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Philip Jose Farmer Papers

 Collection
Identifier: RBSC-SFWA-021

Scope and Contents

The Philip Jose Farmer Papers consists of printed (paper-based) copy edited manuscripts (Flight to Opar) and two galley proofs (The Magic Labyrinth), along with packaging materials with notes for Flight to Opar. Also present in the collection is the “The God Business” typescript, complete with holographic corrections, signed by Farmer. The short story (or novella) was first published in the March 1954 issue of Beyond Fantasy Fiction. The typescript is accompanied by a letter dated April 4, 1967, from Farmer to Richard Wald asking him if he has art work by Sidney Sime which he would be willing to sell.

Dates

  • created: 1953-2011
  • Other: Date acquired: 04/20/2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Photographs and photocopies of collection are prohibited.

Conditions Governing Use

Literary Rights are retained by the content creator.  Any copyrights so stated in the materials remain in force.

Biographical or Historical Information

Philip Jose Farmer (January 26, 1918 – February 25, 2009) was born in North Terre Haute, Indiana and moved later to Peoria, IL.  Philip didn’t make it all the way through flight training in WWII, so he took a job at a steel mill.  Later, in 1941, he married and soon had a son and daughter.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bradley University in 1950.  In 1952, Philip had success with his novella “The Lovers”, with which he later won a Hugo.   He quit his job in order to be a full time writer, but his writing career didn’t take flight until he won his second Hugo award for his novella “Riders of the Purple Wage.”  In the next 20 years, he published 25 books, including his famous “Riverworld” and “World of Tiers” series.  In his lifetime of writing for 60 years, he published nearly 60 novels and 100 short stories/novellas, won three Hugo awards, and earned two Science Fiction Writer Lifetime Achievement awards.  For more information about his novels, short stories, and biography, there is an official website kept up by Mike and Rick at:  www.pjfarmer.com.

Note written by

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

The collection is divided into series based upon format. Series I consists of novels, Series II includes miscellaneous materials, and Series III contains short stories. The majority of materials are organized within their series based upon original date of publication, followed by documents that contain no dates.

Source of Acquisition

Thomas Joyce Rare Books

Method of Acquisition

Sale via Thomas Joyce Rare Books from the Philip Jose Farmer estate for materials in Series I and II and Addendum I.

Accruals and Additions

Sale via The Fine Books Co. (David Aronovitz) for "The God Business" typescript and Farmer-Wald 1967 letter (Addendum 1). Purchased in 2013.

Related Materials

http://www.pjfarmer.com/

Other Descriptive Information

Library catalog record for "The God Business" typescript (SFWA Collection PS3556.A72 G64 1953a)

Title
Archon Finding Aid Title
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Northern Illinois University Repository

Contact:
Founders Memorial Library
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb IL 60115 US
815-753-9392