Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Portions of this collection are restricted. Materials related to the unpublished novel "Gunny" may not be quoted or published without the express permission of Christopher Bram or his estate. All diaries from October 1979 until the end of Bram's life are closed during the lifetime of Draper Shreeve. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Christopher Bram Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

1999-16 (1 box including correspondence, notebooks of writing while a student at the College, and memorabilia) received 5/4/1999; 2000-04 (1 box book reviews) received 1/19/2000; 2000-36 (card announcing book) received 7/2/2000; 2001-39 (2 boxes) received 9/17/2001; 2003-69 (Swem remarks) received 12/3/2003; 3 boxes received Fall 2008 (2008 addition). Acquisition information for material received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.

Processing Information:

Processed by Antonio Bly in 2000 and Molly FitzGerald Perry 2008. Inventory added to Archon by Special Collections Student Assistant in October 2007. Acc. 2012.325 accessioned and minimally processed by Benjamin Bromley in September 2012. Acc. 2012.326 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in September 2012. Acc. 2012.331 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in September 2012. Acc. 2013.020 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in January 2013. Acc. 2014.043 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in April 2014. Collection was rehoused and fully processed by Matt Anthony, SCRC Staff, March 2015.

Accruals:

Future accruals are expected.

Biographical / Historical

Novelist Christopher Bram was born on February 22, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. Raised predominantly in tidewater Virginia, Mr. Bram attended the College of William and Mary where he majored in English. As an undergraduate, he was actively involved in the Author's Guild, Omicron Delta Kappa, and served as the Editor of the literary journal, the William and Mary Review, from 1973-1974. After graduating with honors in 1974, Mr. Bram returned to the college in 1999 as a writer in residence. As a writer, Christopher Bram has published nine novels, a number of short stories and articles, as well as adapted his work into screenplays. His novels, including "Surprising Myself (1987)," "Hold Tight (1988)," "In Memory of Angel Clare (1989)," "Almost History (1992)," "Father of Frankenstein (1995)," "Gossip (1997)," "The Notorious Dr. August: his Real Life and Crimes (2000)," "Lives of Circus Animals (2003)," and "Exiles in America (2006)," have gained wide acclaim for addressing contemporary issues including homosexuality. He has been honored as a 2001 Guggenheim Fellow in 2003 received the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. A 1998 film adaptation of Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein," entitled "Gods and Monsters" won an Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material in Another Medium." Bram has worked on a variety of screenplays including the short films "George," "Al," and "Business-like." His short stories and articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times Book Review, New York Native, Night and Day, Lamdba Book Report, Christopher Street, among others. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: http://scdb.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Christopher_Bram

Administrative History:

Novelist Christopher Bram was born on February 22, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. Raised predominantly in tidewater Virginia, Mr. Bram attended the College of William and Mary where he majored in English. As an undergraduate, he was actively involved in the Author's Guild, Omicron Delta Kappa, and served as the Editor of the literary journal, the William and Mary Review, from 1973-1974. After graduating with honors in 1974, Mr. Bram returned to the college in 1999 as a writer in residence. As a writer, Christopher Bram has published nine novels, a number of short stories and articles, as well as adapted his work into screenplays. His novels, including "Surprising Myself (1987)," "Hold Tight (1988)," "In Memory of Angel Clare (1989)," "Almost History (1992)," "Father of Frankenstein (1995)," "Gossip (1997)," "The Notorious Dr. August: his Real Life and Crimes (2000)," "Lives of Circus Animals (2003)," and "Exiles in America (2006)," have gained wide acclaim for addressing contemporary issues including homosexuality. He has been honored as a 2001 Guggenheim Fellow in 2003 received the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. A 1998 film adaptation of Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein," entitled "Gods and Monsters" won an Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material in Another Medium." Bram has worked on a variety of screenplays including the short films "George," "Al," and "Business-like." His short stories and articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times Book Review, New York Native, Night and Day, Lamdba Book Report, Christopher Street, among others.

Biographical Information:

Novelist Christopher Bram was born on February 22, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. Raised predominantly in tidewater Virginia, Mr. Bram attended the College of William and Mary where he majored in English. As an undergraduate, he was actively involved in the Author's Guild, Omicron Delta Kappa, and served as the Editor of the literary journal, the William and Mary Review, from 1973-1974. After graduating with honors in 1974, Mr. Bram returned to the college in 1999 as a writer in residence.

As a writer, Christopher Bram has published nine novels, a number of short stories and articles, as well as adapted his work into screenplays. His novels, including "Surprising Myself (1987)," "Hold Tight (1988)," "In Memory of Angel Clare (1989)," "Almost History (1992)," "Father of Frankenstein (1995)," "Gossip (1997)," "The Notorious Dr. August: his Real Life and Crimes (2000)," "Lives of Circus Animals (2003)," and "Exiles in America (2006)," have gained wide acclaim for addressing contemporary issues including homosexuality. He has been honored as a 2001 Guggenheim Fellow in 2003 received the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. A 1998 film adaptation of Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein," entitled "Gods and Monsters" won an Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material in Another Medium." Bram has worked on a variety of screenplays including the short films "George," "Al," and "Business-like." His short stories and articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times Book Review, New York Native, Night and Day, Lamdba Book Report, Christopher Street, among others.

Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: http://scdb.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Christopher_Bram

Administrative History:

Novelist Christopher Bram was born on February 22, 1952 in Buffalo, New York. Raised predominantly in tidewater Virginia, Mr. Bram attended the College of William and Mary where he majored in English. As an undergraduate, he was actively involved in the Author's Guild, Omicron Delta Kappa, and served as the Editor of the literary journal, the William and Mary Review, from 1973-1974. After graduating with honors in 1974, Mr. Bram returned to the college in 1999 as a writer in residence. As a writer, Christopher Bram has published nine novels, a number of short stories and articles, as well as adapted his work into screenplays. His novels, including "Surprising Myself (1987)," "Hold Tight (1988)," "In Memory of Angel Clare (1989)," "Almost History (1992)," "Father of Frankenstein (1995)," "Gossip (1997)," "The Notorious Dr. August: his Real Life and Crimes (2000)," "Lives of Circus Animals (2003)," and "Exiles in America (2006)," have gained wide acclaim for addressing contemporary issues including homosexuality. He has been honored as a 2001 Guggenheim Fellow in 2003 received the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement. A 1998 film adaptation of Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein," entitled "Gods and Monsters" won an Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material in Another Medium." Bram has worked on a variety of screenplays including the short films "George," "Al," and "Business-like." His short stories and articles have appeared in publications such as the New York Times Book Review, New York Native, Night and Day, Lamdba Book Report, Christopher Street, among others.

Scope and Contents

The Christopher Bram papers largely encompass Bram's career as a novelist and writer but also include personal papers, audiovisual material, and artifacts. The first 12 series comprise materials relating to each of the major book length works Bram has produced during his career. Series 1 contains materials relating to Bram's first novel, which remains unpublished. Subsequent series are organized chronologically by publication date. Series 13 and 14 contain Bram's shorter works, including material related to unfinished novels, as well as screenplays, short stories, and poetry. Series 15 contains works featuring Bram, including critical articles and interviews with Bram. Series 16 consists of Bram's notebooks, which contain his ideas for novels and short stories. Series 17 contains works by friends which Bram collected and, in some cases, edited. Series 18 contains materials related to events that Bram participated in, and awards and recognition which he received. Series 19 contains materials related to Bram's teaching. Series 20 contains materials related to Bram's connection with William & Mary, including materials from his undergraduate studies at William & Mary as well as his future involvement with the college as a Writer-in-Residence. Series 21 contains materials related to the literary business, including publication agreements and royalty statements. These materials retain Bram's original order, which sorted materials by the publishers he worked with throughout his career. Series 22 contains Bram's personal papers, including materials related to his high school, Boy Scouts, military service, employment, and family. This series also includes Bram's personal diaries, which are restricted during the lifetimes of Bram and his partner. Series 23 contains Bram's correspondence. This series is organized alphabetically by correspondent. Series 24 contains photographs. Series 25 contains artifacts and ephemera. Series 26 contains audiovisual materials which have also been physically separated from the rest of the collection.

Arrangement of Materials:

The collection is arranged into 26 series: Gunny, Surprising Myself, Hold Tight, In Memory of Angel Clare, Almost History, Father of Frankenstein, Gossip, The Notorious Dr. August: His Real Life and Crimes, Lives of the Circus Animals, Exiles in America, Mapping the Territory, Eminent Outlaws, Unfinished Novels, Short Works, Works featuring Bram, Notebooks, Work of Friends, Events and Recognition, Teaching, College of William and Mary, Literary Business, Personal Papers, Correspondence, Photographs, Ephemera and Artifacts, and Audiovisual.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Artifacts
• Authors, American--20th century
• Certificates
• College of William and Mary. Dept. of English
• Correspondence
• Homosexuality and art
• Homosexuality--Fiction.
• Manuscripts (document genre)
• Notebooks
• Photographs
• Postcards
• Publications