham, Anthony Buttitta issued two numbers under the Contempo name. The dispute over rights and editorial materials became public and contributed to the collapse of both versions.

  LawsuitOther
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• 1932Contempo publishes a Faulkner special issue

  A dedicated issue presented William Faulkner's poetry and fiction alongside reviews and discussion of his books.

  Product launch
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• 1932Abernethy and Buttitta split

  The two principal editors ended their collaboration amid undocumented personal and editorial friction, after which Milton and Minna Abernethy continued the Chapel Hill edition.

  Leadership change
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• 1931Contempo is founded in Chapel Hill

  Five University of North Carolina associates produced the first issue and operated the related Intimate Bookshop from a dormitory room before relocating the shop to Franklin Street.

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• 1931Scottsboro trial coverage drives circulation

  Two special issues on the Scottsboro Boys trial brought wider attention to the magazine and substantially increased the reported print run of the December issue.

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1. Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities