Guide to the Claire Kahane papers, 1960-2021

(bulk 1976-2006)

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2024

Collection Overview

Title:	Claire Kahane papers
Date range:	1960-2021, (1976-2006)
Creator:	Kahane, Claire
Extent:	5 Linear Feet 4 record cartons, and 2 document boxes
Abstract:	The Claire Kahane papers contain writings, research materials, correspondence, and teaching materials related to her work in feminist literary theory, psychoanalytic theory, and Holocaust literature. The materials date from 1960-2021, with the bulk from 1976-2006.
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	Ms.2012.027

Scope & content

The Claire Kahane papers consist of writings, research materials, correspondence, and teaching materials related to Kahane's positions in the English Departments of SUNY Buffalo and UC Berkeley. The materials range from 1960-2021 and span topics of feminist literary theory, psychoanalytic theory, trauma theory, and Holocaust literature.

Series 1 contains published and unpublished typescripts, drafts, and presentation slides from 1960-2008 (bulk 1974-2008), and is arranged chronologically.

Series 2 contains notes, drafts, programs, and related conference materials from 1980-2012 (bulk 1996-2006), arranged chronologically.

Series 3 contains correspondence with colleagues and publishers, Kahane's promotional and professional materials, and reviews of her own work and teaching. The materials range from 1978-2021 (bulk 1978-2000) and are arranged chronologically. This series also contians a folder of photographs from professional engagements.

Series 4 contains articles and publications that Kahane used in her writings and teaching. These materials are largely undated but range roughly from 1976-2001.

Series 5 contains course materials, lecture notes, readings, syllabi, and student publications. The materials range from 1978-2009 (bulk 1983-2002) and are arranged chronologically. At the end of the series are a small number of folders containing former students' published works.

Series 6 comprises floppy disks with course materials, works-in-progress, grant applications, and letters of recommendation dating from 1991-2000. Some material is restricted until 2080.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women.
• Feminist Theory Archive.

Subject Topics

• Literary critics
• Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
• Psychoanalysis
• Feminist theory
• Literature -- Study and teaching -- United States

Occupations

• College professors

Document Types

• Syllabi
• Typescripts
• Floppy disks

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series:

• Series 1: Writings, 1960-2008 (bulk 1974-2008)
• Series 2: Conference Materials, 1980-2012 (bulk 1996-2006)
• Series 3: Correspondence and Professional Materials, 1978-2021 (bulk 1978-2000)
• Series 4: Research, 1976-2001
• Series 5: Teaching Materials, 1978-2009 (bulk 1978-2002)
• Series 6: Floppy Disks, 1991-2000

Biographical note

Claire Kahane was born in 1935 and was raised in New York. She received her B.A. from the City College of New York and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. Her dissertation was entitled "A Rage of Vision: A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Flannery O'Connor's Fiction."

Professor Kahane taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1974-2000 and has been a Visiting Scholar in the Department of English at UC Berkeley. She has completed psychoanalytic training at the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute and has instructed at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California.

In addition to authoring Passions of the Voice: Hysteria, Narrative and the Figure of the Speaking Woman, 1850—1915 (1995) and numerous articles and book chapters, Kahane is the co-editor of In Dora's Case: Freud, Hysteria, Feminism (1990) and The (M)Other Tongue: Essays in Feminist Psychoanalytic Interpretation (1985).

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested. Advance notice is required to view any audiovisual media or born-digital records that may exist in this collection. Audiovisual media and born-digital records in this collection may not have been reformatted yet. Researchers may request access to copies by contacting the John Hay Library with the collection name, collection number, and a description of the item(s) requested. Access to original physical audiovisual or born-digital media is restricted.
Use of the materials:	Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the Brown University Library. Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Claire Kahane papers, Ms. 2012.027, Box [#], Folder [#], Pembroke Center Archives, John Hay Library, Brown University.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Gift of Claire Kahane
Processing information:	This collection was processed by Daniel Putnam in 2014.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Brown University Library staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-02-27.
Descriptive rules:	Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sponsor:	Curatorial work provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Inventory

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