Kathy Acker papers, 1972-1997 and undated

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Summary

Creator:
Acker, Kathy, 1948-1997 and Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
Abstract:
The Kathy Acker papers are primarily comprised of drafts of her novels, short stories, and other miscellaneous writings, ranging from early works like The Childlike Life of the Black Tarantula (1975) to her last novel Pussy, King of the Pirates (1996). Described as a cyberpunk author and performance artist, her novels question the strictures of female sexuality and the power of language.
Extent:
21.0 Linear Feet
0.03 Gigabytes
Language:
Material in English.
Collection ID:
RL.00011

Background

Scope and content:

The Kathy Acker papers are primarily comprised of drafts of her novels, short stories, and other miscellaneous writings, including a play and film script. Titles range from early works like The Childlike Life of the Black Tarantula (1975) to her last novel Pussy, King of the Pirates (1996), and there is original artwork for some of them.

There is correspondence from other poets and writers, such as Andrei Codrescu, Kenneth Rexroth, Jack Hirschman, Fielding Dawson, Ed Dron, Ed Sanders, Laura Chester, Peter Gordon, Rex Pickett, Opal Nations, and Barbara Baracks.

Of note among the visual material are black and white photographs of Acker by Robert Mapplethorpe and Marcus Leatherdale. There is also audiovisual material (mainly audiocassettes) with her voice and almost 1,000 electronic files originally on Zip and 3.5" floppy disks.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1948
Birth.
1963-65
Studied Classics at Brandeis University.
1967
Received BA from University of California at San Diego (UCSD).
1968-1970
Studied at UCSD Department of Literature.
1971
Studied at New York University Classics Department.
1975
Published The Childlike Life of the Black Tarantula.
1975-1976
Creative Artists' Public Services Program, New York State Grant For Fiction.
1978
Published Kathy Goes to Haiti..
1980
Published I Dreamt I Became A Nymphomaniac: Imagining.
1980
Published The Adult Life of Toulouse-Lautrec.
1980-1981
Instructor, The San Francisco Art Institute, Video and Performance Department.
1981
Pushcart Prize.
1982
Published Hello, I'm Erica Jong.
1983
Published Great Expectations.
1984
Published Algeria: A Series of Invocations Because Nothing Else Works.
1984
Published Blood and Guts in High School.
1986
Published Don Quixote.
1988
Published Empire of the Senseless.
1988
Published My Death, My Life, By Pier Paolo Pasolini in Literal Madness.
1989
Published Young Lust; Kathy Goes to Haiti; The Adult Life of Toulouse Lautrec; Florida.
1990
Published The Seven Cardinal Virtues.
1990
Published In Memoriam to Identity.
1991
Published Hannibal Lecteur, My Father.
1991-1995
Adjunct Professor, San Francisco Art Institute.
1992
Published Portrait of an Eye: Three Novels.
1993
Published My Mother Demonology.
1994
Visiting Professor, UCSD.
1994
Visiting Professor, University of California at Santa Barbara.
1994
Visiting Professor, University of Idaho.
1996
Published Pussy, King of the Pirates.
1997
Death.
Acquisition information:
The Kathy Acker papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library as purchases in 1995, 1999, 2002, 2012, and 2014.
Processing information:

Processed by Jennifer Scott and Laura Micham, October 2016.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Access note. Some materials in this collection are electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Access note. Some materials in this collection are fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Kathy Acker papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University.

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