Kingston (Maxine Hong) Papers, approximately 1950-2015

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Summary

Title:
Maxine Hong Kingston papers
Dates:
approximately 1950-2015
Creators:
Kingston, Maxine Hong
Abstract:
The Maxine Hong Kingston papers, dating from approximately 1950 to 2015, contain typescripts, proofs and galleys, announcements and reviews for Kingston's books, as well as other material related to her writing including business files, promotional material and research files. In addition to her writings, the collection includes documentation of Kingston's teaching career and work with the Veterans Writing Project, speaking engagements, and honors. Includes her notebooks and journals, correspondence with family and authors, and family and early personal memorabilia. Also includes a small amount of Earll Kingston's personal papers and materials related to his family.
Extent:
98 linear feet (44 cartons, 61 boxes, 21 oversize boxes, 6 oversize folders, 1 volume), 10 videodiscs, 47 videocassettes, 22 sound discs, and 61 sound cassettes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Maxine Hong Kingston Papers, BANC MSS 85/20 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

The Maxine Hong Kingston Papers contain typescripts, proofs and galleys, announcements, reviews, and related material for Kingston's books, The Woman Warrior and China Men, as well as other material related to her writing. The collection dates from 1952 to 1999 and has been divided into six series: Books; Other Writings; Correspondence; Professional Papers; Biographical Research Materials; Teaching Career; and Personal and Family Papers. In addition to her writings, the collection includes documentation of Kingston's teaching career, speaking engagements, and honors. The correspondence is particularly rich and includes correspondence with other well-known authors, including Joan Didion and Jessica Hagedorn, publishers, and fans. Family correspondence can be found in the Personal and Family Papers series. Additions (2023) contains drafts of The Fifth Book of Peace, I Love a Broad Margin to My Life,Hawaii One Summer, To be the Poet, and many other drafts of prose and poetry by Maxine Hong Kingston; notebooks (approximately 1990-2020); journals (1958-2014); personal and professional correspondence, including correspondence with authors; research material on the Free Speech Movement and the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire; business files; publicity and promotional material for Kingston's books and literary events; photographs of Kingston with authors (identified); family and early personal memorabilia, including issues of the Edison Hi-Lite, the Edison Senior High School (Stockton, CA) newspaper with articles written by Kingston when she was a student at the school. Includes correspondence, photographs, and manuscript drafts written by members of Veterans Writing Project, Kingston's writing and meditation program for veterans and others affected by war. Also includes, Earll Kingston's notebooks, flyers, and programs documenting his theater career; (Earll) Kingston family material and correspondence.

Biographical / historical:

Maxine Hong Kingston was born October 27, 1940 in Stockton, California. She received her B.A. degree in Education from the University of California, Berkeley in 1962. Kingston taught high school English and mathematics in Hayward, Calif., and various subjects in a number of schools in Hawaii, and was a visiting associate professor of English at the University of Hawaii.

Her book, Woman Warrior: Memoirs Of A Girlhood Among Ghosts, which was published in 1976, received a general nonfiction award from the National Book Critics Circle in the same year. China Men, published in 1980, received an American Book Award in 1981.

Kingston has also contributed stories and articles to a number of magazines, including American Girl, English Journal, Viva, New West, American Heritage, and Washington Post.

Adapted from Contemporary Authors, vol. 69.

Acquisition information:
The Maxine Hong Kingston Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Maxine Hong Kingston beginning in the year 1981. Additions were purchased from Maxine Hong Kingston via Jeff Maser, 2023.
Processing information:

Processed by Jane Phillips in 1987; revised by Manuscripts Processing Staff in 1992, 1997 and 2005. Additions were processed by accessioning staff in 2025. Materials were rehoused in archival boxes and described at the file level. Some materials have been retained in their original folders; poor or damaged folders were replaced and folder titles were taken from original folders or were titled using bookseller's inventory of materials.

Arrangement:

Arranged to the folder level. Original order of additions was retained.

Physical location:
Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
DACS

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding Aid written by Bancroft Library staff
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-21 16:10:37 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Cartons 30, 31, and 39: RESTRICTED due to privacy concerns. May not be seen without the permission of the appropriate curator.

Vol. 1 (Chinese edition of China Men) : RESTRICTED ORIGINAL. USE MICROFILM ONLY ONLY: Use of original only by permission of the Head of the appropriate curator.

AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: RESTRICTED fragile material. Archival audiovisual materials must be digitized for research access. Researchers may request the creation of digital access copies through Bancroft Public Services.

Terms of access:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94270-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Maxine Hong Kingston Papers, BANC MSS 85/20 c, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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