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University of California, Santa Barbara Davidson Library Department of Special Collections California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives
GUIDE TO THE ORTIZ-TAYLOR, SHEILA PAPERS 1957- 1997
BIOGRAPHY Sheila Ortiz-Taylor is a critically acclaimed Chicana novelist, poet and lecturer, and winner of the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award (1997). Born in Los Angeles in 1939, Ortiz-Taylor began writing poetry and plays as early as junior high school. She says of her upbringing: "Daughters of a tap dancer and a yo-yo painter, my sister and I were sitting ducks for the muses, who handed her a paint set and me three yellow pencils." Upon graduation from high school, Ortiz-Taylor enrolled at UCLA where she completed one year as an English Major with a Spanish Minor. The following year, in 1958, She was married and relocated to Iowa where she worked as a nurse's aid with handicapped children and as a secretary. She returned to Los Angeles and enrolled again as a sophomore in 1960 where she won the Mabel Wilson Richards Fellowship. In 1961, she transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she graduated with a Bachelors degree in English, (Cum Laude), and was named Outstanding Student of Language and Literature in 1963. After a summer of travel in Europe, Ortiz-Taylor returned to UCLA where she eventually received her M.A. in 1964 and her Ph.D. in 1972.
During the period from 1964 to 1972, Ortiz-Taylor also worked on her book Emily Dickinson, a Bibliography. This piece was heralded as one of the most complete and essential bibliographies of its kind. Ortiz-Taylor continued to contribute bibliographical pieces to American Literary Realism and to Twentieth Century Literature and it was during this time that she became the proud mother of two daughters, Andrea Bo Clendenning and Jessica Ann Clendenning. Eventually, through perseverance and hard work, Ortiz-Taylor became an important and critically acclaimed novelist. Her work includes the novels Faultline (Naiad, 1982,1995), Spring Forward/Fall Back (Naiad, 1985), Southbound (Naiad, 1990), and Coachella (University of New Mexico, 1998), as well as a volume of poetry, Slow Dancing at Miss Polly’s (Naiad, 1989) and the memoir Imaginary Parents (University of New Mexico, 1996). The Oxford Companion to Women’s Writing in the United States called Faultline “the first Chicana lesbian novel.”
Ortiz-Taylor is Professor of English at Florida State University where she also has served as Director of Women’s Studies. She has received numerous awards for her work; she has been writer-in-residence at the Guadalupe Cultural Center, the Cottages at Hedgebrook, the Hambidge Center, the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony, and the Fundación Valparaíso. A former Fulbright Fellow, she has also been recipient of the Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Grant and a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship. Her awards include but are not limited to, the Teaching Incentive Program Award (1994 and 1999), the William R. Jones Most Valuable Mentor award (1994-1995), the University Teaching Award 1995-96, (Graduate level), and the Professional Excellence Program Award, 1996-97.
The Sheila Ortiz-Taylor collection contains material relating primarily to her work as a writer and a teacher. The collection takes up four linear feet and is continually being added to by Ortiz-Taylor, as her work as a scholar and writer continues. Most of the material in the collection focuses specifically on her novels and includes her drafts of these novels, many of them annotated for correction. The scope of the manuscript, as well as the notes on revisions to be made, are invaluable as they illuminate her method and style during the writing process. The collection contains samples of Ortiz-Taylor's writing from her work as a university student, and later, to her recognition as a noted and critically acclaimed novelist. Because of this comprehensive sampling of her work, the collection gives valuable insight into Ortiz-Taylor's growth as an icon of Chicana writing.
Series 1- Personal and Biographical information. Series one is arranged as one series, in order of its creation where possible, and following chronological order where ever possible. The series covers the period from 1963 to 1997. It begins with Ortiz-Taylor's travel journal from a trip to Europe in 1963. Included is a journal which was periodically maintained from 1963 to 1965. This second journal contains quotes and some story ideas as well as samples of Ortiz-Taylor's early writing style. Series one contains several interviews with Ortiz-Taylor, covering such topics as, lesbian mothers and other aspects of her novels. These interviews help to describe her thought process during the writing of her novels, for example explanations on various themes she works with in her writing, and comments on writing in general. Lastly, series one contains a lecture written for a women's workshop on her experiences in becoming a published writer. This first series is contained within the first box of the collection. The material in this series is arranged from biographical information throughout the collection, which relate to this subject.
Series 2-Correspondence. The majority of the letters in series two were written to Sheila Ortiz-Taylor during the years 1992-1996. These letters were sent to her by the general public in response to her published books. Small collections of letters refer to Ortiz-Taylor's relationship with Naiad Press, publisher of Faultline, Slow Dancing at Miss Polly's, Southbound, and Spring Forward/Fall Back. The correspondence is arranged in four folders within the first box. Series two is further divided into two sub series, Correspondence with Publishers and General Literary Correspondence.
Series 3-Writings. This series, consisting of seven sub series, is by far the largest of the collection. There are seven sub series spanning six boxes. The first is, Published works: manuscripts 1972-1996 consisting of four manuscripts/drafts of her published works arranged chronologically from Faultline in 1972 to Coachella, in 1998. The second sub series Published works from journals and periodicals 1977-1995 contains excerpts of her work printed in various magazines and journals. Sub series three is self explanatory; titled Miscellaneous Books, consisting of two foreign language versions of Faultline and one book of poetry entitled North of Wakulla, annotated with comments to Ortiz-Taylor from her peers in literature. Also included in this sub series is the lesbian theme calendar, Lesbian Muse. Sub series four, Unpublished works: manuscripts 1970-1999 contains manuscripts of Ortiz-Taylor's as of yet unpublished work arranged in chronological order. There are five complete draft manuscripts, as well as academic papers Ortiz-Taylor wrote while in college. These papers reveal some of Ortiz-Taylor's thought process in the writing of her unpublished dissertation Surrealism in the Picaresque Novel. The fifth sub series, Unpublished academic papers and stories, spans most of box 7 and contains 23 of Ortiz-Taylor's academic papers. Annotated by professors and spanning a variety of subjects from 1957 to 1980 (some of the papers are undated). This portion of the collection shows in detail the formation of Ortiz-Taylor's intellectual foundation in English literature. The sixth sub series, Bibliographic Contributions is a detailed accounting of her work in several bibliographic publications as well as correspondence relating to her bibliographic work. The seventh and final sub series, Miscellany contains free-writes and plot mapping giving an indication of Ortiz-Taylor's work habits.
Series 4-Reviews and Publicity. This series deals specifically with the reviews and critiques of Sheila Ortiz-Taylor's books and her relationship with Naiad press, the primary publisher of her work. It is separated into critiques dealing specifically with Naiad press and each book in chronological order of their publishing.
Series 5-Video and Audio Recordings. Series five contains one video and one audiotape. Both tapes were made at Florida State University, and detail the contributions Ortiz-Taylor has made to that university. The videotape is excellent visual documentation of her Martin Luther King award for teaching excellence.
CONTAINER LISTING SERIES I: PERSONAL / BIOGRAPHICAL
Box Folder Contents
1 1 Diary (European trip), June 27 – August 4, 1963 1 2 Journal (Quotes, sketches, notes and poems) 1963 – 1965. 1 3 Interviews with Sheila Ortiz-Taylor (1986-1997). 1. a) Community News, January 1997 (with Peters, Jeff G.). b) Community News, December 1996 (with Peters, Jeff G.). 2. Topic: Lesbianism, April 18, 1990. 3. Topic: Spring Forward Fall Back (with Brophy, Mary T.), December 21, 1987 4. Topic: Faultline (with McLane, Tania), March 18, 1986. 1 4 Lecture by Taylor to Women’s Workshop, Azalea Grill, January 20, 1989
SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE
Box Folder Contents
Correspondence with Publishers 1 5 Outgoing: February - July 1985 1 6 Incoming: 1981 – 1996
General Literary Correspondence 1 7 Grants and awards 1985-1996 1 8 Correspondence with readers, incoming: 1981 – 1998
SERIES III: WRITINGS
Box Folder Contents
Published works: manuscripts (1972-1996)
Faultline ms. May 23, 1972. 1 9 Chapters 1-9 1 10 Chapters 10-16 1 11 Chapters 17-21 1 12 Bound copy (44,000 words), 1980
Southbound ms. 2 1 Chapters 1-8. 2 2 Chapters 9-12.
2 3 Chapters 13-20. 2 4 Chapters 21-32.
Imaginary Parents ms. 2 5 First draft (originally called "Home Movies") Chapters 1-15. 2 6 Chapters 16-26. 2 7 Draft ms. Chapters 1-14. 2 8 Chapters 15-29. 2 9 Chapters 30-41. 2 10 Chapters 42-52.
3 1 Bound draft for publishers titled “First Draft”. February 20, 1994. 3 2 Third Draft. (Named, Imaginary Parent: A Memoir, Working copy) Chapters 1-11. 3 3 Chapters 12-23. (Chapter 24 missing.) 3 4 Chapters 25-36. 3 5 Chapters 37-52. 3 6 Final publication page proofs, July 1996 Book One. 3 7 Book Two. 3 8 Book Three.
4 1 Publisher’s blueline copy. 1996. 4 2 Talk given by Sheila Ortiz-Taylor on Imaginary Parent, n.d.
Coachella ms. 4 2a Two drafts of presentation “Coachella: The Novel as Community” Delivered at UNC Chapel Hill Winter 1999. 4 3 Early drafts (2) n.d. Draft 7 (37,718 words), July 1996 4 4 Pages. 1-73. 4 5 Pages 74-120. 4 6 Pages 121-182. Draft 10. 1998. Titled "First Edition" 4 7 Pages 1-71. 4 8 Pages 72-125. 4 9 Pages 126-302.
Published works from journals and periodicals (1977-1995) 4 10 Miscellaneous contributions Episodic Structure and the Picaresque Novel in The Journal of Narrative Technique. La Frontera in Two Worlds Walking. Dyke Patrol in Common Lives Lesbian Lives.
Selections from Imaginary Parents: A memoir in The Americas Review. Southern exposure in Sinister Wisdom 34. A Friend of the Family (A chapter from the novel, Faultline) in Focus, a journal for lesbians. Rearview Mirror in New Visions, Fiction by Florida writers. Faultline; excerpt published in Christopher Street Magazine. Esther Williams Sister, published in Innisfree magazine.
Miscellaneous Books 4 11 North of Wakulla. Annotated anthology of poetry. German edition of Faultline Spanish Edition of Fautline Lesbian Muse. Lesbian theme Calendar.
Unpublished works: manuscripts (1970-1999) “Harley." 1970-1972.
5 1 Chapters 1-7. 5 2 Chapters 8-20. “Captain Jack and the Flying Girl.” 5 3 Preliminary draft. Pages 1-14. 5 4 Draft 1. Pages 1-15. 5 5 Draft 2. Pages 1-17. “The Flying Girl; Ace of Hearts.” (Renamed from original ms.: Captain Jack and the Flying Girl.) 3,746 words. 5 6 Pages 1-18. “Extranjera.” 5 7 Early draft Chapter 1 and Chapter 22. 5 8 Journal. 9/5/96- 9/4/98. Draft Three. 5 9 Pages 1-74. Chapters 1-18 (Some chapters renumbered) 5 10 Pages 75-173. Chapters 17-39. (Some chapters renumbered) Draft Seven (49,166 words), 6/11/99. 5 11 Chapters 1-11. 5 12 Chapters 12-24. 5 13 Chapters 25-45. "Suprarealism in the Picaresque Novel." (An unpublished critical study based on Ortiz-Taylor's dissertation. 5 14 “Extranejera” Draft 8-A. 6 1 Chapters 1 & 2. Pages 1-62. 6 2 Chapters 3 & 4 plus notes for Chapters 1-6. Pages 63-164. (Pages 63-164 missing). 6 3 Notes Chapters 1-2. 6 4 Notes Chapters 3-4. 6 5 Notes Chapter 5 plus miscellaneous notes. 6 6-7 Miscellaneous notes. Drafts (annotated). 6 8 Chapters 2 & 3. 6 9 Chapters 4 & 5. 6 10 Academic works relating to "Suprarealism in the Picaresque Novel" 6 11 Correspondence to publishers.
Unpublished Academic Papers and Stories 7 1 Papers (1957-1961) “Pain Child.” 12/13/57. “The Dramatic Function of two Minds Deceased,” May 29, 1961 “Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway,” April 18, 1961 “Carmichael and Kilman: Their Raison D’Être.” 4/25/61. “Plot and Character in Pride and Prejudice.” 11/28/61. “Marriage in “Pride and Prejudic.” 12/7/61. 7 2 Papers (1962) “Time as a Structural Device in the Novels of Virginia Woolf.” 1/18/62. “E. A. Robinson and the Spectrum of Tragedy.” 4/30/62. “Virginia Woolf: A Heuristic Study.” 1/7/62. “An Analysis of the Prose styles of Ben Jonson and John Donne,” 4/9/62. “Tragedy and Sad Countenance,” May 14, 1962 7 3 Papers (1963-64) “A Figure of the Trotaconventos in Spanish Courtly Love Literature.” 5/15/63. “Courtly Love in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde and Dante’s Vita Nuova.” May 1, 1963 “Isabel the Archer: A Study in Military Imagery.” 1/17/63 “Romantic and Tragic Modes in Mrs Dalloway.” 5/8/64 “Reconciliation of Opposites in The Bridge.” 5/1/64 “Mill, Tennyson, and The Philospher-Poet.” 7/6/64 7 4 Papers (1971-80) “The Story-Weaver at His Loom: Plot in Our Mutual Friend.” 6/11/71 “The Woman in the yellow dress.” 1980 7 5 Papers (n.d.) “Pythia Eleven.” n.d. “Techniques of American Color Fiction.” n.d. “Platonic Structure in Saul Bellow’s, “Looking for Mr Green.” n.d. (Also accompanying letter to Studies in Short Fiction, Newbury College, 1971, from Ortiz-Taylor). “That Great Sect: Marriage in the Novels of E.M. Forster.”
Bibliographic Contributions 7 6 “Emily Dickinson Annual Bibliography for 1975.” 7 7 Correspondence incoming, relating to Ortiz-Taylor’s contribution to bibliographical works. 7 8 Citations of Ortiz-Taylors bibliographical work (1970-1976) 7 9 Samples of Ortiz-Taylor’s bibliographical Works. (1967-1972)
Miscellaneous 7 10 Collection of Ortiz-Taylor’s notes, free-writes and plot-mapping.
SERIES IV: REVIEWS AND PUBLICITY
Box Folder Contents
8 1 Published criticism Relations with publisher, Naiad Press. 8 2 (1986-1991) 8 3 (1980-1985)
Faultline 8 4 Overview of Faultline by Ortiz-Taylor. 8 5 Copy of Ortiz-Taylor’s promotional/history scrapbook of publication of Faultline. 8 6-7 Reviews and publicity (1982-1990). 8 8 Reviews and publicity (1981-1983, outsize)
Spring Forward Fall Back (1985-1986) 8 9 Reviews and publicity
Slow Dancing at Miss Polly’s (1989-1990) 8 10 Reviews and publicity
Southbound (1990-1991) 8 11 Reviews and publicity
Imaginary Parents (1996) 8 12 Reviews and publicity
Coachella (1996-1998) 8 13 Reviews and publicity 8 14 Miscellaneous, reviews and publicity.
SERIES V: VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS
Box Folder Contents Florida State University audio tape (1997) 9 FSU Headlines 9 Memoris-Finales
Florida State University television video recording (1997) 9 Presentation of the Martin Luther King Award
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