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By Jennifer Hollander
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Elizabeth Chater Manuscript Collection dates from 1956-1970, with the majority of items undated. The collection documents Chater's own creative research and writing process. It consists of paper records, audio recordings, other items. Included in the collection is a manuscript copy of Chater's The Bridge and the Sepulchre. Also included are manuscripts by noted science fiction authors Suzette Haden Elgin and Joan D. Vinge that reveal changes made to works before publication. There is no filing order.
Biographical Note
Elizabeth Chater earned her BA in English from the University of British Columbia and an MA from SDSU. She began teaching creative and science fiction writing at San Diego State University in 1962. During her tenure at SDSU, Chater was nominated for and received an Outstanding Professor Award, and wrote and published numerous articles, stories, and poems. Chater was eventually named Emeritus Professor of English at SDSU.
In 1977, Chater began donating her collection of science fiction and fantasy books to the university. Her original donation consisted of 2,300 items and the collection has grown to over 4,000 today. It includes a number of rare first editions and signed books, cassette tapes, clippings, figurines, and posters.
Administrative Information
Repository:
Special Collections & University Archives
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions:
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Related Materials:
Elizabeth Chater Science Fiction Collection
Jefferson Sutton Science Fiction Collection
Preferred Citation:
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Elizabeth Chater Manuscript Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Library and Information Access, San Diego State University.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
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Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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Box 4],
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Box 5],
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Box 6],
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Box 7],
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Box 8],
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Box 9],
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Box 10],
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Box 11],
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Box 12],
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Box 13],
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Item 1: There and Back Again: Map of Bilbao's Journey, 1976],
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Item 2: Map of Middle Earth, 1975],
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Item 3: Bilbao's Last Song],
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Item 4: Lord of the Rings Poster, 1978],
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Item 5: Greg Bear Painting, 1972],
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- Box 1

- Folder 1: Elizabeth Chater Lecture to the Friends of the Library - "Fantastic In Literature" (Cassette Tape), November 12, 1976

- This cassette has been digitized. Click here to listen to The Fantastic in Literature - a talk given to the Friends of the Library in 1976 where Chater discussed her passion for science fiction and teaching.
- Folder 2: The Big Sling by Lee Chater

- Folder 3: The Thing in the Toy Shop by Lee Chater, 1975

- Folder 4: The Bridge and the Sepluchre by Elizabeth Chater, 1956

- copy of original script 1945
- Folder 5: Freeway by Suzette Haden Elgin

- Folder 6: Freeway by Suzette Haden Elgin

- Box 2

- Item 1: To Bell the Cat and Fireship rough drafts in a DailyAide Silent Secretary Notebook, 1971

- Folder 1: To Bell the Cat by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 2: To Bell the Cat by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 3: To Bell the Cat by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 4: To Bell the Cat by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 5: To Bell the Cat by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 6: The Crystal Ship - master copy

- Folder 7: The Crystal Ship - master copy

- Folder 8: The Crystal Ship - master copy

- Folder 9: The Crystal Ship Rough Draft

- notebook
- Folder 10: Eyes of Amber by Joan D. Vinge

- Box 3

- Folder 1: Fireship by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 2: Fireship by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 3: Fireship by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 4: Fireship by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 7: Mother and Child by Joan D. Vinge - rough draft

- Folder 8: Mother and Child photocopy

- Folder 9: Mother and Child by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 10: Mother and Child by Joan D. Vinge - 2nd draft

- Folder 11: Mother and Child by Joan Vinge

- notebook
- Box 4

- Folder 1: The Baby in the Bucket (or Communipaths) by Suzette Haden Elgin, 1970

- Folder 2: Baby in the Bucket (or Communipaths) by Suzette Hadin Elgin

- Folder 3: Furthest, Suzette Haden Elgin

- Folder 4: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt, by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 5: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 6: The Outcasts of the Heaven Belt rough draft notebook

- notebook
- Folder 7: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt - Outline for proposed expansion

- Box 5

- Folder 1: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt - second rough draft

- Folder 2: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt Part II - rough draft notebook

- notebook
- Folder 3: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt by Joan D. Vinge and Vernor Vinge - 1st novel version

- Folder 4: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt notebook

- notebook
- Folder 5: The Outcasts of Heaven Belt -2nd rough draft of expanded novella

- Folder 6: Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 7: Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge - 2nd rough draft

- Folder 8: Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 9: Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge - rough draft notebook

- notebook
- Box 6

- Folder 1: Tin Soldier by Joan D. Vinge - rough draft notebook

- Folder 2: Tin Soldier by Joan D. Vinge - revised 2nd draft

- Folder 3: Tin Soldier by Joan D. Vinge - unrevised final draft

- Folder 4: Tin Soldier by Joan D. Vinge - final draft master copy

- Folder 5: View from a Height by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 6: Waste of Time by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 7: Media Man, by Joan D. Vinge

- Folder 8: Cassette Tapes of Science Fiction Lectures by Guest Speakers

- Item 1: "Writing for TV" by D.C. Fontana

- Item 2: "Teach Yourself Alien" by Suzette Elgin

- Item 3: "The Mythology of Control in the Left Hand of Darkness" by David W. Hill

- Item 4: "Reading Satan's World" by Michael W. McClintock

- Item 5: "The Alien in Science Fiction" by Joe Gillon

- Item 6: "The Fisher King in Outer Space" by Catherine K. Firman

- Item 7: "Science Fiction Humor and the Absurd" by David Ketterer

- Item 8: "Science Fiction Film as Morality Play" by David Kahn

- Item 9: "Cultural Myths" by Charles William Sullivan III

- Item 10: "An Undertaking of Great Advantage" by Robert M. Jennings

- Item 11: "Writing Science Fiction" by Roger Zelazny, 1973

- Item 12: "Writing Science Fiction" by Roger Zelazny, 1973

- Box 7

- Folder 1: Ray Bradbury Lecture Flyer, April 1, 1981

- Folder 2: Harlan Ellison: A Biolgraphical Checklist compiled by Leslie kay Swigart, 1973

- Folder 3: The Hobbit Soundrack, BBC Radio, c. 1968

- Folder 4: Pen and ink drawing of a Wolf by Dennis Smith

- Folder 5: Photograph of Elizabeth Chater, c. 1970s

- Folder 6: Science Fiction and Fantasy Published by ACE Books, 1953-1968

- Folder 7: News Clippings, 1978, 1985

- Folder 8: All About Star Trek Fan Clubs, April 1977

- Folder 9: American Artist, Illustration Issue, May 1976

- Folder 10: Beyond Reality, issue number 8, April 1974

- Folder 11: Man, Myth, and Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia Weekly, numbers 29-32, 36, 39, 43, 1971

- Folder 12: Pocket Books School and College Catalog, 1977

- Folder 13: San Diego S.T.A.R. Interphase, volume 13, number 2

- Folder 14: The Saturday Review, May 1, 1981; September 2, 1972; November 1972

- Box 8

- Item 1: Critical, Theoretical, Technical Works about Science Fiction and Fantasy Card Catalog: A-L

- Box 9

- Item 1: Critical, Theorethical and Technical Works about Science Fiction and Fantasy Card Catalog: M-Z

- Box 10

- Item 1: Anthologies of Science Fiction and Fantasy Card Catalog: A-Y

- Box 11

- Folder 1: List of Science Fiction Works

- Folder 2: List of Science Fiction Works

- Box 12

- Item 1: Lord of the Rings Figurines

- Box 13

- Item 1: Paintings, Posters, Illustrations, etc.

- Item 1: There and Back Again: Map of Bilbao's Journey, 1976

- Item 2: Map of Middle Earth, 1975

- Item 3: Bilbao's Last Song

- Item 4: Lord of the Rings Poster, 1978

- Item 5: Greg Bear Painting, 1972

Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[
Box 4],
[
Box 5],
[
Box 6],
[
Box 7],
[
Box 8],
[
Box 9],
[
Box 10],
[
Box 11],
[
Box 12],
[
Box 13],
[
Item 1: There and Back Again: Map of Bilbao's Journey, 1976],
[
Item 2: Map of Middle Earth, 1975],
[
Item 3: Bilbao's Last Song],
[
Item 4: Lord of the Rings Poster, 1978],
[
Item 5: Greg Bear Painting, 1972],
[All]