Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Cheryl Dunye papers
- Dates:
- 1990-2017
- Abstract:
- Photographs, production files, promotional materials, clippings, realia, textiles, and other material (1990-2017) from renowned filmmaker, director, writer, and producer, Cheryl Dunye. Dunye first came to fame in the early 1990s when she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her film Watermelon Woman, the earliest known feature film to be written and directed by an out Black lesbian filmmaker. The collection includes files of photographs documenting the production of Watermelon Woman, as well as materials from Dunye's other films, including The Owls, Mommy is Coming, and Stranger Inside. Materials in this collection also document Dunye's appearances and film screenings in film festivals throughout the US and internationally.
- Extent:
- 10.8 Linear Feet 10 boxes.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Cheryl Dunye Papers, Coll2021-005, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection comprises photographs, production files, promotional materials, clippings, realia, textiles, and other material (1990-2017) from renowned filmmaker, director, writer, and producer, Cheryl Dunye. Dunye first came to fame in the early 1990s when she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in her film Watermelon Woman, the earliest known feature film to be written and directed by an out Black lesbian filmmaker.
The Film Production Files and Promotional Material series includes material documenting the production of Watermelon Woman, as well as Dunye's other films, including The Owls, Mommy is Coming, and Stranger Inside. Notably, this series includes several files of photographs documenting the development, filming, and behind-the-scenes images from Watermelon Woman.
The Career and Personal Papers series includes material documenting Cheryl Dunye's career as an independent filmmaker and director. Materials in this series document her appearances and film screenings in film festivals throughout the US and internationally; her participation in art and film festivals; her work at universities teaching filmmaking; her work as a director for TV shows; and other creative and personal endeavors.
The Realia and Textiles series includes several buttons, passes and ID badges from film festivals, T-shirts, costumes from The Owls, and other objects.
The Audiovisual series includes DVDs, MiniDVs, a VHS, and two small reels of Super 8mm film.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Cheryl Dunye was born on May 13, 1966 in Liberia. She received her BA from Temple University and her MFA from Rutger University's Mason Gross School of the Arts.
In the early 1990s, she began writing, producing, and directing films that explore the intersections of race, sex and class--particularly, the lives of Black lesbians. In 1994/1995, she began producing her first feature film, Watermelon Woman, which would become the first feature film to be written and directed by an out Black lesbian filmmaker. Watermelon Woman would go on to be praised as a groundbreaking film from the "New Queer Cinema" era of the 1990s.
Following Watermelon Woman, she would go on to make other feature films, including The Owls, Mommy is Coming, and Stranger Inside. She would also work as visiting faculty, teaching filmmaking at universities in Pennsylvania, New York, and California.
By 2018, she started directing episodes of numerous TV series, such as The Fosters, The Chi, Dear White People, Queen Sugar, All Rise, Claws, Bridgerton, The Umbrella Academy, and several others.
She is also the founder Jingletown Films, based in Oakland, California, to provide a "platform for diverse storytellers and filmmakers whose work has been underrepresented in the film world."
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Cheryl Dunye, August 13, 2018.
- Processing information:
-
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, 2021.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is divided into four series: (Series 1) Film production files and promotional material, (Series 2) Career and personal papers, (Series 3) Realia and textiles, and (Series 4) Audiovisual.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-03-21 14:57:58 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Box/folder #, or item name] Cheryl Dunye Papers, Coll2021-005, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
- Location of this collection:
-
909 West Adams BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90007, US
- Contact:
- (213) 821-2771