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Samuel R. Delany, Jr. ("Chip") Correspondence and Portrait

Call Number

MSS.462

Date

1983-1984, inclusive

Creator

Delany, Samuel R.

Extent

2 linear feet in 2 record cartons

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

Samuel R. Delany, Jr., "Chip," (1942- ) is an African American author, professor, and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. In the 1970s, his work increasingly included sexual themes and content concerning gender dynamics. Following the release and acclaim of Dhalgren in 1975, Delany focused much of his work on science fiction and literary criticism. Since 1988, he has held professorships at numerous colleges and universities until his retirement in 2015. In addition to his novels, short stories, and other critical works, Delany has published several autobiographical or semi-autobiographical accounts of his life as a black, gay writer, including his Hugo award winning autobiography, The Motion of Light in Water. This collection consists of photocopies of letters from Delany to various correspondents, including Robert S. Bravard and Joanna Russ, in 1983 and 1984. Topics covered in the letters include daily life in New York City, childhood memories, literary criticism, HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, science fiction as a literary genre, and science fiction conventions. A portrait of Delaney is also included.

Biographical / Historical

Samuel R. Delany, Jr., "Chip," (1942- ) is an award-winning African American writer, editor, professor, and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, literary criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. Raised in Harlem, he attended the Dalton School, the Bronx High School of Science, and the City College of New York. He published his first novel, The Jewels of Aptor, in 1962 at the age of 20. In the 1970s, his work increasingly included sexual themes and content concerning gender dynamics. Following the release and acclaim of Dhalgren in 1975, Delany focused much of his work on science fiction and literary criticism. Since 1988, he has held professorships at numerous colleges and universities until his retirement in 2015. In addition to his novels, short stories, and other critical works, Delany has published several autobiographical or semi-autobiographical accounts of his life as a black, gay writer, including his Hugo award winning autobiography, The Motion of Light in Water. He has published over 40 works.

Sources:

"Samuel R. Delany," The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (December 11, 2012)

Mary Wainwright, "Samuel R. Delany, Jr., 1942-," Contemporary Black Biography, Encyclopedia.com (1995)

Arrangement

This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. The materials are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of photocopies of outgoing letters from Samuel "Chip" Delany to various correspondents, including Robert S. Bravard and Joanna Russ, in 1983 and 1984. Topics covered in the letters include daily life in New York City, childhood memories, literary criticism, HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, science fiction as a literary genre, and science fiction conventions.

An undated portrait of Delaney is also included.

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date; Samuel R. Delany, Jr. ("Chip") Correspondence and Portrait; MSS 462; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact fales.library@nyu.edu at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

There is no documentation concerning the provenance of this collection, although it was likely donated by Chip Delany in 2015. The accession number associated with this gift is 2016.048.

Collection processed by

Rachel Searcy

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:02:15 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid written in English

Processing Information

At the time of accessioning, materials were described on the collection-level but no other arrangement, description, or physical interventions have taken place.

Revisions to this Guide

March 2019: Updated by Jennifer E. Neal to incorporate artwork being sent to offsite art storage in April 2019

Repository

Fales Library and Special Collections
Fales Library and Special Collections
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012