American literature -- Mexican American authors

Scope and Contents

(28 photographs)

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series: The largest subseries in Monographs is material relating to the writing and publication of Caramelo. Research, notes, chapter drafts, and book drafts document Cisneros’ writing process. Research files and notes provide evidence of the depth of research that went into the book, loosely based on her own family history. Included among the topics are immigration, Mexico, San Antonio, music, and war. Notes includes story development “road maps,” outlines, and files that Cisneros created on topics...

Correspondents Jackson, Josh, 1994; Jacobs, Wallace, 1997; Jacobsen, Rhuannon C. (American Immigration Law Foundation), 2003; James, Kim, 1992; Jarquin, Ana, 2010; Jenkins, John (University of Notre Dame), 2006; Jennings, Rachel, 2008; Jensen, Cindy, 2005; Jentsch, Carol (The Art Institute of Chicago), 1993; Jesurun, John, 1998; Jimenez, Francisco, 2000; Jimenez, Luis (Lisa Sette Gallery), 1990; Jochon, [Joe], 1993; Johnson, Cecilia, undated; Johnson, Jenna (Harcourt), 2006;...

Series Description From the Series: Reader Correspondence, 1990-2013, is arranged chronologically. Each year is separated into letters from individuals and letters from classes. The individual letters are typical fan letters and document the effect her writing has had on her readers. The class letters are often packets sent by teachers containing letters from students who have read her works in class, and sometimes thank-you letters from students whose class Cisneros visited. When known, the school name is included in the...

Scope and Contents

(12 photographs)

Series Description From the Series: Notebooks and Journals span 1979-2012 and often overlap with the items in series III: Diaries. They include notes, story ideas, lists, addresses, and a number of other jottings by Cisneros. Some notable entries include notes and quotes concerning what poetry is while she was working as a counselor at Loyola University in Chicago in 1981; drafts and notes for poems and for The House on Mango Street in 1982; a list of stories for Mango Street in 1983; and notes from 1987 which Cisneros titled”...

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Later Poems span 1985-2014 and did not come in any original order. They are arranged alphabetically. Most poems are single drafts, but or insight into Cisneros’ revision process, there are eight progressive drafts of the 1995 poem “Morning After Tango.”

Scope and Contents

Subjects include Jasna Karaula (6 photographs)

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Portraits are formal, posed photographs of Cisneros, and are arranged chronologically. Photographers include her brother, Henry (Kiki) Cisneros, Joan Frederick, Alexandro Galindo, Ruben Guzman, Armando Rascón, Al Rendon, and Diana Solís, among others. Also included are a number of portraits of Cisneros with others, notably with her mother in 1998, and Gertrude Baker, Ruben Guzman, Denise Chavez, Jasna Karaula, and Emma Tenayuca.

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series: The largest subseries in Monographs is material relating to the writing and publication of Caramelo. Research, notes, chapter drafts, and book drafts document Cisneros’ writing process. Research files and notes provide evidence of the depth of research that went into the book, loosely based on her own family history. Included among the topics are immigration, Mexico, San Antonio, music, and war. Notes includes story development “road maps,” outlines, and files that Cisneros created on topics...

Contents From the Sub-subseries:

Materials between Cisneros and agent Susan Bergholz relating to Caramelo includes correspondence and shared drafts and fragments.

Series Description From the Series:

Writings by others span 1985-2014 and contain works by contemporaries and friends of Cisneros, as well as writings sent to her either by an author or publisher. Of note are works by: Norma Alarcón; Julia Alvarez; Daniel Arreola; Tony Beckwith; Ruth Behar; Norma Cantú; Denise Chávez; Joan Frederick; Pat LittleDog; Levi Romero; Jim Sagel; Liliana Valenzuela; and Reggie Young.

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Family Photographs span 1894-2013 and are divided into paternal and maternal family members, photographs of Cisneros’ mother and father, various family members, and pets. There are many other family photographs in the snapshots sub-series, particularly the early years beginning in box 171.

Series Description From the Series: The extensive correspondence files span 1980-2013 and are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Every correspondent is included in the container list, and when known, organizational affiliations are listed in parenthesis. Individuals with a significant quantity of letters include: Jeffrey Abrahams; Norma Alarcón; Dorothy Allison; Julia Alvarez; Beatrix Badikian; Gertrude Baker; Ruth Behar; Ronnie Burke; Norma Cantu; Ana Castillo; Denise Chávez; Carlos Cumpián; Ted Dvoracek; Gayle...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

Employment Records span 1982-2000 and include Vitas, professional biographies, and employment correspondence

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Professional Appointments represent a bulk of the series and documents numerous teaching positions Cisneros held from 1978-1993. Positions include those at Latino Youth Alternative High School, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Texas Lutheran University, California State University-Chico, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Irvine, University of Michigan, and University of New Mexico. Of note are various syllabi and readings Cisneros used for teaching. For example, at...

Series Description From the Series: Reader Correspondence, 1990-2013, is arranged chronologically. Each year is separated into letters from individuals and letters from classes. The individual letters are typical fan letters and document the effect her writing has had on her readers. The class letters are often packets sent by teachers containing letters from students who have read her works in class, and sometimes thank-you letters from students whose class Cisneros visited. When known, the school name is included in the...

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Portraits are formal, posed photographs of Cisneros, and are arranged chronologically. Photographers include her brother, Henry (Kiki) Cisneros, Joan Frederick, Alexandro Galindo, Ruben Guzman, Armando Rascón, Al Rendon, and Diana Solís, among others. Also included are a number of portraits of Cisneros with others, notably with her mother in 1998, and Gertrude Baker, Ruben Guzman, Denise Chavez, Jasna Karaula, and Emma Tenayuca.

Series Description From the Series: Reader Correspondence, 1990-2013, is arranged chronologically. Each year is separated into letters from individuals and letters from classes. The individual letters are typical fan letters and document the effect her writing has had on her readers. The class letters are often packets sent by teachers containing letters from students who have read her works in class, and sometimes thank-you letters from students whose class Cisneros visited. When known, the school name is included in the...

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Portraits are formal, posed photographs of Cisneros, and are arranged chronologically. Photographers include her brother, Henry (Kiki) Cisneros, Joan Frederick, Alexandro Galindo, Ruben Guzman, Armando Rascón, Al Rendon, and Diana Solís, among others. Also included are a number of portraits of Cisneros with others, notably with her mother in 1998, and Gertrude Baker, Ruben Guzman, Denise Chavez, Jasna Karaula, and Emma Tenayuca.