Chris Costner Sizemore papers, 1952-1989 (bulk 1956-1979)

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Summary

Creator:
Sizemore, Chris Costner
Extent:
8 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Collection ID:
RL.01198

Background

Scope and content:

The Chris Costner Sizemore Papers span the time period 1952-1989, with the bulk of the papers dating between 1956 and 1979. The collection consists largely of correspondence; diaries and writings by Sizemore; publicity centered on film and book promotions or speaking engagements; materials related to her appearances; interviews and documentary materials (including film, video- and audiocassettes); and assorted materials including photographs, legal and financial papers.

Most items relate to Sizemore's struggle with multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder), both personally through letters, writings, and diaries, and publicly through interviews, documentary media, and news clippings. The papers provide an in-depth look into the life of a woman with a rare disorder who later came to clearly articulate her life to the public and become a mental health advocate.

The Correspondence Series is arranged chronologically, and consists primarily of incoming letters. Dr. Corbett Thigpen, the doctor to deliver the original diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, is prominent in much of the collection. This series documents his relationship to Sizemore during treatment and continuing well into the 1970s. He corresponded with Sizemore about his writings, revealing much about the publication of The Three Faces of Eve (book), and its subsequent movie release. The series also contains correspondence with other doctors, family members, Sizemore's editors and publishers, and organizations for which she lectured.

The Writings Series is comprised primarily of the holograph manuscript, typescript, final galley proofs, and paperback edition of I'm Eve, the memoir written by Sizemore with the help of Elen Pittillo. This comprehensive view of the book's publication is represented from handwritten copy to final edition. The Writings Series also includes some short descriptions of Sizemore's life and examples of her poetry, as well as a few writings by others.

There are six diaries in the Diaries Series, kept during parts of the 1950s and 1970s. Within these volumes, Sizemore discloses inner thoughts, which reveal very personal information about enduring mental illness and its effects on her family. The Publicity Series includes news clippings and journal articles about Sizemore and multiple personality disorder, as well as media related to her published works.

The Events Series contains materials and ephemera related to Sizemore's public life of art shows, lectures, broadcasts, and appearances, often for mental health organizations. It also contains materials from her book tour for The Three Faces of Eve. The Photographs Series contains pictures from these events and of Sizemore's family life. The Additional Materials Series contains financial and legal papers, medical files, and identifying documents.

There is also an Audio Visual Materials Series that contains interviews and documentary materials that again reflect the public's interest in Sizemore's life, as well as her own desire to document and share her experiences in writing, speaking, and art. Included is a documentary film by Dr. Thigpen, and video and audiocassettes of television interviews, other appearances, and of family members discussing a shared past (sound quality of some of the audiocassettes is very poor).

Biographical / historical:

Chris Costner Sizemore was born Christine Costner on April 4, 1927, in Edgefield, South Carolina. After a witnessing a series of violent events starting at age 2, she developed what would later be diagnosed as dissociative identity disorder (formerly called multiple personality disorder). She was diagnosed and treated for the ailment in 1952 by psychiatrists Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, who wrote the 1957 book The Three Faces of Eve about her experiences. Later that year, the book was adapted into a feature film of the same name starring Joanne Woodward; the film popularized the idea of dissociative identity disorder with the public. Sizemore identified 20 personalities over the course of her illness. She began treatment with Dr. Tony Tsitos in 1970, and by 1974 she was no longer dissociating. She began lecturing in 1975 and spent the remainder of her life as a mental health advocate and painter until her death Ocala, Florida in 2016.

She had one daughter from her first marriage and a son from her second marriage to Don Sizemore. She authored three memoirs about her experiences: The Final Face of Eve, written under the pseudonym Evelyn Lancaster, was published in 1958; I'm Eve, written under her own name with Elen Sain Pittillo, was published in 1977; and A Mind of My Own was published in 1989.

Source: New York Times obituary, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/us/chris-costner-sizemore-the-real-patient-behind-the-three-faces-of-eve-dies-at-89.html

Acquisition information:
The papers of Chris Costner Sizemore were acquired by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library from 1982 through 1989.
Processing information:

Processed by Lisa Stark, 1999

Reprocessed and described by Valerie Szwaya, 2017

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

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Restrictions:

Access note. Contents of Box 12 are restricted pending review.

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 & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Chris Costner Sizemore Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1c65n