Scope and Contents
The collection consists of writings, correspondence, writings of others, other papers, printed materials, audiovisual materials, and electronic media that document the life and work of African American poet Yusef Komunyakaa. The writings and correspondence are intermixed with writings of others and other papers that collectively document Komunyakaa's poetry, writings, teaching, and personal life. Printed materials include clippings, writings by Komunyakaa, and promotional materials. Audiovisual materials include audio and video recordings of Komunyakaa.
Dates
- 1930s-2014
- Majority of material found within 1976 - 2014
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Box 48 (audiovisual materials): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Box 49 (digital media): Restricted fragile material. Access copies of digital files may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Yusef Komunyakaa 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Chris Calhoun Agency on the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of Negro Arts & Letters Fund and the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 2014.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: I. Writings and Other Papers, 1930-2009. II. Correspondence and Other Papers, 1976-2014. III. Printed Materials, 1970s-2000s. IV. Audiovisual Materials, undated. V. Electronic Media, undated.
Extent
35.21 Linear Feet (49 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Biographical / Historical
Yusef Komunyakaa is an African American poet and recipient of the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
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.
- Title
- Guide to the Yusef Komunyakaa Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- February 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.