Chris Claremont papers, 1973-2018
Collection context
- Creator:
- Claremont, Chris, 1950-
- Abstract:
- Papers of novelist and comic book writer Chris Claremont. Collection includes business records and writings including comic book scripts, drafts of novels, and Claremont's early short stories.
- Extent:
- 40 linear feet (31 record cartons and 2 document boxes)
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
The Claremont collection consists of Claremont's professional papers, including his comic book work and drafts and manuscripts of novels, short stories and screenplays. Claremont's comic-related files include project proposals, scripts, and story ideas; his work with the X-Men franchise and his independent, creator-owned series Sovereign Seven are particularly well represented in the collection. The papers also include Claremont's business records, many of which relate to publicizing and promoting his work, and mail from his readers and fans.
- Biographical / historical:
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Chris Claremont is the internationally recognized comic book writer and novelist best known for his work on Marvel's X-Men comic books and, in particular, his 17 year stint writing the book The Uncanny X-Men.
Claremont was born in London in 1950. His family moved to the U.S. in 1952 and settled in Long Island when Claremont was eight. He attended Bard College where he studied political theory and theatre, though he was regularly writing short stories and drafting novels during his college career as well. Claremont had been an avid comic book reader throughout his youth and, while an undergraduate at Bard, he took a position as a gofer at Marvel Comics.
Upon graduating from Bard in 1972 Claremont pursued a career as an actor, though he continued to write. In 1973 he took a part-time editorial job at Marvel. In 1975 Claremont took a full time position with Marvel as a staff writer. He was hired to reinvigorate the comic The Uncanny X-Men, which, when he took over the book was one of Marvel's least popular titles. Claremont transformed the book into a bestseller for Marvel, and over the course of the next sixteen years Claremont wrote the The Uncanny X-Men and created the spin-off titles= New Mutants, Excalibur, Wolverine, and X-Men . He created, co-created, or significantly developed some of the most complex and fully developed characters in the Marvel canon. In particular, Claremont insisted upon writing strong and nuanced female characters-- a rarity for comic books at the time.
While Claremont is best known for his work on various X-Men titles, his comic career is prolific and includes his work as a writer and editor for Marvel, a free-lance career that includes stints writing for established books such as DC Comics's Justice League of America and creating original work such as the creator-owned book Sovereign Seven and fantasies such as Black Dragon and Marada, the She Wolf.
In addition to his work in the comics industry, Claremont is a prolific novelist whose work includes First Flight, the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy based on the George Lucas film Willow, and Dragon Moon, co-authored with his wife, editor and writer Beth Fleisher.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection is located off-site. Researchers will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
- Terms of access:
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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); Chris Claremont Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu