Charles Ruas audio recordings and papers, 1970s-1980s

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
MS#1792
Bib ID:
6913686 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Ruas, Charles
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
8.25 linear feet (Eight boxes: One half-manuscript box (box 1); four tall record storage cartons (boxes 2-5); two tall manuscript boxes (boxes 6-7); one record storage carton (box 8). )
Language(s):
English .
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 has no restrictions.

This collection is located onsite.

Series I is open for research. Series II is closed pending digitization.

Description

Summary

Recordings of interviews/radio broadcasts with notable persons (some are interviews by Charles Ruas), while others appear to be discussions about people or recordings of performances. 95 large reel-to-reel tape boxes; 34 small reel-to-reel tape boxes; 16 audiocassette tapes. Also includes 8 folders of papers relating to Ruas's 1984 book "Conversations with American Writers."

  • Series I: Papers related to "Conversations with American Writers" (1984), circa 1984

    Eight folders of papers relating to Ruas's 1984 book "Conversations with American Writers." Primarily corrected typescripts, also interview releases and a small amount of correspondence.

  • Series II: Audio recordings, 1970s-1980s

    Recordings of interviews/radio broadcasts with notable literary persons (some are interviews by Charles Ruas), while others appear to be discussions about people or recordings of performances. 95 large reel-to-reel tape boxes; 34 small reel-to-reel tape boxes; 16 audiocassette tapes. The open-reel tapes are primarily WBAI-related material. The cassette tapes cassettes contain literary interviews conducted for outlets such as the Soho Weekly News, The New York Times, and The Paris Review.

Arrangement

Using the Collection

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 has no restrictions.

This collection is located onsite.

Series I is open for research. Series II is closed pending digitization.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Charles Ruas audio recordings and papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

Charles Ruas papers (https://findingaids.princeton.edu/catalog/C1372_c225), Princeton University. Digitized audio recordings https://clocktower.org/series/historic-audio-from-the-archives-of-charles-ruas at Clocktower Radio.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Glenn Horowitz, 2001.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Collection rehoused, December 2023.

Biographical / Historical

Born in Tianjin, China, Charles Ruas is a graduate of Princeton University (BA 1960, MA 1963, PhD 1970) and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Sorbonne (1963-64). He is a specialist in French, English, and Comparative Literature, which he has taught at universities in the United States, France, and China.

Ruas was for a time in the late 1970s Director of the Drama and Literature Department of WBAI, where he initiated separate coverage of all the arts. Within this programming Susan Howe produced her own series and specials on poetry. Other programming initiated by Ruas at WBAI included the Audio-Experimental Theatre, for which multi-media performers, including poets, playwrights, video artists, and dancers were invited to create a work for radio broadcast. Performers included Meredith Monk, Vito Acconci, John Cage, Philip Glass, Joan Jonas, Yvonne Rainer, Ed Bowes, Robert Wilson, Richard Foreman, and Helen Adam.

Subject Headings

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

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Interviews CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Open reel audiotapes CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Sound recordings CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Ruas, Charles CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
WBAI Radio (New York, N.Y.) CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Radio broadcasting CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID