Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
Samuel Greenlee papers
Greenlee, Sam, 1930-2014
D.342
/repositories/2/resources/798
7 box(es)
(4 manuscript boxes, 1 flat box, 2 audio visual materials boxes)
circa 1965-2005
English
.
Arrangement
The collection has been organized into two series:
Series I. Writings
Series II. Biographical and Printed Materials
Biographical/Historical note
Samuel Greenlee (1930-2014), novelist, poet, screenwriter, teacher, journalist, and talk show host, was born in Chicago on July 13, 1930. He was educated in Chicago public schools and received his B.S. in political science in 1952 from the University of Wisconsin. He attended law school the following year, but, deciding against a career in law, he transferred to the University of Chicago where he received his M.A. in international relations from 1954 through 1957. He was a foreign services officer with the U.S. Information Agency for the next seven years. In 1958, Greenlee won the Meritorious Service Award for bravery during the Baghdad revolution.
Greenlee's writing typically reflects the African American experience. His first novel, The Spook Who Sat By the Door, was published in 1968, and he co-wrote a screenplay adaption of this novel, which was released in 1974. He spent several years of voluntary exile in Europe and West Africa before moving back to Chicago.
Scope and Contents note
The Samuel Greenlee Papers consists of Greenlee's typescripts, printed material, correspondence, photographs and awards. Biographical material in the collection highlights Greenlee's life and published works. The correspondence featured contains many letters written by Greenlee to his close friend, "Smalley," Mike Cook. In the letters, Greenlee discusses his work and travels in Europe. Ephemera in this collection includes magazines, newspapers, and reviews of Greenlee's work. The photographs in this colleelction show Greenlee as an older man surrounded by friends and family.
Restrictions on Access
The Samuel Greenlee Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The Samuel Greenlee Papers were purchased through special allocation in 2005.
Restrictions on Use
In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Samuel Greenlee Papers, D.342, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Authors, American
African American authors
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Photographs
Awards
Greenlee, Sam, 1930-2014
Series I. Writings/repositories/2/archival_objects/160084Djakarta Blues, excerpt, novel in progress/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009011Scope and ContentsOriginal typescript, unnumbered draft, pages 14-61, 72-75, 77-129, 131-137, 157-170, 175-195, and 205-206.
Djakarta Blues/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009112Scope and Contentspages 219-262, 264-265, 282-294, and 317-448
Mykonos Blues, excerpt, novel in progress, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009213Hard Head Blues, autobiography, excerpt, draft, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009314"Don't Call Us Girls", TV pilot script, reviews, and interviews/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009415"Lisa Trotter," a modern screen adaptation of "Lysistrata," first draft, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009516"Lisa Trotter," second draft, original and photocopied typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009617"Lisa Trotter," final draft, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009718Short stories and articles/repositories/2/archival_objects/16009819"Autumn Leaves," Negro Digest, January 1967, pages 69-73, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160122"Blues for Little Prez," Black World, August 1973, pages 54-62, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160123"The D.C. Blues," excerpt, Negro Digest, June 1969, pgs. 86-92, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160124"Iraq's Army of Occupation," Chicago Observer, Volume 1, Issue 6, June 2003, page 4, original newsprint, 2 copies./repositories/2/archival_objects/160125"Lies, Alibis the White House Gang," Chicago Observer Community Voices, August 2003, page 3, original newsprint./repositories/2/archival_objects/160126"The Making of The Spook Who Sat by the Door," original typescript, 2 pages./repositories/2/archival_objects/160127"The Sign," Negro Digest, February 1966, pgs. 61-63, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160128"Sonny's Seasons," Black World, October 1970, pgs 58-63, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160129"Summer Sunday," Negro Digest, September 1966, pages 60-61, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160130"Yes, We Can Sing," Negro Digest, December 1965, pgs. 65-69, photocopy./repositories/2/archival_objects/160131"Sam's Blues" The Adventures of a Traveling Man a Memoir, typed manuscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/1600991a1"Sam's Blues" The Adventures of a Traveling Man, Volume One, typed manuscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/1601001a2-5"Sam's Blues" The Adventures of a Traveling Man, Volume Two, typed manuscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/1601041a6-7"Sam's Blues", typed manuscript fragment/repositories/2/archival_objects/1601061a8Screenplay and background materials, The Spook Who Sat by the Door/repositories/2/archival_objects/1601071a9Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman: Poetry and other raps, self-published print-out, first edition, 1995, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16010821Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman: Poetry and other raps ["South Side Blues"], second edition, draft, unpublished, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16010922Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman: Poetry and other raps, draft, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011023Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman, corrected draft, April 1, 2005, original typescript, with manuscript revisions/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011124Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman, corrected draft, May 25, 2005, original typescript, with manuscript revisions/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011225Be-Bop Man/Be-Bop Woman: Poetry and other raps, final draft, June 13, 2005, original typescript/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011326Draft fragment/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011427Series II. Biographical and printed materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/160085Biographical materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011531Correspondence: Smalley Mike Cook and Sam Greenlee/repositories/2/archival_objects/160116December 4, 1985-October 24, 200032Reviews of published works/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011733Printed ephemera: The Spook Who Sat by the Door: Reviews, interviews, and other ephemera/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011834Printed ephemera/repositories/2/archival_objects/16011935Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/16012036Awards and notices of appearances/repositories/2/archival_objects/16012137