© The contents of this finding aid are the copyright of the University of Chicago Library
© 2008 University of Chicago Library
Series VI contains financial material that is restricted until 2039.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Silverberg, James. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
There are few biographical materials housed in the James Silverberg Papers. He worked with Gitel P. Steed as a graduate student, traveling with her to Gujarat, India, as part of the Columbia University Research in Contemporary India Field Project. He was accompanied by his wife, Donna. Silverberg later taught at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. He died in 2001.
The James Silverberg Papers contain 14.5 linear feet of material and roughly cover 1941-1994, though the bulk of the materials were generated between the late 1940s and late 1970s. The collection consists largely of Silverberg's research materials, which include: field notebooks, quantitative data, surveys, maps, reports, interview transcriptions, etc. These materials relate exclusively to his work in India, though they do cover several different research trips. Much of the qualitative data should prove useful and interesting to researchers interested in 20th century India and, especially, the Indian caste system.
In addition, the Papers house a small collection of writings and correspondence. The former contains typescript and reprint copies of Silverberg's work, both published (articles) and unpublished (talks, conference papers), as well as related correspondence. The latter contains a mix of personal and professional correspondence. The James Silverberg Papers also include a series of general files in which materials unrelated to the established taxonomy of the collection can be found.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
This series contains materials related to Silverberg's research in India. The bulk of these materials were generated as part of the India Field Research Project, headed by Gitel P. Steed. They have been separated according to geographic region and theme: Bakrana, Kasandra, caste system, and unknown or general India. The first two Subseries are named for villages located in the state of Gujarat. Subseries III deals specifically with the caste system, a major theme in Silverberg's research. Finally, the materials whose geographical provenance is unknown or which relate to India generally have been housed together in Subseries IV, though it is probable that they were generated in either Bakrana or Kasandra. Researchers are advised to examine the materials in Subseries IV should they be interested in Subseries I, II or III.
This series contains a miscellany of materials. The first subseries is devoted to
writings written by authors other than Silverberg. Subseries II contains materials
related to Gitel P. Steed. While materials pertaining to Steed can be found
throughout the James Silverberg Papers, the bulk of these materials have been
housed here. Subseries III includes materials that do not fit within the established
taxonomy of the collection: miscellaneous photographs, unidentified writings and
notes, and press items. Of interest in this subseries are the diaries of Silverberg's
wife, Donna. These diaries were written while Mrs. Silverberg was in India,
accompanying her husband on the India Field Research Project. Lastly,
Subseries IV contains several pottery items whose use and provenance are
undetermined.