Bruce Nugent papers, 1906-2009

Summary

Creator:
Nugent, Bruce, 1906-1987 and Wirth, Thomas H., 1938-2014
Abstract:
The collection consists of correspondence, writings, personal and financial papers, subject files, photographs, printed materials, and audiovisual materials. Bruce Nugent's correspondence consists of family, professional, and personal correspondence, including letters from homosexual love interests. Writings include poetry, short non-fiction pieces, and various fiction pieces, including the novel Gentleman Jigger. Writings by others include drafts and papers relating to Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance by Thomas H. Wirth. Photographs consist of portraits and snapshots of Nugent, his love interests, friends, and family. The bulk of the audiovisual materials consist of interviews with Nugent. Printed materials include books inscribed to Nugent as well as various clippings and ephemera.
Extent:
22.07 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Bruce Nugent Papers. James Weldon Johnson Collection in the Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence, writings, personal and financial papers, subject files, photographs, printed materials, and audiovisual materials. Bruce Nugent's correspondence consists of family, professional, and personal correspondence, including letters from homosexual love interests. Writings include poetry, short non-fiction pieces, and various fiction pieces, including the novel Gentleman Jigger. Writings by others include drafts and papers relating to Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance by Thomas H. Wirth. Photographs consist of portraits and snapshots of Nugent, his love interests, friends, and family. The bulk of the audiovisual materials consist of interviews with Nugent. Printed materials include books inscribed to Nugent as well as various clippings and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Bruce Nugent was a gay African American writer and painter associated with the Harlem Renaissance.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Thomas H. Wirth on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 2012.
Processing information:

Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections [as they are acquired], and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.

This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization.

Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.

Arrangement:

Organized into fourteen series: Series I. Correspondence, 1941-1987. Series II. Poems, short works of fiction and nonfiction, interviews, 1920s-1985. Series III. Long works of fiction, novels, 1929-1985. Series IV. Documentation of Nugent's career, 1927-2009. Series V. Personal, family, and finanical papers, 1906-1990. Series VI. Printed appearances of writings and art by Nugent, 1925-2009. Series VII. Drafts of and correspondence relating to posthumously published work by Nugent, 1995-2007. Series VIII. Writings by others about Nugent, 1983-2009. Series IX. Third-party correspondence, 1946-2008. Series X. Subject files, 1927-1986. Series XI. Photographs, 1880s-1986. Series XII. Books, 1931-1994. Series XIII. Audiovisual materials, 1983-1987. Series XIV. Oversize materials and miscellaneous papers, 1928-2002.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The materials are open for research.

Box 95 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Box 102: Restricted until January 1, 2037. For further information consult the appropriate curator.

Terms of access:

The Bruce Nugent Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Preferred citation:

Bruce Nugent Papers. James Weldon Johnson Collection in the Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Location of this collection:
Beinecke Rare Book Library
121 Wall St
New Haven, CT 06511
Contact:
beinecke.library@yale.edu
http://www.library.yale.edu/beinecke/