]> wilhelm_k Kate Wilhelm Papers An inventory of her papers at Syracuse University MPK &su_name; &su_address; 25 Oct 1978 Michele Rothenberger 31 Aug 2005 English 31 Aug 2005 - EAD file created (MRR) 12 Feb 2026 - rehoused, inventory corrected and expanded (MRC) Overview of the Collection &su_name; &su_address; Wilhelm, Kate, 1928- Kate Wilhelm Papers 1956-1971 7.75 linear ft. American science fiction and mystery author, playwright, novelist. Correspondence with editors, publishers, collaborators; memorabilia; drafts and galleys of novels, short stories, and plays 148757 English Biographical History

Kate Wilhelm (1928- 2018) was an American author and playwright, best known for her science fiction novels and short stories..

Born Katie Gertrude Meredith in Toledo, Ohio, her first published short fiction was "The Pint-Size Genie" in the October 1956 issue of Fantastic. Over the course of her career she produced novels, short stories, stage productions, non-fiction articles, and radio plays, not only science fiction but also mystery, suspense, and detective stories. Her works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Both she and her second husband, science fiction author Damon Knight, influenced and assisted hundreds of aspiring writers through their classes, lectures, workshops, and other teaching opportunities in the United States, South America, and Asia. The two were instrumental in establishing the Clarion Writer's Workshop and the Milford Writer's Conference, both of which have launched the careers of numerous award-winning writers.

Wilhelm's novels and short stories have garnered three Nebula awards and two Hugos. In 1977 her novel Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang won the Hugo and Locus awards, was a finalist for the Nebula, and took third place for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. She was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2016, the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) renamed their Solstice Award the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Kate Wilhelm Papers consist of correspondence, memorabilia, and writings.

Correspondence is mostly with publishers, her agents, and her collaborator Ted Thomas.

Memorabilia contains clippings, school-related items from Wilhelm and her two sons, and a certificate from the British Interplanetary Society.

Writings contains material relating to articles, books, plays, and short stories, some of which have never been published. Types of material include outlines, notes, drafts, synopses, galley proofs, submission records, feedback, and acceptance/rejection letters.

 Arrangement of the Collection

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by last name. Memorabilia is arranged alphabetically by type. Writings are subdivided by type and within that arranged alphabetically by title..

 Related Material

&scrc_name; has the papers of a number of other well-known women science fiction authors, including Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey, and the papers of Wilhelm's husband Damon Knight, as well as thousands of published items including books, early pulp magazines, periodicals. and fanzines. Please refer to &subjindex; for more information regarding manuscript collections, and use &summitref;.to locate cataloged material.

 Subject and Genre HeadingsWomen AuthorsScience fictionLiterature -- American Fiction Thomas, Theodore L. Wilhelm, Kate. American literature -- 20th century. Science fiction -- Women authors. Science fiction, American. Space travel -- Fiction. Women authors, American. Women dramatists, American. Women novelists, American. Clippings (information artifacts) Correspondence. Drafts (documents) Galley proofs. Manuscripts for publication. Authors. Novelists. Playwrights. Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

 Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

 Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Kate Wilhelm Papers, &su_name;

Acquisition Information

Gift of Kate Wilhelm, 1971.

 Inventory Correspondence Cottrell, Zèlème19601 Earle, Bill19601 Fierst, Al19581 Harper & Roweditor Janet Loranger19651 Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA)issue of SFWA ForumAug 19691 Shasta Publishers1957-19581 Simon & Schuster19631 Thomas, Tedcollaborated with Wilhelm on Year of the Cloud1965-19681 Willick, Georgeabout his UFO experience19601 Miscellaneousmostly publishers1960-19711 Memorabilia British Interplanetary Societymembership certificate19581 Clippingson various topics, including reviews of More bitter than deathundated1 School items Kate Wilhelmincludes paper on brainwashing written for a psychology class19601 Douglas Wilhelm1965-19661 Richard Wilhelm1965-19661 Writings Articles I write science fictiondraft1 I've had itabout products that are "lemons"; draft1 Books April Fool's Day forever Draft [A]1 Draft [B]title crossed out and "Or is it #7?" written above1 Miscellaneousscattered pages with edits The breaking pointpossibly an early/alternate version of Walking a tight rope Draft [A]2 folders1 Draft [B]3 folders1 Miscellaneousnotes2 Christine Draft [A]2 Draft [B]2 A dark night for seeing Draft [A]2 folders2 Draft [B]2 folders2 Miscellaneousnotes, list of submissions1957-19582 The downstairs room Setting copy4 folders2 Galleys"page proofs" set [A]12 Galleys"page proofs" set [B]12 Galleys"final galley proof"12 The end of summer Draftpp. 1-902 Draftpp 91-1962 folders3 Every way is upalternate titles: Beyond good and evil; Some were savages; Any way is up Outlines3 Draft [A]3 Drafts, ch 7-93 Miscellaneousnotes, sketches, scattered pages3 The haunted planets Outlines3 Draft [A]3 Draft [B]3 The killer thing Outline and notes3 Draft [A]2 folders3 Draft [B]pp. 1-1802 folders3 Draft [B]pp. 181-24 Galleys"page proofs" set [A]12 Galleys"page proofs" set [B]12 Galleys"final galley proof"12 Let the fire fallalternate title: Star born Draft3 folders4 Setting copy4 folders4 Galleys"final galley proof, reader's set"Nov 196912 Galleys"foundry proof" [A]12 Galleys"foundry proof" [B]13 Galleys"master proof"Dec 196913 Galleysunspecified setDec 196913 Published edition, disbound with corrections5 Miscellaneous2 folders5 Margaret and I Draft2 folders5 Photocopy of draft2 folders5 Photocopy5 Copyedited manuscript [copy 1]3 folders5 Copyedited manuscript [copy 2]pp. 1-905 Copyedited manuscript [copy 2]pp. 91-2342 folders6 Galleys"duplicate galleys"13 Miscellaneousnotes, scattered pages with edits6 Mate in four Outlines, notes6 Draft, partial [A]pp. 1-766 Draft, partial [B]pp. 50-1576 More bitter than death Draft [A]3 folders6 Draft [B]6 Setting copypp. 1-1702 folders6 Setting copypp. 171-2047 The Nevermore Affairalternate title: Quote me no ravens Synopsis, notes, clippings7 Early/rough draft2 folders7 Draft [A]3 folders7 Draft [B]4 folders7 Setting copypp. 1-757 Setting copypp. 76-2713 folders8 Galleys"final galley proof"14 Galleys"foundry proof"14 Galleys"foundry proof, reader's set"14 Galleysserial installment, King Features Syndicate196714 Miscellaneousscattered pages with edits2 folders8 Walk a tight rope Outlines and notes8 Early? Fragments8 Rough draft3 folders8 Draft [A]pp. 1-2103 folders8 Draft [A]pp. 211-2319 Revised version [copy 1]3 folders9 Revised version [copy 2]3 folders9 Revised version, miscellaneous pages2 folders9 What extent fearpossibly a very early iteration of "Walk a tight rope" Draft19589 Miscellaneousnotes, submission record, letter to Gold Medal books19589 Year of the cloud [with Ted Thomas]alternate titles: Jelly world; Gel; The phlopp Outline, synopsis, chapter assignments9 Early draft, partialchapters 1-159 Chapter drafts4 folders10 Draft, partialchapter 1-410 Draft3 folders10 Setting copy3 folders10 Galleys"final galley, reader's set"14 Galleys"foundry proof"14 [Untitled]Alan, alien races Saltia and Nevrah10 [Untitled]Cara, Lorin, colonists on new planet; annotated on first page as "Original idea for what turned out short story The chosen orbit 1970"11 Miscellaneous fragments11 Plays Andover and the android Final draft2 folders14 Go search the shadows Final draft196311 Final draft, carbon196311 Final draft, partial carbon11 "Act III original version"11 Miscellaneouscharacter lists, set information and sketches, letter from husband Damon with his thoughts on the play196311 They also serveteleplay Draft[1956]11 Miscellaneouscharacter lists, synopsis, set descriptions, letters from various networks responding to her submission195611 Tiger Draft [A]11 Draft [A], Act I only with edits11 Draft [B]11 Draft [C], Act I only3 copies11 Feedbackfrom several different people1963-196611 Miscellaneousnotes, character lists, set sketches, scattered pages with edits2 folders11 Short stories All about Ginniedrafts15 Andrean Waydrafts15 Apostolic travelersdraft, list of submissions15 Automatic washerdrafts15 A beau for Aunt Carriedraft15 The bungling BEMdrafts15 The cabin in the woodsdrafts15 Caesar's wifedrafts15 Custer's last standdraft15 The decisiondraft15 The [guessing?] girls draft15 House calldrafts15 Into the valley and outdrafts15 Lady in waitingdrafts, correspondence with Ted Thomas15 Let there be musicdrafts15 A long, long road a-windingdrafts, list of submissions1956-195715 The long weekenddrafts15 Mr. Crilliondrafts15 Money in the bankdrafts15 No light in the windowdraft15 Ordeal on Tycho's flankdrafts15 The other one percentdrafts15 Pigeon baitdraft, list of submissions195915 The psychic betrayaldraft, list of submissions195915 A push in the right directiondrafts, list of submissions1960-196115 Rake the blue chipsdrafts, list of submissions1955-195915 The third side of the fencedrafts15 Tigerdrafts; see also the play with the same title15 To keep Felicia happydrafts15 The unvanquished heartdraft, list of submissions196015 The vanishing partnersdrafts15 Villain of the piecedrafts15 Away for those differentdrafts16 What goes updraft16 You can't take the king drafts, feedback, list of chess moves195916 Miscellaneous Book proposal, "The weaker sex"outline for non-fiction book on "the proper place for the male of the species in a civilized society" 16 Notes and fragments2 folders 16