Dorothy Schons Papers

Literary productions, correspondence, and a few audiovisual materials relating primarily to Schons’ publishing and teaching activities. Correspondence is largely from Mexican authors Ermilo Abreu Gómez, José de J. Nuñez y Domínguez, Luis González Obregón, and Rafael Heliodoro Valle. Topics are Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Latin American literature, Juan Ruíz de Alarcón y Mendoza, religious drama, history of playing cards and the ballad, "The Deck of Cards," and historiography of the New World. The papers contain research notes on most of these topics and on Francisco Aguiar y Seyxas, as well as notebooks, arranged by source, compiled by Schons on visits to libraries and archives in Spain, Great Britain, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Items relating to Sor Juana include the "Libro de professiones" of the convent of San Gerónimo (1586-1713), as well as manuscripts, lists, excerpts of publications, and images of Sor Juana. Among items about Latin American literature are an anthology of translations, and materials on the short story in Spanish-speaking countries. Documents on Juan Ruíz de Alarcón y Mendoza consist of articles published by Schons and photostats from the Archivo General de Indias. Notes on aspects of Spanish-language religious drama, excerpts from plays, and a published article form the materials on religious drama. Items on the history of playing cards include research notes, song texts, sheet music, two phonodiscs, and a few letters. Drafts and notes comprise the materials on New World historiography. Works by other authors include an anthology of translations by Emily Schons, Dorothy’s sister, and an 18th-century copy of Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora’s "Piedad de don Fernando Cortés."

The series "Personal" contains a list of books given by Schons to the University of Texas libraries and an honorary diploma from the Academia Mexicana.