Scope and Contents
The collection consists of writings, correspondence, personal papers, printed material, photographs, artwork, professional papers, audiovisual materials, electronic media, and other papers documenting the work and life of Samuel R. Delany. Writings include drafts, corrected proofs, and fragments of many of Delany's books, including The Einstein Intersection (New York : Ace Books, 1967), Dhalgren (New York : Bantam Books, 1975), and Phallos (Whitemore Lake : Bamberger Books, 2004). Correspondence includes both family and professional correspondence, as well as fan letters. Correspondents include Marilyn Hacker, Iva Hacker-Delany, Robert S. Bravard, Camilla Decarnin, Thomas M. Disch, and Joanna Russ.
Dates
- circa 1940-2019, undated
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
This material is open for research.
Box 247: Restricted until 2073. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Box 248: Restricted until 2060. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Boxes 244, 246, 294-299 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 245, 300-301 (digital media): Restricted fragile material. Access copies of digital files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 247: Restricted until 2073. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Box 248: Restricted until 2060. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Boxes 244, 246, 294-299 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 245, 300-301 (digital media): Restricted fragile material. Access copies of digital files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Samuel R. Delany Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Henry W. Wessells IV on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund and the Sinclair Lewis Fund, 2017
Gift of Samuel R. Delany, 2017, 2019.
October 2020 acquisition: Gift of Leo S. Levy, 2020.
Gift of Samuel R. Delany, 2017, 2019.
October 2020 acquisition: Gift of Leo S. Levy, 2020.
Arrangement
Organized into four groupings: May 2017 Acquisition; September 2017 Acquisition; December 2019 Acquisition; and October 2020 Acquisition.
Extent
263.25 Linear Feet ((303 boxes) + 1 broadside + 1 record album storage + 1 cold storage + 1 art)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The collection consists of writings, correspondence, personal papers, printed material, photographs, artwork, professional papers, audiovisual materials, electronic media, and other papers documenting the work and life of Samuel R. Delany. Writings include drafts, corrected proofs, and fragments of many of Delany's books, including The Einstein Intersection (New York : Ace Books, 1967), Dhalgren (New York : Bantam Books, 1975), and Phallos (Whitemore Lake : Bamberger Books, 2004). Correspondence includes both family and professional correspondence, as well as fan letters. Correspondents include Marilyn Hacker, Iva Hacker-Delany, Robert S. Bravard, Camilla Decarnin, Thomas M. Disch, and Joanna Russ.
Samuel R. Delany
Samuel R. "Chip" Delany, born 1942, is an African American writer and literary critic whose work spans science fiction and memoir, often addressing themes related to sexuality. A winner of four Nebula and two Hugo awards, Delany was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2002. He was married to poet Marilyn Hacker from 1961 to 1980. They have a daughter, Iva Hacker-Delany.
Processing Information
Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Various acquisitions associated with the collection have not been merged and organized as a whole. Each acquisition is described separately in the contents list below and titled according to month and year of acquisition.
Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection or revisions in arrangement and description. October 2020 Acquisition was added in 2021.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Various acquisitions associated with the collection have not been merged and organized as a whole. Each acquisition is described separately in the contents list below and titled according to month and year of acquisition.
Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection or revisions in arrangement and description. October 2020 Acquisition was added in 2021.
- African American authors -- 20th Century -- Archives
- American literature -- 20th century
- Audiovisual materials
- Authors, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Authors, American -- 20th century
- Born digital
- Bravard, Robert S.
- Decarnin, Camilla
- Delany, Samuel R., 1942-
- Disch, Thomas M., 1940-2008
- Gay authors
- Hacker, Marilyn, 1942-
- Hacker-Delany, Iva
- LGBTQ resource
- Photographs
- Russ, Joanna, 1937-2011
- Science fiction, American
- Title
- Guide to the Samuel R. Delany Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- June 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2021-04-26: Updated by Rosemary K. J. Davis to add recent acquisitions.
- 2021-12-13: Updated by Karen Spicher to add October 2020 Acquisition.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.