Norris Church Mailer:
An Inventory of Her Papers at the Harry Ransom Center
| Creator: | Mailer, Norris Church | |
| Title: | Norris Church Mailer Papers | |
| Dates: | 1918-2011 (bulk 1985-2006) | |
| Extent: | 14 boxes (5.88 linear feet) and 1053 electronic files (19 GB) | |
| Abstract: | The Norris Church Mailer Papers consists of numerous versions of Mailer's manuscripts, including three screenplays written with Norman Mailer. Also present are personal correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, memorabilia from her life in Arkansas, financial records, datebooks and address books, various personal and professional records, photographs, digital media containing photographs, and nine books with inscriptions. | |
| Call Number: | Manauscript Collection MS-05388 | |
| Language: | English |
| Access | Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using archival materials. To request access to electronic files, please email Reference. | |
| Use Policies | Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of Texas at Austin assume no responsibility. | |
| Restrictions on Use | Certain restrictions apply to the use of electronic files. Researchers must agree to the Materials Use Policy for Electronic Files before accessing them. Original computer disks and forensic disk images are restricted. Copying electronic files, including screenshots and printouts, is not permitted. Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom Centers' Open Access and Use Policies. |
Administrative Information
| Acquisition: | Purchase, 2016 (16-01-112-P) | |
| Processed by: | Lorraine Dong, 2017 Born digital materials processed, arranged, and described by Chance Adams and Brenna Edwards, 2016-2023. |
| Repository: |
Scope and Contents
| The Norris Church Mailer Papers are composed of manuscripts, research and publicity materials, correspondence, legal and financial records, medical records, address and date books, photographs, clippings, and digital media dating from 1918 to 2011. The Papers are arranged in two series: I. Literary and Other Activities, 1937-2011 (bulk 1975-2006); and II. Family and Personal, 1918-2008 (bulk 1949-2008). | ||
| Most of the materials when received by the Ransom Center were grouped according to topic and labeled in envelopes, folders, or binders, but not consistently. Photocopies of folders with writing or other information were added to the corresponding folder's contents. | ||
| Series I. Literary and Other Activities, 1937-2011 (bulk 1975-2006) (11.5 boxes) contains records relating to Norris Church Mailer's literary and other professional pursuits. The bulk of the series consists of handwritten, typed, and composite drafts of novels and screenplays. The former includes Bad Luck Creek and Cheap Diamonds, as well as research and publicity materials for Windchill Summer. The latter includes drafts co-written with Norman Mailer: The Empress, Spicy Detective, and The Temporary Insanity of Daniel Sickles. Other screenplay drafts are by Norris Church Mailer and her frequent collaborator, B. C. Hall: Amos, Little Miss Little Rock, and The Passion Play. Additionally, the series is comprised of writing fragments, notes, and correspondence. The film project subseries includes development discussions for The Empress, Spicy Detective, and Norman Mailer's "The Last Night." | ||
| Besides materials related to Norris Church Mailer's literary pursuits, the series consists of fliers and other publicity related to her painting and modeling, as well as correspondence and advertisements regarding the readings and musical activities she did with Norman Mailer. The materials in the series are listed alphabetically in two groups, first by title and second by activity. | ||
| Series II. Family and Personal, 1918-2008 (bulk 1949-2008) (2.5 boxes) encompasses primarily address and date books maintained by Norris Church Mailer. These materials reflect the daily activities and social circles of the Mailer household. Other items include medical records related to Norris Church Mailer's cancer treatments, home maintenance records, correspondence, family photographs, and cookbooks from her home state of Arkansas. The series also contains a vault inventory, 1995-1996, of Norman Mailer's works by J. Michael Lennon when Mailer's materials were stored at Diversified Records in West Pittson, Pennsylvania. Materials in this series are arranged by volume, with the largest groups of materials first. | ||
Related Material
| Other Norris Church Mailer materials are present in the Ransom Center's Norman Mailer Papers. | ||
Separated Material
| Digital media recieved with the Norris Church Mailer Papers were transferred to the Ransom Center's Electronic Records holdings. Books were transferred to the Center's Library. | ||