- unitid
-
{"value"=>"20781", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 180", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b11883963", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1957-1980", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1957/1980"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Piri Thomas papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"10 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"4.17 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"=>"Piri Thomas was an author, poet, and playwright. The Piri Thomas papers document several areas of Thomas's professional activities, including his writings and his work with and involvement in social justice organizations, from 1957 to 1982."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
{"value"=>"A small amount of material in this collection is written in Spanish."}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Thomas, Piri, 1928-2011", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Author, poet, and playwright, Piri Thomas, is best known for his autobiography, <span class=\"title\">Down These Mean Streets</span> (1967), which deals with his early years growing up in East Harlem, the challenges of his Afro-Puerto Rican/Cuban heritage, and his involvement with drugs and gangs. His second and third books, <span class=\"title\">Savior, Savior, Hold My Hand</span> (1972) and <span class=\"title\">Seven Long Times</span> (1974), are accounts, respectively, of the two years he spent in East Harlem following his release from prison and his incarceration. In addition to autobiographies, Thomas also wrote plays, screenplays, short stories, and poetry. He was influential in the Nuyorican Movement as an author and poet, and he is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of spoken word poetry, a form of poetry performance.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Piri Thomas papers document several areas of Thomas's professional activities, including his writings and his work with and involvement in social justice organizations, from 1957 to 1982. The collection consists primarily of manuscripts for his books, films, and plays, in addition to correspondence with, and files on a variety of organizations, focusing on artistic, social justice and educational issues.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Piri Thomas papers are arranged in five series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20781#c1616603'>Personal papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1967-1979</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The series, Personal papers, includes writings by and about Thomas, some prepared for publicity purposes, and an interview conducted in 1967, which provides extensive insight into his thinking at the time.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20781#c1616608'>Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1962-1980</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Correspondence series includes numerous requests to speak at public schools, colleges, prisons, and organizations as well as requests to participate in conferences and other events.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20781#c1616641'>Manuscripts</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1960s-1981</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Manuscripts series includes drafts in various stages of Thomas's published and unpublished work. There is associated correspondence, news clippings, and reviews for his books, plays, screenplays, and miscellaneous writings. The most complete documentation exists for <span class=\"title\">Down These Mean Streets</span>, consisting of manuscript drafts and post-publication files. Of interest are files related to the banning of this book in the 1970s. There are drafts for his other autobiographies, <span class=\"title\">Savior, Savior, Hold My Hand</span> and <span class=\"title\">Seven Long Times</span>, as well as for his 1978 book <span class=\"title\">Stories from El Barrio</span>. Included in the collection are drafts of two unpublished book length manuscripts, \"God's Gotta Know I'm Trying\" and \"In the Temple of the Child-Like Mind\". A playscript for <span class=\"title\">The Golden Streets</span>, screenplay for <span class=\"title\">Petey and Johnny</span> and two teleplays, <span class=\"title\">The World of Piri Thomas</span> and <span class=\"title\">Repetitions of Indignity</span> form part of the series. There are also examples of Thomas's short stories, poetry, and lyrics. Additionally, a researcher discovered a very significant speech, undocumented in any historical account.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20781#c1616706'>Organizations and agencies</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1957-1980</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Thiss series documents Thomas's activism with organizations and government agencies on behalf of Puerto Ricans, youth, and prisoners.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20781#c1616723'>Printed material</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1962-1982</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains programs for his plays, films, poetry readings and recitations, and speaking engagements.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>Papers organized into five series: I. Personal papers; II. Correspondence; III. Manuscripts; IV. Organizations and agencies; and V. Printed material.</p>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Piri Thomas, 1981.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Janice Quinter, May 2005.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Materials may not be used for publication, reproduction, or other forms of copying except for single copies for research purposes without written permission of Piri Thomas's representatives.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1957
- keydate
-
1957
- date_end
-
1980
- date_inclusive_start
-
1957
- date_inclusive_end
-
1980
- extent_statement
-
4.17 linear feet (10 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"[Item], Piri Thomas papers, Sc MG 180, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}