Hornby Island Community Archives
R.G. 53
Acc. No
Finding aid created by Regan Fahey
Last updated: June 2026
Title: Billy Little Collection
Level of description: collection
General material designation: textual records and graphic materials
Extent: 72 inches
Creator: Billy Little
Dates of creation: 1968-2008
Biographical sketch: Born William Robert Little October 14, 1943 in New York City, USA Billy Little, as he was generally known, served in the US Military from 1960-1963 which no doubt contributed to his lifelong ardent anti-militarist philosophy. He went to collage in New York City and then State University in Buffalo. Upon moving to Vancouver, BC in 1973 he lived a life of constant and productive service to the Vancouver community of poets where he was well known on the West Coast for his influence as a bookseller, poet and performer. As a writer and performer Billy often would don the “public persona” or “pen name” of Zonko, the story relayed to his son being that at a poetry reading someone said to him “your poems make me zonko”, to which he replied “no, my poems make me Zonko!” Billy Little worked as an editor and a publisher and creative writing teacher for over 40 years. Upon moving to Hornby Island he fostered many close friendships, was an integral part of the creative community and opened his own bookshop in the Ringside market. In 2008 Billy was diagnosed with stomach cancer and on January 1, 2009 he died in his home surronded by his friends and survived by his son Mathew Little.
Scope and content: This collection contains the published works of Billy Little, poems and stories and writings, drawings, collages, notebooks and booklets with various written works.
Source of supplied title: Title is based on the creator of the collection
Immediate source of acquisiton: The material in this collection was gathered from Billy Little’s residence on Hornby Island by his son Mathew Little, taken to Oregon and stored for 16 years and then brought back to Hornby Island for donation to the Archives in October 2025
Arrangement: The orginal filing scheme of the records was reconstructed during the archival arrangement on the basis of file markings on the documents in order to retain as much of the original order as possible.
Language of materials: English
Record no.: R.G.53
Repository: Hornby Island Community Archives
Finding aids: Finding aid available with file level control.
Related group of records: The Photograph Collection contains some of Billy Little’s photos in Box 4, File 17
Accruals: Further accruals are not expected
Note: All poems are presumed to be penned by Billy Little even if unsigned. Publications will note the pages of poetry by Bill Little, Billy Little or Zonko interchangeably with the notation BL. Some of the writings are of an explicit or graphic nature.
File Inventory
Box 1
1-1 Poems, 1967-1968
Re: some titled, dated and signed
1-2 Writings, 1968
Re: paper written for an English class
1-3 Publication, 1968
Re: “Prescence”, untitled essay
1-4 Poems, 1968, c1968
Re: a mix of titled and untitled, pages clipped and numbered to maintain original order
1-5 Publication, 1969
Re: “Progogue” vol.iii no.2, BL pg33-35
1-6 Writings and Poems,1969-1970
Re: some titled, all dated and signed
1-7 Publication, 1970
Re: “Doctor Generosity’s Almanac:17 Poets”, BL pg.27-37
1-8 Publication, 1973
Re: “Schist”, BL pg.15
1-9 Publication, 1974
Re:”Tens”, edited by Bill Little
1-10 Publication, 1974
Re: “The Capilano Review” BL pg.104
1-11 Poems and Correspondence, 1970-1972, 1975
Re: loose poems, some titled and signed as both Bill Little and Zonko
1-12 Poems, 1975
Re: small collection titled “tonite”
1-13 Publication, 1976
Re: ”Green House”, BL pg.50-55
1-14 Writings, 1977
Re: “Metric Time”
1-15 Poems and Correspondence, 1976-1978
Re: titled, dated and signed poems, a personal letter during a time Billy Little was living n Germany
1-16 Writings, 1978
Re: newsletter “The Art of Survival”
1-17 Photographs, 1976, 1979
17-1 Billy Little and unnamed woman, August 1976 Calgary
17-2 Bill Little, Sheila Johsnon VAG Jerry Pethick, May 29 79 (Bob Cain 79-15-28)
17-3 Hugh and Bill Little Ritz Hotel, Van (Bob Cain 79-15-35)
17-4 Bill Little Ritz Hotel (79-15-36)
1-18 Publication, 1979
Re: “The Body”, BL pg.39-49
1-19 Writings, 1981
Re: small collection titled “The Poem and Me” with handwritten stories, poems and drawings
1-20 Poems, 1982
Re: small collection
1-21 Poems, 1983
Re: collection titled “For All My Enemies”, 2 copies
Box 2
2-1 Pulication, 1975
Re: “Strange Faces” BL pg.19-22
2-2 Publication, 1976
Re: “BC Monthly”
2-3 Poems, 1974
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-4 Poems, 1974
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-5 Poems, 1974
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-6 Poems, 1974
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-7 Poems, 1974
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-8 Writing and Poems, 1977
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-9 Poems, c.1970’s
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-10 Poems and Writing, c.1970’s
Re: long rolled scrolls of typed text that were cut, clipped and numbered for archival preservation
2-11 Correspondence, Poems and Ephermera. 1980-1984, 1986-1988
Re: writings and dated and titled poems, letter from Minister of Culture in Nicaragua, small collection “Stupid”, letter from Josi Fletcher and misscellaneous
2-12 Poems, 1988
Re: small poetry collection “stupid”
2-13 Poems, 1995
Re: collection “Angel Baby”
2-14 Poems, n.d
Re: poems, many of them titled, none of them dated, all signed Billy Little
2-15 Poems, n.d
Re: poems, many of them titled, none of them dated, all signed Zonko
2-16 Poems, n.d
Re: poems, attributed to Billy Little although none are signed nor dated
2-17 Poems, n.d
Re: poems, attributed to Billy Little although none are signed nor dated
2-18 Poems, n.d
Re: poems, attributed to Billy Little although none are signed nor dated
Box 3
3-1 Publication, 1983
Re: “Writing Magazine”, BL pg.31
3-2 Publication, 1983
Re: “British Columbia Monthly”
3-3 Publication, 1984
Re: “Writing Magazine”, BL pg.25
3-4 Poems, 1985
Re: small collection “Skeleton in your Christmas stocking”
3-5 Poems, 1986
Re: small collection “Hornby Island Poetry”
3-6 Publication, c.1987
Re: 3 issues of “pop-tart” magazine
3-7 Poems, 1987
Re: small collection “one lucky dog”
3-8 Poems and Writings, 1975-1976, 1984, 1989, n.d
Re: Poems and writings, some titled, all signed by Zonko
3-9 Photographs and identifications, 1984, 1986-1990 (16 photographs)
9-1 Billy Little
9-2 Bill Little on ferry
9-3 Billy Little
9-4 Billy Little
9-5 Billy Little
9-6 Billy Little
9-7 Billy Little
9-8 Billy Little
9-9 Billy Little
9-10 Man with paper bag over head playing flute (Bob Cain photo 88-14-19)
9-11 Billy Little
9-12 Billy Little at exhibition (Bob Cain photo 89-11-21)
9-13 Billy Little reading at exhibition (Bob Cain photo 89-11-13)
9-14 Billy Little reading at exhibition (Bob Cain photo 89-11-18)
9-15 Billy Little
9-16 Billy Little with baby
3-10 Photographs, c1988-1990 (24 photographs)
Re: small photo album. Pictures removed in original order for archival purposes
10-1 Jerry Pethick
10-2 2 men
10-3 Man and woman with wooden bowls
10-4 Photographer taking pic of Jerry and Margaret Pethick
10-5 George DePape and Bronwen McLeod
10-6 Gathering of people
10-7 man and woman
10-8 people at bookstore
10-9 table covered with sod and set with dishes
10-10 2 men, Jerry Pethick on right
10-11 Lloyd House
10-12 Tim Biggins, Jim Gordon and Jerry Pethick (l-r)
10-13 man and woman in bookstore
10-14 man in bookstore with cigarette butt
10-15 gathering
10-16 man and woman in bookstore
10-17 man at table
10-18 2 men at outside event
10-19 Jerry Pethick
10-20 Olivia Fletcher
10-21 John Blackburn
10-22 Valerie Pagnier and Cedar Wallace (l-r)
10-23 Steve Pacheco
10-24 John Fletcher
3-11 Booklet, c1992
Re: Jerry Pethick and Billy Little collaboration
3-12 Poems, 1990
Re: small collection “for Carole Chambers”
3-13 Poems, 1993-1994 n.d
Re: small collection “Old Growth”, and other poems
3-14 Photos, 1990-1991, 1995, n.d (21 photographs)
14-1 Not a Bus Stop, Billy Little
14-2 Billy Little (Bob Cain 90-15-21)
14-3 Jeff and Billy Little in front of Comet Books (Bob Cain 90-15-27)
14-4 Billy Little with a puppet (Bob Cain 90-17-5)
14-5 Billy Little with woman (Bob Cain 90-27-6)
14-6 Billy Little with woman (Bob Cain 90-27-11)
14-7 Billy Little with man (Bob Cain 90-27-27)
14-8 Billy Little, Jim Munroe, Margaret Dragu (Bob Cain 90-42-2)
14-9 Billy, Matt and Sirius Little (Bob Cain 90-44-30)
14-10 Billy Little
14-11 Billy Little with baby
14-12 Billy Little with baby
14-13 Billy Little with face decorated
14-14 Billy Little
14-15 Billy Little
14-16 Billy Little
14-17 Billy Little
14-18 Billy Little with woman
14-19 Billy Little
14-20 Billy Little, Carole Chambers and man (Bob Cain 91-25-11)
14-21 Billy Little with group
3-15 Publication, 1995-1996
Re: “West Coast Line”, BL pg.30
3-16 Writings, 1995-1996
Re: RAW (Readers and Writers), issues #1-10, 12, 14-16
3-17 Poems, 1997
Re: small collection “Island Fever”
3-18 Publication, 1998
Re: Sycamore Review. BL pg.79
3-19 Poems and Writings, 1998
Re: small collection “Feeding the Canadians”, “Point and Click”, untitled writing and “Lucky Dead”
3-20 Poems, 1999
Re: small collection “a million truths” (2 copies)
3-21 Zine, 1999
Re: “minus tides!”, BL pg.14
3-22 Poems, Ephemera and Correspondence, 1990-1991, 1994, 1998-1999
Re: poem, small collection , community arts calendar and a letter from “Nancy”
Box 4
4-1 Poems and Writings, 2000-2001
Re: poems by Victoria Walker for Billy Little, poem by Billy Little for round table discussion
4-2 Collection, 2000-2001
Re: “Gulphy Island Phunnies”, 2 editions
4-3 Collection, 2002
Re: “Happy Times” Vol 1 Spring
4-4 Collection, 2004-2005
Re: “now now” no.1 and no.2
4-5 Photo Album and disc, 2008
Re: St.Ink book launch photo collection and disc
4-6 Poems, Correspondence and Photos, 2000, 2002-2009 (4 photographs)
Re: Poems by Billy Little, correspondence to Billy Little from internation poetry contest and miscellaneous
6-1 Billy Little and Margaret Pethick (Bob Cain 03-10-30)
6-2 Bill Cannon, Billy Little and Bill Smith (Bob Cain 05-14-27)
6-3 Billy Little
6-4 Billy Little
4-7 Drawing and Ephmera, n.d
Re: Billy’s book store on Hornby Island by Jenna Carter and promotional material
4-8 Photographs and miscellaneous c.1970’s – 2008 (68 photographs)
8-1 Billy Little with Matt Little?
8-2 Billy Little in suit (card from Josi Fletcher)
8-3 Billy Little in stripes smoking
8-4 Billy Little on beach
8-5 Billy Little on stage
8-6 Billy Little “selfie”
8-7 Billy Little on street
8-8 Billy Little with group
8-9 Billy Little with maraca
8-10 Billy Little in front of “workers of all lands unite” gravestone
8-11 R2B2 Books
8-12 Billy Little and man “dining” at grass table
8-13 Billy Little as a fence for Halloween
8-14 Billy Little in bookstore
8-15 Billy Little performing in googles
8-16 Billy Little with Matt Little (?) and baby
8-17 Billy Little with Matt Little (?) and baby
8-18 Billy Little and baby
8-19 Billy Little in front of flowering tree
8-20 Billy Little with baby
8-21 Billy Little and baby
8-22 Billy Little
8-23 Billy Little
8-24 Billy Little
8-25 Billy Little, Gabriel Jerosowitz and Annette Hurtig (r-l)
8-26 Billy Little in sailor hat
8-27 Billy Little shooting pool
8-28 Billy Little “selfie”
8-29 Billy Little
8-30 Billy Little in yellow beret
8-31 Billy Little and man
8-32 Billy Little with baby
8-33 Billy Little with baby
8-34 Billy Little and woman
8-35 Billy Little with some sort of magnifying distortion
8-36 Billy Little with some sort of magnifying distortion
8-37 Billy Little with some sort of magnifying distortion
8-38 Billy Little
8-39 Billy Little at podium
8-40 Billy Little
8-41 Billy Little with group
8-42 Billy Little in front of art installation
8-43 Billy Little
8-44 Billy Little with two others and potted plant
8-45 Billy Little
8-46 Billy Little with baby
8-47 Billy Little with baby
8-48 Billy Little with man
8-49 Billy Little with 2 men
8-50 Billy Little with baby
8-51 Billy Little performing on stage
8-52 Billy Little
8-53 Billy Little with Paul Wullum as Easter bunny
8-54 Billy Little chopping up a piano
8-55 Billy Little with group
8-56 Billy Little with Matt Little and son (?)
8-57 Billy Little
8-58 Billy Little performing
8-59 Billy Little performing
8-60 Billy Little
8-61 Billy Little in Ringside
8-62 frame of future bookstore
8-63 Billy Little in front of Mindful Books
8-64 Billy Little at table
8-65 Billy Little with man
8-66 Billy Little HI Community Fund card (2 copies)
8-67 Billy Little reading from St.Ink publication
8-68 Billy Little collage readin from St.Ink publicaton
4-9 Writings, n.d
Re: “Next Week” by Zonko
4-10 Writings, n.d
Re: “Three Boyfriends” by Billy Little
4-11 Writings, n.d
Re: “smaller” and “Failure” (2 copies) by Billy Little
4-12 Collection, n.d
Re: “Anerca” Zonko pg.4
4-13 Writings, n.d
Re: “Or John Philip Sousa” by Billy Little and “Peace on drugs” attributed to Billy Little
4-14 Writings, n.d
Re: “The Blue Book” by Zonko
4-15 Writings and drawings, n.d
Re: writings by both Zonko and Billy Little, including a collaborative comic with Josi Fletcher (assuming Billy Thomas is in fact Billy Little)
4-16 Writings, n.d
Re: “a million truths” by Billy Little
4-17 Writings, n.d
Re: “The Yellow Gumshoe” a radio play by Billy Little
4-18 Writings, n.d
Re: collection “Funny/ Quel Marrant by Billy Little (2 copies)
4-19 Writings, n.d
Re: collection “St.Ink”
4-20 Writings, n.d
Re: a variety of written pieces, although undated and unsigned for the most part can be assumed to be by Billy Little
4-21 Collages, n.d
Re: collection of collages using a variety of materials, attributed to Billy Little
4-22 Obituary and Correspondence, 2009, 2026, n.d
Re: Obituary written in advance by Billy Little and the version published in The First Edition and miscellaneous
Box 5
5-1 Correspondence, n.d
Re: letters and postcards to and from Billy Little
5-2 Notes, Writings, Drawings, Ephemera and Collages, n.d
Re: miscellaneous material attributed to Billy Little
5-3 Graphic Material, n.d
Re: loose “stamps”
5-4 Notebook, n.d
Re: writings and poems attributed to Billy Little
5-5 Notebook, n.d
Re: drawings and writing attributed to Billy Little
5-6 Notebook, n.d
Re: drawings and writing attributed to Billy Little
5-7 Notebook, n.d
Re: drawings and writing attributed to Billy Little
Box 6
6-1 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little
6-2 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-3 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-4 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-5 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-6 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-7 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-8 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-9 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-10 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-11 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-12 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-13 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-14 Booklet, n.d
Re: poems and writing attributed to Billy Little
6-15 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little
6-16 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little
6-17 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little
6-18 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little
6-19 Notebook, n.d
Re: writing and poems attributed to Billy Little