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Vicente Leñero Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Vicente Leñero was born on June 9, 1933, in Guadalajara, Mexico, though his family returned to Mexico City shortly after his birth. Leñero earned a degree as a civil engineer from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and later studied journalism. He married his wife Estela in 1959 and they had four daughters. In his essay "Vivir del cuento" Leñero describes the obsessive approach he took to writing when he was just starting out, when he wrote "without knowing, without thinking," banging away at his brother's Remington typewriter. He published his first collection of short stories, La polvareda, y otras cuentos in 1959, winning first prize in the Concurso Nacional del Cuento Universitario for the collection's eponymous story. Four years later, in 1963, Leñero was awarded the Premio Biblioteca Breve for his novel, Los albañiles, which he later adapted for the stage.
In subsequent decades Leñero has produced a critically acclaimed and expansive body of work, including novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts and essays. Although he evolved independent of any specific literary circle or milieu, as co-founder of the magazine Proceso, Leñero's place as a leading intellectual in Mexico is undisputed. Considered a champion of documentary theater and fiction based in real-life events, Leñero has defied easy categorization as a writer, though among his many achievements Leñero is considered one of Mexico's most important playwrights of the twentieth century. In later years Leñero has written prodigiously for Mexican cinema, and his credits include: La ley de Herodes (1999); El crímen del Padre Amaro (2003); Fuera del cielo (2006); Desde dentro (2012).
Sources:
Leñero, Vicente. De cuerpo entero. Mexico City: UNAM, 1992.
Day, Stuart A. "Vicente Leñero." Latin American Dramatists: First Series. Ed. Adam Versaenyi. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 305. Detroit: Gale, 2005. From Literature Resource Center.
The Vicente Leñero Papers represents Leñero's work as a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and essayist from the late 1950s to the present day. The majority of materials consist of typed and autograph manuscripts of novels, plays, screenplays, television scripts and essays. The notebooks provide access to the earlier stages of some of Leñero's published or performed works, and feature poems, drawings, ephemera and personal notes as well. Leñero provided an inventory list detailing the contents of the collection. This inventory was critical to identifying and describing materials, and has been included [Box 1, Folder 1].
In addition to the manuscripts there is a sizeable amount of correspondence from friends and professional associates, including letters from José Emilio Pacheco and Subcomandante Marcos of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), and printed material highlighting Leñero's early days as a writer.
Organized into the following series and subseries:
Purchased from Vicente Leñero in April 2012.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Jill Baron in July 2012. Finding aid written by Jill Baron in July 2012 with the assistance of James Clark '15.
No appraisal information is available.
Subject
- Dramatists, Mexican -- 20th century -- Manuscripts
- Latin American literature -- 20th century
- Motion picture plays, Mexican
- Novelists, Mexican -- 20th century
- Theater -- Mexico
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Jill Baron
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
A prolific writer, this series presents the breadth of Vicente Leñero's creative output. Novels, short stories, plays, screenplays and essays are all genres that Leñero has produced prodigiously in from the middle of the 1950s through the 2000s. The majority of materials, besides the notebooks, consist of typed manuscripts, many of which have autograph corrections.
This series is arranged into seven subseries: Notebooks, Novels, Short Stories, Theater, Film, Television, Essays, and Miscellaneous.
Physical Description29 boxes
Leñero's notebooks, which he refers to as "carpetas" in his inventory, contain a wide range of personal and professional material, including notes related to his involvement with the literary magazine Proceso, sketches, lists, manuscripts, drafts of correspondence, clippings and ephemera. The numbers refer to the numbering scheme Leñero provided in the inventory list. Of special note are Leñero's skillful drawings, present throughout the notebooks.
Arranged according to Leñero's numbering scheme.
Physical Description11 boxes
Inventory list provided by Vicente Leñero.
Physical Description1 folder
TLS from Elisabeth Müller: March 27, 1987.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes correspondence from Hortencia Franco and Ana Soloviova.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes correspondence from David Welsh.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes correspondence from Felipe Garrido.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes TLS to Julio Scherer García of Proceso from Jesús Venegas Ortiz and correspondence from Estela Franco and Joaquín Armando.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes ALS from Estela.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes TLS from Bruce Swangey.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes photo of Vicente Leñero.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes ALsS from Antonio Armonía and Rafael Pimentel Pérez.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes photograph of Leñero's family and elaborate drawings of people.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes TLS from Claudia San Román and postcard from Alejandro.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes 3-panel comic, "La ciudá y los perros."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes TLs from Flora Salazar.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts and typescripts for novels and short stories, including Los albañiles, Puros cuentos, and La gota de agua, as well as others.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description6 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Un corrido original, mecanografiado, escrito para la puesta en escena de la obra en versión teatral." Includes a telegram from Seix Barral about the novel winning the Biblioteca Breve prize.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes TMss with corrections of the following: "Gente de París," "Un profesor," "Un balazo en la cabeza."
Physical Description1 folder
VL's note: "Reunión de viejos cuentos corregidos." Published in 1985, consists of photocopies of typewritten stories written between 1959-1976.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Earlier version, entitled "El tinaco."
Physical Description1 folder
Folder includes correspondence with Enrique González Hernández and printed material.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Novela inconclusa que luego pasó a formar parte de La gota de agua como novela dentro de la novela. Luego suprimí en la segunda versión. Quedó inconclusa." Folder includes copy of pamphlet written by Leñero: "Catolicismo a la mexicana" (July 1968).
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts and typescripts for theater works, including Martirio de Morelos, Nadie sabe nada, and Clotilde en su casa de Jorge Ibargüengoitia, as well as others.
Arranged by title.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Teatro thriller en 2 actos."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Proyecto para las escenas alternativas que funcionan simultáneamente."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Con correspondencia del Odyssey theatre y del productor Fernando Colón."
Physical Description1 folder
Includes correspondence with the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble (Lea Chartock) and Fernando de Prado Colón.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Con la historia de su escritura para el libro Vivir del teatro. Comentarios explicativos."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Antes: El fin y el principio."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Luego Compañero."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Copia, versión de la obra de Óscar Lewis."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Luego: La carpa."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Luego: La noche de Hernán Cortés."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Copia."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Copia."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Comedia musical nunca representada, copia."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Luego: Don Juan en Chapultepec."
Physical Description1 folder
Dramatic version of novel El evangelio de Lucas Gavilán, 1st part.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes slip of paper with interesting sketch.
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Empalmada con dramaturgia."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Unfinished, unpublished manuscript.
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Luego titulada Martirio de Morelos."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts and typescripts for film productions, including Las batallas en el desierto, Una muerte en el squash, and Festín de la loba, as well as others.
Arranged by title.
Physical Description4 boxes
VL note: "Sobre la novela de José Emilio Pacheco. Luego se llamó Mariana Mariana y fue dirigida por Alberto Isaac a la muerte de José Estrada. Copia en los viejos esténsiles de cine."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Versión de la novela de Mariano Azuela. Copia en esténcil de cine."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "De la novela de Mariana Azuela."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Segundo tratamiento."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Versión 1."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Versión 2."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Also known as Justicia en la frontera. Was never filmed.
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Cuento cinematográfico."
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Tres guiones de cine para su publicación en libro. Cadena perpetua. Los albañiles. Magnicidio."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
VL note: "Se envían siete guiones cinematográficos de una misma historia Amapola, que antes se llamó Pasado pendiente (un cuento de Héctor Aguilar Camín cuyos derechos de adaptación fueron adquiridos por la productora Altavista) en la que trabajé durante años. Aunque están impresos en 'computadora' quieren ser una muestra tangible de cómo un guión va sufriendo distintas y continuas versiones de acuerdo con los requerimientos del director o del propio guionista. De los once, se muestran siete."
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Never filmed.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts and typescripts for television productions, including Schumann y Clara, La trampa, and Tony Tijuana, as well as others.
Arranged by title.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of manuscripts and typescripts for essays such as Dramas sociales y de costumbres en el teatro del siglo XIX (Anthology) and "Ibargüengoitia, Usigli y el teatro," as well as others.
Arranged by title.
Physical Description2 boxes
Various essays
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Earlier version of work Los pasos de Jorge.
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Este texto sustituyó al último capítulo que apareció en mi libro Los periodistas en las primeras ediciones. Se incluye aquí junto con un fólder de papeles que lo documentaron." Folder includes photocopies of memoranda and other materials related to the takeover of Excelsior by the Mexican government in 1976.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes press releases and clippings.
Physical Description1 folder
VL note: "Capítulo mecanografiado relacionado con la obra Nadie sabe nada. Otros capítulos más del mismo libro.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Autograph manuscripts of these essays may be located among the notebooks in subseries 1A.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This subseries consists of miscellaneous typewritten and autograph drafts of newspaper columns, stories, prologues, speeches.
Arranged by title.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes correspondence and a photo of F. Scott Fitzgerald which was pasted to the binder in which the miscellaneous texts were kept.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series consists of correspondence from friends and professional associates. Some correspondence was grouped by subject, and this order has been retained. For correspondence related to Leñero's earlier writings (between the years 1960-1967) please refer also to the appropriate subject files in Series 3.
This series is arranged into two subseries: By Individual, and By Subject.
Physical Description2 boxes
Consists of correspondence with individuals such as John Brushwood, Kirstin Nigro, and Edmundo Valadés, as well as others.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of 2 carbon copies of TLss from Leñero to Cicogna.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes 3 carbon copies of TLss from Leñero to Domenech.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes contracts and royalty statments.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
See also the folder of correspondence for Los hijos de Sánchez in Subseries 2B [Box 30, Folder 3].
Physical Description1 folder
Includes carbon copy of TLS from Leñero to Ludmer.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes photocopy of an essay by Pacheco entitled "Un recado para Vicente Leñero."
Physical Description1 folder
TLS sent on behalf of the Comisión de Afiliación para la Comunidad Latinoamericana de Escritores. Folder includes a carbon copy of Leñero's reply.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes copy of a TLS from Leñero.
Physical Description1 folder
Signed poem.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Correspondents include: Yves Aguila; Eduardo Almeida; Guillermo Arriaga; Carlos Castillo Perara; Sabina Berman; Maribel Carrasco (Teatro Mito); Stefanie Cremer-Hunzinger.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondents include: Carlos Madraro; José L. Martí; Manuel Martín González; Luis Masci; Sergio Méndez Arceo; Max Montero; Robert Mowry; Dámaso Murúa; Ruzmina Nely; Juan Ignacio Orozco; Ramiro Osario.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondents include: Marco Antonio de la Parra; Bert Patrick; Patricia Peñaloza; Moisés Pérez Coterillo; Louis Roberts; Adriana Salinas de Yáñez; Manuel Tovar.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of correspondence grouped by subject related to Los albañiles, Estudio Q, Los hijos de Sánchez, and "Los narradores ante el público" (Conference), as well as professional matters.
Arranged by subject.
Physical Description1 box
Includes correspondence from Manuel Echevarría; Editorial Joaquín Mortiz; Guido Ernst.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes correspondence from the Centro Mexicano de Escritores (Felipe García Beraza) and carbon copies of TLss from Leñero.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes correspondence from Ruth Lewis; Oscar Lewis; Harold Ober Associates; Asa Satz; Romulado Santos.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes correspondence with faculty at U.S. universities and other professional entities.
Physical Description1 folder
The subject files in this series consist of printed material, clippings, correspondence, and in some cases manuscript pages related to Leñero's earliest writings, including La polvareda, y otros cuentos; Los albañiles; El garabato.
Arranged by subject and genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Materials associated with La polvareda y otros cuentos. Includes several manuscript pages of "La polvareda," a photograph, diploma for first prize, clippings.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes clippings; statement of author's rights; correspondence; clippings.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes photograph of Leñero; correspondence and printed material pertaining to scholarship with the Centro Mexicano de Escritores; correspondence and printed material from Diálogos.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
For preservation purposes, manuscripts were removed from these binders. Two have been retained to give a sense of how Leñero kept his manuscripts.
Physical Description1 folder