R. Serge Denisoff papers

Collection – Multiple Containers

Identifier: MS-0306

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The R. Serge Denisoff papers contain literary manuscripts and research files dating from approximately 1960-1990. The collection documents several of Denisoff's numerous book projects while the remainder is comprised of research papers by other authors on sociological, musical and popular culture topics.

Dates

Creation: 1960-1990

Extent

13.82 Cubic Feet (24 legal boxes, 5 half-legal boxes, 1 half-letter box, 2 flat boxes)

Creator

Denisoff, R. Serge, 1939-1994 (Person)

Scope and Contents

The R. Serge Denisoff Collection contains 6 cubic feet of manuscripts by Dr. Denisoff for three of his books as well as for edited volumes, articles, papers and other writings. Documents often include handwritten drafts and heavily edited-cut/pasted copies (typed as well as handwritten copies abound). Very few of these edited copies and corrected versions are dated.

Researchers will have a limited view of the evolution of certain Denisoff manuscripts. Miscellaneous fragments of manuscript chapters and pages are abundant. In order to provide an arrangement to the collection various fragmented drafts were placed with projects that seemed to be a match in content and subject matter.

The manuscripts required extensive sorting. Denisoff's biography of Country Western Musician Waylon Jennings is the only relatively comprehensive book manuscript in the collection that contains a series of corrected drafts that end in an extensive set of galleys.

Approximately 1.5 cubic feet of the manuscripts are for projects on which Denisoff served as editor or co-editor.

An additional 3 cubic feet of manuscripts are comprised of papers by other authors often presented at conferences and possibly submitted for publication in such journals as Popular Music and Society (1/2 cubic feet of these are specifically identified as having been submitted to the journal). The other papers have been arranged topically by musical, sociological or popular culture topics for ease of research.

Approximately 4 cubic feet of research files pertain to specific book projects. These contain some correspondence, interview transcripts, news clippings, press releases, photographs and many other important resources relevant to his research. Correspondence in the Waylon research files includes publisher and fan club documents that might prove useful to researchers.

Magnetic tapes comprise a half cubic foot of the collection and are primarily for individuals interviewed by Denisoff for his research. These have not been transcribed.

Biographical / Historical

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Sociology Professor R. Serge Denisoff was born on June 2, 1939 in San Francisco, California.

Dr. Denisoff received his A.A. in Sociology at San Francisco City College in January 1964. He graduated with a B.A. in January 1965 and an M.A. in June 1967 both in Sociology from San Francisco State College. By June 1969 Denisoff had been awarded a Ph.D. in Sociology from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. His research interests, while writing his master's thesis and doctoral dissertation, focused upon "political consciousness and social movements" and "protest songs and the American Communist Party". His numerous published works concentrated primarily upon sociological and musical topics. Books included such titles as Inside MTV, Solid Gold: The Popular Record Industry and Waylon (a biography of singer Waylon Jennings).

Dr. Denisoff taught at San Francisco State College from 1965-1967. He served as a teaching and research assistant at Simon Fraser University from 1967-1969. Between 1969 and 1970 he was an assistant professor of sociology at Los Angeles State. He received a faculty position at BGSU in the Sociology Department in 1970 and remained until his retirement in 1990.

Dr. Denisoff's professional affiliations included memberships in such organizations as the American Sociological Association, the Popular Culture Association and the American Folklore Society. He founded the Journal of Popular Music and Society and served as editor. He died August 12, 1994.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.