Milton A. Abernethy
Milton Avant Abernathy | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1911 Waynesville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 21, 1991 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor, entrepreneur, stockbroker |
| Known for | Editor of Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities (1931–1934) |
Milton Avant Abernathy (February 24, 1911 – April 21, 1991) was an American journalist, editor, entrepreneur, and stockbroker, most notably recognized for his role as editor of the literary periodical Contempo: A Review of Books and Personalities from 1931 to 1934.
Radical journalism
Originating from Waynesville, North Carolina, Abernathy first attracted notice through his contributions to the student publication Wataugan at North Carolina State University. His writings challenged Northern industrialists exploiting Southern workers and opposed mandatory military training programs. Following the release of his piece "The Game of Cheating at North Carolina State College is Not Equal to Any Other Sport," which revealed pervasive academic dishonesty, he faced expulsion by the Student Council but was reinstated after faculty intervention. Subsequently, he transferred to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a decision that proved crucial for his professional path.
Contempo years (1931–1934)
While at UNC-Chapel Hill, Abernathy co-established the literary magazine Contempo alongside Phil Liskin, Shirley Carter, Vincent Garoffolo, and Anthony Buttitta. Initially open to unsolicited submissions, the journal later featured prominent writers such as Sherwood Anderson, Ezra Pound, Langston Hughes, William Faulkner, William Carlos Williams, Hart Crane, and James Joyce.
Abernathy shared editorial responsibilities with Buttitta until the latter departed in autumn 1931, after which he partnered with his wife Minna K. Abernathy. He presumably oversaw much of the magazine’s operational management and financial affairs, including maintaining author relations and securing advertising. Editorial control fluctuated among Abernathy, Buttitta, and Minna during this timeframe.
Throughout these years, Abernathy cultivated important literary relationships, particularly with Faulkner. After encountering Faulkner at a Southern Writers Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia, Abernathy accompanied him to New York City amid growing publisher interest following Faulkner’s success with Sanctuary. To shield Faulkner from publishing pressures, Abernathy invited him to reside in Chapel Hill temporarily, granting Contempo access to Faulkner’s declined manuscripts—a valuable resource for the magazine.
Although the publication continued until 1934, it was overshadowed by a dispute in 1933 between Abernathy and Buttitta. This rivalry emerged after Minna joined as co-editor and prompted Buttitta to establish a competing Contempo in nearby Durham. Abernathy publicly asserted his version as the authentic Contempo through printed declarations.
Early business ventures (1931–1953)
In 1931, Abernathy launched the Intimate Bookshop, which functioned as the base for his magazine Contempo and outlived both the periodical and his ownership. Initially operated from his university dormitory, the bookstore later moved to the Tankersly Building before settling in the Patterson Building in 1932. The shop began with Abernathy’s personal collection of avant-garde literature and materials collected for magazine reviews.
Abernathy employed unconventional tactics to build inventory, reportedly acquiring large quantities of the Communist Manifesto at minimal cost and retrieving discarded textbooks from campus waste bins. His unique store policies included permitting patrons to spend nights inside by locking them in, lending books on loan with buyback options after reading, and even posting customer records on bathroom walls.
During Abernathy’s military service from 1943 to 1946, Minna Abernathy took over bookstore operations. Over time, the Intimate Bookshop broadened its product range to feature office supplies, typewriters, records, and potentially furniture. By the late 1930s, its prosperity enabled Abernathy to purchase the Patterson Building for $4,700.
Accusations of Communist Affiliations (June–September 1953)
Abernethy's connection to progressive political movements dates back to his time as a student journalist at North Carolina State University and was evident in the leftist orientation of Contempo. During the 1950s, he encountered allegations of involvement in Communist activities, which initially provoked local opposition but eventually garnered some degree of community backing.
His purported communist engagements included a 1935 visit to the Soviet Union and the possible operation of a printing press located in the rear of the Intimate Bookshop. This press came under investigation and was suspected of producing communist propaganda or labor-related flyers as an ancillary enterprise. Contemporary newspapers described the press as an “underground” facility; however, advocates contended that secrecy was unnecessary during the 1930s.
These accusations led to considerable upheaval both personally and professionally: Abernethy’s family removed their children from area schools—relocating one child to Chicago—and divested their business interests prior to relocating from town in 1955.
Later Career and Passing (1953–1991)
Following his departure from Chapel Hill, Abernethy achieved success as a stockbroker in New York City, which allowed him to maintain a residence on Riverside Drive and spend summers in Hampton Bays, Long Island. Additionally, he retained ownership of valuable real estate holdings in Chapel Hill. Abernethy died in 1991 at his Hampton Bays home; his ashes were scattered at the family property near Jones Ferry Road in Chapel Hill.
Notes
References
- Buttitta, Tony. “Contempo Caravan: Kites in a Windstorm.” Dictionary of Literary Biography Yearbook 1985. Ed. Jean W. Ross. Detroit: Gale, 1986. 109–124. Dictionary of Literary Biography Complete Online. Gale, n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2012.
- Meader, Judith Hay. A History and Index of Contempo. MA Thesis. University of Louisville, 1971. Anne Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1972. Proquest Dissertations and Theses. Proquest, n.d. Web. 19 March 2012.
- Vickers, Jim. “A Week or Three Days in Chapel Hill: Faulkner, Contempo, and Their Contemporaries.” North Carolina Literary Review 1.1 (1992): 17–29. Print.