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Archive of love letters written by Thomas in Los Angeles to Beverly Haynes in Stinson Beach, CA in 1970 and 1971 and typescripts of poems which he apparently forwarded to her.

Thomas was born in Baltimore in 1930, but spent most of his life in Los Angeles and became part of the Venice “Beat Scene” described as an outlaw strain in Southern California letters. A large 6’4” man weighing 300 pounds. He always thought of himself as wanting to be a man who had written books rather than do the work of actually writing. His poetry was praised for it’s grace and clarity, and he was an exceptional reader of his own work. He was influenced by Pound, Li Po and Ludwig Wittgenstein, and was referred to as the greatest underground poet in Los Angeles for the last 40 years. “A gadfly in a time of self-mythologies. John made us understand what is going on inside the mind can have nothing to do with what’s going on outside." He died after suffering a heart attack in the Los Angeles County Jail after pleading no contest to a charge of unlawful sexual contact with his 15 year old daughter in the 1970’s. The archive consists of six long letters accomplished in Thomas’ fine calligraphic hand consisting of approximately 28 pages, mixed with poems throughout. Dated from 1970-1972. Also included are 30 pages of typescript poems on onion skin and paper. The poems are titled , and a few are dated, mostly from the late sixties. The letters are of a strong sexually erotic nature, a reputation that Thomas tried hard to uphold. Also included are some photographs of Ms. Haynes, a few postcards and a copy of a spiral bound book of Thomas’ poems, just titled John Thomas, inscribed to Bev Haynes in 1972.