Philip Jose Farmer Papers, 1953-2011 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Philip Jose Farmer Papers, 1953-2011

ID: RBSC/SFWA/021

Extent: 0.75 Linear Feet

Arrangement: 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.

Date Acquired: 04/20/2011. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Farmer, Phillip Jose, Riverwood Series, Science Fiction Writers of America

Forms of Material: fantasy, science fiction

Scope and Contents of the Materials

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.

Collection Historical Note

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.

Biographical Note

also published as Trout, Kilgore, 1918-2009

Subject/Index Terms

Farmer, Phillip Jose
Riverwood Series
Science Fiction Writers of America

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

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

Access Restrictions: Photographs and photocopies of collection are prohibited.

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

Acquisition Source: Thomas Joyce Rare Books

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

Related Materials: For more information please see http://www.pjfarmer.com/.

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

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I: Novels],
[Series II: Miscellaneous],
[Addendum 1],
[All]

Series II: Miscellaneous

Box 2

Folder 1: Flight to Opar [packaging materials], no date

Browse by Series:

[Series I: Novels],
[Series II: Miscellaneous],
[Addendum 1],
[All]