Diane Middlebrook papers (Ms.2010.043)

This collection consists of the papers of Diane Middlebrook, biographer poet, and professor emeritus of English at Stanford University, from approximately 1956 to 2008. The collection documents Middlebrook’s personal life, teaching career, and biographical research on Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, Billy Tipton, and Ovid. Materials include correspondence, subject and research files, teaching and conference materials, interview transcripts, manuscript drafts, photographs, and audio recordings. This collection includes restricted materials.

The collection arrived to the Pembroke Center Archives in two batches and as such, has been processed in two sets. Subgroup I: First Accession, consists of Series 1 – 6. It was processed by Caitlin Christian-Lamb and Lindsey Fresta in 2011. Subgroup II: Second Accession, consists of series 7 – 14 and was processed by Crystal Johnson, Amanda Knox, Halle McArne, and Mary Murphy, in 2017.

Researchers should be aware that there is extensive overlap between the two accessions and as such, researchers should look through both subgroups when searching for a specific topic.

The processors created the arrangement of the Diane Middlebrook collection. Folder titles that are listed in quotations were created by Diane Middlebrook. The processors created the remaining folder titles.

Subgroup 1, Series 1, Anne Sexton, is arranged into 5 subseries: Manuscripts, Research Material and Notes, Publicity, Legal Documents, and Correspondence, related to Middlebrook’s Anne Sexton: A Biography (1991). This series includes articles, reviews, notes, and writing on the ethics controversy caused by Middlebrook’s use of Anne Sexton’s taped psychiatric sessions. Materials are dated between 1980 and 2003.

Subgroup 1, Series 2, Billy Tipton, is arranged into 5 subseries: Manuscripts, Research Materials and Notes, Correspondence, Publicity, and Legal Documents, related to Middlebrook’s Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton (1998). Materials are dated between 1993 and 2001.

Subgroup 1, Series 3, Ted Hughes, is arranged into 3 subseries: Research Materials and Notes, Legal Documents, and Publicity, related to Middlebrook’s Her Husband: Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, A Marriage (2003). Materials are dated between 1999 and 2006.

Subgroup 1, Series 4, Ovid, is arranged into 3 subseries: Research Materials and Notes, Teaching Materials, and Legal Documents, related to a planned biography of the Roman poet, Ovid. Young Ovid: A Life Recreated was published posthumously in 2015. Materials are dated between 1980 and 2007.

Subgroup 1, Series 5, Professional Career, is arranged into six subseries: Teaching Materials, Lectures and Talks, Correspondence, Media, Resume/ Biographical material, and Other Published Writing. This series contains audiocassette and video interviews with Middlebrook, as well as teaching aids on audiocassette and 3.5 inch floppy disks. Materials are dated between 1969 and 2005.

Subgroup 1, Series 6, Personal Materials, are arranged into 6 subseries: Correspondence (Access requires written permission from Leah Middlebrook until January 1, 2037, after which date this subseries is open without restrictions), Writings, Miscellaneous Items of a personal nature, Legal Documents, Scrapbooks, and Photographs. The Scrapbooks subseries includes materials compiled by Middlebrook in her high school and college years, as well as her baby book and a book compiled for Middlebrook for her retirement from Stanford University. Materials are dated between 1958 and 2008.

Subgroup 2, Series 7, Biographical, contains personal material about Middlebrook including interviews with Middlebrook, medical records, and programs from tributes to Middlebrook. Folders are arranged alphabetically by record type and date between 1972 and 2004.

Subgroup 2, Series 8, Anne Sexton: A Biography, contains the published text, reviews, conference materials, correspondence, drafts, fan mail, permissions, photocopied research files from the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin, and an extensive set of subject files, mostly organized by personal name. Researchers should note that subject files may include correspondence between Middlebrook and the subject; transcribed correspondence between the subject and others; interview transcripts of interviews conducted by Middlebrook and others with the subject; clippings, and handwritten and typed notes by Middlebrook regarding the subject. Of particular note are the subject files on Anne Sexton’s doctors, Fred Duhl and Martin Orne. Series 8 also includes talks by Middlebrook regarding the book project. Folders are arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic and dated between 1958 and 2002.

Subgroup 2, Series 9, Her Husband: Hughes and Plath, a Marriage, contains reviews, conference materials, correspondence, drafts, research files, and subject files. Folders are arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic and dated between 1980 and 2007.

Subgroup 2, Series 10, Suits Me: The Double Life of Billy Tipton, contains the published text, reviews, fan mail, lecture transcripts, and publicity materials. Folders are arranged alphabetically by record type and dated between 1997 and 2001.

Subgroup 2, Series 11, Young Ovid: A Life Recreated, contains the published text of Ovid: Metamorphoses translated by Rolfe Humphries, a manuscript, course materials, and lecture programs. Folders are arranged alphabetically by record type and dated between 1998 and 2007.

Subgroup 2, Series 12, Photographs, is arranged into two subseries. Subseries 1, Personal, contains black and white and color photos of Diane Middlebrook, Jonathan Middlebrook, Lawrence Bridges, and Leah Middlebrook, in addition to other family members and unidentified people. Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject and dated between 1961 and 1983. Subseries 2, Professional, contains black and white and color photos related to Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and Billy Tipton. Folders are arranged alphabetically by project title and date between 1993 and 1999.

Subgroup 2, Series 13, Audio Recordings, contains audiocassettes, CD-ROMs, disks, zip disks, and floppy disks, and includes interviews and readings relating to the biographical research of Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and Billy Tipton. They are dated between 1973 and 2003.

Subgroup 2, Series 14, Restricted Materials, is arranged into two subseries. Subseries 1, Restricted Paper Material, contains personal correspondence between Diane Middlebrook and her family, friends, lovers, and others. Folder titles for this set of correspondence identify the authors and dates of the correspondence. Access to Middlebrook’s personal correspondence requires written permission from Leah Middlebrook until January 1, 2037, after which date this subseries will be open without restrictions.

Restricted paper materials also include medical records of Anne Sexton, which are closed until October 4, 2024; and transcripts of interviews conducted by Middlebrook with Anne Sexton’s daughter, Linda Sexton. Access to material about Linda Sexton requires written permission from Linda Sexton during her lifetime, after which date the files will be open without restrictions.

Subseries 2, Restricted Audio Recordings, contains audiocassettes of interviews conducted by Diane Middlebrook with Joy Sexton and Linda Sexton. They are dated between 1980 and 1989. Access requires written permission from Linda Sexton during her lifetime, after which date files will be open without restrictions.