Scope and Contents
The Judy Blume papers consist of correspondence, drafts of writings, printed material, audiovisual material, computer media, and personal and other papers documenting the life and work of American author Judy Blume.
Correspondence is located throughout the collection and identified chiefly as professional, personal, and fan mail. Professional correspondence includes letters from publishers and literary and other organizations. Letters from fans are grouped together by date, by topic, and, in some cases, by individual correspondent.
Writings include manuscript drafts, proofs, and other materials. Multiple drafts can be found for many titles, including: Deenie (1973), Tiger eyes (1981), Smart women (1983), Just as long as we're together (1987), Fudge-a-mania (1990), Here's to you, Rachel Robinson (1993), Summer sisters (1998), Double Fudge (2002), and In the unlikely event (2015).
Other papers include awards, clippings, photographs, printed material, research and subject files, and material relating to public appearances and events, such as interviews, speeches, and book and promotional tours. Audiovisual materials in the collection appear to document Blume's public appearances.
Dates
- 1952 - 2022
Creator
- Blume, Judy (Author)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research with the requirement that all users of the Papers must sign an agreement outlining specific conditions for use of the papers. These conditions are related to the presence of letters, documents and other materials that were written by children and other individuals to Ms. Blume on issues and topics that are personal to the writer. The Papers also contains copies of letters written by Ms. Blume responding to correspondence from her readers. These materials are in some cases catalogued as “correspondence” and in other cases are interspersed throughout the Papers.
Boxes 6, 92-103, 132 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 23, 104-105, 119, 133, 137 (born digital): Restricted fragile material. Access copies of digital files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Judy Blume 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
Acquired from various sources. For more information consult the appropriate curator.
Arrangement
Organized into four groupings: I. October 2017 Acquisition, 1952 - 2017. II. September 2018 Acquisition, 1977-2018, undated. III. January 2020 Acquisition, 1983 - 2019. IV. October 2022 Acquisition, 1999 - 2022.
Extent
128.02 Linear Feet ((136 boxes) + 1 roll)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The Judy Blume papers consist of correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, audiovisual material, computer media, and personal and other papers documenting the life and work of American author Judy Blume.
Judy Blume (1938-)
Judy Blume is an American author, educator, and advocate. She was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, before attending Boston University and New York University, where she earned a B.S. degree in Education in 1960. She is the author of over 30 books, most of which are written for children and young adults, dating from The One in the middle is the green kangaroo (1969) to In the unlikely event (2015).
Summary information is also available in the standard print and online biographical resources.
The following chronology provides dates for key events and selected publications:
- 1938 February 12
- born Judy Sussman to Rudolph and Esther Sussman
- 1959 August 15
- marries John Blume
- 1960
- graduates from New York University with a B.S. degree in Education
- 1961
- birth of son Randy Lee
- 1963
- birth of son Andrew Lawrence
- 1969
- publication of The one in the middle is the green kangaroo
- 1970
- publication of Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, awarded Outstanding Book of the Year, New York Times
- 1971
- publication of Freckle juice
- publication of Then again, maybe I won't
- 1972
- publication of It's not the end of the world
- publication of Tales of a fourth grade nothing
- 1973
- publication of Deenie
- 1974
- publication of Blubber
- 1975
- publication of Forever
- divorces John Blume
- 1976
- marries Thomas A. Kitchens
- 1977
- publication of Starring Sally J. Freedman as herself
- 1978
- publication of Wifey
- divorces Thomas A. Kitchens
- 1980
- publication of Superfudge, awarded Children's Choice Book Award
- 1981
- publication of Tiger eyes
- founds KIDS Fund
- 1983
- publication of Smart women
- 1984
- publication of The pain and the great one
- 1986
- publication of Letters to Judy: What your kids wish they could tell you, awarded the Literary Lions award, New York Public Library
- 1987
- publication of Just as long as we're together
- marries George Cooper
- 1988
- publication of Summer sisters
- 1990
- publication of Fudge-a-mania
- 1993
- publication of Here's to you, Rachel Robinson
- 1996
- awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement, American Library Association
- 2002
- publication of Double Fudge
- 2004
- awarded medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, National Book Foundation
- 2015
- publication of In the unlikely event
Processing Information
This collection was processed to a preliminary level in 2018. Preliminary processing included rehousing and listing of material. Materials within boxes and folders have not been sorted.
Descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section of this finding aid is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the list below are based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian; folder titles transcribed from those provided by the creator or previous custodian are indicated by quotation marks. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Adolescence -- Fiction
- American literature -- 20th century
- American literature -- 21st century
- Authors -- United States -- 20th century
- Authors -- United States -- 21st century
- Authors, American -- 20th century -- Archives
- Authors, American -- 21st century -- Archives
- Born digital
- Children's literature, American
- Photographic prints
- Sound recordings
- Video recordings
- Young adult fiction, American
- Title
- Guide to the Judy Blume Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Beinecke staff
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
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.