Barbara Christian papers, 1967-2000

Summary

Creators:

Christian, Barbara, 1943-2000

Abstract:

The Barbara Christian Papers, 1967-2000, document Christian's academic career at U.C. Berkeley. The collection is composed mainly of reprinted articles and bibliographies, research and course materials, correspondence, and original manuscripts with notes and related materials. Reprinted articles and research materials include magazine and newspaper articles as well as academic publications. Course materials are in the form of handwritten notes, syllabi and other class handouts. Correspondence includes letters from students, colleagues, and authors including Alice Walker.

Extent:

Number of containers: 12 cartons Linear feet: 15

Language:

Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

The Barbara Christian Papers, 1967-2000, document Christian's academic career at U.C. Berkeley. The collection is composed mainly of reprinted articles and bibliographies, research and course materials, original manuscripts with notes and related materials and some correspondence. Reprinted articles and research materials include magazine and newspaper articles as well as academic publications. Course materials are in the form of handwritten notes, syllabi and other class handouts. Correspondence includes letters from students, colleagues, and authors including Alice Walker.

The collection is arranged according to the order in which it was received. Barbara Christian's Files are divided into older and newer files, and though there is much overlap between the date spans of these two series, they were arranged in this way to preserve the original order. Professional Files are arranged in the order received. Original folder titles were used unless folders were untitled.

Biographical / historical:

Barbara Christian was born on December 12, 1943 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from Columbia University in 1970; a year later, she became an assistant professor at U.C. Berkeley. She was a prominent figure in establishing the African American Studies Department, and in 1978 she became the first African American woman at Berkeley to receive tenure. In 1986, she became a full professor and eventually received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1991. She is best known for Black Feminist Criticism and her study, Black Women Novelists: The Development of a Tradition. She was one of the first academic professors to focus attention on Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, among other black women novelists and writers. She edited portions of the Norton Anthology of African American Literature from the 1970s to the 1990s. The MELUS Award and the American Book Award were among the many honors she received during her lifetime. She taught at U.C. Berkeley from 1972 until her death on June 25, 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Najuma I. Henderson.

Acquisition information:

The Barbara Christian Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Najuma Henderson on January 29, 2002.

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:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

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