Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Chad Oliver Collection
Date(s)
Extent
24 Boxes
Name of creator
Biographical history
Symmes Chadwick (Chad) Oliver was born on March 30, 1928, in Cincinnati, Ohio, residing there until his family moved to Crystal City, Texas during World War II. He discovered science fiction at age 12, as he recovered from a bout of rheumatic fever, and never lost his love for the genre. Oliver attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a B. A. degree in 1951, and a Master's degree in English in 1952. His thesis, "They Builded a Tower," was one of the earlier critical studies of the genre. His letters reveal an early attraction to anthropology that culminated in 1961 with a Ph. D. in anthropology from UCLA, and field study in Kenya. Oliver sold his first science fiction story in 1950 and remained active as a writer for the rest of his life. He is credited with being the first writer to insert an anthropological slant into a body of work. In addition to his science fiction, Oliver wrote three western novels, two of which won awards from the Western Writers of America.
Chad Oliver taught anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin from the early 1960s through 1992 and received awards for teaching excellence in 1980, 1982, and 1989. A liberal arts scholarship bears his name at the University of Texas at Austin. Chad Oliver died on August 15, 1993, in Austin, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jane (Beje), and two children, Kim and Glenn.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection consists of Oliver's manuscripts, notes, and correspondence, published books, magazine appearances, books collecting his stories, foreign-language editions, clippings, and other related material. Chronologically, the collection ranges from the mid-1950s through the mid-1990s.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged as received from the author.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Physical access
These materials are stored offsite and require additional time for retrieval.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Boxes 16-24 were acquired by Hal Hall.
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
R32-120 "Transformer". By Chad Oliver. Excerpt from unknown book. Printed, 8 leaves, photocopy.
The Forrest Ackerman Papers at Syracuse University also contain materials from or related to Oliver. See: https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/guides/a/ackerman_fj.htm#d2e846