Poetry

Scope and Contents

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum – Emergency Tacos Reading. (11 photographs)

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:

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.

Sub-Series Description

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

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: 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:

Family Papers is divided into five subseries: Elvira Cisneros (mother); Alfredo Cisneros (father); genealogy; oversized family documents; and brothers and their families.

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:

Publicity Material spans 1978-2014 and is divided into the following subseries: Cisneros Cover Stories; Magazines with Articles about Cisneros; Newspaper and Other Articles; Appearance Publicity; Oversized; and Book Publisher Catalogs.

Correspondents

Erickson, Charlie, 1997, 2002, undated; [Enry], Nayi (Turkish writer), 1985; Escamilla, Romelia, 2000; Escobar, Felicia (Yale College), 1996; Esggate, Sara, 1985; Esperanza Center, 2008, undated; Espinoza, Alex, 2003-2005, 2013; Ester, Ana, undated; Estrada, Ted, 1999; Eugenia, Maria, 2002; Evans, Juane (Lannan Foundation), 2003; Evans, Joni (Turtle Bay Books), 1991, undated; Evashevski, Kassie (Brillstein-Grey Management), undated

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.

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.

Series Description From the Series:

These writings about Cisneros are arranged chronologically from 1981-2012 and include academic articles, interviews, and writer’s biographies. Undated writings about Cisneros are housed in box 89 and are arranged alphabetically by author. Newspaper articles and publicity writings about Cisneros can be found in Series XIX: Publicity.

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.

Series Description From the Series:

Cisneros’ nonfiction writings are arranged alphabetically and include speeches, editorials, and essays. Many were eventually published in anthologies or magazines. In cases when the date and location of a speech is known, that information is included in the listing. This series also contains interviews Cisneros conducted with other writers while working at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (box 41).

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:

Cisneros’ nonfiction writings are arranged alphabetically and include speeches, editorials, and essays. Many were eventually published in anthologies or magazines. In cases when the date and location of a speech is known, that information is included in the listing. This series also contains interviews Cisneros conducted with other writers while working at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (box 41).

Subseries Description From the Sub-Series:

Cisneros’ 2015 book of essays, A House of My Own appears to have originally been titled “Writing in My Pajamas.” There are no final drafts of the book since the archive was acquired before its publication, but the material does provide evidence of her early essay selections. Many of the essays were previously published, and some overlap with series VII: Writings – Nonfiction.