Xochitl Gonzalez papers (MS.2024.020)

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.