A Hard Sell: The Alexander J. Jemal Collection of Joyce Carol Oates Material
- by Bruce E. McKinney
Rare and unusual material
This of course leaves other possibilities. There are other unnamed and undiscovered colleges and universities with strong women’s studies programs for whom this collection would be an important addition. There are also collectors of women’s materials that could buy this archive, add to it and in time pass it on. Such archives are always unusual, the term rarely heard outside of academic circles. But such resources are uncommon because such material often takes decades to identify and acquire. Not so for Miss Oates. Her next great collection is already loaded on Abebooks and waiting to be assembled. Needless to say this makes Mr. Jemal’s predicament tougher.
There are choices but they will require both hard work and luck. Mr. Jemal is flexible. At 84 he’d like to bring his collection in for a landing. His records are meticulous. He’s done what an institution would do, build a great searchable catalogue that makes the complete collection accessible. His documentation is in fact unique, his collection for the acquirer a decision, not a project. It should be of interest. If you are among the interested contact me. Mr. Jemal has asked and I have agreed without fee to help him. More is at stake than Mr. Jemal’s collection. Great collections are abuilding in hundreds of fields and focuses. They will also need help.
A dealer could step forward to craft a strategy. An auction house could take it on for the occasional financial benefit and the larger advantage that leadership confers. A collector too could assume the challenge.
For the moment he’s circling, waiting to begin a conversation.
Seven files detailing the Jemal Collection will be provided by email if requested.
