Contents and Arrangement
Toggle
Online

48th PEN International Congress - How Does the State Imagine, 1986 January 13

1 box
HAS ONLINE CONTENT
View Digital Content
Collection Creator:
PEN America
Dates:
1986 January 13
Located In:
Box 262
Extent:
1 box
Languages:
English
Scope and Contents

The fourteen writers in the two sessions that make up this event take diverse positions on its theme, from Gordimer who begins her talk by saying that "the state has no imagination" to Doctorow who outlines the many ways that states and literature are intertwined. A letter of protest against the invitation of Secretary of State Shultz is read out at the start of the second session, and individual writers also express their objections and shock over the decision; we learn that the South African delegation boycotted the opening ceremony in protest.

The event consists of two sessions. Claude Simon speaks first, in French. Kobo Abe and Günter Grass also speak in Japanese and German, respectively, but their remarks are translated as they go. Mario Vargas Llosa speaks last in the first session, and he speaks in Spanish, which is not translated. There is also a portion of a reading by J.M. Coetzee.

2 compact cassettes (1/8-inch magnetic audio tape; 120 minutes)

Tapes 1-2 of 3. (Incomplete set)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Credit this material:

48th PEN International Congress - How Does the State Imagine; P.E.N. American Center Records, C0760, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Box 262
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

The fourteen writers in the two sessions that make up this event take diverse positions on its theme, from Gordimer who begins her talk by saying that "the state has no imagination" to Doctorow who outlines the many ways that states and literature are intertwined. A letter of protest against the invitation of Secretary of State Shultz is read out at the start of the second session, and individual writers also express their objections and shock over the decision; we learn that the South African delegation boycotted the opening ceremony in protest.

The event consists of two sessions. Claude Simon speaks first, in French. Kobo Abe and Günter Grass also speak in Japanese and German, respectively, but their remarks are translated as they go. Mario Vargas Llosa speaks last in the first session, and he speaks in Spanish, which is not translated. There is also a portion of a reading by J.M. Coetzee.

2 compact cassettes (1/8-inch magnetic audio tape; 120 minutes)

Tapes 1-2 of 3. (Incomplete set)

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

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 copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

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:

48th PEN International Congress - How Does the State Imagine; 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
Ask Us a Question
Visit Us
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Box 262