ANSA, TINA MCELROY.
Tina McElroy Ansa papers, 1977-2015

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply: Collection stored off-site. Researchers must contact the Rose Library in advance to access this collection.

Personal journals are closed to researchers during Tina McElroy Ansa’s lifetime or until May 10, 2044, whichever is later.

Use copies have not been made for audiovisual material in this collection. Researchers must contact the Rose Library at least two weeks in advance for access to these items. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the Rose Library's ability to provide access to audiovisual material.

Access to processed born digital materials is only available in the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library (the Rose Library). Use of the original digital media is restricted.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Purchased from Tina McElroy Ansa, 2019.

Custodial History

The Rose Library purchased the material from Tina McElroy Ansa. Bookseller, David McCord, financially appraised and completed a detailed inventory of the material. Curator of African American collections, Pellom McDaniels, III, traveled to Ansa's home in St. Simons Island, Georgia, to pack the materials and had them shipped to the Rose Library.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Tina McElroy Ansa papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Appraisal Note

Acquired by Curator of African American collections, Pellom McDaniels, III, as part of the Rose Library's holdings in African American history.

Processing

Arranged and described at the collection level by Brenna Edwards, 2019.

Born digital materials processed, arranged, and described by Brenna Edwards, 2020. Born digital materials include files taken from 26 3.5" floppy disks and four optical discs.

Forensic disk images were created from the floppy disks using Kryoflux and from the optical discs using GuyMager. Individual files were extracted using FTK Imager and scanned for viruses using McAfee’s anti-virus software; none were found. Duplicate and system files have been removed, and files were scanned for personally identifiable information; none were found. Text-based files were migrated to PDF using Adobe Acrobat and image files were migrated to JPG using GIMP. File dates have been changed from the original creation date. Access copies retain original folder titles and file names.

Biographical Note

Tina McElroy Ansa (1949- ) was born in Macon, Georgia, and educated in public schools and in the local Catholic High School. A graduate of Spelman College (1971), Ansa was classmates with Pearl Cleage and a student of Gloria Wade Gayles. She has worked with literary figures, such as Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Mari Evans. From 1971-1979, Ansa worked for the Atlanta Journal, now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she was the first woman to work as a copy editor and the first African American woman to contribute as a feature writer. Ansa founded her independent publishing company, Down South Press, in 2007. As a novelist, Ansa has written four critically acclaimed works that center on black women’s lives and relationships: Baby of The Family (1989), Ugly Ways (1995), The Hand I Fan With (1998), and You Know Better (2002).

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of Tina McElroy Ansa from 1977-2015, including correspondence, photographs, writings, books, newspaper clippings, and audiovisual materials. Multiple revisions of The Hand I Fan With, You Know Better, and Baby of The Family are included, along with chapter and short story drafts. Correspondence, calendars, newspapers, and photographs of family members are also included. There are a number of signed books and review copies from her personal library. There are also audiovisual materials in the collection consisting of interviews done by Tina McElroy Ansa from 1986-2005. Born digital materials range from 1984 to 2009, and include drafts of Taking After Murdear, The Hand, and You Know Better, as well as photographs from award ceremonies and speaking events.

Arrangement Note

Arranged by record type. Items remain in original physical order but are arranged alphabetically by type in the container list to facilitate access.