Samuel R. Delany, Jr. ("Chip") Correspondence and Portrait
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Abstract
Samuel R. Delany, Jr., "Chip," (1942- ) is an African American author, professor, and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. In the 1970s, his work increasingly included sexual themes and content concerning gender dynamics. Following the release and acclaim of Dhalgren in 1975, Delany focused much of his work on science fiction and literary criticism. Since 1988, he has held professorships at numerous colleges and universities until his retirement in 2015. In addition to his novels, short stories, and other critical works, Delany has published several autobiographical or semi-autobiographical accounts of his life as a black, gay writer, including his Hugo award winning autobiography, The Motion of Light in Water. This collection consists of photocopies of letters from Delany to various correspondents, including Robert S. Bravard and Joanna Russ, in 1983 and 1984. Topics covered in the letters include daily life in New York City, childhood memories, literary criticism, HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, science fiction as a literary genre, and science fiction conventions. A portrait of Delaney is also included.
Biographical / Historical
Samuel R. Delany, Jr., "Chip," (1942- ) is an award-winning African American writer, editor, professor, and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, literary criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. Raised in Harlem, he attended the Dalton School, the Bronx High School of Science, and the City College of New York. He published his first novel, The Jewels of Aptor, in 1962 at the age of 20. In the 1970s, his work increasingly included sexual themes and content concerning gender dynamics. Following the release and acclaim of Dhalgren in 1975, Delany focused much of his work on science fiction and literary criticism. Since 1988, he has held professorships at numerous colleges and universities until his retirement in 2015. In addition to his novels, short stories, and other critical works, Delany has published several autobiographical or semi-autobiographical accounts of his life as a black, gay writer, including his Hugo award winning autobiography, The Motion of Light in Water. He has published over 40 works.
Sources:
"Samuel R. Delany," The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (December 11, 2012)
Mary Wainwright, "Samuel R. Delany, Jr., 1942-," Contemporary Black Biography, Encyclopedia.com (1995)
Arrangement
This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. The materials are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of photocopies of outgoing letters from Samuel "Chip" Delany to various correspondents, including Robert S. Bravard and Joanna Russ, in 1983 and 1984. Topics covered in the letters include daily life in New York City, childhood memories, literary criticism, HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, science fiction as a literary genre, and science fiction conventions.
An undated portrait of Delaney is also included.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Samuel R. Delany, Jr. ("Chip") Correspondence and Portrait; MSS 462; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
There is no documentation concerning the provenance of this collection, although it was likely donated by Chip Delany in 2015. The accession number associated with this gift is 2016.048.
About this Guide
Processing Information
At the time of accessioning, materials were described on the collection-level but no other arrangement, description, or physical interventions have taken place.