Box 90

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Subseries 1.9, i live in music, 1994-1997, includes book proofs with notes from the editor. i live in music, first published in 1984, is a lyrical poem dedicated to music’s ability to forge connections between individuals. The poem is interspersed with images of artworks by Romare Bearden.

Scope and Contents From the Series: Series 6, Photographs, 1952-2018, undated, includes primarily candid photographs of family and friends; rehearsals and performances; vacations; and limited headshots and portraits of Shange and her family members. Family gatherings pictured include weddings, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and reunions. Formats include color and black and white prints, negatives, and multi-photograph frames. Photographs are largely unlabeled; where labels are available they have been summarized in...

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Two family photographs: one of mother Eloise Owens-Williams and one of Eloise Owens-Williams, Stephanie Spottswood Cabaniss, Jodora McIntosh, Joyce Burrows Dinkins, and Lois Carry Carroll at a wedding (1952); printout of cover of If I Can Cook/You Know God Can (all items previously framed)

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Photographs of performance at Bowery Poetry Club with Shange and Dyane Harvey; unidentified exhibit including Shange; image of Shange at after party for the premiere of for colored girls film

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Draft of script created by the Intersection for the Arts and resident theatre company Campo Santo from the writings of Jimmy Santiago Baca and Shange

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Photocopies of handwritten notes for The Lizard Series; part of computer printout of Betsey Brown; part of computer printout of From Okra to Greens; part of computer printout of scripts of Lavender Lizards and Lilac Landmines: Layla's Dream including Ntozake's handwritten notes, part of faxed copy of Some Sing, Some Cry

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series: Subseries 1.25, Other and multiple works, 1996-2018, undated, includes materials related to other works by Shange (for which there were not enough items to constitute a subseries). This subseries also contains groupings of materials in which multiple works were originally arranged together (for example, photocopies of multiple excerpts or poems grouped and edited for performance or anthologies). Types of materials include photocopies of published works (some with notes), typewritten and...

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Narcotics Anonymous flyers and program for production Chicago production by Elizabeth Alexander

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Programs, clippings, and photographs from Talawa Theatre Company (London) production of The Love Space Demands; souvenirs from London and Paris

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Konch Spring 1991 (with work by Shange), The Writer's Voice Spring/Summer 1992, Genders March 1990 (with marginalia in Shange's hand)

Scope and Contents From the Series: Series 4, Press, Programs, and Ephemera, 1970-2019, undated, includes newspapers and magazine clippings with coverage and reviews of Shange’s and others’ works; playbills and programs; flyers and posters; press materials for works of Shange’s and works of others that she attended; recordings of television and radio media appearances; and ephemera such as travel itineraries, theater tickets, and book jackets. This series documents both Shange’s own creative output and frequent speaking...

Scope and Contents Playbills, including: for colored girls, Henry Street Settlement's New Federal Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival production (1975); for colored girls, Booth Theatre production (1976); Three Views of Mt. Fuji, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre production (1987; also includes press release); Betsey Brown, McCarter Theatre production (1991); Betsey Brown, Crossroads Theatre Company production (1993; also includes flyer); for...

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series: Subseries 2.1, Business, 1984-2018, undated, contains professional correspondence between Shange and editors, agents, producers, as well as publicity materials, travel documents and itineraries, invitations, fundraising asks, membership materials, performance notes, recommendation letters, requests for Shange’s critique or blurbs for other works, royalty statements and payments, and contracts received or sent by Shange. Much of the correspondence relates to works by Shange and in some cases...

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Letter from editor and notes with replies from Shange, and 1997 typescript draft

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series: Subseries 2.2, Personal, 1972-2018, undated, contains personal correspondence between Shange and friends and family, including letters, greeting cards, event invitations, and photographs. Some correspondence with family members and friends relating to creative collaboration and other business has been placed in Subseries 2.1, Business (and Shange frequently collaborated with friends and family in her professional and creative life). Correspondents include Shange’s parents, siblings,...

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series: Subseries 2.2, Personal, 1972-2018, undated, contains personal correspondence between Shange and friends and family, including letters, greeting cards, event invitations, and photographs. Some correspondence with family members and friends relating to creative collaboration and other business has been placed in Subseries 2.1, Business (and Shange frequently collaborated with friends and family in her professional and creative life). Correspondents include Shange’s parents, siblings,...