Albert Goldman papers, 1953-1994

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arranged in 14 series

Arranged in 14 series.

• Series I: Lenny Bruce
• Series II: Elvis Presley
• Series III: John Lennon
• Series IV: Jim Morrison
• Series V: Grass Roots/Drugs
• Series VI: Carnival in Rio
• Series VII: Disco
• Series VIII: Sound Bites and Music Critisism
• Series IX: Humor and Humorists
• Series X: Biography & Research Topics
• Series XI: Albert Goldman Files
• Series XII: Albert Goldman's Journals
• Series XIII: Audio Visual
• Subseries XIII.1: LP Comedy Records
• Subseries XIII.2: Cassette Tapes
• Subseries XIII.3: Reel to Reel Tapes
• Subseries XIII.4: Photographs
• Subseries XIII.5: Slides
• Subseries XIII.6: Videotapes
• Subseries XIII.7: LP Phonograph Records
• Subseries XIII.8: Art
• Series XIV: Printed Material
• Subseries XIV.1:Tearsheets and Clippings
• Subseries XIV.2: Books
• Subseries XII.3: Magazines and Posters
• Series XV: Oversize Art, Plans, Photographs, etc.

Description

Summary

The papers consist of correspondence, diaries, journals, interviews, manuscripts, transcripts, and printed material.

• Series I: Lenny Bruce

  Albert Goldman and Lawrence Schiller did such extensive research about Lenny Bruce that Goldman was able to make this biography a vivid recreation of Bruce`s life and times. It launched Goldman as a biographer.

• Series II: Elvis Presley

  As The New York Times said in its 1981 review, Goldman's biography "renders history's most popular singer as an enormously babied creep."

• Series III: John Lennon

  In his The Lives of John Lennon Goldman produced a brilliant and perceptive portrait of Lennon. It was, and remains, a contoversal work of biography.

• Series IV: Jim Morrison

  At the time of his death in 1994, Goldman was working on a biography of The Doors frontman, Jim Morrison.

• Series V: Grass Roots/Drugs

  Goldman was very interested in marijuana use in America. In 1979 he publish a highly readable account of the marijuana industry Grass Roots. He also researched cocane smuggling.

• Series VI: Carnival in Rio

  Carnival in Rio. Text by Albert Goldman; Photographs by Douglas and Lena Villiers; Designed by Bea Feitler was published by E. P. Dutton in 1978.

• Series VII: Disco

  Published by Hawthorn Books in 1978. Goldman's authoritative account of 1970s American discotheque culture.

• Series VIII: Sound Bites and Music Critisism

  A collection of Goldman's music reviews from 1960s through 1980s

• Series IX: Humor and Humorists

  Goldman did extensive research on humor. He wrote on Black and Jewish humor, Lenny Bruce, and Terry Southern in both books and articles.

• Series X: Biography & Research Topics

  Goldman was interested in a plethora of topics, from Jazz to Bruce Lee. He was also a student and skilled practioner of the art of biography.

• Series XI: Albert Goldman Files

  Correspondence, personal and business matters; as well as some memorabilia

• Series XII: Albert Goldman's Journals

  The journals of Albert Goldman are a frank day to day chronicle of his life written as a casual conversation with himself. They do not have any literary pretentions (as he has noted many times), but are an almost off the cuff daily chatty appraisal of his personal affairs and his work. Together they form a running narrative of his life from the years 1973 to the day of his death in March of 1994.

• Series XIII: Audio Visual

• Series XIV: Printed Material

  Books, article, magazines, and tearsheets belonging to Goldman

• Series XV: Oversize Art, Plans, Photographs, etc.

  (Oversize photographs, plans, posters, and artwork in Mapcase drawers 15-H-14 and 15)

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection is open for research and may be viewed in the RBML reading room, with the exception of Goldman's journals, which are restricted until 2025. No copies, scans, or photographs of any content, audiovisual or print, will be provided without the written permission of Jane Krupp and Jere Herzenberg. Please contact the repository for more details.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Albert Goldman Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2002-2003-M007: Source of acquisition--George Robert Minkoff. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--2000.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers listed Jere Herzenberg 2000.

Papers processed by Patrick Lawlor and Jere Herzenberg, April 2019

Revision Description

2017-08-08 File created.

2019-01-22 Digitized audiocassette tapes noted. kws

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2020-12-28 Added links to digitized material. kws

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Albert Goldman (1927-1994) was an author who focused on American popular culture in the mid-20th century.