Finding Aid for the Terri de la Peña Papers 1985-1996 LSC.1960

Finding aid prepared by Stacy Wood; updated by Sabrina Ponce, 2017.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Online finding aid last updated 20 November 2017.


Title: Terri de la Peña papers
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1960
Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 7.5 linear feet (15 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1985-1996
Abstract: Terri de la Peña is a novelist, short story writer, and children's book author whose writings deal with complex issues of identity, homophobia, assimilation and resistance focusing on the lives of Chicana lesbians. This collection contains materials related to the creation, dissemination, publication and revision of both fictional and nonfictional works by Terri de la Peña. The bulk of the collection is comprised of drafts of her first novel, Margins, also considered to be the first Chicana lesbian novel. The collection also includes correspondence, contractual information, promotional materials, drafts and notes.
Language of Materials : Materials are in English, with some Spanish words and phrases interspersed in the records.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Creator: Peña, Terri de la , 1947

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Terri de la Pena papers, (Collection 1960). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of Terri de la Peña, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, and 2013.
This collection is part of an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives , the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) , and the UCLA Library .

Processing Note

Processed by Stacy Wood, 2011. Description enhanced and further physical processing completed by Sabrina Ponce in 2017.

Sponsor

The June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive  at UCLA is an outreach and collection-building partnership between the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives , the UCLA Center for the Study of Women (CSW) , and the UCLA Library . These collections expand the pool of primary source materials available to researchers and to the community at large. This partnership was initiated by CSW and is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to inventory, organize, preserve, and digitize more than eighty Mazer collections pertaining to lesbian and feminist activism and writings.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 6962949 

Biography

Mary Theresa de la Peña was born on February 20, 1947 in Santa Monica, California. She is a fifth-generation Californian. Her father, Joaquin de la Peña, was a tire repair foreman while her mother, Juanita Escobedo, owned a beauty shop. De la Peña was educated in Santa Monica parochial schools and at Santa Monica Community College. She is a self-taught writer. She wrote her first novel, Margins, while employed as an academic affairs assistant with the College of Letters and Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. The majority of her work is in short story form although she also wrote several novels; she was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction for her 1999 novel Faults. Her narratives revolve around the myriad cultural and social issues facing Chicana lesbians such as a search for identity, cultural assimilation, class consciousness, historical awareness, internal and external racism, homophobia, and visibility.

Chronology

1989 Finding Courage: Writings by women
1989 The Original Coming Out Stories
1990 Lesbian Bedtime Stories Two
1991 Blood Whispers: L.A. Writers on AIDS
1991 Margins
1992 A is for the Americas (Children's book co-written with Cynthia Chin-Lee and Enrique O. Sanchez)
1993 Happy Endings: Lesbian Writers Talk about their Lives and Work
1994 Out of the Class Closet: Lesbians Speak
1994 Latin Satins
1994 Chicana Blues
1994 Lavender Mansions: 40 Contemporary Lesbian and Gay Short Stories
1994 Another Wilderness: New Outdoor Writing by Women
1996 Night Bites: Vampire Stories by Women
1996 Lesbian Friendships: For Ourselves and Each Other
1996 Off the Rag: Lesbians Writing on Menopause
1999 Faults: A Novel
1999 Night Shade: Gothic Tales by Women
2002 At Home on This Earth: Two Centuries of U.S. Women's Nature Writing
2003 Tortilleras: Hispanic and U.S. Latina Lesbian Expression
2008 The Chicano/Latino Literary Prize: An Anthology of Prize-Winning Fiction, Poetry and Drama

Scope and Content

This collection contains materials related to the creation, dissemination, publication and revision of both fictional and nonfictional works by Terri de la Peña. The bulk of the collection is made up of drafts of her first novel, Margins, also considered to be the first Chicana lesbian novel. The collection also includes correspondence, contractual information, promotional materials, drafts and notes.

Organization and Arrangement

Materials arranged into the following series:
  • Series 1: Margins
  • Series 2: Latin Satins
  • Series 3: Other works
  • Series 4: Promotional materials and publications

Related Material

Subjects and Indexing Terms

June L. Mazer Lesbian Archive at UCLA.
June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives.
Peña, Terri de la , 1947 -- Archives
Mexican American lesbians--California, Southern--Archives.
Mexican American women authors--California, Southern--Archives.

 

Series 1: Margins 1988-1991

Scope and Content

Drafts of Terri de la Peña's novel Margins, some of which are annotated by reviewers.
Box 1, Folders 1-3

Through the Shadows 1988

Scope and Contents note

This folder contains an early draft of Margins titled Through the Shadows.
Box 1, Folders 4-6

Margins: First draft 1988

Box 2, Folders 1-3

Margins: Second draft 1988

Box 2, Folders 4-5

Margins: Second draft, annotated 1988

Box 2, Folder 6, Box 3, Folders 1-2

Margins: Third draft 1989

Box 3, Folders 3-5

Margins: Third draft, version 2 1989

Box 3, Folder 6, Box 4, Folders 1-2

Margins: Fourth draft 1990

Box 4, Folders 3-5

Margins: Fifth draft 1990

Box 4, Folders 6-7, Box 5, Folder 1

Margins: Fifth draft, annotated 1990

Box 5, Folders 2-4

Margins: Sixth draft 1990

Box 5, Folder 5-7

Margins: Sixth draft, version 2 1991

Box 6, Folders 1-3

Margins: Seventh draft 1991

Box 6, Folder 4

Margins: Seventh draft, revisions 1991

Box 6, Folders 5-7

Margins: Seventh draft, version 2 1991

Box 6, Folder 8

Margins: Synopsis 1991

 

Series 2: Latin Satins 1993

Scope and Content

Drafts of Terri de la Peña's novel Latin Satins.
Box 7, Folder 1, Box 6, Folder 9

Latin Satins: Second draft circa 1992

Box 7, Folders 2-5

Latin Satins: Third draft 1993

Box 7, Folders 6-7

Latin Satins: Third draft, version 2 1993

Box 8, Folders 1-2

Latin Satins: Fourth draft 1993

Box 8, Folders 3-7

Latin Satins: Fourth draft, version 2 1993

Box 8, Folders 8-9

Latin Satins: Fourth draft, version 3 circa 1993

 

Series 3: Other works 1987-1996

Scope and Content

Short stories and articles written by Terri de la Peña, some of which were later developed into novels.

Organization and Arrangement

Materials arranged in chronological order by publication date with the exception of "The Secret Admirer" and Lesbian News, which were placed at the end of the series.
Box 9, Folder 2

"Frankie" 1988-1991

Scope and Content

Correspondence with publishers concerning submissions for Blood Whispers, an anthology of Gay and Lesbian short stories edited by Terry Wolverton. The submitted story was called "Frankie" and it was part of a larger piece entitled "Vignettes."
Box 9, Folder 3

"Frankie" and "Patty" 1988-1989

Scope and Content

Submissions for Word of Mouth, an anthology of short stories written by women.
Box 9, Folder 4

"A Saturday in August" 1989

Scope and Content

Correspondence concerning Finding Courage, a collection of short stories written by women, assembled and edited by Irene Zahava. Terri de la Peña submitted " A Saturday in August".
Box 9, Folder 5

"La Maya" 1989

Scope and Content

Correspondence regarding readings, reviews, publishing details etc. for Intricate Passions, a multi-cultural collection of lesbian erotica, edited by Tee Corrinne. De la Peña's included story is entitled "La Maya".
Box 9, Folder 6

"Tres Mujeres" 1989

Scope and Content

Materials related to a submission for a special issue of Frontiers: a Journal of Women Studies entitled "Las Chicanas," focusing on the growth of Chicana studies and the experience of women of the Americas. Included are the call for submissions, several drafts with notes and edits and the final submitted version of "Tres Mujeres".
Box 9, Folder 7

"Tortilleras" 1988-1989

Scope and Content

Materials related to the publication of Lesbian Bedtime Stories, a collection of short stories focused on lesbian experiences and relationships released by Tough Dove Books. Includes several drafts of Terri de la Peña's piece "Tortilleras" (an excerpt from Margins) as well as the contributor's note and correspondence. This story was also published in the anthology Lesbian Culture edited by Julia Penelope.
Box 9, Folder 8

"Mariposa" 1989-1990

Scope and Content

Materials related to the publication of Lesbian Bedtime Stories 2, the follow-up to Lesbian Bedtime Stories. Includes several drafts of the story "Mariposa."
Box 9, Folder 9

"Mujeres Morenas" 1989-1991

Scope and Content

Materials related to the anthology Lesbian Love Stories Volume 2, including drafts and edits of de la Peña's submission "Mujeres Morenas."
Box 9, Folder 10

"Once a Friend" 1985-1989

Scope and Content

Materials related to the publication of the anthology The One You Call Sister: New Women's Fiction, focusing on short stories written by women about lesbians and their sisters. Included are several drafts of de la Peña's short story "Once a Friend" as well as correspondence and publication information.
Box 10, Folder 1

"Good-bye Ricky Ricardo; Hello Lesbianism" 1988-1989

Scope and Content

Materials related to the publication of the second edition of The Original Coming Out Stories edited by Susan Wolfe and Julia Penelope. Includes drafts and finals submissions for de la Peña's story "Good-bye Ricky Ricardo; Hello Lesbianism".
Box 10, Folder 2

"Out For Lunch" 1989

Scope and Content

Submission materials for the gay and lesbian quarterly Out/Look. "Out for Lunch" was submitted and rejected, but later published in the UCLA LGBT publication Ten Percent, now known as OutWrite News Magazine.
Box 10, Folder 3

"Bouquets" 1988-1991

Scope and Content

Correspondence and reviews for Silverleaf Press as well as drafts of the story "Bouquets," submitted to the Silverleaf Press' Anthology of Lesbian Humor, but later published in Matrix, a women's newsmagazine.
Box 10, Folder 3

"Palabras" 1989-1990

Scope and Content

Submission and editorial materials as well as correspondence on a special issue on friendship for the lesbian magazine Sinister Wisdom.
Box 10, Folder 4

"Beyond El Camino Real" 1989-1991

Scope and Content

Submission and publication materials for a special issue of Third Woman featuring Chicana lesbians. Includes drafts and notes for "Beyond El Camino Real" as well as correspondence and the original call for submissions. This story was subsequently submitted to, but not published in, the anthology Women on Women.
Box 10, Folder 5

"Catnap" 1990-1991

Scope and Content

Submission materials and edited versions of the story "Catnap" included in the anthology Cats (and their Dykes).
Box 10, Folder 6

"El Cuñado" 1990

Scope and Content

Editorial materials and drafts of "El Cuñado" for the De las Otras/De los Otros anthology and another anthology by the Seal Press, both of which were never published. Also includes a CV and an autobiographical piece titled "Testimonio."
Box 10, Folder 7

"Sequences" 1988-1990

Scope and Content

Submission and publication materials including drafts and correspondence for the anthology Finding the Lesbians, edited by Julia Penelope.
Box 10, Folder 8

"Somewhere to Turn: Virginia Uribe and Project 10" 1990

Scope and Content

Submission and publication materials for Lesbian Teachers Anthology proposed by Irene Reti, editor of Cats (and their Dykes), that was never published.
Box 10, Folder 9

"Desert Quartet" 1990

Scope and Content

Drafts of "Desert Quartet," a series of stories dedicated to de la Peña's lover Gloria for inclusion in Word of Mouth: Short-Short Writings By Women. Also included is correspondence with Irene Zahava, the editor of the anthology as well as notes for the stories.
Box 10, Folder 10

"Finding Out the Secrets: Eva Ayala -- A Mexican Lesbian in the U.S.A." 1991

Scope and Content

Correspondence and drafts of a story for an ultimately unpublished anthology on lesbian immigrants which would have included fictional and nonfictional works. "Finding out the Secrets" was ultimately published in Sinister Wisdom and was based on an oral herstory interview with Eva Ayala, a lesbian Mexican immigrant who was a bus driver for the City of Santa Monica at the time of the interview.
Box 10, Folder 11

"Blue" 1989-1991

Scope and Content

Drafts of the story "Blue," initially submitted to Conditions magazine, but ultimately included in the anthology Riding Desire. Correspondence with editors is also included.
Box 11, Folder 1

"Nullipara, 44" 1991-1992

Scope and Content

Includes correspondence with Irene Reti, editor of the collection Childless by Choice: A Multicultural Feminist Anthology for which this story was submitted.
Box 11, Folder 2

"Chicana, Workingclass and Proud: The Case of the Lopsided Tortilla" 1991-1993

Scope and Content

Drafts of the essay "Chicana, Workingclass and Proud: The Case of the Lopsided Tortilla," which was included in the anthology Out of the Class Closet: Lesbians Speak edited by Julia Penelope about class issues within and without the lesbian community. Correspondence with the editor is also included as well as drafts of another piece titled "Testimonio de una Chicana Lesbiana: From Working Class to Working in Class," "Remarks for the Writer's Responsibilities: Gender, Race, and Class in Lesbian and Gay Fiction," and other pieces.
Box 11, Folder 3

Lesbian Culture: An Anthology 1993

Scope and Content

Solicitation from Dena Taylor from The Crossing Press for feedback on Lesbian Culture: An Anthology along with a pre publication copy of the collection for review.
Box 11, Folder 4

"Pajaritos" 1993-1994

Scope and Content

Drafts of the story "Pajaritos," published in Frontiers and in the Seal Press' Another Wilderness.
Box 11, Folder 5

"At Home" 1994

Scope and Content

"At Home" would have been included in the collection Dyke Life: From Growing Up to Growing Old -- A Celebration of the Lesbian Experience.
Box 11, Folder 6

"Fiction into Fact" 1993-1995

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with the editors, Rich Rasi and Lourdes Rodriguez-Nogues, about their collection Out in the Workplace, Telling Our Stories.
Box 11, Folder 7

"Refugio" 1996

Scope and Contents note

Receipts, notes, drafts relating to the story "Refugio" to be included in the collection Night Bites, edited by Victoria Brownworth and published by Seal Press.
Box 11, Folder 8

"The Secret Admirer" circa 1989-1994

Scope and Contents note

Drafts of "The Secret Admirer" alternately titled "Bloody Sunday," which would eventually become Latin Satins. Also includes correspondence about submissions and reviews.
Box 12, Folder 1

Lesbian News 1987-1991

Scope and Contents note

Reviews, articles and correspondence written for Lesbian News. Includes materials from when de la Peña was officially on staff and when she was freelance.
 

Series 4: Promotional materials and publications 1988-1996

Scope and Content

Includes correspondence, promotional materials, and publications by companies who published or promoted Terri de la Peña's work like Tough Dove Books and Cleis Press.

Organization and Arrangement

Materials arranged by publishing house or publication, listed in approximate chronological order.
Box 12, Folder 2

Correspondence, programming, and publication materials 1988-1996

Box 12, Folder 3

Lesbian and Gay Latina/o Anthology 1990

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence materials from the unpublished Lesbian and Gay Latina/o Anthology.
Box 12, Folder 4

Contemporary Lesbian Writers of the United States 1991-1994

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence concerning the publication of Contemporary Lesbian Writers of the United States edited by Sandra Pollack and Denise Knight with an introduction by Tucker Pamella Farley, in which de la Peña was featured.
Box 12, Folder 5

Tough Dove Books 1989-1991

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with publisher about advance copies, payment and editions as well as photocopied versions of stories in Tough Dove Books anthologies and collections.
Box 12, Folder 6

A Different Light's "Lesbian Writers Series" 1991-1993

Scope and Contents note

Information regarding the longstanding "Lesbian Writers Series" talk in the gay and lesbian bookstore A Different Light. Included are logistical information, promotional materials, contact information and guidelines.
Box 12, Folder 7

Hurricane Alice: A Feminist Quarterly 1991-1993

Scope and Contents note

Correspondence with editors and copies of the spring, summer and winter of 1991 issues of the Hurricane Alice Feminist Quarterly.
Box 12, Folder 8

We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? 1994

Scope and Contents note

Galley for the collection We Came All the Way from Cuba So You Could Dress Like This? by Achy Obejas.
Box 12, Folder 9

"I Know You Know" t-shirt undated

Scope and Contents note

T shirt with the words "I Know You Know".