Guide to the Xochitl Gonzalez papers, 1977–2024

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2024

Collection Overview

Title:	Xochitl Gonzalez papers
Date range:	1977–2024
Creator:	Gonzalez, Xochitl, 1977-
Extent:	6.5 linear feet 5 record center cartons, 2 file boxes, and 1 half file box
Abstract:	This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Xochitl Gonzalez, Brown University class of 1999. Gonzalez is a cultural critic, producer, screenwriter, and a New York Times bestselling author. She is a 2021 M.F.A. graduate from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her non-fiction work has been published in Elle Decor, Allure, Vogue, Real Simple, and The Cut. As a staff writer for The Atlantic, she was recognized as a 2023 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. Gonzalez is a Brown University Trustee (2022-2028). The collection includes writing drafts, personal and professional correspondence, memorabilia, and research and print materials. The collection spans from 1977 to 2024.
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	MS.2024.020

Scope & content

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Xochitl Gonzalez, Brown University class of 1999. Gonzalez is a cultural critic, producer, screenwriter, and a New York Times bestselling author. She is a 2021 M.F.A. graduate from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her non-fiction work has been published in Elle Decor, Allure, Vogue, Real Simple, and The Cut. As a staff writer for The Atlantic, she was recognized as a 2023 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. Gonzalez is a Brown University Trustee (2022-2028) and a trustee of the Brooklyn Public Library and a board member of the Pen/Faulkner Foundation. The collection includes writing drafts, personal and professional correspondence, memorabilia, and research and print materials. The collection spans from 1977 to 2024 and is arranged into 8 series.

Series 1, PERSONAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL, 1977 – 2024, includes articles about Gonzalez, awards, educational records, and memorabilia. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 2, CORRESPONDENCE, 1991 – 2024, includes personal correspondence from various senders including her parents and grandparents. Correspondence also appears throughout the collection as it directly relates to specific series. This series is arranged chronologically and then alphabetically by the sender's name.

Series 3, OLGA DIES DREAMING [BOOK], 2019 – 2020, includes annotated manuscript drafts, and chapter drafts, related to the book, Olga Dies Dreaming. The book was inspired by Gonzalez's career as a wedding planner for the ultra-rich in New York City following the 2008 recession. Gonzalez used the narrative to critically explore the ideas of class and the American dream and comment on issues like gentrification. Gonzalez began early drafts of Olga Dies Dreaming before attending the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. She then continued to work on the book while at the Workshop. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 4, OLGA DIES DREAMING [TELEVISION SHOW], 2020 – 2021, includes script drafts, production binders, and related correspondence regarding development of a television series based on the book. During the summer of 2021, production began on a pilot for Olga Dies Dreaming as a Hulu television series. Of particular interest are the production binders and the "show bible" which contains the series' documentation and acts as a reference document used by screenwriters to help establish continuity as a show evolves over time. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 5, ANITA DE MONTE LAUGHS LAST [BOOK], 2020 – 2023, includes annotated manuscript drafts, related research, and script drafts regarding Ganzalez's second novel, Anita De Monte Laughs Last that draws on Gonzalez's undergraduate experiences at Brown University. The novel follows college student Raquel Toro as she discovers the art of Anita de Monte, a character based on the Cuban artist Ana Mendieta. Of particular interest are the plotting index cards created during Gonzalez's writing process. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, OTHER WRITINGS, 2017 – 2024, includes articles as well as story and essay drafts. Of particular interest are the writings Gonzalez worked on during the Bread Loaf Conference in 2018. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 7, PRINT MATERIALS, 1977 – 2024, includes Playbills and program pamphlets documenting Gonzalez's interest in theater. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 8, RESTRICTED MATERIALS, 2024 – 2024, includes drafts and correspondence that are closed for research until Gonzalez' death on or before January 1, 2077. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.

Subject Topics

• Brown University--Alumni and alumnae
• Women and Gender at Brown University
• Puerto Rican experience
• Puerto Rican fiction.
• Gentrification.
• American Dream--Fiction.
• Women writers

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 8 series.

• Series 1. Personal and Biographical
• Series 2. Correspondence
• Series 3. Olga Dies Dreaming [Book]
• Series 4. Olga Dies Dreaming [Television Show]
• Series 5. Anita de Monte Laughs Last [Book]
• Series 6. Other Writings
• Series 7. Print Materials
• Series 8. Restricted Materials

Biographical/Historical Note

Xochitl Gonzalez is a cultural critic, producer, screenwriter, and the New York Times bestselling author. Gonzalez was born in 1977 in New York City to a second-generation Puerto Rican mother and Mexican-American father. She was raised by her grandparents in Brooklyn as her parents focused on being activists in the Socialist Workers Party. Gonzalez attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn and earned a scholarship to Brown University. At Brown she majored in art history, but was interested in creative writing and theater. Gonzalez graduated from Brown with a Bachelor of Arts in 1999. In June 2022, Gonzalez was elected a trustee of Brown University.

Gonzalez worked as a wedding planner, an entrepreneur, and a consultant for many years before deciding to pursue a career in writing. After the death of her grandmother in 2017, Gonzalez used the sale of her grandmother's home to help fund her writing efforts.

Gonzalez participated in Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at Middlebury College in 2018 and then in 2019 she was accepted to the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop where she completed her MFA in 2021 and received the Michener-Copernicus Prize in Fiction. Gonzalez began early drafts of her book Olga Dies Dreaming before attending the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop and she continued working on the book during her MFA. Olga Dies Dreaming was bought by Flatiron Books during Gonzalez's second semester at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2020 and the book was published in 2022.

Olga Dies Dreaming was inspired by Gonzalez's career as a wedding planner for the ultra-rich in New York City following the 2008 recession. Gonzalez used the narrative to critically explore the ideas of class and the American dream and comment on issues like gentrification. The book was received positively and became a New York Times Bestseller. In 2022 Gonzalez wrote and co-executive produced a pilot for Hulu based on the novel.

In 2024, Gonzalez published her second novel titled Anita de Monte Laughs Last which draws on Gonzalez's undergraduate experiences at Brown University. The novel follows college student Raquel Toro as she discovers the art of Anita de Monte, a character based on the Cuban artist Ana Mendieta.

Gonzalez was the winner of the 2019 Disquiet Literary Prize and her work has been published in Bustle, Vogue, and The Cut. She continues to write about class, gentrification, and the American dream. Gonzalez is a staff writer for The Atlantic, where her newsletter "Brooklyn, Everywhere," was recognized as a 2023 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. Gonzalez is a Brown University Trustee (2022-2028) and is a trustee of the Brooklyn Public Library and a board member of the Pen/Faulkner Foundation and on the board of the Lower Eastside Girls Club.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are some restrictions on access, though most of the collection is open for research use. Series 8 is restricted due to copyright and personal identifying information and is restricted until Gonzalez' death on or before January 1, 2077. The collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view any audiovisual media or born-digital records that may exist in this collection. Audiovisual media and born-digital records in this collection may not have been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical audiovisual or born-digital media is restricted.
Use of the materials:	All researchers seeking to publish materials from the collections of the John Hay Library are requested to complete a Notice of Intent to Publish, prior to reproducing, quoting, or otherwise publishing any portion or extract from this collection. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Xochitl Gonzalez papers, MS.2024.020, Box [#], Folder [#], Pembroke Center Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Xochitl Gonzalez beginning in 2024.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Erin Perfect, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-12-10.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Curatorial work provided by Amanda Knox and Mary O. Murphy, on behalf of the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Related material:

Related Materials See also: Xochitl's oral history interview.

Inventory

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