Octavia E. Butler, one of few African-American authors to become a prominent name in the white-dominated universe of science fiction, died in 2006.
Octavia E. Butler, one of few African-American authors to become a prominent name in the white-dominated universe of science fiction, died in 2006.
The Huntington Library
After Butler died, her estate gave her papers and personal effects to the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, not far from Butler's hometown. The extensive collection offers a rare glimpse into the inner thoughts of a self-described hermit. Much of the archive consists of documents related to her novels, such as this outline for "Parable of the Talents."
After Butler died, her estate gave her papers and personal effects to the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, not far from Butler's hometown. The extensive collection offers a rare glimpse into the inner thoughts of a self-described hermit. Much of the archive consists of documents related to her novels, such as this outline for "Parable of the Talents."
The Huntington Library
Butler was born June 22, 1947, in Pasadena, the only child of a domestic and a shoeshine man. She sought refuge in writing from poverty and racism as a tall, shy black girl growing up in the 1950s and 1960s.
Butler was born June 22, 1947, in Pasadena, the only child of a domestic and a shoeshine man. She sought refuge in writing from poverty and racism as a tall, shy black girl growing up in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Huntington Library
Butler received an associate of arts degree in 1968 from Pasadena Community College. During 1969 and 1970, she studied at the Screenwriter's Guild Open Door Program and the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop, where this photo was taken in 1970. Butler is at right in the back row.
Butler received an associate of arts degree in 1968 from Pasadena Community College. During 1969 and 1970, she studied at the Screenwriter's Guild Open Door Program and the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop, where this photo was taken in 1970. Butler is at right in the back row.
The Huntington Library
During the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop, she took a class with science-fiction great Harlan Ellison, at left with Butler in 1988. The experience led her to sell her first science-fiction stories, and Ellison became her mentor.
During the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop, she took a class with science-fiction great Harlan Ellison, at left with Butler in 1988. The experience led her to sell her first science-fiction stories, and Ellison became her mentor.
The Huntington Library
Butler worked a series of temporary jobs that required little effort so she could focus on honing her craft. In her journals, she documented her plans, which read like affirmations: "I shall be a bestselling writer" whose books spend months on the bestseller lists. "I will find the way to do this. So be it! See to it!"
Butler worked a series of temporary jobs that required little effort so she could focus on honing her craft. In her journals, she documented her plans, which read like affirmations: "I shall be a bestselling writer" whose books spend months on the bestseller lists. "I will find the way to do this. So be it! See to it!"
The Huntington Library
With the publication of "Kindred" in 1979, Butler was able to support herself writing full-time. The book was initially titled "To Keep Thee in All Thy Ways," from Psalms 91:11. A draft is stored in her archive at the Huntington.
With the publication of "Kindred" in 1979, Butler was able to support herself writing full-time. The book was initially titled "To Keep Thee in All Thy Ways," from Psalms 91:11. A draft is stored in her archive at the Huntington.
The Huntington Library
Butler wrote in journals of her struggles with money and the publishing world. She worked a series of factory jobs to free up time for writing until her big break came in 1979 with "Kindred."
Butler wrote in journals of her struggles with money and the publishing world. She worked a series of factory jobs to free up time for writing until her big break came in 1979 with "Kindred."
The Huntington Library
Butler, right, with Betty Myles, left, Artie Bates and Lady Tyger Trimiar at A Salute to Black Role Models of the Greater Los Angeles Community at West Los Angeles Community College in 1981. The city inspired the sprawling urban settings of Butler's novels.
Butler, right, with Betty Myles, left, Artie Bates and Lady Tyger Trimiar at A Salute to Black Role Models of the Greater Los Angeles Community at West Los Angeles Community College in 1981. The city inspired the sprawling urban settings of Butler's novels.
The Huntington Library
Butler (standing, third from left) with her students at the Clarion West writers workshop in 1999. She was a student at the original Clarion Writers Workshop in Pennsylvania in 1970. A memorial scholarship in her honor now enables writers of color to attend Clarion workshops.
Butler (standing, third from left) with her students at the Clarion West writers workshop in 1999. She was a student at the original Clarion Writers Workshop in Pennsylvania in 1970. A memorial scholarship in her honor now enables writers of color to attend Clarion workshops.
The Huntington Library
Butler scrawled notes, literary passages and everyday to-do lists in a series of "commonplace books." This page of affirmations comes from a 1987 book collected among her papers at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Butler scrawled notes, literary passages and everyday to-do lists in a series of "commonplace books." This page of affirmations comes from a 1987 book collected among her papers at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
The Huntington Library
Butler's journals, drafts and outlines are providing other artists with fodder for projects. Writer and editor Tisa Bryant is using the archive to learn about Butler's research process for an essay about self-education and self-determination.
Butler's journals, drafts and outlines are providing other artists with fodder for projects. Writer and editor Tisa Bryant is using the archive to learn about Butler's research process for an essay about self-education and self-determination.
The Huntington Library
"Research is vital to realism," Butler wrote, and she wasn't just paying lip service. The novelist studied human anatomy and molecular biology to make her stories as realistic as possible. Years later, many call her scientific writing prescient.
"Research is vital to realism," Butler wrote, and she wasn't just paying lip service. The novelist studied human anatomy and molecular biology to make her stories as realistic as possible. Years later, many call her scientific writing prescient.
The Huntington Library
Newspaper clippings were pasted into one of Butler's commonplace books, circa 1990, alongside handwritten notes and a math equation.
Newspaper clippings were pasted into one of Butler's commonplace books, circa 1990, alongside handwritten notes and a math equation.
The Huntington Library
A diligent researcher, Butler visited the Peruvian Amazon (and Machu Picchu, seen here) to study insects and plant life for a series about alien abduction and seduction.
A diligent researcher, Butler visited the Peruvian Amazon (and Machu Picchu, seen here) to study insects and plant life for a series about alien abduction and seduction.
The Huntington Library
By the time Butler died of a stroke in 2006, she had amassed a cult following; today, her books still resonate with "black people, women, science fiction readers, feminists, queer folks, variously abled, and gendered folks," said Ayana Jamieson, founder of the Octavia Butler Legacy Network.
By the time Butler died of a stroke in 2006, she had amassed a cult following; today, her books still resonate with "black people, women, science fiction readers, feminists, queer folks, variously abled, and gendered folks," said Ayana Jamieson, founder of the Octavia Butler Legacy Network.
The Huntington Library