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Guide to the Ana Castillo Papers, 1953-

CEMA 2

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Table of contents

Series Description

Series I-Personal and Biographical Information, 1974-1990

Scope and Content Note

This series, consisting of four subseries, is contained in ten archival boxes and is the largest series in the Ana Castillo Papers. The first subseries, Journals, 1988-1990, consists of twenty journals primarily from 1989, which are arranged chronologically. These journals represent the time period when Castillo was teaching at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Journal writing naturally reveals the personal thoughts, opinions, life experiences and creative ideas of the writer at that given time. Journals provide insight on the writer's life experiences and possible connections between the creative writings that may result, in part, from them. In addition, the journals have been personalized further with dried flowers, photographs, newsclippings, letters, postcards and other memorabilia. Because of the highly personal nature of these journals, they are classified confidential at this time, at the request of the donor. The journals will be accessible ten years after the donor's death or the year 2038, whichever comes first. The journals represented in the collection, at this time, reflect only a small time period in the life of Castillo.

The second subseries, Personal Correspondence with Family, 1985-1990 is of a personal nature, and to ensure the privacy of the persons involved, is designated confidential and subject to the restrictions stated above. Included in this subseries are mostly greeting cards celebrating Castillo's and her son's birthday and holidays. There are also some correspondence and note cards from parents, and family members. This incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically by sender, with envelopes immediately following the corresponding letter or card. Blank sheets of paper separate the items when there is no envelope.

The third subseries, Personal Correspondence with Friends, 1985-1990,is also designated confidential to ensure the privacy of the persons involved. This correspondence is incoming only and is arranged alphabetically by the sender's last name. A large portion of the correspondence is primarily from two individuals. There is some overlap in that some of the correspondence found in this series is with other writers, of which there is a separate Series II, specifically for correspondence of this type. Materials, for the most part, are organized according to Castillo's original filing order. The files take up four boxes with an average of ten folders per box.

Professional Activities, 1974-1990, is the fourth subseries. The types of material included are Castillo's membership in associations, letters of recommendation, correspondence related to fellowships received, teaching activities, and other professional activities in relation to her work as a writer and teacher. This subseries takes up one box of fourteen folders and is arranged chronologically, with contents of each folder in their original filing order, retaining the same file headings for the container listing. Of special interest, photographs of Ana Castillo and other performing artists, such as the Association of Latino Brotherhood of Artists (1974), and the Gypsy-flamenco group, Al-Andalus (1980) can be found in folders 1 and 4. In respect to the latter, Castillo recited her poetry and that of famous Spanish writers, with vocals and music performed by Pepe Culata and Tomás de Utrera; the trio performed in honor of a Day of the Dead Exhibition in Chicago. Folders 6 and 7 contain a variety of material, including an original manuscript, flyers, photographs, publicity, personal correspondence and reviews pertaining to the musical production of Castillo's work, "The Invitation," directed by Delfor Peralta at the Soho Arts Festival in 1982. In addition, two folders on California readings provide an indication of the variety and level of activities in which Castillo participated.

Series II-Correspondence with Poets and Writers, 1973-1990

Scope and Content Note

The material in this series is especially insightful to her creative process. Castillo's correspondence reflects an ongoing exchange of literary ideas, includes samples of other writers' works, and illuminates her thinking on the themes of the relation between poetry and social/political involvement, Chicana writers, women writers, and in general, the development of contemporary literature. Two folders of correspondence from Carol Maier include copies of some writings analyzing Ana Castillo's work. The correspondence is all incoming and arranged alphabetically by sender's last name. This series takes up one box of 12 folders

Series III-Correspondence and Contracts with Publishers, 1977-1990

Scope and Content Note

The material in this series is organized in the folders according to provenance, which maintains their original order. Folders with miscellaneous correspondence/contracts from various publishers are arranged chronologically, followed by one folder of miscellaneous submissions for publication. These files reveal the publishers Castillo was in contact with during this time period. After that, Castillo ordered her material alphabetically by title of work and all correspondence, publicity, contracts, etc. relating to that particular work are in one folder. Works included here are: The Invitation, My Father was a Toltec, Otro Canto and omen are not Roses. Included is correspondence with Nicolás Kanellos of Revista Chicano-Riqueña, the journal in which Castillo's work first appeared in a national publication (1975). Kanellos gives editorial criticism on a draft of The Invitation, as well as feedback on Castillo's development a writer. This series takes up one box of twelve folders.

Series IV-Writings, Published and Unpublished, 1973-1990

Scope and Content Note

This series contains poems, short stories, plays, manuscripts, lectures, and articles for journals and books. There are two folders which contain at least thirty or more different titled and untitled works of fiction; these are arranged chronologically as Miscellaneous Fiction, 1979-1985, followed by Miscellaneous Poetry and Writings, 1973-1985. There are seventeen folders of over 100 original poems and writings that are the creative core of the Castillo Papers. It is revealing to examine the early drafts of her works and note their evolution. These two subseries take up one box. Inside the folders, any correspondence, contracts, and publicity relating to that work was left ordered as found. Folder titles in the container list, largely follow Castillo's original file folder headings. Following the miscellaneous poetry, are Titled Works, 1975-1990 which takes up two boxes of eight folders each, arranged alphabetically by title of work. Included here are several play manuscripts from the early 1980s and an unpublished bilingual poetry manuscript titled "Pajaros Engañosos/Deceitful Birds," which was submitted to Cross-Cultural Communications in 1982, with correspondence. In this manuscript is at least one poem that was later included in Women Are Not Roses, published in 1984 by Arte Publico Press. In addition, there is an early draft manuscript of Mixquiahuala Letters/Sapogonia from 1976-1979 that is different from the final published versions. There is a first draft book manuscript, Massacre of the Dreamers completed while Castillo was in residency at UCSB. Also found here is Castillo's first poetry manuscript, titled, "I Close My Eyes...To See" dated 1975. At least three poems, "El Ser Mujer," "Homenaje al Gato," "Mental Exercises" and others were later published in other works. In Box 15 is an original draft manuscript of The Mixquiahuala Letters and correspondence with the publisher. A decision was made to keep the manuscript in Series IV with other writings and not to separate the correspondence, even though publisher correspondence is kept in Series III.

Series V-Silkscreens and Offset Poster, 1987-1982

Scope and Content Note

This is the smallest series of the collection. Included is a silkscreen by Delilah Montoya which has been dedicated to Castillo by the poet/artist Alurista. Another silkscreen by R. Ayers publicizes a book award ceremony and so does an offset poster

Container List

Series I - Personal and Biographical Information

Journals, 1988-1990

Access Information

(CONFIDENTIAL)

Box 1, Folder 1

Aug. 9, 1988 -Sept. 25, 1988

Folder 2

Sept. 25, 1988 -Nov. 25, 1988

Folder 3

Nov. 16, 1988 -Jan. 21, 1989

Folder 4

Jan. 11, 1989 -Feb. 26, 1989

Folder 5

Mar. 20, 1989 -May 15, 1989

Box 2, Folder 1

May 30, 1989 -Jul. 6, 1989

Folder 2

Jul. 7, 1989 -Jul. 31, 1989

Folder 3

Jul. 31, 1989 -Aug. 10, 1989

Folder 4

Aug. 10, 1989 -Sept. 1, 1989

Folder 5

Sept. 1, 1989 -Sept. 21, 1989

Folder 6

Sept. 21, 1989 -Oct. 30, 1989

Box 3, Folder 1

Oct. 12, 1989 -Nov. 6, 1989

Folder 2

Nov. 7, 1989 -Nov. 30, 1989

Folder 3

Nov. 23, 1989 -Dec. 15, 1989

Folder 4

Dec. 16, 1989 -Jan. 9, 1990

Folder 5

Jan. 9, 1990 -Jan. 29, 1990

Box 4, Folder 1

Jan. 29, 1990 -Mar. 6, 1990

Folder 2

Mar. 7, 1990 -Mar. 25, 1990

Folder 3

Mar. 26, 1990 -Apr. 15, 1990

Folder 4

Apr. 16, 1990 -Jun. 9, 1990

Personal Correspondence with Family, 1985-1990

Access Information

(CONFIDENTIAL)

Box 5, Folder 1

Abuelitos-Castillo

Folder 2

Castillo-Marcel

Folder 3

Martinez

Folder 4

Martinez-Pooky

Personal Correspondence with Friends, 1985-1990

Access Information

(CONFIDENTIAL)

Correspondence, Incoming

Box 6, Folder 1

Abrego-Anaya

Folder 2

Angela-Baca

Folder 3

Belonger-Bernal

Folder 4

Bohm-Burciaga

Burk

Folder 5

1985-1986

Folder 6-9

1987

Box 7, Folder 1-3

1988

Folder 4-5

1989

Folder 6-8

1990-n.d.

Cantu

Box 8, Folder 1

1985-1988

Folder 2

1988-n.d.

Folder 3

Carlson-Cisneros

Folder 4

Corpi-Curiel

Folder 5

Dan-Eisenburg

Folder 6

Eleanor-Foster

Folder 7

Freed

Folder 8

Garza-Guitierrez

Folder 9

Guzman

Folder 10

Jose-Lawhn

Box 9, Folder 1

Maier-Miyaoka

Moraga

Folder 2

1986

Folder 3

1987-1988

Folder 4

1989-1990

Folder 5

n.d.

Folder 6

Morales-Moreno

Folder 7

Ponce- Quintana-Guerrero

Folder 8

Randall-Sawicki

Folder 9

Smith-Thomas

Folder 10

Tomas

Folder 11

Tony-Yoyo

Folder 12

Yvonne-Zanders

Folder 13

Unknown, 1986-n.d.

Professional Activities, 1974-1990

Box 10, Folder 1

Association of Latino Brotherhood of Artists. Chicago, 1974

Folder 2

Letters of Recommendation, 1975-1988

Folder 3

Illinois Arts Council, 1977-1986

Folder 4

Al-Andalus, 1980-1981

Folder 5

Outstanding Young Women of Ameri ca. 1981-1982

Folder 6

"The Invitation". Production Soho Arts Festival, New York City, 1982

Folder 7

"The Invitation". Production Soho Arts Festival, New York City, 1982

Folder 8

California Readings, 1984-1990

Folder 9

California Readings, 1984-1990

Folder 10

Women's Foundation. San Francisco, 1988

Folder 11

Sonoma State University, 1988

Folder 12

Cal State Chico, 1988-1989

Folder 13

California Arts Council Fellowship (Category: Fiction) 1989

Folder 14

UCSB Chicana Dissertation Fellowship, 1989-1990

Series II - Correspondence with Poets & Writers, 1973-1990

Box 11, Folder 1

Alvarez-Baca

Folder 2

Bathurst-Eisenberg

Folder 3

Espinosa-Fernandez

Folder 4

Figueroa

Folder 5

Fogarty-Lesbisch Archief Leeuwarden

Maier

Folder 6

1973-1978

Folder 7

1986

Folder 8

Malitz-Prele

Folder 9

Rodriguez-Ruiz

Folder 10

Sanchez-Saucedo

Folder 11

Schwartz-Thudes

Folder 12

Valpendesta-Zapata

Series III - Contracts and Correspondence with Publishers, 1977-1990

Box 12

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Folder 1

1977-1979

Folder 2

1980-n.d.

Folder 3

Miscellaneous Submissions for Publication, 1987-1988

Folder 4

The Invitation, 2nd edition San Francisco, 1986-1988

Folder 5

Kanellos, Nicolas/ Revista Chicano-Riquena /Arte Publico Press. 1977-1988

Folder 6

My Father Was a Toltec. Contract and correspondence, 1987-1990

Folder 7

Otro Canto. Contract with Publications, 1978

Folder 8

Women Are Not Roses. Contract and related material, 1980-1987

Series IV - Writings, Published and Unpublished, 1973-1990

Miscellaneous Fiction, 1979-1985

Box 13, Folder 1

Learning to write short fiction, 1979-1982

Folder 2

Learning to write short fiction, 1983-1985

Miscellanenous Poetry and Writings, 1973-1985

Box 13, Folder 3

Originals, drafts, copies-poetry, 1973-n.d.

Folder 4

Originals, drafts, copies-poetry, 1973-1976

Folder 5

Copies-poetry, 1974

Folder 6

Originals, drafts, copies-poetry and writings, 1974-1975

Folder 7

Copies-poetry, 1975

Folder 8

Originals, drafts, copies-poetry and writings, 1976

Folder 9

Drafts-poetry, 1977

Folder 10

Originals, copies-poetry, 1977

Folder 11

Drafts, originals, copies-poetry, 1978

Folder 12

Drafts, originals, copies-poetry, 1978-1979

Folder 13

Copies-fiction and poetry, 1979

Folder 14

Drafts, copies-poetry, 1980

Folder 15

Copies-poetry, 1981-1982

Folder 16

Drafts, copies-poetry, 1982

Folder 17

Drafts, copies-poetry, 1983 (includes one dated 1986)

Folder 18

Drafts, copies-poetry, 1984

Folder 19

Drafts, copies-poetry, 1985

Titled Works, 1975-1990

Box 14, Folder 1

"Alex's Mother," draft one act children's play, 1983

Folder 2

"Clark Street Counts," play in progress, 1982

Folder 3

"The Company of Men: Un Cliche," draft play in progress, 1982

Folder 4

"The Evolution of the Chicana Writer" Colloquium, 1989 (includes 4 pages from "Sapogonia")

Folder 5

"Ghost Talk," short story, 1983

Folder 6

"Hands Toward Venus: Excerpts from the Journal of a Chicana," developing fiction from journal, 1980

Folder 7

"I Close My Eyes...To See," first poetry manuscript, 1975

Folder 8

"Massacre of the Dreamers-Mexican Indian Women in the U.S.: 500 Years After the Conquest," first draft- essays, 1990

Box 15, Folder 1

The Mixquiahuala Letters and Sapogonia, earlydraft manuscript, 1976-1979

Folder 2

The Mixquiahuala Letters, original draft submitted to Bilingual Review Press, 1984 (includes publisher correspondence)

Folder 3

My Father Was a Toltec, early drafts, n.d.

Folder 4

"Otro Canto," original manuscript, 1977

Folder 5

"Pajaros Enga osos/Deceitful Birds," unpublished poetry manuscript for Cross-Cultural communications, n.d. (includes publisher correspondence)

Folder 6

"Rainbows, Unlimited," children's story synopsis submitted to Children's Books, San Francisco, 1983

Folder 7

"Sapogonia," sketches developing Max Madrigal, 1981

Folder 8

"Sexuality In Chicana Poetry," draft of paper, 1986

Series V - Silkscreen and Offset Poster, 1987-1982

Box 16, Folder 1

Silkscreen, untitled, 8/10 edition by Delilah M. Montoya, 1982. Dedicated to Ana from Alurista, signed June, 1986

Folder 2

Silkscreen, of image used on American Book Awards, 84/100 edition by Roland Ayers, 1987

Folder 3

Offset poster of American Book Awards Ceremony, 1987, Philadelphia. Designed by Roland Ayers, 1987

Series Description

Series I-Personal and Biographical Information, 1974-1990

Series II-Correspondence with Poets and Writers, 1973-1990

Series III-Correspondence and Contracts with Publishers, 1977-1990

Series IV-Writings, Published and Unpublished, 1973-1990

Series V-Silkscreens and Offset Poster, 1987-1982

Container List

Series I - Personal and Biographical Information

Journals, 1988-1990

Personal Correspondence with Family, 1985-1990

Personal Correspondence with Friends, 1985-1990

Professional Activities, 1974-1990

Series II - Correspondence with Poets & Writers, 1973-1990

Series III - Contracts and Correspondence with Publishers, 1977-1990

Series IV - Writings, Published and Unpublished, 1973-1990

Miscellaneous Fiction, 1979-1985

Miscellanenous Poetry and Writings, 1973-1985

Titled Works, 1975-1990

Series V - Silkscreen and Offset Poster, 1987-1982