Lydia Davis papers, 1940-2022

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Series IV: Journals and Notebooks, 1960-2019, undated

Davis is currently reviewing her journals and notebooks. Davis has completed her review of Journals #1-4 and #6-39 and these are currently available with some redactions. The rest of the notebooks and journals will not be available for research use until Davis' review of these items is complete.

4 record storage cartons; (Boxes with Restricted Items (Originals) and Reviewed Photocopies with Davis' Restriction Notes: Notebook Boxes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5); 4 document boxes; (Boxes with Original (Unrestricted) or Redacted Access Copies: Boxes 119-120, 123-124)

Davis' journals and notebooks document her daily life, as well as her reading, writing, and translation work. These are extensive, comprising approximately 100 items.

Journals #12, 37, and 136 have obvious water stains, but a conservator determined that they do not contain mold.



Box 119 Folder 1 Journal #1, 1960 January 1 - 1964 January 21

Four pages from the August 9th entry were restricted by Davis. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 119 Folder 2 Journal #2, 1963 August 12-16


Box 119 Folder 3 Journal #3, 1963 April 3 - December 1


Box 119 Folder 4 Journal #4, 1964 December 4 - 1965 January 2


Box 119 Folder 5 Journal #5--Words, undated

This item has not yet been reviewed by Davis and remains restricted at this time.

This folder is a placeholder, the original item is currently being stored in another box.


Box 119 Folder 6 Journal #6, 1965 January 18 - February 24


Box 119 Folder 7 Journal #7, 1965 February 26 - April 22


Box 119 Folder 8 Journal #8, 1965 April 22 - June 9


Box 119 Folder 9 Journal #9, 1965 June 9 - August 13


Box 119 Folder 10 Journal #10, 1965 August 15 - September 8


Box 119 Folder 11 Journal #11, 1965 September 21 - 1966 May 1

One page from the October 8th entry were restricted by Davis. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 119 Folder 12 Journal #12, 1966 May 30 - December 29

The following pages were restricted by Davis - June 1: 2 pages; July 12: 9 pages; August 12-13: 1 page; September 30-October 2: 1 page . Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.



Box 120 Folder 1 Journal #13, 1967 April 19 - October 2

This journal 1967 July 30-October 2 on the cover, but includes an insert of pages for April 19-June 10.


Box 120 Folder 2 Journal #14, 1967 October 15 - 1968 July 19


Box 120 Folder 3 Journal #15, 1967 October 24 - 1968 February 21


Box 120 Folder 4 Journal #16, 1968 October 9 - 1970 October 19

The following pages were restricted by Davis - 1968 November 12 and December 29: 1 page (page 3); 1969 November 1, 9, 21, 28: 2 pages (pages 17-18); 1970 October 17: 4 pages (pages 44-47). Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 5 Journal #17, 1970 October 27 - 1971 April 20

The following pages were restricted by Davis - 1970 November 11: 1 page; 1971 February 19: 2 pages; February 21: 1 page; February 26 and 27: 2 pages; and March 25th and April 11: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Includes travel diary for New York - London - Brede - Paris. Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 6 Journal #18, 1971 April 20 - June 4

The following pages were restricted by Davis - May 16: 1 page; May 26: 1 page; and June 4: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 7 Journal #19, 1971 June 4 - August 13

The following pages were restricted by Davis - June 4, 5: 2 pages. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 8 Journal #20, 1971 August 13 - December 3

The following pages were restricted by Davis - August 31: 2 pages; October 26, 27, 28: 2 pages; November 22, 23: 2 pages. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Includes Paris, Ireland, England. Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 9 Journal #21--England, 1971 December 3 - 1972 January 1


Box 120 Folder 10 Journal #22, 1972 January 5 - April 2

The following pages were restricted by Davis - January 19, 20: 1 page; January 30, 31: 1 page; January 31, February 1: 1 page; February 19: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 120 Folder 11 Journal #23--France, 1972 February 14 - 1974 June 17



Box 123 Folder 1 Journal #24, 1972 April 2 - August 17

The following pages were restricted by Davis - April 2: 1 page; May 30, 31: 1 page; June 5, 6: 1 page; July 3: 1 page; July 15, 16: 1 page; July 20: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 2 Journal #25, 1972 August 17 - 1973 January 9

The following pages were restricted by Davis - August 23: 1 page; August 28: 1 page; August 31, September 1: 1 page; September 3, 4, 5: 1 page; September 19, 22, 23: 1 page; September 24: 1 page; October 16, 17: 1 page; October 27, 28, 30: 2 pages; November 7, 9: 1 page; November 11: 1 page; November 13: 2 pages; December 1, 3, 4: 1 page; December 18: 1 page; and January 8: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 3 Journal #26, 1972 September 2 - 1973 March 1

The following pages were restricted by Davis - September 2: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 4 Journal #27--Notes on Reading (Blanchot, Trevelyan), 1973? - 1974?


Box 123 Folder 5 Journal #28, 1973 January 9 - June 8

The following pages were restricted by Davis - February 18: 1 page; February 20, 22, 23, 24: 3 pages; March 12, 13, 14: 2 pages; March 16: 1 page; March 20: 1 page; March 24, 25: approxiately 1 page; and March 26, 27: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 6 Journal #29, 1973 June 8 - September 30

The following pages were restricted by Davis - September 28: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 7 Journal #30, 1973 October 2 - 1974 July 11

The following pages were restricted by Davis - October 11: 2 pages; November 7, December 10: 1 page; March 8, 10: 1 page; March 15: 1 page; May 30, May 31: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 123 Folder 8 Journal #31--Stories, 1973 October 11 - 1976 January 1


Box 123 Folder 9 Journal #32, 1974 July 12 - 1975 October 2



Box 124 Folder 1 Journal #33, 1975 October 2 -December 27


Box 124 Folder 2 Journal #34, 1975 December 27 - 1976 May 12

The following pages were restricted by Davis - April 16: 1 page; and April 22: 2 pages. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 124 Folder 3 Journal #35, 1976 May 12 - September 18

The following pages were restricted by Davis - July 12, 13: 2 pages; July 29, 31, August 1, 3: 2 pages; and August 8, 14, 15, 16: 2 pages. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 124 Folder 4 Journal #36, 1976 September 18 - 1977 August 24

The following pages were restricted by Davis - October 10, 11: 2 pages; January 12: 1 page; January 26: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 124 Folder 5 Journal #37, 1977 August 24 - 1979 June 24

The following pages were restricted by Davis - August 24: 1 page; May 26: 1 page; July 10: 1 page; October 30, November 7: 1 page; November 8: 1 page; December 4: 1 page; December 8, 11: 2 pages; February 22: 1 page; March 5: 1 page; March 8, 9: 1 page; March 9, 10: 1 page; March 22: 1 page; March 26: 1 page; April 30, May 1: 1 page; May 27: 1 page; June 11, 13: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 124 Folder 6 Journal #38, 1979 June 24 - October 8

The following pages were restricted by Davis - June 25: 2 pages; July 11, 15: 2 pages; July 31: 1 page; August 6: 1 page; August 6, 7: 1 page; August 12: 1 page; May [August?] 21: 1 page; August 27: 1 page; August 31, September 1, 2: 1 page; September 10, 12: 3 pages; September 18, 20: 1 page; October 3: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.


Box 124 Folder 7 Journal #39, 1979 October 8 - 1980 March 17

The following pages were restricted by Davis - October 11, 13: 1 page; November 2: 1 page; November 3: 1 page; December 10: 1 page; December 26, 28?: 1 page; December 30: 1 page; January 16, 19, 20, 21: 2 paged; January 22: 1 page; February 27: 1 page; march 4: 1 page. Patrons must use the redacted copy of the journal.

Item is a printout made from a scanned copy of the original journal.