Kate Bornstein papers (Ms.2018.010)

This collection consists of the papers of Kate Bornstein, performer, playwright, author, and transgender activist who graduated from Brown University as Albert Bornstein in 1969. The collection documents Bornstein's personal and professional life and trans activism, and includes biographical information, correspondence, diaries, conference material, draft writings, writings by other authors, subject files, print material, ephemera, photographs, and electronic records dating from 1910-2018. The collection is arranged into 14 series.

Series 1, BIOGRPAHICAL, 1910-2017, highlights Bornstein's biography and personal life. Materials include awards and honors, clippings about Kate Bornstein, Albert's Bornstein's birth certificate, Kate Bornstein's drivers licenses and identification cards, information regarding Bornstein's daughter, Jessica Leah Bornstein, interviews, and Bornstein's official name-change decree from Albert Herman Bornstein to Katherine Vandam Bornstein. Other materials of interest include an employment dispute file between Bornstein and Satellite Business Systems regarding Bornstein's transition and dress code in the workplace. There is also an extensive set of family letters that Bornstein's father, Paul Bornstein, wrote to Mildred Vandam Bornstein '39 [Bornstein's mother] while stationed in North Africa during World War II. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by topic.

Series 2, CORRESPONDENCE, 1977-2018, contains personal and professional correspondence, arranged alphabetically by provenance then by first name or subject. Scattered throughout the correspondence series are letters from family, friends, colleagues, and other trans artists, activists, students, and the general public thanking Kate for her leadership and advocacy on behalf of the trans community. Of particular interest are letters from Albert Bornstein to his mother, daughter, ex-wife, and a college friend from Brown University regarding his transgenderism dating from 1985-1986 (#3.1, 3.3-3.4).

Series 3, DIARIES AND NOTES, 1983-2015, contains bound diaries and a small set of loose personal notes. The diaries contain reflections, ideas for plays and scripts, notes for other writings, and personal lists and jottings. Series 3 is arranged alphabetically then chronologically.

Series 4, CONFERENCES, 1991-2017, includes programs, conference schedules, participant lists, and other related material regarding conferences that Bornstein attended or at which she spoke, often as a keynote speaker. Conferences include the Athe91 conference regarding theater studies in higher education; the 2000 Y2 Genders conference at Smith College, and the 2007 Queer Texas Conference, among many others. This series is arranged chronologically then alphabetically by the conference name.

Series 5, WRITINGS BY KATE BORNSTEIN, 1970-2013, includes drafts, some related correspondence, contracts, and promotional material regarding essays, manuscripts, plays, scripts, and talks written or co-written by Bornstein. Draft works of note include Hidden: A Gender (1989), Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws (2009), and A Queer and Pleasant Danger: A Memoir (2012). Essays include "Another American Legacy" regarding Condoleeza Rice, "Dixie Belle: The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and "Sex, Bullies and You: How American Bully Culture Is Messing with Your Sex Life." Researchers seeking talks by Bornstein should see the folders labeled "Various titles: talks, [dates]" (#9.7-9.16). Given the number of lectures Bornstein wrote and presented across the United States, they have been arranged chronologically within this series under the general heading noted here. Overall, Series 5 is arranged alphabetically by title then alphabetically by record type.

Series 6, WRITINGS BY OTHER AUTHORS (UNPUBLISHED), 1986-2014, includes drafts and correspondence related to essays, manuscripts, poems, scripts and various creative writing by other authors. Many of these writers are notable trans people and friends of Bornstein who sent their works to Bornstein for advice and review. Works of note include Butch Is a Noun by Sharon Jill Bear Bergman; Transgender MANifesto by Michael M Hernandez; poems by Cheryl Lynne Oropal; and scripts from the television series Transparent written by Jill Soloway, among many other items. This series is arranged alphabetically by author then alphabetically by title.

Series 7, SUBJECT FILES, 1988-2011, includes a small set of clippings, reports, notes, and other items collected by Bornstein on the following subjects: ACT Theatre Company, LGBT centers, sadomasochism, spirtuality/health, suicide, and transgenderism. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series 8, PRINT MATERIALS, 1980-2017, contains published books, calendars, catalogs, journals, magazine, reports, and a large collection of self-published zines by various artists and writers. Topics include comics, feminism, LGBTQ rights and religion, poetry, queer identity, queer critique of same sex marriage, sexuality, sex work, transgenderism, teens and teen girlhood, among many other topics. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by record type then title.

Series 9, EPHEMERA, 1991-2005, includes a small collection of items including buttons, drawings and illustrations, postcards, and stickers, many of which relate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues and activist causes. This series is arranged alphabetically by object type.

Series 10, PHOTOGRAPHS, 1910-2017, consists of one carton of black and white, color, and polaroid photographs documenting Albert and Kate Bornstein's family, relatives, friends, romantic partners, and events, dating from 1910-2017. Of particular interest are images of Albert Bornstein with mother, Mildred Vandam Bornstein, and brother, Alan Bornstein; Albert Bornstein and friends at Brown University; photographs from Albert Bornstein's weddings; photographs of Albert Bornstein with daughter, Jessica Leah Bornstein; photographs of Kate Bornstein shortly after gender reassignment surgery; and candid images of Kate alone and with friends and family. Series 10 is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series 11, OVERSIZE MATERIALS, 1940-2006, includes posters documenting Bornstein's lectures and performances, get-well posters created for Bornstein while undergoing cancer treatment, an oversize book of photography by Jane Marcus, and fragile scrapbook pages containing Bornstein family photographs from 1940. Series 11 is arranged alphabetically by record type.

Series 12, ELECTRONIC RECORDS, 1977-2011, contains film, disks, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes. Records include book and talk drafts, performances, photographs, and television appearances by Bornstein. Of particular interest are VHS tapes documenting Bornstein's early appearances on television shows such as 20/20 with Barbara Walters, the Joan Rivers Show, and the Phil Donahue Show where Bornstein discussed her experiences as a trans person. Bornstein's original carrier titles are written in quotations. The processor created all other folder titles. This series is arranged alphabetically by record type then by title on carrier.

Series 13, BORN-DIGITAL RECORDS, contains born-digital records harvested from Bornstein's personal laptop and linked IPhone in 2019. Records include photographs, chat room discussions, draft writings, presentations, and text messages. The content of these records will be accessible in the John Hay Library Reading Room soon. Please email pembroke_archives@brown.edu for more information.

Series 14, RESTRICTED, 1990-1995, contains a small set of files removed from throughout the collection, which are closed until January 1, 2039.