Scope and Contents
The Caryl Phillips Papers consists of correspondence, writings, research files, business papers, computer disks, audio recordings, and printed material created and accumulated by Caryl Phillips from circa 1979 until 2006. Writings include drafts (autograph manuscripts, typescripts, printouts, and computer files) and other material related to all of his major works during this time period, including the plays Strange Fruit (1981), Where There is Darkness (1982), The Shelter (1984), and the novels The Final Passage (1985), A State of Independence (1986), Higher Ground (1989), Cambridge (1991), Crossing the River (1993), The Nature of Blood (1997), A Distant Shore (2003), and Dancing in the Dark (2005). Writings also include drafts and other material related to articles, lectures, and reviews. Correspondence is chiefly professional in nature, and relates to writings, publishing, and other professional activities.
Dates
- 1940 - 2015
- Majority of material found within 1979 - 2015
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Boxes 35-36 and 75-77: Restricted until 2050. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Boxes 17 and 72 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Boxes 37, 74, and 116 (computer disks): Restricted fragile material. Access copies of digital files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Existence and Location of Copies
Copies of electronic files are available through Access Services.
Conditions Governing Use
The Caryl Phillips 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 William Reese Co. on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 2000-2006.
February 2016 Acquisiton: purchased from Caryl Phillips on the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection Fund, 2016.
Arrangement
Organized into three groupings: February 2000 Acquisition, September 2006 Acquisition, and February 2016 Acquisition.
Material within this collection has been organized by acquisition reflecting the fact that the collection has been acquired in increments over time. Researchers should note that material within each acquisition overlaps with or relates to material found in other acquisitions (e.g. correspondence and writings can be found in both groupings). In order to locate all relevant material within this collection, researchers should consult each acquisition described in the Collection Contents section.
Researchers should also note that similar material can be arranged differently in each acquisition, depending on how the material was organized when it was received by the library.
Extent
94.51 Linear Feet ((114 boxes) + 2 rolls)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The Caryl Phillips Papers consists of correspondence, writings, research files, business papers, computer disks, audio recordings and printed material created and accumulated by Caryl Phillips from circa 1979 until 2006, including some research material with earlier dates. Writings include drafts (autograph manuscripts, typescripts, printouts, and computer files) and other material related to all of his major works during this time period, including the plays Strange Fruit (1981), Where There is Darkness (1982), and The Shelter (1984), and the novels The Final Passage (1985), A State of Independence (1986), Higher Ground (1989), Cambridge (1991), Crossing the River (1993), The Nature of Blood (1997), A Distant Shore (2003), and Dancing in the Dark (2005). Writings also include drafts and other material related to articles, lectures, and reviews. Correspondence is chiefly professional in nature, and relates to writings, publishing, and other professional activities.
Caryl Phillips (1958-)
Caryl Phillips, born in 1958 in St. Kitts, is a British playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He is a Professor of English at Yale University.
Processing Information
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and in some instances 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, titled according to month and year of acquisition.
As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part 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 and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call numbers: Uncat MSS 15, Uncat MSS 895
- Audiotapes
- Audiovisual materials
- Authors, English -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Authors, English -- 21st century -- Archives
- Born digital
- Commonwealth literature (English)
- Dramatists
- Dramatists, English
- Electronic documents
- Novelists
- Novelists, English
- Phillips, Caryl
- Screenwriters
- Screenwriters
- West Indian literature (English)
- Title
- Guide to the Caryl Phillips Papers
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- 2007-05-16
- 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.