Victor Perera Papers, 1934-2002
47 Linear Feet — 39 record center boxes, 1 manuscript box, 5 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder — Papers contain brittle newspaper clippings as well as audiovisual materials including audio film, floppy disks, VHS, and audiocassettes.
The Victor Perera Papers include correspondence, book and article drafts, Sephardic genealogy research, professional and teaching papers, research subject files, notebooks, personal materials, audiovisual materials, and thousands of travel photographs and slides. The collection is divided into 6 series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1949-2002 includes combined incoming and outgoing correspondence arranged first by date and then by correspondent's name. Materials have been kept in original order with loose correspondence interfiled.
Series 2: Publications and Works, 1960-2000 is arranged into 3 subseries: Subseries 1: Books and Drafts, 1960-1995: includes Perera's edited drafts and galley proofs of his published books. Subseries 2: Articles, Drafts, and Other Works, 1960-2000: includes published articles and drafts, translations, book reviews, plays, and other works. Subseries 3: Reviews, Agreements, and Promotional Materials, 1966-1997: includes reviews on Perera's works, news clippings and interviews, catalogs, royalties, publisher agreements, event fliers, and other promotional materials.
Series 3: Professional Activities, Research Files, and Notebooks, 1970-1998 is arranged into 3 subseries: Subseries 1: Professional Activities Materials, 1972-1998 includes Perera's fellowships and awards, teaching materials, conference and panel presentations, travel materials, editorial comments, and involvement in organizations including the New Association of Sephardic/Mizrahi Artists and Writers International (IVRI-NASWI). Subseries 2: Research Files, 1970-1998 contains newspaper clippings, scholarly articles, brochures, and various other materials; arranged by subject or by country of origin and date. Subseries 3: Notebooks, 1970s-1990s, undated: includes handwritten notebooks of Perera's drafts and research; mostly undated.
Series 4: Personal Materials, 1921-1997: includes Perera's baby book, Brooklyn College and University of Michigan class materials, appointment books, legal documents, Earthways Wilderness Journey court case, and travel ephemera. Significant materials include Perera/Periera family genealogy and a photocopy of the Perera family curse.
Series 5: Photographs and Audiovisual Materials, 1934-1998 Subseries 1: Photographs and Slides, 1934-1997 contains childhood and family photographs, portraits of Perera, speaking events, Lancondon Maya in Mexico, and other photographs that documents Perera's travels to India, Nepal, Guatemala, Mexico, and Central America. Subseries 2: Audiovisual Materials, 1962-1998 includes floppy disks containing publication drafts, audio film, audiocassettes, and VHS. Subjects include interviews, TV and radio appearances, conference proceedings, and research.
Series 6: Artifacts, 1970-1990s: contains Perera's leather messenger bag, wallets, Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Writers Award plate, Hummingbird tie pin, and cloth satchel bag and sash.