Finding Aid for the Nikki Darling Papers 1983-2013
Processed by Angel Diaz.
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
144 Haines Hall
Box 951544
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1544
Phone: (310) 206-6052
Fax: (310) 206-1784
URL: http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/
©2015
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Nikki Darling Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1983-2013
Collection number: 148
Creator: Darling, Nikki
Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: Nikki Darling is a Los Angeles writer, whose cultural criticism and essays appear regularly or have appeared in the Los Angeles
Times, LA Weekly, Art Book Review, Tomorrow Magazine and Public Books. As well, she is a columnist at KCET, Artbound. Darling
is a candidate in the Creative Writing/Literature PHD program at USC. This collection includes greeting cards, letters, and
notes from Darling's family and friends, as well as photographs of Darling and friends throughout her childhood and into her
college years attending Eugene Lang College, the New School for Liberal Arts in New York City. Personal journals with regular
diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral materials. The collection is also made up of school
work, transcripts and informational material from middle school through post-graduate studies. Other creative work includes
poetry and art work.
Physical location: COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Chicano Studies
Research Center Library for paging information.
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Chicano Studies
Research Center Library for paging information.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. All requests for permission to publish must be
submitted in writing to the Chicano Studies Research Center Library and Archive. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
from the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Nikki Darling Papers, 148, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated to the Chicano Studies Research Center by Nikki Darling in 2013.
Processing History
Processed by Angel Diaz, December 2013-January 2014
Processed by Angel Diaz, December 2013-January 2014.
Biography
Nikki Darling is a third generation Angelino on her father's side and Neomexicano on her mother's. From South Pasadena, she
was born June 6, 1980 and attended various schools in the area including Holy Family School, Ramona Convent, and the Los Angeles
County High School for the Arts. Darling graduated high school in 1999.
Darling attended Euguene Lang College, the New School for Liberal Arts in New York, majoring in writing and earning her Bachelor
of Arts in 2006. She earned a Masters of Fine Art in Critical Studies from the California Institute of the Arts in 2010. She
is a candidate in the Creative Writing/Literature PHD program at USC.
Nikki Darling's music criticism and essays appear regularly or have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly, Art Book
Review, Tomorrow Magazine and Public Books. As well, she is a columnist at KCET, Artbound. Her essay "Appropriate For Destruction"
was included in Best Music Writing 2010. She is finishing her first novel, Fade Into You, a memoir of mixed race identity
in the San Gabriel Valley during the 90's.
Scope and Content
This collection includes greeting cards, letters, and notes from Darling's family and friends, as well as photographs of Darling
and friends throughout her childhood and into her college years attending Eugene Lang College, the New School for Liberal
Arts in New York City. Personal journals with regular diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral
materials. The collection is also made up of school work, transcripts and informational material from middle school through
post-graduate studies. Other creative work includes poetry and art work.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Correspondence, Writings, and Other Materials, 1983-2013. 1 linear foot
- Series 2. Journals, 1992-2009. 1.5 linear feet
- Series 3. Photographs, 1989-2013. 1 linear foot
- Series 4. Albums, Books, and Personal Materials, 1983-2013. 1 linear foot
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
American poetry--California--Los Angeles.
Mexican American women.
Music--Instruction and study.
Short stories, American.
Series 1.
Correspondence, Writings, and Other Materials
1983-2013
Physical Description: 1 linear foot
Scope and Content Note
Includes greeting cards, letters, and notes from Darling's family and friends. Also includes school work, transcripts and
informational material from middle school through post-graduate studies. Other creative work includes poetry and art work.
Arrangement
Arranged by material type and date.
Box 1, Folder 1
Letters from Frederick "Bud" Darling Jr.
1983-1996
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Letters from father, Frederick Roy "Bud" Darling Jr.
Box 1, Folder 2
Letters from Grandparents
1992-2008
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Greeting cards and letters from grandparents, Maria Santos Rodriguez, Laurence "Juan" Valdez, and Frederick Roy Darling Sr.
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence with Stephanie Hernandez
circa 1993-1994
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence with Amanda "Nandi" Cavalli
circa 1993-2000
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Nandi Cavalli was Darling's childhood best friend.
Box 1, Folder 5
Letters from Andrea Sematoske
1994
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 6
Letters from Nina Siggins
1994
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, photographs
Box 1, Folder 7
Letters from mother, Nancy Gloria Darling
circa 1994-2007
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 8
Letters from Katie Ziemann
1994-1995
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 9
Assorted correspondence with various friends
1994-1995
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 10
Greeting cards for middle school graduation
1995 June
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 11
Notes from friends
circa 1995-1999
Physical Description: handwritten letters
Scope and Content Note
Notes from friends on scraps of paper.
Box 1, Folder 12
Assorted letters
1996-1997
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 13
Letters from A. Kinsey
1996 February 14-2004 November 08
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 14
Correspondence with various friends
1998-2000
Physical Description: Handwritten letters, printed material
Box 1, Folder 15
Essay on Tennessee Williams
1992 January 17
Physical Description: Manuscript
Scope and Content Note
Essay on Tennessee Williams for English 10 high school class.
Box 1, Folder 16
Holy Family School Yearbook
1994
Physical Description: printed material
Box 1, Folder 17
Holy Family School elementary diploma and graduation program
1995 June
Physical Description: printed material
Box 1, Folder 18
Cards, stickers, and ephemera
circa 1995-2000
Physical Description: printed material
Box 1, Folder 19
Ticket stubs
1993-1999
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Ticket stubs for various concerts and plays.
Box 1, Folder 20
Drawings
circa 1995-2000
Physical Description: Hand drawn, printed material
Box 1, Folder 21
Songwriting and poetry
circa 1995-2000
Physical Description: Manuscript
Box 1, Folder 22
Creative work
circa 1995-2000
Physical Description: Manuscript
Scope and Content Note
Poetry and short stories.
Box 1, Folder 23
I Do Not Have Penis Breath zine
1996
Physical Description: Leaflets
Scope and Content Note
Poetry and short stories.
Box 1, Folder 24
School work
1996-1997
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Work done at LACSA.
Box 1, Folder 25
Miscellaneous documents
19997-2013
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Includes college transcripts, receipts, and brochures
Box 1, Folder 26
Creative writing
circa 1999
Physical Description: Manuscript
Scope and Content Note
Handwritten creative work on note cards.
Box 1, Folder 27
Fade Into You
2013 March
Physical Description: Manuscript
Scope and Content Note
A memoir of mixed race identity in the San Gabriel Valley during the 1990's.
Box 1, Folder 36
Rockbeat Magazine
1989 May
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Volume 4, number 4
Box 1, Folder 37
Axl Rose magazine cutout
circa 1989-1996
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Portrait from magazine.
Box 1, Folder 38
Magazine clippings
circa 1996-1997
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Includes Seventeen Magazine (April 1997), featuring Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 1, Folder 39
Glue Magazine
1998 September/October
Physical Description: printed material
Box 1, Folder 40
Spin Magazine
1999 July
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Volume 15, number 7
Box 1, Folder 41
Glue Magazine
1999 July/August
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Volume 1, number 6
Box 1, Folder 42
Vice Magazine
2001 January
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Volume 8, number 6
Box 1, Folder 43
Check It Out
2002 February
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Skateboarding magazine for girls.
Box 1, Folder 44
Mental Health and Rehabilitation materials
circa 2005-2006
Physical Description: printed material, paper
Scope and Content Note
Includes materials from Caron Fellowship and Center for Self Development.
Series 2.
Journals
1992-2009
Physical Description: 1.5 linear feet
Scope and Content Note
Personal journals with regular diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral materials. Loose materials
were removed and placed into labeled folders in Box 1.
Arrangement
Arranged by date.
Box 1, Folder 28
Loose materials from journal
1999
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 4.
Box 1, Folder 29
Loose materials from journal
2001 November 23-2003 January 01
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 5.
Box 1, Folder 30
Loose materials from journal
2003 September 01-2003 December 18
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 5.
Box 1, Folder 31
Loose materials from journal
2004 July 05-2004 September 22
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 5.
Box 1, Folder 32
Loose materials from journal
2004 September 25-2005 February 27
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 5.
Box 1, Folder 33
Loose materials from journal
2005 March 05-2005 June 27
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 5.
Box 1, Folder 34
Loose materials from journal
2005 July 14-2006 January 03
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 6.
Box 1, Folder 35
Loose materials from journal
2007 May 31-2009 May 07
Physical Description: Handwritten, printed material
Scope and Content Note
Notes and papers removed from journal in Box 6.
Box 4, Folder 1-12
Journals
1992 September-2001 January
Physical Description: 12 journals
Scope and Content Note
Personal journals with regular diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral materials. Loose materials
were removed and placed into labeled folders in Box 1.
Box 5, Folder 1-11
Journals
2000 January-2005 June
Physical Description: 11 journals
Scope and Content Note
Personal journals with regular diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral materials. Loose materials
were removed and placed into labeled folders in Box 1.
Box 6, Folder 1-6
Journals and Scrapbook
2005 July-2009 May
Physical Description: 5 journals and 1 scrapbook
Scope and Content Note
Personal journals with regular diary entries, creative written work, photographs, and other ephemeral materials. Loose materials
were removed and placed into labeled folders in Box 1.
Series 3.
Photographs
1989-2013
Physical Description: 1 linear foot
Arrangement
Arranged by date.
Box 2, Folder 1
Photographs
1989-1993
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of Nikki Darling with friends, family, and classmates. Includes trips to Disneyland and the Grand Canyon.
Box 2, Folder 2
Photographs
circa 1990s
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of cats (Pepper, Spanky, and Nekosan).
Box 2, Folder 3
Photographs
1992
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Souvenir "Cosmopolitan Cover" photograph of Darling, with note, "Nandi and I were together when these pictures were taken
at Universal Studios Hollywood 1992."
Box 2, Folder 4
Disneyland Photographs
1994, 1997, 2001
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of three different trips to Disneyland.
Box 2, Folder 5
Photographs
1995 June
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Middle school graduation, including photo of Nikki's mom and uncle.
Box 2, Folder 6
Photographs
1995-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of friends and classmates, mainly classmates from Darling's freshman year at Ramona Convent Secondary School (1995-1996).
Box 2, Folder 7
Photographs
1995-1997
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, as well as Darling's bedroom.
Box 2, Folder 8
Photographs
1995-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 2, Folder 9
Photographs
1995-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 2, Folder 10
Photographs
1995-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 2, Folder 11
Photographs
1995-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 2, Folder 12
Photographs
1996
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs taken of Darling with friend in her bedroom.
Box 2, Folder 13
Photographs
1996
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos from trip Darling and friend, Nandi Cavalli, took to Tijuana and Rosarito.
Box 2, Folder 14
Photographs
circa 1996
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Assorted photographs of Darling's home, friends, and classmates.
Box 2, Folder 15
Photographs
circa 1996-1997
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 2, Folder 16
Photographs
1996-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, with negatives.
Box 2, Folder 17
Portraits and correspondence
1996-2001
Physical Description: photographs and printed material
Scope and Content Note
Potraits of Darling and friends, headshots of Darling, and letters from her dad.
Box 2, Folder 18
Photographs
1997 December
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Christmas photos of Darling with sister and cousin.
Box 2, Folder 19
Photographs
1998-1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of high school classmates and friends at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts during Darling's senior year,
as well photos taken in her bedroom.
Box 2, Folder 20
Portraits
1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Portraits from senior year Winter Formal dance.
Box 2, Folder 21
Photographs
1999 May 30
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs taken with friends from senior year Prom.
Box 2, Folder 22
Photographs
1999 June
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of Darling with family and friends at LACSA high school graduation.
Box 2, Folder 23
Photographs
1999 June-July
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos with friends and family at home.
Box 2, Folder 24
Photographs
1999 July
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Trip to Washington D.C. and New York City taken with friend, "Nandi" Cavalli. Trip was a high school graduation gift from
parents, and occured the same week that John F. Kennedy Jr. died. Includes photos of the JFK memorial.
Box 2, Folder 25
Photographs
1999
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of friends before and at formal dance, with negatives.
Box 2, Folder 26
Portraits
2000
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Headshots of Nikki Darling.
Box 2, Folder 27
Photographs
2000
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of Darling and friends throughout the year after high school, including a trip to San Francisco.
Box 2, Folder 28
Photographs
2001
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of Darling and friends in costume.
Box 2, Folder 29
Photographs
2001
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos with friends at Fiesta Roller Rink in San Gabriel, CA.
Box 2, Folder 30
Photographs
2001
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos with mother at Thanksgiving.
Box 2, Folder 31
Photographs
2002
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos with friends.
Box 2, Folder 32
Photographs
2002
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos with friends.
Box 2, Folder 33
Photographs
2003
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos of first year living in New York City and attending Eugene Lang College, the New School for Liberal Arts.
Box 2, Folder 34
Photographs
circa 2003 December
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Photos from a party and Darling's bedroom in apartment in Brooklyn, NY.
Box 2, Folder 35
Assorted negatives
circa 1990s
Physical Description: photographic negatives
Box 2, Folder 36
Assorted negatives
circa 1990s
Physical Description: photographic negatives
Series 4.
Albums, Books, and Personal Materials
1983-2013
Physical Description: 1 linear foot
Box 3, Folder 1
Oversize portraits of Nikki Darling
Physical Description: photographs
Box 3, Folder 2
Folders
undated
Physical Description: 2 printed folders
Scope and Content Note
Two empty folders.
Box 3, Folder 3
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts 1997 Yearbook
1997
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Darling's sophomore yearbook. Includes personal notes and signatures from classmates.
Box 3, Folder 4
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts 1998 Yearbook
1998
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Darling's junior yearbook. Includes personal notes and signatures from classmates.
Box 3, Folder 5
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts 1999 Yearbook
1999
Physical Description: printed material
Scope and Content Note
Darling's senior yearbook. Includes personal notes and signatures from classmates.
Box 3, Folder 6
High school graduation regalia
1999
Physical Description: robe, cap, cords, and certificate
Scope and Content Note
1999 graduation from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
Box 3, Folder 7
The Ugly Princess by Nancy Luenn
1981
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 8
Pussy Willow by Margaret Wise Brown
1979
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 9
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
1978
Physical Description: printed book
Scope and Content Note
Pictures by Maurice Sendak
Box 3, Folder 10
The Wand by Allan W. Eckert
1985
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 11
Walt Disney's Mary Poppins
Circa 1980-1990
Physical Description: VHS tape
Box 3, Folder 12
The Never-Ending Story
1986
Physical Description: VHS tape
Box 3, Folder 13
The Twits by Roald Dahl
1980
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 14
The Witches by Roald Dahl
1983
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 15
Courtney Love: Queen of Noise
1996
Physical Description: printed book
Box 3, Folder 16
Decorated shoebox
Circa 1992-2000
Physical Description: Mixed materials
Scope and Content Note
Decorated shoebox for letters and notes. Letters and notes have been removed and are located in Box 1.
Box 3, Folder 17
Memorabilia items
Circa 1980-1996
Physical Description: Mixed materials
Scope and Content Note
Includes lanyard, spool of thread, candle, markers, watercolor paints, small stuffed dinosaur, photograph viewfinder from
Six Flags Magic Mountain, and book plates.
Box 7, Folder 1
Photo album
circa 1990s
Physical Description: photographs and printed material
Scope and Content Note
Photo album was given to Darling from maternal grandmother, Maria Santos Rodriguez, and completed by Darling. Includes photos
of young Darling, family, friends, as well as letters, postcards, and other materials from school.
Box 7, Folder 2
Sketchbook
circa 1990-1995
Physical Description: paper
Box 7, Folder 3
Photo album
circa 1989-1994
Physical Description: photographs
Scope and Content Note
Gift of grandmother, Maria Santos Rodriguez. Photograph and note on first page, the rest is blank.