Aleph Number:
Personal journals dated September, 1991 and beyond are closed, as are all materials related to Leslie Feinberg, unless written permission from the donor is obtained. Additionally, audio interviews are restricted unless permission from the interviewee is obtained.With those exceptions, the collection is open for research.
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[Identification of item], Minnie Bruce Pratt Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The Minnie Bruce Pratt Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2006 and 2007.
Processed by Jodi Berkowitz, Lindsay Matson, Amy McDonald, Aisha Peay, and Melody Rowell, October 2008
Encoded by Lindsay Matson, November 2008
Accessions 2006-0122 and 2007-0010 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
Minnie Bruce Pratt was born in Selma, Alabama in 1946 and raised in nearby Centreville. She received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a doctorate in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An award-winning poet, Pratt has published collections of both poetry and essays. Pratt began teaching and grass roots organizing in North Carolina in the 1970s, and has continued her work as a professor and activist through 2008, the time of this writing. Pratt frequently makes speaking appearances at conferences and universities across the United States. Pratt has two sons, Ransom Weaver and Ben Weaver, from her marriage (1966-1975). As of 2008, Pratt resides with longtime partner, transgender activist and author Leslie Feinberg. Some of Pratt's major writing and organizing accomplishments appear in the Chronology List below.
The Minnie Bruce Pratt Papers contain materials dating from the 1870s to 2005, with the bulk of the collection dating between 1975 and 2005. Materials in the collection document Pratt's work as a teacher, poet, writer, and activist. Specifically, the collection focuses on women's studies, sexual and gender identity, sexuality, and Pratt's fight against racism, sexism, imperialism and other forms of intolerance. The collection is organized into ten series:
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These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
Minnie Bruce Pratt's personal library comprising several hundred books including her own work and anthologies containing her work have been cataloged separately. Additionally, a number of periodicals were removed from this collection and added to the
The Writing Series comprises drafts, proofs, and galleys related to Pratt's major works through 2003, as well as materials related to shorter pieces by Pratt, reviews, print interviews, materials related to Pratt's editorial work, and personal journals. The series also contains materials pertaining to the outside funding from grants and speaking appearances that Pratt obtained to support herself as a writer. The subseries are arranged chronologically, starting with Pratt's journals, followed by her major works, and then
Pratt chronicled her daily thoughts and activities in journals, which are chronologically arranged within the subseries.
Journals dated 1991 September and beyond are restricted.
All materials restricted.
All materials restricted.
Pratt self-published her first book of poetry,
First published in 1985,
In
Pratt explores beyond the boundaries of sex, gender, and sexuality in
Pratt's fourth collection of poetry tells the story of Beatrice, a Southern woman who seeks to uncover the truth obscured by the myths of the segregated South. The subseries primarily contains drafts and proofs arranged chronologically.
Alternate title for
Alternate title for
Only two silver Belladonna chapbooks exist, one located here and the other retained by Pratt.
Also titled Feminist Newsletter (1973-1974) and A Feminary (1975).
By 2008, Pratt wrote a multitude of articles for
The Other Writings subseries comprises miscellaneous writings not associated with books covered in other subseries, journals, gigs, and editorial work. The subseries includes drafts, articles, speeches, poems, essays, as well as material related to her work on the board of
Pratt frequently applied for grants to support herself financially as a writer. The Grant Applications subseries includes grant and fellowship applications arranged chronologically.
The Interviews subseries comprises drafts and print interviews written by other individuals about Pratt. The subseries is arranged chronologically.
The Gigs subseries contains materials related to Pratt's speaking and conference appearances. The chronologically arranged materials primarily consist of negotiations and correspondence pertaining to Pratt's appearances, as well as program materials and speech drafts. Pratt's frequent speaking appearances allowed her to support herself financially as a writer, and also to publicize her work through readings.
The subseries contains writings by individuals other then Pratt that were sent to her for her perusal or commentary, or because the work discusses Pratt's work, including a late draft of Dorothy Allison's
The Correspondence Series contains correspondence Pratt sent and received after 1966, the year of her marriage. Correspondence dated 1966 and prior is located in the Family Series. The Series comprises three subseries: Personal Correspondence, Literary Correspondence, and General Correspondence.
The subseries contains letters, notes, and emails pertaining to Pratt's personal life. Major correspondents appear first, arranged alphabetically by last name. Other miscellaneous correspondence follows, arranged chronologically. Written communication dated 1966 and prior appears in the Family Series. Notable correspondents include Dorothy Allison, Judith Arcana, Elly Bulkin, Chrystos, Holly Hughes, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and Mab Segrest.
The chronologically arranged subseries comprises book orders, communication with publishers, public relations, reviews, and other correspondence associated with Pratt's published writings.
Arranged chronologically, the subseries includes correspondence with acquaintances or individuals lacking a personal relationship with Pratt. Correspondence consists primarily of requests for recommendations, contacts, or appearances.
The Family Series contains materials related to Pratt's childhood and relatives, including legal and business papers, genealogical information, land grants and deeds, correspondence, mementos, and photographs. The bulk of the material dates to the twentieth century, but a few documents and several photographs date to the nineteenth century. Correspondence written after 1966, the year of Pratt's marriage, is located in the Correspondence Series. The Family Series comprises five subseries: Brown-Carr Family, Pratt Family, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Ransom Weaver and Ben Weaver, and Leslie Feinberg. The Brown-Carr Family subseries contains materials related to Pratt's maternal relatives. The Pratt Family subseries chiefly pertains to Pratt's mother, Virginia Brown Pratt, but contains some material related to Pratt family relatives. The Minnie Bruce Pratt subseries contains materials related to Pratt's childhood, including correspondence and mementos. Items in the Ransom Weaver and Ben Weaver subseries are primarily photographs and programs and magazines from Ransom's rowing events. All Leslie Feinberg materials are closed.
The subseries comprises legal papers, mementos, ledgers, land grants and deeds, clippings, writings, and photographs pertaining to Pratt's maternal relatives, the Browns and Carrs. Materials are arranged alphabetically by individual relatives and then by subject.
Primarily composed of materials related to or retained by Pratt's mother, Virginia Brown Pratt, the subseries includes legal and financial papers, correspondence, mementos, genealogical materials, and photographs. Materials are organized alphabetically by subject and offer information about Virginia Pratt's childhood, marriage to W. Luther Pratt, work, and relatives. The subseries includes letters exchanged by Pratt's parents from 1939 to 1940 during their courtship, letters from Marvin Weaver to Pratt's mother regarding his 1975 divorce from Pratt, and the 1981 letter in which Pratt came out to her mother as a lesbian.
The Minnie Bruce Pratt subseries contains materials from Pratt's childhood up to her marriage to Marvin Weaver in 1966, including correspondence, journals, early poems, mementos, and scrapbooks. Pratt had several international pen pals as a child; other correspondence is from family members and from Minnie Bruce to her parents as a college student. The subseries contains Pratt's earliest poems, written at Camp Cotaquilla in 1960, and the handwritten letter draft she composed to German pen pal Horst Werner defending segregation. Arrangement is chronological.
Includes a run of letters from former suitor John Potts.
Items in the Ransom Weaver and Ben Weaver subseries are primarily photographs, as well as programs and magazines from Ransom's rowing events.
This subseries is CLOSED.
The Activism Series documents Pratt's work as an activist supporting diversity and fighting intolerance. The series comprises newspaper clippings, fliers, correspondence, and logisitical arrangements pertaining to Pratt's organizing, conference participation, and personal research. The Activism Series contains four subseries that appear in alphabetical order: Anti-Ku Klux Klan, Fayetteville, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and Other Issues. The Anti-Ku Klux Klan subseries contains materials related to Pratt's research about the Klan as an anti-racist activist. The Fayetteville subseries comprises materials pertaining to Pratt's early grass roots organizing efforts in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The National Endowment for the Arts subseries documents the public debate that occurred after Senator Jesse Helms referred to Pratt's work as pornography and attempted to revoke her NEA grant. The Other Issues subseries spans Pratt's years as an activist and reflects her interest in a variety of issues. Pratt's original folder titles were retained.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pratt researched the Ku Klux Klan due to her desire to fight intolerance. The subseries chiefly comprises newspaper clippings that document Klan activity, but also includes the readings, KKK propaganda, and anti-racist newsletters that Pratt read to learn about the Klan. Materials are organized alphabetically by subject, with files on geographic KKK activity located at the beginning of the subseries.
After completing graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pratt moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina to accept her first teaching position, at Fayetteville State University. Pratt became active in grass roots organizing, particularly focusing on women's issues. The subseries includes organizational minutes and notes, subject files, clippings, and correspondence related to Pratt's work in the community. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject.
After Pratt received a NEA grant in 1990, Senator Jesse Helms referred to her work as pornography during a well-publicized speech on the Senate floor. Collectively Pratt and the other targeted poets, Chrystos and Audre Lorde, issued a statement that discussed the importance of diversity and art. The subseries begins with the poets' statement, followed by other materials organized alphabetically by subject. The subseries comprises primarily newspaper clippings, but also includes correspondence, court transcripts, and newsletters from each side of the debate. The subseries documents Helms' attempts to remove NEA funding from targeted artists. Although first created by Pratt in 1990, the subseries contains legal precedents to censorship cases that date back to the mid-1980s.
The Other Issues subseries documents the protests, marches, conferences, and festivals Pratt attended in her work as an activist. The subseries also demonstrates the topics she researched to facilitate her activism. Arranged alphabetically by subject, the subseries contains newspaper clippings, fliers, schedules, logistics for events, and correspondence.
Use copies will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers.
Pratt began her career as a professor of women's studies in the late 1970s. The Teaching Series documents Pratt's work as an educator at various universities, primarily The Union Institute and Hamilton College. The chronologically arranged series comprises course syllabi, materials to supplement teaching, seminar evaluations, contracts, general faculty documents, catalogs, newspaper clippings, and correspondence. Pratt kept an extensive series of files related to courses she taught on international women's studies. This series of files is arranged alphabetically by geographic location. The series also contains correspondence from Mumia Abu-Jamal during his application process to The Union Institute for graduate studies. Pratt's original folder titles were retained.
Associated with Pratt's courses at the University of Maryland and George Washington University.
Includes materials used for seminar development dating back to 1999.
Material in this series consists of tax returns for the years 1981 to 2004 as well as detailed narratives carefully documenting deductions taken by Pratt related to her writing and teaching career. Files are arranged chronologically.
Items in this series document events and individuals in Minnie Bruce Pratt's life. Descriptions are provided by Pratt, and arrangement is chronological.
The series contains miscellaneous audiovisual material pertaining to Pratt's speaking engagements, interests, and personal life. The series includes speeches and readings given at gigs, interviews, audio correspondence, programs related to lesbian issues, and instructional materials. Materials are organized into subseries depending on format and include Audio Cassettes, Compact Discs, and Videos.
Use copies will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers.
RESTRICTED: Interviews are restricted unless permission from the interviewee is obtained.
The subseries comprises speeches, visits to radio programs, lectures, and audio correspondence between Pratt and Joan E. Biren. Additionally, Pratt conducted audio interviews of her grandmother and aunt regarding family secrets, and of friends regarding their experiences coming out as gay, lesbian, or transgender. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by subject, and Pratt's readings and appearances are arranged chronologically under the heading Pratt, Minnie Bruce. Original label titles were retained, but naming conventions were imposed to keep related materials associated physically. Use copies will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers.
Removed to Leslie Box 3.
The subseries comprises miscellaneous compact discs, including music, learning tools, and discs related to Pratt's writing. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by title. Use copies will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers.
Arranged alphabetically by title, the Videos subseries primarily contains recordings of Pratt's speaking gigs and programs related to lesbian issues. Use copies will need to be created before items can be accessed by researchers.
The Printed Material series contains periodicals, booklets, printed essays, and chapbooks arranged alphabetically by title. Subjects represented include poetry, women's studies, feminism, lesbianism, and the Ku Klux Klan. Many items include contributions by Pratt or directly relate to her work or projects with which she was involved. A number of periodicals were removed from this collection and added to the
The Ephemera series comprises miscellaneous items collected by Pratt and chiefly contains t-shirts, buttons, and posters related to Pratt's activism, the conferences and demonstrations she attended, and Feminary. Posters also document Pratt's book relases, speaking appearances, seminars, and courses. The series contains the outfit Pratt wore to the ceremony celebrating the designation of
Includes poster for