Scope and Content Note
The Simon J. Ortiz Papers contain his writing, journals, correspondence, projects, Pueblo of Acoma work, teaching materials, research, miscellaneous files, conference materials, and audiovisual material. The bulk of the material dates from 1960 to 1992 and consists of his writing, research, and correspondence. The papers are arranged in eleven series: Writing, Journals, Correspondence, Projects, Pueblo of Acoma Work, Teaching, Research, Miscellaneous, Conferences, Audiovisual, and Book Collection.
The Writing papers include manuscripts (some with hand written edits, some without), notes, and handwritten versions from Fightin'. There is also work by other known authors such as Leslie Marmon Silko, D'Arcy McNickle, Gerald Vizenor, Linda Hogan, and Terry Tempest Williams. Sometimes manuscripts were sent for his feedback, but oftentimes feedback was not given. Also in this section is an unpublished start to a novel.
Journals include mostly handwritten work from earlier periods, while some of the work is typed, and includes creative work, diary-type entries, ideas for projects, and notes from meetings.
Correspondence includes letters to Ortiz regarding his writing, projects, jobs, speaker events, publications, family life, as well as copies of correspondence from Ortiz. Some of the letters include notes to and from known authors such as Leslie Marmon Silko, Linda Hogan, Geary Hobson, N. Scott Momaday, D'Arcy McNickle, and Louise Erdrich.
Projects contains Simon Ortiz's various work with organizations on videos and events where he was directly involved, some of which includes NEA applications, Surviving Columbus, and an NEH project on D'Arcy McNickle.
Pueblo of Acoma work includes research articles, paperwork, water rights, and UNM Drug and Alcohol Abuse Studies Institute materials.
Teaching includes syllabi, research, notes, and student work, all from various institutions.
Research includes articles by various authors, magazine clippings, newspaper clippings, and newsletters.
Miscellaneous files contain work by unknown authors, projects not his own, university issues, and land issues.
Conferences includes materials gathered from conferences attended.
The Audiovisual material includes video projects he worked on and recorded cassette tapes of interviews.
Dates
- Creation: 1946-1992
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1960-1992
Language of Materials
Material in English
Access Restrictions
To view this collection, please contact Ask an Archivist or call (480) 965-4932 at least five days in advance. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Patrons can also arrange to view this collection at the Labriola National American Indian Data Center (rm. 305) at Fletcher Library on the West campus. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.
Copyright
The Arizona Board of Regents retains copyright to this collection for and on behalf of the Arizona State University Library. Requests to publish, display, or redistribute information from this collection must be submitted via our online application.
Biographical Note
Acoma Pueblo writer, critic, and poet Simon J. Ortiz was born on May 27, 1941 in the Pueblo community of McCarty's, NM. Ortiz has a large family of many brothers and sisters. His mother, Mamie Torbio Ortiz, is of the Eagle Clan, and his father, Jose L. Ortiz, is of the Antelope Clan. Ortiz has held many jobs from Pueblo of Acoma Interpreter to speaker to teacher and mentor. Each of these positions has enabled him to help guide and support tribal issues, as well as encourage other Indigenous peoples to artistically and critically speak about their own nations. His publications have included short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children's literature, and critical essays, all ranging in form and content. He also worked on scripts for several video projects, some of which were produced as TV shows or documentaries. Most of his work focuses on Indigenous issues that currently affect Indigenous peoples. Although he often brings in his own Keresan language and discussions of Acoma Pueblo people, he also discusses issues more globally which affect all Indigenous peoples due to colonization. Ortiz has founded and created the Indigenous Speaker Series at Arizona State University. He has also been awarded the following: the Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Writer's Award, the New Mexico Humanities Council Humanitarian Award, the National Endowment for the Arts Discovery Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and was an Honored Poet at the 1981 White House Salute to Poetry. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Returning the Gift Festival of Native Writers. RED INK: International Journal of Art, Literature, and Humanities was moved from the University of Arizona to Arizona State University at Ortiz's direction in 2014. This saved the journal from discontinuing publication, a long legacy Ortiz believed should remain intact and moving forward. He became the managing editor and has since promoted work by new and established artists and critics beginning with the Fall 2015 18.1 issue. The main themes amongst Ortiz's work and mentorship of others involve continuance, centering Indigenous voices, and recognition of American Indian literature as its own National canon.
Sources:
Full extent
86 Box(es)
Full extent
48.75 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Simon J. Ortiz Papers contain his writing, journals, correspondence, projects, Pueblo of Acoma work, teaching materials, research, miscellaneous files, conference materials, and audiovisual material. The bulk of the material dates from 1960 to 1992 and consists of his writing, research, and correspondence. The papers are arranged in eleven series: Writing, Journals, Correspondence, Projects, Pueblo of Acoma Work, Teaching, Research, Miscellaneous, Conferences, Audiovisual, and Book Collection.
Arrangement
This collection consists of seventy-seven boxes divided into eleven series:
- Series I: Writing
- Series II: Journals
- Series III: Correspondence
- Series IV: Projects
- Series V: Pueblo of Acoma work
- Series VI: Teaching
- Series VII: Research
- Series VIII: Miscellaneous
- Series IX: Conferences
- Series X: Audiovisual
- Series XI: Book Collection
Provenance
The Simon J. Ortiz Papers were donated by Ortiz himself in 2012 directly to the Labriola Center (Accession #2012-04598).
- Title
- Simon J. Ortiz Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Melissa M. Slocum and Dakota Leonard in January of 2016.
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide encoded in English.
Repository details
Part of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center Repository