Suzy McKee Charnas papers

Overview of the Collection

Title: Suzy McKee Charnas papers
Dates: 1961-2016 (inclusive)
19612016

1980-2015 (bulk)
19802015
Quantity: 24.17 linear feet, (19 record storage boxes 1 manuscript box, legal)
Collection Number: Coll 486
Summary: Suzy McKee Charnas was an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels and short stories explore gender, sexuality, feminism, dystopia, war, and a variety of genres. This collection includes personal and professional correspondence; files from a variety of popular conventions Charnas attended; personal and professional travel files; a variety of miscellaneous subject files related to Charnas' personal and professional life; and manuscripts, working papers, and drafts of notable works.
Repository: University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Additional Reference Guides: See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
Languages: English

Historical Note

Suzy McKee Charnas was an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels and short stories explore feminism, dystopia, war, and a variety of genres. She was born in New York City, New York on October 22, 1939 to textile designer Maxine Szanton and illustrator Robinson McKee. She attended an arts high school in New York City, received an undergraduate degree in economics and history from Barnard College, and a master's in education at New York University. She taught history and English in Nigeria with the Peace Corps, later serving as the chairman of the archival committee of the National Council of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. As chairman she worked with Peace Corps volunteers who served during the Kennedy administration to contribute to the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer collection at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Charnas married her husband, Stephen Charnas, on October 4, 1968.

Charnas is best known for her series The Holdfast Chronicles, published between 1974 and 1999, which won the 2003 Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award. Three of the four books in the series were awarded the James Tiptree, Jr., Retrospective Award in 1996 and 1999. She received the Nebula Award in 1980 for the novella "The Unicorn Tapestry", the Hugo Award in 1989 for the short story "Boobs", the Gilgamesh Award in 1990 for best fantasy stories, the Aslan Award for best children's book, and the Mythopoeic Society 1993 for The Kingdom of Kevin Malone. Other notable works include The Vampire Tapestry (1980) and its 2001 adaptation into the play "Vampire Dreams", the novel Dorothea Dreams (1986), the Sorcery Hall trilogy (1985-1989), and the semi-autobiographical book My Father's Ghost (2002) about caring for her elderly father. She frequently traveled to conventions and symposiums to teach and participate in panels and was a judge for multiple literary awards.

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Content Description

The Suzy Mckee Charnas papers document Charnas' long career as a science fiction and fantasy author. This collection includes personal and professional correspondence; files from a variety of popular conventions Charnas attended; personal and professional travel files; a variety of miscellaneous subject files related to Charnas' personal and professional life; and manuscripts, working papers, and drafts of notable works.

Series I is composed of personal and professional correspondence from 1961-2015 including handwritten and typed letters and printed emails. The series is arranged chronologically and includes correspondence related to publishing, awards and award committees, multiple mailing lists and interest groups Charnas was involved in, and personal letters from Charnas' time in the Peace Corps and beyond.

Series II represents Charnas' extensive participation in science fiction and fantasy related conventions. She often went to multiple each year for more than 30 years. The series is organized alphabetically by convention, with a folder for each year. Charnas kept plane tickets, travel receipts, convention schedules and pamphlets, notes, and memorabilia from each convention she attended.

Series III is composed of travel files that were not convention related. These include professional travel related to publishing and book tours, as well as personal travel.

Series IV is composed of miscellaneous subject files. These files pertain to Charnas' work in education, her website information, and a variety of personal and professional projects.

Series V contains extensive notes, research, and manuscripts of many of Charnas' most notable works. These include The Holdfast Chronicles books, Vampire Tapestry and associated works, the Sorcery Hall Trilogy, Dorothea Dreams, The Kingdom of Kevin Malone, My Father's Ghost, and a variety of miscellaneous writings. The manuscripts hold early drafts, alternative names, heavily edited and revised working papers, and final drafts.

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