Lorraine Hansberry papers

id
3944
origination
Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930-1965
date statement
1947-1988
key date
1947
identifier (local_mss)
20931
org unit
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
call number
Sc MG 680
b-number
b18155611
total components
1589
total series
6
max depth
9
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:04:54 UTC
updated
2026-08-15 02:26:42 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"20931", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 680", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b18155611", "type"=>"local_b"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1947-1988", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1947/1988"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Lorraine Hansberry papers"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"109 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"52.0 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"The Lorraine Hansberry Papers document Lorraine Hansberry's life as an award-winning playwright and activist, and chronicles her activities during the Civil Rights Movement. Virtually all of Hansberry's writings, autobiographical materials, journals, diaries, personal and professional correspondence are included here, as well as related materials generated by her late husband, Robert Nemiroff, and his third wife, Jewell Gresham-Nemiroff, as the executors of Hansberry's state. Significant correspondents include Daisy Bates, Louis Burnham, Julian Mayfield, Robert Nemiroff, and William Worthy."}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
origination
{"value"=>"Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930-1965", "type"=>"persname"}
custodhist
{"value"=>"<p>(A note on the arrangement. The Papers were arranged by archivist Matthew Lyons for the Lorraine Hansberry Estate prior to their transfer to the Center. In most instances, the Schomburg archival team has adhered to this initial arrangement).</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Lorraine Hansberry Papers chronicle the life of the award-winning playwright, and documents her legacy which was largely amassed and constructed by her late former husband, Robert Nemiroff, and his third wife, Jewell Gresham-Nemiroff. The papers include virtually all of Hansberry's writings, autobiographical materials, journals, diaries, personal and professional correspondence, and related materials generated by Nemiroff and Gresham-Nemiroff, as the executors of the Lorraine Hansberry Estate. The papers are organized into four series, PERSONAL PAPERS, WRITINGS, PROFESSIONAL, and LEGACY.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Lorraine Hansberry papers are arranged in six series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1238911'>Personal Papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1949-1989</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.8 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Contains materials created primarily by Hansberry from 1950 until her death in 1964. Included are diaries, journals and autobiographical notes, information regarding education and employment, subject files, correspondence, and interviews. Information about her extended illness and get-well cards are also filed here.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1238976'>Writings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1947-2001</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>33.9 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Largest series, divided into two subseries, Play Scripts and Other Writings. The series contains the bulk of Hansberry's play scripts, articles, lectures and speeches, short stories, poems and other writings.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1239771'>Professional</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1950s-1965</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.4 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series is divided into two subseries, Correspondence and Employment. The series is mainly comprised of correspondence Hansberry had with various organizations and individuals, and materials concerning her early employment history. Among the files are records that pertain to her career in journalism in the 1950s.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1239844'>Legacy</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1940-1991, undated, 1965-1980s</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>12.8 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The final series, LEGACY, is divided into two subseries, Robert Nemiroff and Lorraine Hansberry Legacy and Projects. The first subseries, Robert Nemiroff files, is further subdivided into two sub-subseries, Nemiroff's Biographical Information, and Lorraine Hansberry Estate.</p> <p>Additionally there are articles from the 1970s and 1980s where Nemiroff was quoted speaking about his late former wife. Also found here are a number of slightly different drafts for a musical, \"Kicks and Co\"., an interracial musical by Oscar Brown, Jr. It is not known what Nemiroff's role was regarding the play.</p> <p>Originally an editor, music publisher and award-winning songwriter, Nemiroff produced Hansberry's second play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window. He also had his own play, Postmark Zero, his adaptation of the book, The Last Letters from Stalingrad, presented on Broadway in 1965, in London and on national television.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1240212'>Oversized</a></div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20931#c1240213'>Library - List of selected books from Hansberry's library</a></div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>I. Personal Papers; II. Writings; III. Professional; IV. Legacy</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>The Estate of Lorraine Hansberry, 1998</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by: Steven G. Fullwood, Janice Quinter, Nurah-Rosalie Jeter, and Diana Lachatanere, with assistance from Lisann Lewin and Artis Q. Wright, May 2006</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>All requests subject to limitations noted in divisional policies on reproduction</p>"}
date_start
1947
keydate
1947
date_end
1988
date_inclusive_start
1947
date_inclusive_end
1988
prefercite
{"value"=>"[Item], Lorraine Hansberry papers, Sc MG 680, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}

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PDF finding aid



https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/scmmg680.pdf

File attachments

Title Filename Document type Description Index only
Periodicals in the Hansberry Papers https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/documents/inventory/collection_3944_scm20931-extra.pdf inventory

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