Scope and arrangement
The Ira Jeffries papers consist of biographical material including correspondence, memoirs, notebooks, and journals. Jeffries's unpublished memoir, "Sugar's Blues", is represented in the collection in draft form along with preliminary notes.
The most significant part of the collection consists of her writings, chiefly almost two dozen one-act and full length plays, many of which saw production in New York City's Off-Off Broadway stage. The file contains drafts, synopses, and several scripts, in addition to uncompleted plays. Additional material relating to Jeffries's productions includes several theater reviews. Manuscripts of her short stories include preliminary notes and a draft. Other writings include poetry, speeches, and journal articles written for African American and lesbian newspapers and magazines. Jeffries appeared in the film, Watermelon Woman, directed by Cheryl Dunye, and the script, notes, and related materials are included in the collection.
The Ira Jeffries papers are arranged in four series:
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ca. 1957-2008
This series contains a file of Jeffries's correspondence, both personal and professional; journals and notebooks; two biographical writings, Midlife Crisis and On Turning Fifty," and a draft and notes for the memoir in-progress, "Sugar's Blues."
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ca. 1958-1998
The most substantive series, Writing, consists of the playscripts of Jeffries's 22 plays, including preliminary drafts, revisions, and synopses. Other writings include several short stories, college papers, a small collection of poetry, numerous newspapers and magazine articles, and speeches. Also included are "miscellaneous story concepts"; excerpts from a potential book, tentatively entitled, "Legacy of Pain"; and notes for an uncompleted new play. The poetry file contains typed drafts, as well as early efforts in longhand..
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ca. 1976-2010
This series includes a large selection of magazine issues and newsletters (chiefly gay, lesbian and/or Black-oriented) that Jeffries collected, along with miscellaneous research materials which she may have used in her writing. Jeffries's notes and a complete script for the 1996 Cheryl Dunne film, Watermelon Woman, in which she appeared, are also included here. Manuscripts of plays and poetry by Jaso Wati (née Jasper Watson) are included with Jeffries's papers, as well.
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ca. 1970s-2008
This series contains an extensive collection of material related to Off-Off Broadway, primarily programs and playbills, which includes programs from productions of Jeffries's own plays. Other materials document her volunteer work and association with organizations such as SAGE, the Lesbian Herstory Archive, Sisters on Stage, and Acting Out: Lesbian Theater Conference and Festival.