Kenneth Hansen letters

Collection — Container: Small Collections

Identifier: 2511

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes three letters from Kenneth Hansen to Chester Himes and another to Roslyn Targ, Himes' literary agent. The letters chiefly refer to a copy of Himes' book Pinktoes, which accompanies the letters. As Hansen describes, the book was read by inmates, possibly in San Quentin State Prison, until it was flagged by prison personnel as contraband and removed, somehow winding up in possession of Hansen who had taught at the prison. The book, originally a paperback, was bound as a hardcover book by inmates in the prison print shop. The letters are likely from the early 1970s, as they reference the Attica Prison riot and the Marin County courthouse incident of 1970.

Dates

Created: 1966-1970s
Other: Date acquired: 09/26/2013

Creator

Hansen, Kenneth (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.

Extent

2.00 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Materials from the Estate of Chester and Lesley Himes.

Source of Acquisition

Caroline Potapa

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Related Materials

The Amistad Research Center also holds the papers of novelist Chester Himes and the paper of his wife, Lesley. Additional letters from Kenneth Hansen to Chester Himes are located in box four of the Chester Himes papers.