Guide to the Teresa Brennan papers , 1965-2002 (bulk 1994-2001)

(bulk 1994-2001)


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 2022

Collection Overview

Title: Teresa Brennan papers
Date range: 1965-2002 (bulk 1994-2001), (1994-2001)
Creator: Brennan, Teresa, 1952-
Extent: 22 Linear Feet
Abstract: The Teresa Brennan papers contain a broad range of materials dating between 1965 and 2002. Letters, research notes, institution building materials, syllabi, lecture notes, manuscript drafts, and other such material comprise the largest component of this collection. The papers are arranged into seven series, some with multiple subseries.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: Ms.2009.014

Scope & content

The Teresa Brennan papers contain a broad range of materials dating between 1965 and 2002. Letters, research notes, institution building materials, syllabi, lecture notes, manuscript drafts, and other such material comprise the largest component of this collection. The papers are arranged into seven series, some with multiple subseries.

Series 1, Professional Materials, is arranged into three subseries. The first subseries, Teaching, contains syllabi, lecture notes, and other teaching materials from Brennan's various teaching positions at Brandeis, Harvard, and the New School for Social Research. Most of this material is dated between 1994 and 1998.

The second subseries, Florida Atlantic University, contains a variety of materials dating between 1994-2002. Brennan was one of the founding members of the Public Intellectuals program at FAU and as such had a great deal of material about the design and creation of the program, as well as the continual changes that took place as the program grew. These items include meeting agendas, drafts of program publications, memos between faculty and administration, budgets, and travel documents. Also included in this section are materials related to the controversy around the Schmidt Foundation and UNESCO funded professorship at FAU, in which Brennan played a great part. In subseries three are the appointment books and dossiers of Brennan.

Correspondence is the second series in the Teresa Brennan papers. This series contains handwritten and typed letters, as well as printed email. It is divided into three different subseries. The first subseries, Personal, contains a large number of Brennan's personal correspondence with friends, family, former colleagues and students, and other people with whom she initiated a relationship. The letters date from 1972 and 2002.

Subseries two, Academic Correspondence, is comprised of letters related to Brennan's professional life in academia. These letters are about department development, course content, speaking engagements, publications, conference organization and other like material. This correspondence is dated between 1975 and 2001. People who corresponded with Brennan include, but are not limited to, Kelly Oliver, Drucilla Cornell, Alice Jardine, Judith Butler, and Anthony Giddens.

Subseries three contains the correspondence, chapter drafts, and galleys of the Oxford University Press series entitled, Readings on Feminism, of which Brennan was an editor. The letters are primarily between Brennan, the Oxford UP, and the editors of the individual editions. These correspondents include Ann Kaplan, Drucilla Cornell, Kelly Oliver, Evelyn Fox Keller, Anne Phillips, Londa Schiebinger, Genevieve Lloyd, and Joan Wallach Scott. Correspondence in this subseries clearly demonstrates the development of a themed series of publications and the publication process, as well as the genealogy of feminist thought.

Series three, Writings and Research, contain materials written or collected by Brennan for research purposes between 1974-2000. Included in this series are drafts of and notes about many of Brennan's books, including The Interpretation of the Flesh, History After Lacan, Exhausting Modernity, The Transmission of Affect, and Globalization and its Terrors.. The other materials are drafts of articles, book introductions, and chapters of edited publications. Along with these writings are Brennan's research materials for Brennan's 2002 book, Globalization and its Terrors.

Brennan also had a large collection of others' writings and international journals, which comprise Series Four. The materials range from 1968 to 2000.

Series five, Conferences and Organizations, contains items related to Brennan's involvement in the American Sociological Association, International Women's Resource Agency, Inc., the World Health Organization, and other groups. Also in this series are materials from conferences at which Brennan presented at or attended.

Series Six, Books and Media, contains copies of Brennan's books, as well as books that contain a great deal of marginalia by Brennan. Also in this series are disks, CDs and cassette tapes containing materials by Brennan and materials to which Brennan listened.

Series Seven, Personal, is made up of four subseries. The first subseries, Early Academics and Writings, has materials written by Brennan during her undergraduate studies in Australia, as well as her early Master's work. Other materials include theatre reviews and editorials written by Brennan for various Australian newspapers.

Subseries two, Flora Brennan, contains notebooks, books, and letters of Flora Brennan, the aunt of Teresa Brennan. Subseries three, Photographs, is comprised of snapshots of Brennan with friends, family, and colleagues. The photographs appear to range in date from 1985 to 2002. In subseries four, Newsclippings, are many clippings of various newspapers relating to the events in New York City, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Also in the subseries are some clippings around the "Juanita" case from 1970s Sydney, Australia.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Occupations Document Types

Arrangement

The Teresa Brennan papers are arranged in the following series:

  • Series 1. Professional Materials
    • Subseries 1: Teaching
    • Subseries 2: Florida Atlantic University
    • Subseries 3: Diaries and dossiers
  • Series 2. Correspondence
    • Subseries 1: Personal
    • Subseries 2: Academic
    • Subseries 3: Oxford University Press Readings on Feminism
  • Series 3. Writings and Research
  • Series 4. Others Writings
    • Subseries 1: Articles
    • Subseries 2: Journals
  • Series 5. Conferences and Organizations
  • Series 6. Books and Media
  • Series 7. Personal
    • Subseries 1: Early Academics and Writings
    • Subseries 2: Flora Brennan
    • Subseries 3: Photographs
    • Subseries 4: Newsclippings

Biographical note

"Throughout her work, from her first book The Interpretation of the Flesh to her most recent, The Transmission of Affect, Teresa develops an original and revolutionary notion of energetics that she applies to some of the most pressing social issues of our time: relations between men and women, our relation to the environment and pollution, contemporary diseases, and globalization. Like her life, her work is not traditional or ordinary." Shannon Lundeen in Living Attention: On Teresa Brennan

Teresa Mary Isabel Brennan was born on January 4, 1952 in Melbourne, Australia. She went on to attend the University of Sydney for her Baccalaureate degree, writing her thesis in the field of political theory. Before continuing on for an advanced degree, Brennan served as a Congressional Advisor to Representative Barbara Mikulski, the then Chair of the Health sub-committee in the U.S. Congress. In 1986, Brennan went on to receive her Master's of Arts in Political Science from the University of Melbourne. From 1986 to 1990, Brennan worked on and received her Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge King's College in Social and Political Sciences under the supervision of L.A. Jardine.

Following the receipt of her PhD, Brennan went on to teach at a number of institutions including the University of Amsterdam, Cambridge University, the New School for Social Research, Brandeis University, Harvard University, and Florida Atlantic University. At Florida Atlantic University, Brennan helped to create and design the Public Intellectuals Program for the PhD in Comparative Studies as the Schmidt Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Sociology. The Public Intellectuals Program is unique in the United States and received attention from the New York Times and other large publications upon its founding.

Brennan authored and edited many books and articles throughout her career. Her authored books are: The Interpretation of the Flesh, History After Lacan, Exhausting Modernity, The Transmission of Affect, and Globalization and its Terrors. Brennan also edited numerous books including the Readings in Feminism series from the Oxford University Press, Between Feminism and Psychoanalysis, and Vision in Context. A number of Brennan's authored and edited books were translated into multiple languages. Brennan's articles, introductions and chapters were published in numerous books, journals, and conference proceedings.

Along with her pursuits in academia, Brennan was also involved as a consultant with groups such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the International Women's Resource Agency, Inc..

Teresa Brennan died in February of 2003 after she was struck in a hit and run accident in December 2002. Following her death, many of Brennan's close friends and colleagues contributed essays to be included in Living Attention: On Teresa Brennan. The book was published in 2007.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access for non-digital materials, 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 born-digital records. Born-digital materials in this collection have not 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 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: Teresa Brennan papers, Ms. 2009.014, Feminist Theory Papers, Pembroke Center, Brown University Library.
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: The Teresa Brennan papers were given to the Feminist Theory Papers by Brennan's brother, Steve Brennan, and her literary executor, Woden Teachout, in April 2009.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Amy Greer.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-10-12.
Descriptive rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Additional Information

Related material:

Related Archival Materials note

This collection is part of the Pembroke Center's Feminist Theory Papers. Many of the feminist theorists in this collection worked and debated with each other. To learn more, please visit The Feminist Theory Papers website.

Inventory


Series 1. Professional Materials
5 boxes

Series 1. Teaching
1 box

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963038] 1 Teaching Materials
Contents Note: Correspondence, syllabi and course development materials from the New School for Social Research, Brandeis University, and Harvard University. Also includes a box of media materials such as disks, tapes, and CDs. Please see the attached item for the inventory of this material.

1994-1998

Series 2. Florida Atlantic University
3 boxes

Container Description Date
Box [31236073962998] 2 Florida Atlantic University Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes materials about building the Public Intellectual program, course development, events at FAU, travel, and other related materials

1994-2000
Box [31236073962980] 3 Florida Atlantic University Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes materials about status the Public Intellectual program, course development, events at FAU, travel, and other related materials

2000-2002
Box [31236073962972] 4 Florida Atlantic University Materials
Contents Note: Materials related to the connection of the FAU program with UNESCO and the Schmidt Foundation, the controversy around the Chair of the program, and issues around Brennan's employment. Also included are minutes from Executive Committee meetings for the Public Intellectuals program, travel itineraries, and events at FAU.

1998-2002

Series 3. Diaries and Dossiers

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963046] 5 Diaries and Dossiers
Contents Note: The diaries are schedules and address books for Brennan's activities. The dossiers outline Brennan's career and involvement in organizations and professional associations.

1976-2001

Series 2. Correspondence
5 boxes

Series 1. Personal
2 boxes

Container Description Date
Box [31236073962949] 6 Personal Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes letters to and from family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

1972-1993
Box [31236073962931] 7 Personal Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes letters to and from family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

1989-2002

Series 2. Academic
2 boxes

Container Description Date
Box [31236073962964] 8 Academic Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes letters and emails about Brennan's post-doctoral fellowship, job inquiries, speaking engagements, publication negotiations, and other professional topics.

1975-1996
Box [31236073962956] 9 Academic Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes letters and emails about job inquiries, speaking engagements, publication negotiations, and other professional topics.

1996-2001

Series 3. Readings on Feminism
1 box

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963053] 10 Oxford University Press Correspondence
Contents Note: Includes letters about the development of the Oxford UP Readings on Feminism Series, of which Brennan was an executive editor. Also included are drafts of chapters, and outlines of possible book themes.

1992-2001

Series 3. Writings and Research
5 boxes

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963087] 11 Writings
Contents Note: Drafts of and notes on History After Lacan, Interpretation of the Flesh, Age of Paranoia, Transmission of Affect, Exhausting Modernity, and "The Other Third Way"

1979-2002
Box [31236073963095] 12 Writings
Contents Note: Includes drafts of and notes on theses, dissertations, articles, chapters, introductions, and other materials written by Brennan.

1974-2000
Box [31236073963103] 13 Writings
Contents Note: Includes drafts of and notes on undated materials written by Brennan. Also includes correspondence about Brennan publlcations.

Box [31236073963079] 14 Writings and Research on Globalization
Contents Note: Includes research, research notes, and drafts of chapters for book Globalization and Its Terrors.

1999-2000
Box [31236073963061] 15 Writings and Research on Globalization
Contents Note: Includes research, research notes, and drafts of chapters for book Globalization and Its Terrors.

1999-2000

Series 4. Others Writings
1 box

This series includes two subseries: Articles and Journals.

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963020] 16 Others Writings
Contents Note: Contains writings by other scholars including Drucilla Cornell and the MacCannells. Many of the included materials have notes written on them by Brennan

1988-2000

Series 5. Conferences and Organizations
1 box

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963111] 17 Conferences and Organizations
Contents Note: Includes materials from conferences attended by Brennan, as well as materials for speaking at the conference or preparing to attend the conference. Also included are materials from Brennan's involvement in different feminist organizations including the International Women's Resource Agency in the early 1980s.

1980-2000

Series 6. Books and Media

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963137] 18 Books
Contents Note: See attached list for titles. All books contain marginalia by Brennan.

Box [31236073963129] 19 Books
Contents Note: See attached list for titles. All books contain marginalia by Brennan.

Series 7. Personal Affairs
2 boxes

Series 1. Early Academics and Writings
1 box

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963012] 20 Personal Materials
Contents Note: Includes early academic writing from undergraduate studies, writings from Brennan's stint as a theatre reviewer for an Australian newspaper, newsclippings primarily centered around the squatting issue and about the disappearance of the activist, Juanita.

1968-2002

Series 2-4. Flora Brennan, Photographs, Newsclippings
1 box

Container Description Date
Box [31236073963004] 21 Personal Materials
Contents Note: Includes journals, notebooks, and a Bible of Flora Brennan, Brennan's aunt. Also includes personal photos of Brennan - mostly of friends, colleagues, and family.

c.1945-c.2000
Box [31236074772420] 22 RESTRICTED
Contents Note: Contains recommendation letters and personal letters

1965-1998