​(Santa Ana)— Lee Mallory, who retired in December 2012 from Santa Ana College (SAC) where he served as a professor of English as a Second Language (ESL) for 32 years, has donated a Modern Poetry Archive to the college's Nealley Library. The collection stems from Mallory’s longtime interest in writing, and his fervor for promoting poetry in the community. Mallory has authored eight published books and produced the two longest continuously running poetry readings in Orange County.

Mallory’s collection, to benefit Rancho Santiago Community College District students of English, literature, and creative writing, is comprised of important correspondence, typescripts, and journal entries relating to the late poets, Charles Bukowski, Kenneth Rexroth, and others, with whom Mallory was personally acquainted. His papers also include scores of Orange County poetry fliers, news stories, photos, signed books and magazines that document the Orange County poetry scene. The library will also acquire a full set of books from Moon Tide Press, of which Mallory was a former founding editor. Material from this collection will periodically be used in displays during National Poetry Month.

“After some 32 years with Santa Ana College’s English-ESL Department, I hope this archive will give me a lasting presence on the SAC campus and that it will be of benefit to students,” said Mallory, who plans to use his retirement to spend more time with his family and with his writing in Las Vegas.

The collection is currently being processed and not yet available for public use. For more information, please contact Luis Pedroza at pedroza_luis@sac.edu or 714-564-6707 or Stacy Russo at russo_stacy@sac.edu or 714-564- 6712.

About the Rancho Santiago Community College District
The mission of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is to respond to the educational needs of an ever-changing community and to provide programs and services that reflect academic excellence. Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of RSCCD, which serve the residents of Anaheim Hills, East Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Villa Park. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, customized training for business and industry, and programs to train nurses, firefighters and law enforcement personnel.