Letters to Donald Keene from Japanese literary figures, 1952-2004

Creator:: Kawabata, Yasunari, 1899-1972, Mishima, Yukio, 1925-1970, Ōoka, Makoto, 1931-2017, Abe, Kōbō, 1924-1993, Ariyoshi, Sawako, 1931-1984, and Oda, Makoto, 1932-2007
Extent:: 5 linear feet 10 manuscript boxes
Language:: Japanese , English .
Scope and content:: This collection contains letters, postcards, manuscripts, published papers, photographs, and other ephemera from Japanese literary authors, critics, artists, and architects such as Abe Kōbo, Kawabata Yasunari, Mishima Yukio, Ōe Kenzaburō, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō. These materials were sent to, or otherwise acquired by, Professor Donald Keene between 1952 and 2004.
Biographical / historical:: Professor Donald Keene is one of the world's foremost scholars of Japanese literature, history, and culture. His writings and teaching have helped familiarize audiences everywhere with the richness of Japan's heritage. His classic Anthology of Japanese Literature has remained in print since its publication in 1955 by Grove Press. Donald Keene received his B.A. (1942), M.A. (1947), and Ph.D. (1949) degrees from Columbia University, and his Litt. D. from Cambridge University in 1978. He began teaching at Columbia University in 1955, and was named Columbia University Shinchō Professor of Japanese Literature in 1981 and University Professor in 1989. Professor Keene has received numerous honorary degrees and cultural prizes. In 2002, he was awarded one of Japan's highest honors, the title "Person of Cultural Merit" (Bunka Kōrō-sha), for his distinguished service in the promotion of Japanese literature and culture.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--The items in this collection were gifts to the C. V. Starr East Asian Library from Professor Donald Keene beginning in the 1980s. Donations of correspondence from Professor Keene are ongoing and new additions will be added to the finding aid as new materials are received.

Processing information:

This collection was processed by Annemarie van Roessel, Mellon Project Archivist, with the assistance of Hisako Miyakoshi, for the C. V. Starr East Asian Library in July and August, 2005.

Arrangement:

Materials are arranged in six series: Abe Kōbō, Kawabata Yasunari, Mishima Yukio, Ōe Kenzaburō, Tanizaki Jun'ichirō, and General Correspondents. Within the first five series, materials are arranged chronologically, with correspondence followed by photographs, printed writings and other miscellaneous materials. Within the last series, materials are arranged alphabetically by correspondent and therein chronologically.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact starr@library.columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Other information:

Collection of letters from Japanese literary authors and critics, such as Kawabata Yasunari, Mishima Yukio, Ōoka Makoto, Abe Kōbō, Ariyoshi Sawako, and Oda Makoto, to Prof. Donald Keene and dated from ca. 1953 to present

First editions of works by many of the authors represented in the collection, inscribed to Donald Keene and signed by the author, are held in Special Collections in the C. V. Starr East Asian Library

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is available to qualified readers during Rare Book and Special Collection Reading Room hours in the C. V. Starr East Asian Library, Columbia University. Hours of operation can be found on the Library's website. Readers who are not affiliated with Columbia University should first obtain a reader's card at the Library Information Office, 201 Butler Library.

Patron use of the original documents in this collection is restricted. Patrons are requested to consult the copies that exist for all items and that are arranged in identical sequence to the corresponding originals.

Preferred citation:: Letters to Donald Keene from Japanese Literary Figures. C. V. Starr East Asian Library. Columbia University.

Location of this collection:: C.V. Starr East Asian Library

C.V. Starr Home Page
300 Kent Hall
1140 Amsterdam Ave.
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers should request materials at least one week in advance to ensure availability. Due to limited storage, please request only the materials you plan to use during your visit.

Contact:: starr@library.columbia.edu

Collection