Finding Aid for the Nikki Darling Papers 1983-2013

Processed by Angel Diaz.

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/

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.