Poetry

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.”

Abstract From the Series: Archival materials from author Miles Wilson dating 1965-2016. Material includes correspondence pertaining to the acquisition of the J. Frank Dobie papers by William Wittliff and the inception of the Southwest Writers Collection at Southwest Texas State University (Texas State University) San Marcos, Texas, as well as annotated drafts of early poetry and short prose; submissions to various poetry and short story anthologies; rejection slips and editor correspondence. The bulk of the material...

Contents From the Sub-subseries:

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

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series:

Individual handwritten and typed poems, and hand-bound books of poetry, comprise this subseries. Many of the individual poems are accompanied by drafts, some are single copies. Individual poems are arranged alphabetically, followed by books of poetry, also arranged alphabetically. See also Series 2 : Personal, Subseries C: Scrapbook, for early drafts of poetry.

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series: The House on Mango Street does not include any of the manuscript material from the 1984 Arte Público Press edition, but there is the original artwork for that book. And the series does include Cisneros’ original drafts from The University of Iowa. The bulk of the series relates to the 1990 Random House edition with proofs, and new introduction and “about the author” materials. Translations are also well represented, with a Spanish translation by Elena Poniatowska and Juan Ascencio, and a...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: This subseries very clearly shows Vliet’s process of writing from preliminary research through final product. It includes extensive background research files including files by subject containing clippings from newspapers and magazines, library call slips, color and black and white photographs, and handwritten notes. Following these research files are drafts of chapters handwritten in pencil, annotated typescripts, clean typescripts, and (minimal) correspondence. Perhaps most meticulously...

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...

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Europe Poems were originally housed together in one folder and date from Cisneros’ time abroad in Greece, 1982-1983. Some were later published in My Wicked Wicked Ways and Loose Woman. The poems are arranged alphabetically, with untitled poems and fragments at the end.

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

The bulk of the material for Loose Woman are the poems, arranged alphabetically. Many were originally housed in a folder titled “complete book.” Additional material includes proofs from Knopf, promotional displays, and Spanish translations by Paloma Zozaya and Marilar Aleixandre.

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...

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...

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:

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...

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: The subseries Causes documented Cisneros’ interest in civic and global issues. Included are letters she wrote to the editors of carious newspapers (1995-2013); materials relating to her appearance at the 1996 Democratic National Convention; peace proposals; and files relating to the San Antonio Public Library – and specifically, the need to include more Latino and Latina voices. Also included is a number of files relating to the war in Sarajevo in 1989 – a place that Cisneros visited in...

Sub-Series Description From the Sub-Series: Business correspondence relates to Vliet’s writing career, and covers such subjects as writing submissions, editing of works to be published, royalties for published works. Correspondents include various poetry and literary journals, Texas Institute of Letters, the Ford Foundation, and Vliet’s agent, Lucy Kroll, of the Lucy Kroll Agency. Two non-correspondence files were filed by the author with this business correspondence, and are located at the beginning of this group of...

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”...

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: Early poems span 1971-1986 and are arranged alphabetically. Many were originally housed in two black binders. The first binder contents are in folders 1-51 and were from Cisneros’ time at The University of Iowa. The second binder is in folder 53 and contains early poems, many later published in My Wicked Wicked Ways. Additional early poems not originally housed in one of the two binders are listed alphabetically and include high school poems. Also included are titles with numerous...