This collection contains materials from the literary and musical (both traditional and filksong) career of Dr. Ada Palmer. Materials include manuscripts from Palmer's science fiction and fantasy novels (published and unpublished), as well as papers, graphics, and other files relating to Palmer's singing activities, most notably as the director of the noted filksong group Sassafras.

A significant portion of the collection includes materials such as con badges, program books, etc., from a number of science fiction and anime conventions at which Palmer has been an attendee, a panelist, a guest performer, and/or an administrator (i.e, Cosplay Coordinator at Anime Boston).

Denizens of Inferno [comic book]

Series proposal, August 1999
Script for Issue #1, August 1999
Script for Issue #2, July 2000

Passenger

Typescript with handwritten edits, Prologue and chapters 1 - 11, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 12 - 21, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 22 - 30, Undated
Sample packet including summary, character list, and chapter 4 typescript, 2003

Quatrodecempire (later titled The Selfly Barrier)

Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 1 - 4, [2001]
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 7, 9, 2001

Rassa [2006]

Partial typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 1 - 8, Undated
Partial typescript with handwritten edits, prologue and chapters 1 - 4, Undated

The Selfly Barrier [between 1995-2003]

Synopses, Undated
Complete typescript, chapters 1 - 7, December 2002
Complete typescript, chapters 8 - 14, December 2002
Typescript, chapters 1 - 3, 2003
Partial typescript, pages 1 - 21, Undated
Chapter summaries, Undated
Notes, Undated

Too Like the Lightning (2008)

Typescript draft, chapters 1 - 25, 2008
Typescript draft, chapters 26 - 41, 2008
Typescript draft, chapters 42 - 54, 2008
Typescript draft with handwritten edits and feedback, chapter 50, Undated
Typescript draft with handwritten edits and feedback, chapter 52 - 54, Undated
Advance bound manuscript, with last three chapters accompanying, 2015

Two-Thirds God [2005 or 2006]

Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 1 - 5, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 6 - 10, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 11 - 13, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 14 - 16, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapters 17 - 19, Undated
Typescript of part 2, pages 143 - 165, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapter 9, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapter 12, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits, chapter 20, Undated
Typescript with handwritten edits by multiple editors, chapter 3, pages 61 - 64, Undated

4/1: Seven Surrenders (2017), typescript with handwritten reader comments [reader Crystal Hall], 2015 - 2016?, comments, January 2016

4/2: Seven Surrenders (2017), proofs with handwritten edits and copyedits, title page - page 149, August 2016

4/3: Seven Surrenders (2017), proofs with handwritten edits and copyedits, pages 150 - 280, August 2016

4/4: Seven Surrenders (2017), proofs with handwritten edits and copyedits, page 281 - 365, August 2016

4/5: Balticon 52 [Baltimore, MD, 2018]

4/6: Boskone [Boston, MA, 2015, 2018 - 2019]

4/7: Capricon [Wheeling, IL, 2016, 2018]

4/8: Chessiecon 2017 [Timonium, MD, 2017]

4/9: FOGCon 8 [Walnut Creek, CA, 2018]

4/10: MidAmeriCon II [WorldCon 74: Kansas City, MO, 2016]

4/11: WorldCon 76 [San Jose, CA, 2018]

4/12: WorldCon 77 [Dublin, Ireland, 2019]

4/13: Assorted conventions and conferences, 2014, 2016, 2020, undated

Assorted sheet music by Palmer and others, A - M, 1998-2002; Undated

Assorted sheet music by Palmer and others, S - W, 2000; 2010; Undated

Folksong collection by Lawrence Dean, 1986-2008

MPLHymnal Redux: Favorite Filk Songs of the 4th Saturday Filk Singers of the Twin Cities - songbook, 2007

Pieces composed by Palmer [master copy], A - F, 1998-2000; Undated

Pieces composed by Palmer [master copy], H - S, 2009; Undated

Pieces composed by Palmer [master copy], "Sundown - Balder Murder Cycle", [2009]

Pieces composed by Palmer [master copy], T - W, Undated

Programs, 2000; 2009; Undated

Sassafras: Ads and programs, 2010; Undated

Sassafras: "Nearly Sundown" [compact disc], [1994]

Sassafras: Photographs at festivals, 2000

Sassafras: Songbook, pre-print page proofs, 2014

Sassafras: Stencils for graphic designs, 2009

Sassafras: Stories & Stone, ad proofs for CD, 2015

Sassafras: Sundown-Whispers of Ragnarok, ad proofs for CD, 2014

Sassafras: Sundown-Whispers of Ragnarok, complete score, pre-print page proofs, 2014

Sassafras: Sundown-Whispers of Ragnarok, proofs for CD packaging, 2014

Sassafras: Sundown-Whispers of Ragnarok, sheet music, Undated

Setlists and notes, 2008-2009; Undated

Untitled sheet music, before 2008

Various lyrics, 2001; 2011; Undated

6/4: Censorship seminar at the University of Chicago, 2018

6/5: College transcript (Harvard University) of Palmer, 2004 [sealed]

6/6: Correspondence, 2012, 2016, 2018

6/7: Photograph (copy) of Sassafras, undated

6/8: Portfolio of poetry by Steven Schwartz, undated

6/9: RightStuf Anime Catalog, various issues, 2014 - 2018

6/10: Speeches, 2018

6/11: University of Chicago activities, 2016 - 2019

6/12: Walter Day's Science Fiction Historical Trading Cards, partial set, 2015 - 2016

6/13: The Will To Battle (2017), publicity card for book and Palmer, 2017

6/14: Zine + Origami #1 - 3 (August - December 2016), #5 (August 2017)

Anime Boston (with Anime Boston 2008, "Catch-the-Barrel" barrel seals) (2004-2015)

Anticipation (Worldcon 67, Montreal, Canada, 2009)

ArmadilloCon 36 (Austin, TX, 2014)

Balticon 36 and 39 (Baltimore, 2002; 2005)

Anime, 2007; Undated

Press release for Reading Lucretius in the Renaissance, 2014

Sketches for folding wing costume design, 2008-2009

4/14: Assorted name tags and business cards, undated

4/15: Blood Grains Speak Through Memories (Jason Sandford, 2016], signed special edition

4/16: Bookmarks, undated

4/17: Live Action Role Playing [LARP] materials, undated

4/18: Notes, undated

4/19: Zines, 2016, undated

Signage for the "Catch-The-Barrel" cosplay game, Anime Boston 2008

5/1: Too Like The Lightning (2016), typescript outline, September 2010

5/2: Too Like The Lightning (2016), typescript pages, undated

5/3: Too Like The Lightning (2016), proofs with handwritten copyedits, front matter - page 174, 2016

5/4: Too Like The Lightning (2016), proofs with handwritten copyedits, page 175 - 285, 2016

5/5: Too Like The Lightning (2016), proofs with handwritten copyedits, page 286 - 432, 2016

5/6: "Epicureanism" (for *Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy, Springer, 2016), proofs with handwritten edits, 2016

5/7: Review - "Evening News: Optics, Astronomy, and Journalism in Early Modern Europe", by Eileen Reeves, typescript with handwritten edits, October 2016

5/8: "Two Humanist Lives of Pythagoras" (2016), typescript with handwritten edits, 2016?

5/9: Seven Surrenders (2017), typescript, partial first chapter, undated

5/10: The Will To Battle (2017), typescript draft chapters 1 - 21 with additional comments, 2017?

5/11: The Will To Battle (2017), proof pages with handwritten edits, August 2017

5/12: The Will To Battle (2017), proof pages with handwritten edits, August 2017

5/13: Perhaps The Stars (2021), outline, 2013 - 2014

5/14: Perhaps The Stars (2021), typescript draft with comments by beta reader Crystal Huff, December 2019

5/15: Otakon 2000 (Baltimore, MD, 2000)

5/16: Anime Boston (Boston, MA), 2010, 2015 - 2016, undated

5/17: Otakon 2010 (Baltimore, MD, 2010)

5/18: Balticon 45 (Baltimore, MD, 2011)

5/19: Balticon 47 (Baltimore, MD, 2013)

5/20: ConDFW XII (Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX, 2013)

5/21: Boskone (Boston, MA), 2014 - 2016

5/22: Loncon 3 [WorldCon 72: London, UK, 2014]

5/23: Sixteenth Century Society and Conference (New Orleans, LA, 2014)

5/24: Sasquan [WorldCon 73: Spokane, WA, 2015]

5/25: Vericon (Cambridge, MA), 2015 -2016

5/26: WindyCon 42 (Chicago, IL, 2015)

5/27: Ohio Valley Filk Fest, 2015 - 2016

5/28: Balticon 50 (Baltimore, MD, 2016)

5/29: BookExpo America 2016 (Chicago, IL, 2016)

5/30: Capricon (Chicago, IL), 2016 - 2017

5/31: GenCon Writers Symposium (Indianapolis, IN, 2016)

5/32: MidAmericon II [WorldCon 74: Kansas City, MO, 2016]

5/33: Readercon 27 (Quincy, MA, 2016)

5/34: 2016 SFWA Nebula Conference (Chicago, IL, 2016)

5/35: Balticon 51 (Baltimore, MD, 2017)

5/36: Chessiecon 2017 (Baltimore, MD, 2017)

5/37: Edinburgh International Book Festival, 2017

5/38: Penguicon 2017 (Southfield, MI, 2017)

5/39: WorldCon 75 (Helsinki, Finland, 2017)

5/40: Balticon 52 (Baltimore, MD, 2018)

5/41: Capricon 38 (Chicago, IL, 2018)

5/42: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (Chicago, IL, 2018)

5/43: Hong Kong International Literary Festival, 2018

5/44: Scintillation (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2018)

5/45: WorldCon 76 (San Jose, CA, 2018)

5/46: Balticon 53 (Baltimore, MD, 2019)

5/47: Dublin 2019 [WorldCon 77: Dublin, Ireland, 2019]

5/48: Nantes Utopiales 2019 (Nantes, France, 2019)

5/49: ConZealand [WorldCon 78: Wellington, NZ, 2020]

5/50: Miscellaneous, 2014, 2017 - 2018, undated

Sassafras: Map of the Norse mythological world, designed by Palmer for the Sundown CD, 2014

Sassafras: Page proofs for CD packaging, 2014

Balticon 42, 47, and 49 (Baltimore, 2008; 2013; 2015)

Boskone 46 and 51-52 (Boston, 2009; 2014-2015)

ConCortino [National Filk Convention] (Worcester, MA, 2009)

ConDFW (Dallas/Ft. Worth, 2013)

Confluence (Pittsburgh, 2008)

ConnectiCon (Hartford, CT, 2006)

Fencon (Dallas/Ft. Worth, 2013-2014)

Katsucon 11 (Arlington, VA, 2005)

Loncon 3 (Worldcon 72, London, UK, 2014)

LoneStarCon 3 (Worldcon 71, San Antonio, 2013)

MarsCon (Bloomington, MN, 2010)

Mythcon 46 (Colorado Springs, CO, 2015)

Ohio Valley Filk Fest 26 (Worthington, OH, 2010)

Ohio Valley Filk Fest 28 and 31 (Columbus, OH, 2012; 2015)

Otakon (Baltimore, 2003-2008; 2012)

Readercon 16 and 20 (Boston, 2005; 2009)

Sasquan [Worldcon 73] (Spokane, WA, 2015)

Vericon (Harvard University, 2004-2007; 2012)

Windycon 42 (Lombard, IL, 2015)

Assorted con badges and programs, 2003-2015; Undated

6/1: Badges
Anime Boston 2012 (Boston, MA, 2012) [1x]
Anime Boston 2014 (Boston, MA, 2014) [6x]
ConDFW X (Dallas-Ft. Worth, 2011) [1x]

6/2: Lauren Schiller's Badges
Aggiecon 41 (College Station, TX, 2010)
Anime Boston 2011 (Boston, MA, 2011)
ArmadilloCon 36 (Austin, TX, 2014)
Balticon 45 (Baltimore, MD, 2013)
Balticon 50 (Baltimore, MD, 2016)
Balticon 51 (Baltimore, MD, 2017)
Capricon 38 (Chicago, IL, 2018)
Chessiecon 2017 (Baltimore, MD, 2017)
MidAmericon II (WorldCon 74: Kansas City, MO, 2016)
Ohio Valley Filk Fest 27 (2011)
Ohio Valley Filk Fest 32 (2016)
ORD Camp ’20 (Chicago, IL, 2020)
SFWA Nebula Conference (Chicago, IL, 2016)
WorldCon 75 (Helsinki, Finland, 2017)

6/3: Ada Palmer's Badges
AnimeChicago Symposium (Chicago, IL, 2015)
Archaeological Institute of America & Society for Classical Studies (Boston, MA, 2018)
Balticon 52 (Baltimore, MD, 2018)
BookExpo America 2016 (Chicago, IL, 2016)
Boskone 53 (Boston, MA, 2016)
Boskone 54 (Boston, MA, 2017)
Capricon 36 (Chicago, IL, 2016)
ConDFW 2013 (Dallas-Ft. Worth, 2013)
ConFusion (Storming the Confusion) (Ann Arbor, MI, 2019)
Dublin 2019 (WorldCon 77: Dublin, Ireland, 2019)
Edinburgh International Book Festival (2017)
Edinburgh International Book Festival (2018)
Gencon 2016 (Indianapolis, IN, 2016)
Latin School of Chicago (undated)
Nantes Utopiales (Nantes, France, 2019)
Ohio Valley Filk Fest 28 (2012)
Ohio Valley Filk Fest (2013)
PenguiCon 2017 (Southfield, MI, 2017)
"The Promise of the Vatican Library" (Notre Dame, IN, 2016)
Renaissance Society of America Annual Meeting (Boston, MA, 2016)
Scintillation 2 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 2019)
Sixteenth Century Society and Conference (New Orleans, LA, 2014)
Society of French Historical Studies (undated)
Uchi-Con 2019 (Chicago, IL, 2019)
WorldCon 76 (San Jose, CA, 2018)

Item 1: Songs and Stone (Sassafras album), cover proof, July 2015

Item 2: Lecture advertisement poster "San Marco: The Dominican Monastery at the Heart of Renaissance Florence", 2016