Creem Magazine Collection

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In 2014, the Birmingham Museum featured a large display devoted to Creem Magazine as part of its Sounds of Birmingham:  A Community of Music exhibition.  "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine," as Creem called itself, was published from offices in downtown Birmingham from 1973-1986.  It was second in circulation only to Rolling Stone, and is noted for its bold gonzo style of rock journalism, especially associated with legendary rock critic Lester Bangs.  Creem launched the careers of many other famous and talented writers and photographers, and was a significant force in American music culture during its heyday in the 1970s and early 1980s.  

Despite the historic and cultural importance of the magazine, our exhibit was the first in-depth curated presentation of Creem in a museum setting.  We worked with former Creem staff and conducted additional research to help tell the magazine's unique story.  The exhibit attracted attention from all over the country, and generated two reunions (one of which was videotaped in oral history format) of former Creem editors and photographers.  It also resulted in the donation of the most significant collection of Creem materials in any public institution--the personal collection of Charlie Auringer, longtime Art Director at Creem from 1969-1986. 

The Charlie Auringer Collection consists of photographs and snapshots, negatives, slides, pre- and post-production art, layouts, corporate documents, newspaper and trade publication clippings and other ephemera, merchandising items, books, and  dozens of magazine issues.  In addition, the museum has acquired 74 additional magazine issues, for a current total of 108.  Other photographs, memorabilia, and Creem-related historical materials continue to be donated to our permanent collection, helping to build a more extensive archives.  (Photo, right; Art Director Charlie Auringer at the Creem Offices, c. 1976)

The goal of the Birmingham Museum is to make these materials accessible to the public electronically as well as physically.  The collection is currently being processed, but check back to get additional  information on our progress.  You can reach the museum Tuesday through Friday at 248-530-1928.

For his just-released documentary about the iconic 1970s rock magazine, Scott Crawford interviewed former Creem staff right here at the Birmingham Museum.  The former Creem art and writing staff came to celebrate the installation of the Charlie Auringer Reading Room in June of 2017.  Crawford and his film crew used the opportunity to interview several of the former staff, including  writer/editor Susan Whitall and J.J. Kramer, son of Creem founder Barry Kramer.  

The documentary,"Boy Howdy: The Story of Creem Magazine" was screened in various venues around the Motor City in 2018. If you missed it, you can find it online. If you check it out, look for settings around the Birmingham Museum in the background (such as our wood-paneled library) and B-roll of our permanent CREEM exhibit and reading room. Oh, and if you are especially sharp-eyed, you may notice a certain period typewriter with an iconic logo from our exhibit that was used for the film poster and promotional materials!  (Our support of the project included a generous donation from the Friends of the Birmingham Museum to support the crowd-funding for the start-up costs of the film. )

Former Creem writers/editors Susan Whitall and Bill Holdship were featured on WDET-FM's Ann Delisi Essential Music program.  In this 15+ minute interview, the two talk about what it was like behind the scenes at Creem, and why it is an important part of rock history.  Listen to the interview with Ann Delisi (by permission of WDET-FM and the Ann Delisi Essential Music program).  

Michigan Public Radio's Stateside with Cynthia Canty  featured an interview with  former Creem editor Susan Whitall and Birmingham Museum Director Leslie Pielack regarding Creem's impact on the American rock music scene and some of Ms. Whitall's experiences with the bands, the fans, and the  legendary staff.   Listen to the interview.