Judith Strasser Papers, 1958-2008


Summary Information
Title: Judith Strasser Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1958-2008

Creator:
  • Strasser, Judith, 1944-2009
Call Number: M2016-091; Audio 2016A

Quantity: 6.8 cubic feet (6 records center cartons and 2 archives boxes), 0.1 cubic feet of photographs and color transparencies (1 folder), and 88 tape recordings

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of Judith Strasser, a poet, author, newspaper journalist, and radio interviewer and producer. The collection includes: personal correspondence and journals which she drew from when writing Black Eye along with several drafts, publisher responses, reviews, and the final manuscript of the book; her poetry writings, including drafts and manuscripts of published and unpublished works; her research, tape interviews, drafts, and completed book of Facing Fear: Cancer and Politics, Courage and Hope; drafts of the unpublished work for Made for You and Me: A Study of the American Land; and newspaper articles, interviews and tape reels for her Out Loud series. Also includes a few fiction stories as well as several leaflets and writings relating to workshops and seminars she either attended or where she was a guest lecturer.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m2016091
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Biography/History

Judith Strasser was born September 30, 1944, in New York City. She was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, received her B.A. in history from Reed College, Portland, Oregon in 1966, and her master's in communications research from Stanford University in 1972. She married Steve Ela in 1972, had her first son Jed Ela in 1975, and her second son Nate in 1978. Strasser and her family moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1976.

She was the author of several books including Black Eye: Escaping a Marriage, Writing a Life (2004), a semi-autobiographical novel which draws from her personal journals and focuses on the year leading up to Strasser leaving her husband. She also wrote a novel titled Fear Itself: Cancer and Politics, Courage and Hope [published as Facing Fear: Meditations on Cancer and Politics, Courage, and Hope] (2008), and three separate volumes of poetry. Strasser was also the co-founder of the Madison Children's Museum in 1980, raising money for its first location on South Bedford Street and in hiring its first full-time staff member.

Judith Strasser was treated for Hodgkin's Disease from 1981 to 1982 with chemotherapy and radiation. In 2005 she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, probably a consequence of radiation therapy. On January 29, 2009, she died in Madison, Wisconsin.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Judith Strasser (estate), Madison, Wisconsin. Accession Number: M2016-091.


Contents List
M2016-091
Series: Personal
Box   3
Folder   1
Miscellaneous
Box   3
Folder   2
Resumés, career summaries, and biographical information
Box   3
Folder   3
Personal correspondence
Box   3
Folder   4
Letters between Judith and Steve
Box   3
Folder   5
2006 Muse Award
Journals
Box   1
Folder   34
1958, 1963
Box   2
Folder   1-10
1981-2007
Box   2
Folder   11
Loose-leaf writings, 1973-1982
Box   2
Folder   12
undated
Box   2
Folder   13
Fiction and poetry
PH Box   36
Folder   1
Photographs and color transparencies of Judith Strasser
Series: Writings
Alive, Alone
Box   4
Folder   8-9
Draft 2, Sections 1-8
Box   4
Folder   10
Responses
Black Eye (2004)
Box   1
Folder   1
Black Eye: A Journal outline
Box   1
Folder   2-11
A Journal, Sections 1-10
Box   1
Folder   12
Winter draft
Box   1
Folder   13
Spring 2A draft
Box   1
Folder   14
Spring 2B draft
Box   1
Folder   15
Summer 2A draft
Box   1
Folder   16
Summer 2B draft
Box   1
Folder   17
Fall draft
Box   1
Folder   18
Winter draft
Box   1
Folder   19
Endgame draft
Box   1
Folder   20
Second draft
Box   1
Folder   21-22
Fourth draft
Box   1
Folder   23
Manuscript
Box   1
Folder   24
Notes
Box   1
Folder   25
Material
Box   1
Folder   26
Publisher responses
Box   1
Folder   27
University of Wisconsin Press
Box   1
Folder   28
Draft critiques
Box   1
Folder   29
Book reviews
Box   1
Folder   30
Marketing correspondence
Box   1
Folder   31
Promotional correspondence
Box   1
Folder   32
Lectures
Box   1
Folder   33
Domestic Violence lecture
Facing Fear: Meditations on Cancer and Politics, Courage, and Hope (2008)
Box   3
Folder   37
Novel
Box   3
Folder   38-45
Introduction-Chapter 7
Box   3
Folder   46
References and bibliography
Box   3
Folder   47-50
Drafts, Chapters 1-4
Box   3
Folder   51
Related
Box   3
Folder   52-53
9/11 [September 11th]
Box   3
Folder   54-55
Goldmark
Box   3
Folder   56-57
Rice
Box   3
Folder   58-59
Science
Box   4
Folder   1-2
Community
Box   4
Folder   3-5
Mechanisms
Box   4
Folder   6
Publishing correspondence
Box   4
Folder   7
Fear Itself
Made for You and Me: A Study of the American Land
Box   3
Folder   26
Book correspondence, 1973-1977
Box   3
Folder   27
Outline
Box   3
Folder   28-31
Drafts, Chapters 1-4, 1973
Box   3
Folder   32-33
Drafts, Chapters 1-2, 1974
Box   3
Folder   34-36
Notes, Chapters 4-6
Poetry
Box   5
Folder   15
Some Poems Want to be Stories : manuscript
Box   5
Folder   16
The Reason/Unreason Project (manuscript, 2006)
Box   5
Folder   17
Reason/Unreason queries and responses
Box   5
Folder   18
Reason/Unreason
Box   5
Folder   19
How to Stay Alive : manuscript
Box   5
Folder   20
75 Poems on Retirement [On Retirement: 75 Poems / edited by Robin Chapman and Judith Strasser] (2007)
Box   5
Folder   21
Sand Island Succession (manuscript, 2002)
Box   5
Folder   22
Sand Island Succession (2002)
Box   5
Folder   23
Sand Island Sojourn
Box   5
Folder   24
Limited Warranty : manuscript
Box   5
Folder   25
Complexity Theory : poem drafts
Box   5
Folder   26-33
Published poems
Box   6
Folder   1
Unpublished poems
Box   6
Folder   2-3
Finished copies of poems
Box   6
Folder   4
Poetry music sheets
Box   6
Folder   5
Rejection letters for poems
Box   6
Folder   6
Poetry ideas
Box   6
Folder   7-8
Poetry drafts
Box   6
Folder   9
Miscellaneous poems
Box   6
Folder   10
Poetry and Politics
Box   6
Folder   11
Flow Poetry workshop
Box   6
Folder   12
"Poetry for the Parks" project
Box   6
Folder   13
Lake Effects Poets Conference
Other Writings
Box   4
Folder   11
Harper's Magazine memoir rejection letter
Box   4
Folder   12-13
Fiction stories and notes
Box   4
Folder   14
My Mom is Sick publisher responses
Box   4
Folder   15
"In Lieu of Speech" blog, 2008 February-December
Box   4
Folder   16
Miscellaneous writings
Box   4
Folder   17
Quixote Foundation grant application
Box   4
Folder   18
"Vision Shaped in Stone" grant proposal
Box   4
Folder   19
Grant writing
Box   4
Folder   20-21
Grant writing samples
Box   4
Folder   22
Christian Science Monitor writings, 1971-1973
Box   4
Folder   23
In These Times writings, 1976-1979
Box   4
Folder   24
In These Times
Box   4
Folder   25
Grapes of Wrath: 1977
Box   4
Folder   26
"We Shall Overcome" distribution information
Box   4
Folder   27
The Silver Nitrate Challenge
Box   4
Folder   28
The Land is No Escape
Box   4
Folder   29
From My Side of the Mike
Box   4
Folder   30
The Jewish Women's Archive article
Box   4
Folder   31
Profile of Jane Hamilton
Box   5
Folder   1
"Success" essay
Box   5
Folder   2
"Success, Who Says It" speech
Box   5
Folder   3
Commentaries
Box   5
Folder   4
Book reviews
Box   5
Folder   5
"When Sex is Not the Metaphor for Intimacy" / [by] Carolyn Gage : review
Box   5
Folder   6-7
"This Storied Land" and related material
Box   5
Folder   8
"The Cemetery" special
Box   5
Folder   9
"The Border" special
Box   5
Folder   10
"Edith Wharton" script
Box   5
Folder   11
"The Object of Law is Justice: Women in the Judiciary" script and correspondence
Box   5
Folder   12
Reading Sessions correspondence
Box   5
Folder   13
Publishing correspondence and information, 1976-1980
Box   5
Folder   14
Stanford Vietnam Protests 20-year Reunion information
Series: Projects, Workshops, and Lectures
Box   6
Folder   14
"Around the Archipelago" lecture
Box   6
Folder   15
Taos Poetry Circus, 2001
Box   6
Folder   16
"Where do Poems Come From?" workshop
Box   6
Folder   17-19
Wingra Watershed
Box   6
Folder   20
"Modern European History" parts I and II proposal
Box   6
Folder   21
"Dilemmas of War and Peace" proposal
Box   6
Folder   22
Dilemmas of War and Peace
Box   6
Folder   23
"How to do Media" resources
Box   6
Folder   24
"On Contracting with Publishers" resource
Box   6
Folder   25
Copyright workshop
Box   6
Folder   26
"Teen Air" project
Box   6
Folder   27
Valley Ridge workshops
Box   6
Folder   28
"Writing our Place in the World" workshop
Box   6
Folder   29
Nimrod Conference
Box   6
Folder   30
Wisconsin Humanities Council
Box   6
Folder   31
Wisconsin River of Words workshops
Box   6
Folder   32
DCP readings
Box   6
Folder   33
Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Conference, 2004
Box   6
Folder   34
Memoir Writing workshop
Box   6
Folder   35
"Whose Woods are These" workshop
Box   6
Folder   36
Fundacion Valparaiso residency documents
Box   6
Folder   37
Norcroft retreat
Box   6
Folder   38
UCROSS residency program, 1997
Box   6
Folder   39
Wurlitzer residency
Box   6
Folder   40
"Mad About Memoir" workshops
Box   6
Folder   41
"Writing a Life" workshop
Box   6
Folder   42
"Writing Your Life" workshop
Box   6
Folder   43
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence Advocates and Survivors Summit
Box   6
Folder   44
Day of Unity event
Box   6
Folder   45
Unitarian Universalist Church West event
Box   6
Folder   46
Blessed Sacrament School talk
Box   6
Folder   47
Madison Literacy Council talk
Box   6
Folder   48
"Adventure in the Arts" workshop
Box   6
Folder   49
Gibraltar residency
Box   6
Folder   50
2002 Children's Art Festival
Box   6
Folder   51
Overture Center for the Arts workshop
Box   6
Folder   52
Domestic Violence Survivors writing workshop
Box   6
Folder   53
Interviewing workshop
Box   7
Folder   1
Ghost Ranch Conference Center lecture
Box   7
Folder   2-5
Wisconsin Humanities Council talks, 2000-2006
Box   7
Folder   6-10
PEN (organization) workshops
Box   7
Folder   11-16
The Clearing workshops, 2002-2008
Box   8
Folder   1
Workshop
Box   8
Folder   2
Talks and speeches
Box   8
Folder   3
Notes for lecture classes
Box   8
Folder   4
Miscellaneous
Series: Radio
Box   3
Folder   7
Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) contract
Box   3
Folder   8
Correspondence for "Out Loud" series
Box   3
Folder   9
Poets and Writers Out Loud
Interviews
Box   3
Folder   10
Alexie, Sherman
Box   3
Folder   17
Danielewski, Mark
Box   3
Folder   14
Darlington, Tenaya
Box   3
Folder   12
Doty, Mark
Box   3
Folder   16
Emanuel, Lynn
Box   3
Folder   23
Espada, Martin
Box   3
Folder   13
Franzen, Jonathan
Box   3
Folder   15
Frucht, Abby
Box   3
Folder   11
Haynes, Melinda
Box   3
Folder   19
Kamau, Agymah
Box   3
Folder   20
Ochester, Ed
Box   3
Folder   18
Quan-Barry, Amy
Box   3
Folder   22
Sneve, Driving Hawk
Box   3
Folder   21
Troupe, Quincy
Box   3
Folder   24
Interview with Vassily Sokolov : partial transcript
Box   3
Folder   25
Interview correspondence
Box   3
Folder   6
Tips for interviewers
Box   8
Folder   5
Radio Show handouts and tips
Box   8
Folder   11
American Women in Radio and Television Inc.
Series: Miscellaneous
Box   8
Folder   6
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board (ECB)
Box   8
Folder   7
Wisconsin Children's Educational Television
Box   8
Folder   8
Madison Children's Museum
Box   8
Folder   9
Letters of recommendation requests, 1992 April
Box   8
Folder   10
Letters of recommendation replies, 1992 April-July
Box   8
Folder   12
Kaleidoscope Media Services (PAMC) organizing papers and correspondence, 1976-1991
Box   8
Folder   13
Miscellaneous
Audio 2016A
Series: Audio Recordings
Audio   2016A/1
A Tough Row to Hoe
Audio   2016A/2
A Workshop with Guy Caravan
Audio   2016A/3
Between Consenting Adults
Audio   2016A/4
"Breakfast in Schools" Series : "short" radio programs
Audio   2016A/5
"Breakfast in Schools" Series : "short" and "long" radio programs
Audio   2016A/6
Door County documentary, 1989
Audio   2016A/7
Eliot Abrams
Audio   2016A/8
Generations: Saving Our Children from What?
Audio   2016A/9
Marital Property Reform, WORT, 1979 November
Audio   2016A/10
No Melting Pot
Audio   2016A/11
Poets and Writers Out Loud interviews (To the Best of Our Knowledge, 1998)
Audio   2016A/12
Science and Society
Audio   2016A/13
Talking News: Puerto Rico, 1977 Fall
Audio   2016A/14
"We Shall Overcome" Series
Audio   2016A/15
World War II Documentary
Audio   2016A/16
WORT 10 pm News, 1977 August 16
Audio   2016A/17
Writing Wrong: A Crisis in Literacy
Dilemmas of War and Peace
Audio   2016A/18
Part 1: "The Bombing of Dresden"
Audio   2016A/19
Part 2: "The Incident of Melos"
Audio   2016A/20
Part 3: "Desperate Glory"
Audio   2016A/21
Part 4: "Propaganda Battlefields"
Audio   2016A/22
Part 5: "Brothers Across the Border"
Audio   2016A/23
Part 6: "Beyond Gender in Peace and War"
Audio   2016A/24
Part 7: "Just Wars and the Persian Gulf"
Audio   2016A/25
Part 8: "Movements of Peace"
Audio   2016A/26
Part 9: "Nuclear Terror, Conventional Threat"
Audio   2016A/27
Part 10: "Central America: Security at Risk"
Audio   2016A/28
Part 11: "Reforming the United Nations"
Audio   2016A/29
Part 12: "Nonviolent Revolution in Eastern Europe"
Audio   2016A/30
Part 13: "Ways of Peace"
Pi Book Series
Audio   2016A/31
Climate
Audio   2016A/32
Deficit Program
Audio   2016A/33
Diaspora and Identity
Audio   2016A/34
Framing Disease
Audio   2016A/35
Future/Hope
Audio   2016A/36
Land Use
Audio   2016A/37
Making Music
Audio   2016A/38
Nuclear Proliferation
Audio   2016A/39
Poetry: Public and Private
Audio   2016A/40
Re-Thinking Academia
Audio   2016A/41
The Border
Audio   2016A/42
The Cemetery
Audio   2016A/43
The Class Divide
Audio   2016A/44
The Monument
Audio   2016A/45
Women and Writing
To the Best of Our Knowledge
Audio   2016A/46
"Jewish Identity," 1992 January 23
Audio   2016A/47
"Poetry," 1992 January 28
Audio   2016A/48
"Stories," 1992 May 13
Audio   2016A/49
"Language," 1992 June 18
Audio   2016A/50
"Storytelling," 1992 December 13
Audio   2016A/51
"Difficult Language," 1993 January 24
Audio   2016A/52
"Immigration," 1993 February 7
Audio   2016A/53
"Passover," 1993 April 12
Audio   2016A/54
"Cosmology," 1993 June 20
Audio   2016A/55
"Listening," 1993 September 5
Audio   2016A/56
"Music," 1993 October 10
Audio   2016A/57
"Collecting," 1994 February 6
Audio   2016A/58
"Ireland," with Seamus Heaney, 1994 March 16
Audio   2016A/59
"Farming," 1994 April 10 and 13
Audio   2016A/60
"Jazz," 1994 April 21
Audio   2016A/61
"Sound Environment," 1994 May 25
Audio   2016A/62
"Environ. Activism," 1995 January 15 and 17
Audio   2016A/63
"Latin America…" , 1995 January 29 and 30
Audio   2016A/64
"Images of God," undated
Audio   2016A/65
"Midwest," undated
Audio   2016A/66
"Words & Music," undated
Facing Fear
Audio   2016A/67-68
Jim Wickwire interview, 2005 January 19
Audio   2016A/69
Ken Muscatel interview, 2005 January 20
Audio   2016A/70
Diana Judson interview, 2005 August
Audio   2016A/71
Zorba Paster interview, 2005 October 10
Audio   2016A/72
Hippocampal Volume and Neurocognitive Changes in PTSD: McFarlane
Audio   2016A/73
Advances in Neuroimaging Trauma: Implications for PTSD: Brannan
Audio   2016A/74
Stress Hormones & the Amygdala in PTSD: Possible Implications for Secondary Prevention: Roger Pitman
Audio   2016A/75
Leslie Scalapino reading
Audio   2016A/76
Sevastopol documentary
Audio   2016A/77
Women Judges
Interviews
Audio   2016A/78
Alexie, Sherman, 2000 June 6
Audio   2016A/79
Berry, Amy, 2000 March 23
Audio   2016A/80
Boland, Eavan, 1994 April 29
Audio   2016A/81
Danielewski, Mark, 2000 March 24
Audio   2016A/82
Darlington, Tenaya, 1999 November 30
Audio   2016A/83
Espada, Martin, 1999 December 2
Audio   2016A/84
Frucht, Abby, undated
Audio   2016A/85
Haynes, Melinda, 1999 November 12
Audio   2016A/86
Kaku, Michio, 1994 March 14
Audio   2016A/87
Kamau, Agymah, 1999 December 10
Audio   2016A/88
Troupe, Quincy, undated