Open Places

Welcome to our archives of Open Places! Here you will find over 40 issues of the poetry and review magazine, which Eleanor Bender began in 1966. Bender joined the faculty of Stephens College in 1971 and with her came Open Places. The magazine became part of our creative writing program during the 1970s and allowed students hands-on experience in editing not only our own literary magazine, but a nationally recognized one. Many alumnae remember the excitement of handling manuscripts sent in by poets such as Marge Piercy, Margaret Atwood, Denise Levertov, and Sharon Olds.

In 1972, Open Places was published semi-annually with an expanded format that included short fiction as well as poetry. Its review section focused on books printed by small and feminist presses, and Bender began the Open Places Poet Series. Works of E.S. Miller, James Camp, X.J. Kennedy, Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop, Peyton Houston, and George Anthony were showcased in numbers 1-5.

Several special issues of Open Places were published over the years, including a 15th anniversary retrospective issue and a 20th anniversary issue highlighting the works of American writers living abroad. The last issue of Open Places was printed in the summer of 1987. This "Best Friends" issue was devoted to the work of writers who had been frequent contributors to the magazine.