Guide to the Barbara Herrnstein Smith Papers, 1973-2010

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 2017

Collection Overview

Title:	Barbara Herrnstein Smith papers
Date range:	1973-2010, (bulk 1973-2010)
Creator:	Smith, Barbara Herrnstein
Extent:	6.0 Linear feet
Abstract:	Papers of Barbara Herrnstein Smith, feminist literary critic, theorist and Braxton Craven Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature and English at Duke University. The collection includes correspondence, biographical materials, administrative and career development materials, course materials and drafts.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	Ms.2010.039

Scope & content

This collection is comprised of the papers of Barbara Herrnstein Smith, feminist literary critic, theorist, and Braxton Craven Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature and English at Duke University, from approximately 1973 to 2010. The collection documents Smith’s academic career and activism relating to equal rights for women. The collection includes correspondence, biographical information, administrative and career development papers, conferences and lecture materials, and research files.

Series I, Biographical, 1990-2003, includes monthly calendars, interviews of Smith, and portraits. Files are arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series II, Administrative and Career Development, 1978 -2002, documents Smith’s academic career. Materials include correspondence, daily schedules, newsletters, and notes regarding Smith’s positions at various universities including Duke, Princeton, and Stanford Universities and her involvement in professional organizations including the English Institute and the Modern Language Association. Files are arranged alphabetically by the organization.

Series III, Conferences, Lectures, and Related, 1987-1999, documents Smith’s professional participation at conferences, symposiums and visiting lectures. Materials include correspondence, lectures, travel itineraries and receipts. Files are arranged alphabetically by organization.

Series IV, Correspondence, 1973-1998, contains correspondence to, by and on behalf of Barbara Herrnstein Smith. Files are arranged alphabetically by last name of sender and then by topic where available. This is a general correspondence series that will require researchers to browse for specific topics and letter writers.

Series V, Course Materials, 1984-1994, includes course syllabi, assignments, reading lists, annotated readings and lectures for courses taught by Smith. Files are arranged alphabetically by course title.

Series VI, Research, 1987-1992 contains clippings, correspondence, articles and an unbound notebook. Topics include political correctness in higher education, English only movements and the death of B.F. Skinner.

Series VII, Writings and Related, 1973-2000, contains articles and book drafts, book reviews, publishing correspondence, publishing receipts and royalties, publicity materials for publications, and notes. Files are arranged alphabetically by publication title.

Series VIII, Restricted, 1981-2000, contains restricted files pulled from throughout the collection. Materials include student correspondence and personnel files regarding Smith's participation on search committes. Files are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series IX, Electronic records, 1997, contains ten audio cassettes arranged chronologically by information located on the carriers.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Duke Center for Critical Theory.
• Duke University.
• English Institute .
• Feminist Theory Archive.
• Modern Language Association of America
• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.

Subject Topics

• Feminist literary criticism
• Feminist theory
• Literary criticism and cultural theory

Subject Topics

• Race, Ethnicity and Gender

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 9 series.

• Series 1. Biographical - arranged alphabetically by record type
• Series 2. Administrative and Career Development - arranged alphabetically by organization
• Series 3. Conferences, Lectures and Related - arranged alphabetically by organization
• Series 4. Correspondence - arranged alphabetically by last name and then by topic
• Series 5. Course Materials - arranged alphabetically by course title
• Series 6. Research- arranged alphabetically by topic
• Series 7. Writings and Related- arranged alphabetically by publication title
• Series 8. Restricted- arranged alphabetically by folder title
• Series 9. Electronic Records- arranged chronologically by date indicated on carrier

Biographical/Historical note

Barbara Herrnstein Smith, Braxton Craven Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature and English at Duke University, is a feminist literary critic and theorist. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on topics such a language, literature, critical theory, science and the humanities.

Smith studied biology, experimental psychology, and philosophy at the City College of New York before attending Brandeis University. She graduated from Brandeis with a BA and Ph.D. in English Literature. Smith taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Bennington College before joining the faculty of Duke University in 1987. Smith also joined the faculty at Brown University in 2003 and is a Distinguished Professor of English.

She is the Former director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Science and Cultural Theory at Duke university. In 1988, Smith was elected president of the Modern Language Association. She was named a Fellow of the National Humanities Center in 1992, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1999 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Literature, Science and the Arts in October 2010.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except for Series 8, Restricted Materials. That series contains search comittee matieral and student correspondence, which are closed until 2070. 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.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Barbara Herrnstein Smith papers, Ms.2010.039, Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library.
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 Barbara Herrnstien Smith in 2010.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Amanda Knox, Crystal Johnson and Hallie McArn on behalf of the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-10-11
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Curatorial work and processing provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Feminist Theory Archive, Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Inventory

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