St. Peter’s University, Jersey City

The Beat Museum on Wheels

When Allen Ginsberg appeared with his father Louis Ginsberg at a Jesuit College in Jersey City, NJ in 1969 there was no predicting what was about to unfold. So, in 2022, when The Beat Museum on Wheels was invited by the school’s librarian, Mark Graceffo, we knew we had to go in memory of Allen. There was a reserved spot waiting for us when we rolled onto the parking lot at Saint Peter’s late at night. Our Kerouac@100 presentation the following day was a hit for students & professors alike. Saint Peter’s did not disappoint.

Saint Peter's University is a Jesuit College that's over 150 years old. It's located on the NJ side of the Holland Tunnel less than an hour from Manhattan.
Allen Ginsberg did a joint reading with his father Louis at Saint Peter's in 1969.
Starting off the presentation reading from page one of On The Road: "I first met Dean not long after my wife and I split up..." The '49 Hudson that sits in The Beat Museum in San Francisco was donated to us by Walter Salles. Photo of the car is by Michael Hruska.
Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, MA in 1922.
Arriving at Saint Peter's University at night.
Saint Peter's reserved us an el primo spot so we could sleep in the rig overnight.
The Beat Museum on Wheels snug as a bug for an overnight only 30 minutes from the Holland Tunnel.
Mark Graceffo is a librarian at Saint Peter's and he was instrumental in bringing The Beat Museum to Jersey City. Allen Ginsberg stop in 1969 was featured in their yearbooks. Mark's daughter Loretta wrote a story about all of this a few years ago: https://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/beat/allen-ginsberg-pavan-censorship
Allen Ginsberg featured in Saint Peter's school newspaper in 1969.