University of British Columbia Archives | Inventories
University of British Columbia Archives | Inventories
Jane Rule fonds. -- 1947-2000.
8.14 m of textual records.
34 audio cassettes.
British Columbia author Jane Rule was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1931. She received her B.A. from Mills College, Oakland in 1952 and attended University College in London, 1952/53 as an "occasional student". In 1954 Rule taught at Concord Academy, a private school in Massachusetts. There she met Helen Sonthoff, a fellow faculty member who became her life partner. Rule first came to Vancouver in 1956, where after writing for two years she became the first assistant director of the University of British Columbia's newly-established International House in its first year of operation (1958/59). Thereafter she taught periodically in the English and Creative Writing Departments at UBC. Jane Rule distinguished herself has one of British Columbia's best fiction writers. She also made significant contributions in nonfiction, particularly homosexuality and women's rights. In 1964, she published Desertof the Heart, a novel centred on a professor of English literature who meets and falls in love with a casino worker in Reno. It received a chilly reception in most quarters, but she was deluged with desperate letters from closeted lesbians who felt there might be someone who understood them. It was made into a movie by Donna Deitch called Desert Hearts in 1985 - both the novel and the movie are now considered classics in their genre. In 1976, she moved to Galiano Island and remained there until the end of her life. Rule served on the executive of the Writers' Union of Canada. An open lesbian, she was an outspoken advocate of both free speech and gay rights. Rule was inducted into the Order of British Columbia in 1998, and into the Order of Canada in 2007. She died on 28 November 2007 due to complications from liver cancer.
The fonds consists of notes, manuscripts, drafts, galleys, and correspondence relating to Rule's published and unpublished novels and short stories. The fonds also includes biographical and autobiographical material, college papers, teaching records, non-fiction manuscripts, typescript copies of book reviews by Rule, and personal and professional correspondence. Rule's collection of reviews of her work and audio recordings of interviews and readings are also included.
File List available. Audio recordings are also listed separately.
The fonds was donated by Jane Rule in several accessions: the first one in 1987, and the most recent in 2000.
Jane Rule's personal correspondence remained restricted until her death in 2007.
Related records may be found in the Helen Sonthoff fonds.
Series consists of drafts and manuscripts of Rule's published novels and collected short stories. The material is arranged by title of publication.
Unpublished Novels Series.
- [ca.1957-1970].
12 cm of textual records.
Series consists of drafts and manuscripts of Rule's unpublished novels.
Short Stories and Essays Series.
- 1951-1984.
96 cm of textual records.
Series consists of published and unpublished Rule's short stories and essays.
Biographical and Autobiographical
Material Series. - 1963-1987.
49 cm of textual records.
Series consists of biographical information, including articles about Rule, reviews, financial records and drafts of autobiography.
Student Essays and Notes Series.
- 1947-1953.
8 cm of textual records.
Series consists of papers submitted by J. Rule during her college years. Series also includes an high school notebook.
Teaching Material Series.
- 1960-1961.
6 cm of textual records.
Series consists of grade books, teaching notes and essays from courses Rule taught at UBC.
Non-Fiction Manuscripts Series.
- 1963-1983.
6 cm of textual records.
Series consists of non-fiction manuscripts and essays written by Rule. The material is arranged alphabetically by subject or title.
Reviews Series. -
1977-1983.
61 cm of textual records.
Series consists of reviews of Rule's work. The material is either arranged alphabetically by author or by Rule's book title.
Correspondence Series.
- 1947-2000.
3.72 m of textual records.
Series consists of Jane Rule's personal and professional correspondence. It is arranged in two sub-series: General Correspondence and Family Correspondence. The material is retained in its original order as created by Rule, with the exception of some family letters moved from General Correspondence to Family Correspondence.
General Correspondence sub-series. - 1957-2000.
3.43 m.Sub-series consists of professional, business, and personal correspondence addressed to Jane Rule. It includes correspondence and some manuscript material from writers (both professional and aspiring), as well as correspondence from other artists, publishers, organizations (professional and political), and fans. Files also contain greeting cards, postcards, and clippings. Files are arranged primarily alphabetically by correspondent. Some of the writers and other artists represented are Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Earle Birney, June Callwood, Anne Cameron, Donna Deitch, Timothy Findley, John Koerner, Mary Miegs, Kate Millett, Almeta Speaks, Aritha Van Herk, Eleanor Wachtel, and David Watmough.
Family Correspondence sub-series. - 1947-2000.
29 cm.Sub-series consists of correspondence between Jane Rule and members of her family, primarily letters written by Jane to her parents which were eventually returned to her. Also included are some letters from her father, brother, sister, and nephew. Files also contain greeting cards, postcards, and clippings. There is also a file of correspondence from March Cost, a British author and family friend, addressed primarily to Jane's mother.
Miscellaneous Series.
- 1965-1980.
4 cm of textual records.
Series consists of miscellaneous material such as notes, letters, calendars, catalogues, ect.
Book Reviews by Rule Series.
- 1971-1985.
6 cm of textual records.
Series consists of reviews of other writers' work by Rule.
Audio Recordings Series.
- 1964-1984.
34 audio cassettes.
Series consists of audio recordings of Rule's stories, reviews, conversations and interviews with Rule.
Audio recordings are also listed in the Sound and Moving Images database.