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Subseries 4A: Freedom to Write, 1937-1998

68 boxes
SOME ONLINE CONTENT
Collection Creator:
PEN America
Dates:
1937-1998
Extent:
68 boxes
Languages:
English
Scope and Contents

This subseries documents P.E.N. American Center's advocacy on behalf of writers censored or persecuted for their political expression. It includes the files of the Freedom to Write Committee and files pertaining to P.E.N. American Center's work with the Writers in Prison Committee of International P.E.N. Founded in 1960 at P.E.N. American Center, the Freedom to Write program advocates for freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the release of imprisoned writers worldwide. The Writers in Prison Committee of International P.E.N. was established the same year by a group of volunteers at International P.E.N. Although distinct programs, the two program names were used synonymously at P.E.N. American Center to refer to the work of the Freedom to Write Committee. Included are general correspondence concerning the program, case files, and daily logs of Helen Graves, the coordinator of the P.E.N. American Center FTW program from 1986-1988.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Credit this material:

Subseries 4A: Freedom to Write; P.E.N. American Center Records, C0760, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Boxes 24-48; 147-150; 156-194
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Online access to most digitized audiovisual media in the collection is available through the PEN America Digital Archive site.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jennifer Bowden with the assistance of Jennifer Watkins in 1994. Finding aid written by Jennifer Bowden with the assistance of Jennifer Watkins in 1994.

Reprocessed by Regine Heberlein in 2010.

Original audiovisual media were digitized in 2015-2017 as part of a grant-funded digitization project in collaboration with PEN America. Description of audiovisual materials was enhanced by Kelly Bolding in 2018, using description provided by PEN America.

In 2022, restrictions on the P.E.N. Writers' Fund files were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

This subseries documents P.E.N. American Center's advocacy on behalf of writers censored or persecuted for their political expression. It includes the files of the Freedom to Write Committee and files pertaining to P.E.N. American Center's work with the Writers in Prison Committee of International P.E.N. Founded in 1960 at P.E.N. American Center, the Freedom to Write program advocates for freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the release of imprisoned writers worldwide. The Writers in Prison Committee of International P.E.N. was established the same year by a group of volunteers at International P.E.N. Although distinct programs, the two program names were used synonymously at P.E.N. American Center to refer to the work of the Freedom to Write Committee. Included are general correspondence concerning the program, case files, and daily logs of Helen Graves, the coordinator of the P.E.N. American Center FTW program from 1986-1988.

Arrangement

Subdivided into the following record groups: Alphabetical Card File of Writers in Prison, Descriptions and Program Reports, Committee Meetings, Correspondence, Case Files by Country, Domestic Case Files, Helen Graves Daily Logs, and Posters and Publicity.

Researchers interested in P.E.N.'s involvement in international cases are advised that the country case files were transferred by P.E.N. in four chronologically overlapping alpha runs. Material transferred from P.E.N. after the transfer of the first run is integrated in this finding aid in the first alphabetical file run but may be shelved physically apart.

The domestic case files are arranged in two chronological runs, of which the first (ca. 1960-1980) is arranged alphabetically, whereas the second one (ca. 1980-1990) is not. In both cases, the order of the files at the time of their transfer has been retained.

Collection History

Appraisal

Approximately 100 linear feet of material was separated in 2010, including duplicate material, clippings, general administrative and logistical files, general membership files, general reference files, publications (transferred to Firestone Library general collections) and extraneous material.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jennifer Bowden with the assistance of Jennifer Watkins in 1994. Finding aid written by Jennifer Bowden with the assistance of Jennifer Watkins in 1994.

Reprocessed by Regine Heberlein in 2010.

Original audiovisual media were digitized in 2015-2017 as part of a grant-funded digitization project in collaboration with PEN America. Description of audiovisual materials was enhanced by Kelly Bolding in 2018, using description provided by PEN America.

In 2022, restrictions on the P.E.N. Writers' Fund files were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Online access to most digitized audiovisual media in the collection is available through the PEN America Digital Archive site.

Credit this material:

Subseries 4A: Freedom to Write; P.E.N. American Center Records, C0760, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
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Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Boxes 24-48; 147-150; 156-194