Barbara Rubin Papers, 1964-2014.
Collection Number: 8612
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
Barbara Rubin Papers, 1964-2014.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
8612
Abstract:
Collection consists of play and film scripts, correspondence, ephemera and photographic
prints.
Creator:
Rubin, Barbara.
Quanitities:
2 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
Filmmaker and writer Barbara Rubin (1945-1980), born in Cambria Heights, Queens, NY,
was 17 when, not long discharged from a Connecticut institution, she began working
for Jonas Mekas at the Film-Makers' Cinematheque in New York in 1963. Using a 16mm
camera lent to her by Mekas, she began filming Christmas On Earth in the Lower East
Side apartment of Tony Conrad and John Cale at 56 Ludlow Street, where Sterling Morrison
and Lou Reed later lived (and, first recorded "All Tomorrow's Parties"). Christmas
On Earth is sexually explicit to a degree surprising for its time. The film - more
technically a cinematic "performance" - typically screened as per her instructions
on two projectors with a contemporary rock radio soundtrack. During the next few years
she was an active participant in the New York underground art scene, where she introduced
Allen Ginsberg to Bob Dylan, and Andy Warhol to the Velvet Underground, at whose Exploding
Plastic Inevitable performances she both participated and projected her film. Rubin
filmed the Velvets in an early performance in 1965; however, the footage is now lost.
She drew up plans for sequels to her film but these were never filmed; one of her
synopses (which she sent to Walt Disney), proposed a plot wherein French author Jean
Genet (playing himself, but as a Bowery bum) is rescued from his situation by fairies.
While there were a handful of additional screenings before the end of the 1960s, soon
after joining a Hasidic sect, Rubin instructed Mekas to destroy her film. He didn't,
and later she agreed that Christmas On Earth could again be shown, as it has been
regularly since 1983. After giving up filmmaking she married and moved to France.
She died in 1980, age 35, after giving birth to her sixth child.
Collection consists of play and film scripts, correspondence, ephemera and photographic
prints.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Barbara Rubin Papers, #8612. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
Names:
Mekas, Jonas, 1922-.
Scherman, Tony.
Warhol, Andy, 1928-1987.
Subjects:
Experimental films.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
|
Description
|
Date
|
|
Contracts and correspondence
|
1964-2003 | ||
Contracts
|
Undated | ||
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Agreement for use of Royal Albert Hall
|
Undated |
1 leaf folded to 6 pages. Print and typescript
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Contract for the evening of Friday, June 17, 1966. Misspelling of "Andy Warhole"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Special, Special Special Addition To The Special Letter
|
Undated |
8 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed with orange cover.
|
|||
Correspondence
|
1964-2003 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Letter addressed to Arlene McElroy, Arthur Knight, Hollis Albert, and Playboy
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Annotated along left side, "S.S.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Autograph letter to Jonas Mekas
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten single page that goes onto verso
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Beginning, "Jonas, I was here to say hello even thou…"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
1966-05 |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
I love your language I love you… Written on the verso of a completed questionnaire
for the Filmmakers' Cinematheque
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Letter signed to Jonas Mekas from Tony Scherman
|
2003-02-24 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Photocopy of typed letter.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Concerning an interview about Warhol and film by Rubin
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
2 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten on lined paper
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Begins, "Dear Jonas Spent a lovely thrill in the country…"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
1964-01-24 |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
4 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten on onionskin paper.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
"Dear Jonas, I just saw your letter to Sidney and I…"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
"Dear Jonas, We've comes and gones…"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Envelope addressed to Jonas Mekas
|
1964-01-23 |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
"Dear Jonas - I just heard Rosebud committed herself…"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 3 |
Autograph letter signed to Jonas Mekas
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
1 pages.
|
|||
Handwritten with old tape on both sides of the paper
|
|||
Scope and Contents
"Jonas This is a special addition to Allen…"
|
|||
Film scripts and manuscripts
|
1965-1983 | ||
Film scripts
|
1965-1973 | ||
Christmas on Earth
|
1965 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Trip Along With Christmas On Earth Continued Again Continuing Remains with Barbara
Rubin 1966
|
Undated |
12 page mimeographed script, blue cover, with additional 3 pages
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Trip Along With Christmas On Earth Continued Again Continuing Remains with Barbara
Rubin 1966
|
Undated |
Blue cover, front and back pages with Barbara Rubin autographed annotation on front
and back
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Christmas on Earth Continued
|
1965 |
19 pages.
|
|||
Typescript on a variety of paper stocks
|
|||
Scope and Contents
First line of text is, "This is a scene
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Christmas on Earth Continued
|
1965 |
31 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed script in green text
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 7 |
Christmas on Earth Continued
|
1965 |
16 pages.
|
|||
Carbonscript on a variety of paper stocks, string bound on right side
|
|||
Scope and Contents
First line of text: "Prologue ******"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
Christmas On Earth Continued
|
1965 |
25 pages.
|
|||
Typescript in onionskin.
|
|||
Other scripts
|
1967-1973 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Sidney Arthur, A Musical Comedy
|
1967-07-18 |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara and Shirley Clarke
|
|||
6 pages.
|
|||
Photocopy of typescript film script
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Shooting Script for The Film The Broken Betrothal from the story by Rebbe Nachman
of Breslov
|
1973 |
16 pages.
|
|||
Photocopied script
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Date from ms. note on top of first page
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Emouna
|
1972 |
12 pages.
|
|||
Photocopied script
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Date from ms. note on top of first page
|
|||
Manuscripts
|
1965-1983 | ||
Scope and Contents
Mainly undated.
|
|||
Christmas on Earth
|
Undated | ||
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Christmas on Earth Continued Again… a chatter on the movie
|
Undated |
23 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed prose piece
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Christmas on Earth Continued Again… a chatter on the movie
|
Undated |
23 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed prose piece
|
|||
Scope and Contents
With annotation in red ink possibly in the hand of Barbara Rubin that reads, "M I
C K E Y MOUSE
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Christmas on Earth Continued Again… a chatter on the movie
|
Undated |
23 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed prose piece
|
|||
Scope and Contents
With annotation in red ink possibly in the hand of Barbara Rubin that reads, "IDEAL."
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
A Personal Statement on the Movie Christmas on Earth Continued
|
1965 |
8 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Projection instructions for Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed. Autographed on top right by Barbara Rubin
|
|||
Scope and Contents
As explained by Barbara Rubin
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Projection instructions for Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Typescript with handwritten rental cost annotation on a backing page. Verso is Anthology
stationary
|
|||
Scope and Contents
As explained by Barbara Rubin
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Projection instructions for Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Photocopy with rental cost annotation across top
|
|||
Scope and Contents
As explained by Barbara Rubin
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Projection instructions for Christmas On Earth
|
1983 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed
|
|||
Scope and Contents
As explained by Jonas Mekas
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Notes about Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
Written on Anthology Film Archives stationary, possibly in the hand of Jonas Mekas
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Notes on Christmas On Earth
|
1968-04 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Included with projection instructions
|
|||
General
|
1972-1983 | ||
Scope and Contents
Mainly undated.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
We Invite You To The Screening of The First Film of Trilogy Emunah (Ruff Cut)
|
1972 |
8 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed pamphlet.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Listing of Rubin's films and description of a program to be presented with Gordon
Ball
|
Undated |
2 pages.
|
|||
Manuscript on yellow lined paper.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
In Barbara Rubin's hand beginning, "I) Insert A + B
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
"These three pages received from Pam (xeroxer) April, 26, '83 She said she'll give
me the whole ms."
|
1983-04-26 |
3 pages.
|
|||
Photocopied mimeograph with annotation on verso of third page
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Barbara Rubin and Gordon Ball
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
Page 2 of only a two page typescript with heading, This page primarily concerns Ball
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Ms. notes beginning, "6 in all Dylan Records…"
|
Undated |
Creator: Rubin, Barbara
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Single page handwritten note
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Invoice from Film Lab for developing a Rubin film
|
1964 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Missing top left of page
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Rubin film 16 mm b/w reversible silent print. Date from ms. annotation on bottom of
page
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Book of Formation (Sefer Yetzirah)
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
Folder containing photocopied pages
|
|||
Fliers and programs
|
1967-1983 | ||
Scope and Contents
Mainly undated.
|
|||
Fliers
|
1967 | ||
Scope and Contents
Mainly undated.
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
The Sixteenth of April Movement: RESIST
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Photocopied flier
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Flier for screenings at the Hyde Park Art Center featuring a write up about Christmas
On Earth
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Invitation for a reading and screening of Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
At The Film-maker's Cinematheque on March 5th
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
House of Seraphim Ltd.
|
Undated |
Flier
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Ms. annotation on bottom in black ink, "Shop belongs to Wendy Clarke + Barbara Rubin"
and graphite annotation on top right, "Barbara Rubin"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Caterpillar Changes
|
1967 |
Yellow and red color offset flier
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 10 |
Butterfly Booboos
|
1967 |
B/W photocopied flier
|
|||
Programs
|
Undated | ||
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Not Forgotten Series (Program1)
|
Undated |
6 pages.
|
|||
Photocopied pamphlet.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
"Barbara Rubin (b. 1946 - d. 1981) Christmas On Earth" Program notes by Jonas Mekas
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
The Kitchen's screening of Christmas On Earth and Jean Genet's Un Chant D'Amour
|
1983 |
2 pages.
|
|||
Program
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Double Vision split between Barbara Rubin and Andy Warhol.
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed program announcement
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Film-Makers' Cinematheque
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Expanded Cinema
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed program announcement
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Film-Makers' Cinematheque
|
|||
Photographs
|
1963-2013 | ||
Original photographs
|
1963-2011 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Vintage still from Christmas On Earth
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
With annotation on back inroad ink, "Christmas On Earth Barbara Rubin"
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Barbara Rubin filming 'Allen for Alen' London June 1965.
|
Undated |
Creator: Ginsberg, Allen
|
|||
Photocopy of photograph
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Portrait of a yon woman named Debbi
|
1963 |
Scope and Contents
B/w photo print annotated on bottom left corner, "For Jonas Love and XXX's Debbi
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Andy Warhol
|
2011 |
Laser print of three frames
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Still from Barbara Rubin screen test ca. 1964
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Caterpillar Changes
|
Undated |
Scope and Contents
Annotation on back, "Caterpillar Changes / Matt Hoffman"
|
|||
Exhibition Prints
|
2012-2013 | ||
Scope and Contents
52 Prints from the 2012/2013 Boo-Hooray and Anthology Film Archives show
|
|||
Box 2 |
Barbara Rubin: Christmas on Earth - Prints 1-56
|
2012-2013 | |
Scope and Contents
Missing 4.
|
|||
Press Material
|
1965-2011 | ||
Periodicals
|
1965-1967 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Film Culture. No. 37. Summer, 1965
|
1965 |
Scope and Contents
Features an article by Jonas Mekas discussing Christmas On Earth
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Film Culture. No. 44. Spring, 1967
|
1967 |
Scope and Contents
Features an article on the Caterpillar Changes festival that Barbara Rubin participated
in
|
|||
Clippings
|
1965-2011 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Short list of critical articles that mentions Barbara Rubin's Christmas On Earth
|
1983 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
As reviewed by J. Hoberman in Village Voice, May 3, 1983 and Jonas Mekas' Notes On
Barbara Rubin for The Collective for Living Cinema screening of April 29, 1983
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Press clippings relating to Barbara Rubin
|
1965-2011 |
56 leaves.
|
|||
Original and photocopied
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Contains some duplicated material; some have minor ms. notes
|
|||
Press releases
|
1965-11-1983 | ||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
The Kitchen's screening of Christmas On Earth and Jean Genet's Un Chant D'Amour
|
1983 |
Scope and Contents
Press Release
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Special Announcement - Festival of Expanded Cinema
|
1965-11 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed press release
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Film-Makers' Cinematheque
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
The Film You Will Be Seeing On December 23…
|
1972 |
2 pages.
|
|||
Mimeographed pamphlet.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Portion of Emunah screening invitation, apparently issued separately
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Allen Ginsberg in Emunah: A Cooperative Collective Creation
|
1972 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Photocopy
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Press release / program notes
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Screening of films at The Underground
|
1967-02-25 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeograph on yellow paper
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Press release
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
Screening of films at The Underground
|
1967-02-25 |
1 pages.
|
|||
Mimeograph on white paper
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Press release
|
|||
Box 1 | Folder 18 |
On Jan. 14, 1967 in the Golden Gate park in San Francisco there will be he ld a day
of peace manifestation…
|
Undated |
1 pages.
|
|||
Typescript.
|
|||
Scope and Contents
Press release for a demonstration announcing appearances by Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg,
Peter Orlovsky, Alan Watts, Gary Snyder, etc
|