Michele Serros Collection
Collection
Identifier: SER-2020-1
Scope and Contents
See Arrangement and Scope and Content for each record group. SEE ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION BELOW.
Dates
- 1938 - 2015
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for research by appointment only. Please contact the archivist in advance to request access.
Conditions Governing Use
NOTE TO RESEARCHERS: Property rights to the physical objects belong to CSUCI BROOME LIBRARY. REGARDING UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS IN PARTICULAR: Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The Broome Library may not hold copyright and therefore, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RESEARCHER to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where CSUCI BROOME LIBRARY does not hold copyright.
It is the researcher's responsibility to determine the correct copyright date.
REGARDING PUBLISHED ITEMS: Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Please review the Fair Use defense. See https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/faqs/copyright-protection.
Also, please review this site, https://library.osu.edu/copyright/basics, before you look at the collection materials.
Reproduction of archival material is subject to the terms and conditions of the Copyright Act. See US Code: Title 17, Section 107, Fair Use, for provisions and guidelines, which include limited, non-profit use for scholarship. The researcher, by signing the registration form, agrees not to quote, publish, reproduce, or display the copy in whole or in part, without permission from the University Archives and the copyright owner, if applicable.
Reproduction of full names, addresses, or any other type of personal information is strictly forbidden. First names may be cited.
SEE https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/#rights-reproductions reproduction rights for unpublished materials.
Please contact the archivist for formal citation. See: https://style.mla.org/citing-letters/ for more information.
"Unpublished works in archives are protected by U.S. copyright law, and authors maintain exclusive rights to control the duplication and distribution of their work. Although authors may transfer their copyright ownership to others or give a library ownership of the work itself, even if it is the only existing copy, this does not by itself transfer copyright in the work. The doctrine of fair use allows the copying of copyrighted works in limited situations. While not every educational use is considered fair use, copying or quoting small amounts of copyrighted material, particularly for the purpose of historical research or criticism, may be considered fair use." https://legalbeagle.com/6606003-anime-copyright-laws.html
It is the researcher's responsibility to determine the correct copyright date.
REGARDING PUBLISHED ITEMS: Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Please review the Fair Use defense. See https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/faqs/copyright-protection.
Also, please review this site, https://library.osu.edu/copyright/basics, before you look at the collection materials.
Reproduction of archival material is subject to the terms and conditions of the Copyright Act. See US Code: Title 17, Section 107, Fair Use, for provisions and guidelines, which include limited, non-profit use for scholarship. The researcher, by signing the registration form, agrees not to quote, publish, reproduce, or display the copy in whole or in part, without permission from the University Archives and the copyright owner, if applicable.
Reproduction of full names, addresses, or any other type of personal information is strictly forbidden. First names may be cited.
SEE https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/#rights-reproductions reproduction rights for unpublished materials.
Please contact the archivist for formal citation. See: https://style.mla.org/citing-letters/ for more information.
"Unpublished works in archives are protected by U.S. copyright law, and authors maintain exclusive rights to control the duplication and distribution of their work. Although authors may transfer their copyright ownership to others or give a library ownership of the work itself, even if it is the only existing copy, this does not by itself transfer copyright in the work. The doctrine of fair use allows the copying of copyrighted works in limited situations. While not every educational use is considered fair use, copying or quoting small amounts of copyrighted material, particularly for the purpose of historical research or criticism, may be considered fair use." https://legalbeagle.com/6606003-anime-copyright-laws.html
Conditions Governing Use
In the United States, all works created after January 1st, 1978 have a protection period that is in place for the life of the author, creator, or owner of copyright, plus an additional 70 years after the date of such individual’s death.
SEE https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/#rights-reproductions reproduction rights for unpublished materials.
SEE https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/#rights-reproductions reproduction rights for unpublished materials.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal principals applied to this collection:
FERPA (does not apply to educational records, because Serros and her parents are deceased)-See https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/faq/does-ferpa-protect-education-records-students-are-deceased;
FAIR USE (1) Recording and Watching TV Programs: https://copyright.laws.com/time-shifting; https://legalbeagle.com/6696968-tv-recording-copyright-laws.html ("You can't hold public exhibitions, rebroadcast, distribute on peer-to-peer networks or sell a TV broadcast recording") and (2) Educational and Research Materials: https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/fair-use-rule-copyright-material-30100.html ("As a broad standard, never quote more than a few successive paragraphs from a book or article, take more than one chart or diagram, include an illustration or other artwork in a book or newsletter without the artist's permission, or quote more than one or two lines from a poem.")
Biographical / Historical
Author Michele Serros was born in Oxnard in 1966 and died of salivary gland cancer in Berkeley in 2015. She attended Rio Del Valle Elementary School, Rio Mesa High School, and Santa Clara High School. Michele enrolled at Ventura College, Santa Monica City College, and later, UCLA, earning her B.A., cum laude in Chicana and Chicano Studies in 1996.
Michele published her first novel, Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard in 1994 as a student at Santa Monica City College. Two years later, there would be an audio version on CD. Serros was also selected in 1994 to travel nationally with the touring music festival, Lollapalooza.
Her second novel, How To Be A Chicana Role Model, was published in 2000. In 2002, Michele was hired as a staff writer for the first season of the George Lopez Show. She was also chosen by PEN Center USA to write and perform an original piece honoring John Steinbeck. In 2004, she signed with Simon and Schuster to write Honey Blonde Chica, 2007 and its sequel, Scandalosa!, 2008.
Michele was a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Marie Clare, Ms. Magazine, CosmoGirl, and provided satirical commentaries for National Public Radio.
According to https://remezcla.com/lists/culture/13-chicano-lit-must-reads-michele-serros/, Michele was "[a] California-born Chicana who didn’t speak much Spanish, Serros was a voice for those who grappled with their cultural identity – capturing the “ni de aquí ni de allá” feeling that often comes from being second (or third, or fourth) generation in sharply humorous essays, stories and poems. Her writing, most notably Chicana Falsa: And Other Stories of Death, Identity, and Oxnard and How to Be a Chicana Role Model, has come to be regarded as a staple of Chican@ studies syllabi, and Newsweek once dubbed her a 'Woman to Watch for the New Century.'"
Michele published her first novel, Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard in 1994 as a student at Santa Monica City College. Two years later, there would be an audio version on CD. Serros was also selected in 1994 to travel nationally with the touring music festival, Lollapalooza.
Her second novel, How To Be A Chicana Role Model, was published in 2000. In 2002, Michele was hired as a staff writer for the first season of the George Lopez Show. She was also chosen by PEN Center USA to write and perform an original piece honoring John Steinbeck. In 2004, she signed with Simon and Schuster to write Honey Blonde Chica, 2007 and its sequel, Scandalosa!, 2008.
Michele was a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Marie Clare, Ms. Magazine, CosmoGirl, and provided satirical commentaries for National Public Radio.
According to https://remezcla.com/lists/culture/13-chicano-lit-must-reads-michele-serros/, Michele was "[a] California-born Chicana who didn’t speak much Spanish, Serros was a voice for those who grappled with their cultural identity – capturing the “ni de aquí ni de allá” feeling that often comes from being second (or third, or fourth) generation in sharply humorous essays, stories and poems. Her writing, most notably Chicana Falsa: And Other Stories of Death, Identity, and Oxnard and How to Be a Chicana Role Model, has come to be regarded as a staple of Chican@ studies syllabi, and Newsweek once dubbed her a 'Woman to Watch for the New Century.'"
Extent
200 Linear Feet (Document cases, oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Spanish; Castilian
Arrangement
SEE EACH SERIES FOR COPYRIGHT INSTRUCTIONS.
SEE THE ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE.
Record Groups and subsequent Series:
1. Correspondence (business-related goes into Office RG 4; family correspondence is in Bio RG 5) 1. Fan Letters to Serros (includes students) 2. Letters to Serros from Friends-CONFIDENTIAL(the majority are origami-type letters from friends during childhood-teen years, but some from later years are present 1. 1970-1986 2. 1990-2010 3. Unsent Letters from Serros 4. Serros’ Notes – often, no dates included – contains “doodling” artwork and entries from journals (some mention cancer) 5. Notes to Serros from Friends-CONFIDENTIAL (the majority is from one particular boyfriend) 6. Greeting Cards (separated by event) (includes postcards; immediate family cards are in Bio RG 5) 1. Birthday 2. Christmas 3. Wedding/Congrats 4. Other cards, holiday, congrats (not wedding), graduation, friend and fan cards 5. Serros’ mom (Bea) former card albums-cards from family members-a little bit of everything (helps to establish genealogy) 6. Family Celebration Cards 7. Family Correspondence (to and from) 8. Postcards from Friends, some family 2. Photographs 1. Childhood-High School 2. Adult 3. Events with unknown friends and family 4. Single photos of unidentified persons 3. Advertisement/Publicity for Events/Personal Appearances regarding or for Books and Readings 1. Advertisement for Books 2. Advertisement Generated for Book and Reading Events (flyers, programs, etc.) 3. Advertisement for Events (flyers, etc.-not Correspondence) 4. Appearance/Event Correspondence/Articles 5. Book Praise (Mentions) 6. Book/Reading Tours 7. Correspondence regarding Appearances (past or future) 8. Ephemera from Events (programs, newsletters acknowledging appearance, etc.) 9. Lollapalooza (1984) 10. Magazine Articles 11. Newspaper Articles 12. Notes from Events 13. Photos re: Events/Advertising 14. Price Lists for Events 15. Professional Critiques/Reviews 16. Readers Critiques/Reviews (See also Resumes) 17. Recognition at Events 4. Office/Admin/Business-re: publishing, sales (including shirts), contracts, Serros’ own office materials 1. Cancellations of Events Materials 2. Contracts for Books (may include correspondence) 3. Contracts for CD of Stories of Chicana Falsa (may include correspondence) 4. Contracts for Events and Other Written Projects (may include correspondence) 5. General Correspondence 6. Invoices 7. Office Materials (stamps, stationary, etc.) 8. “Medium Brown Girl” Patent/Trademark Documents, Graphics (may include correspondence)-Petition to Revive Abandoned Marks 9. Suggested Edits for Works 5. Biographical Materials 1. Official (Public) Documentation (includes family docs) 2. CSUCI Posthumous Articles 3. Personal Background Material (See also Readers Critiques/Reviews) 1. Articles 2. Addresses where Serros lived (envelopes) 3. Genealogy Tree 4. Jobs Held or Applied To (correspondence) 5. Obituaries 6. Publicity 7. Resumes 8. Smithsonian Finding Guide 4. Early Years (through High School) Documentation 1. Grade School Documents 2. Junior High-Senior High School Documents 3. Ephemera (Interests) (Ex: scrapbook items, calendars, 1981 Rolling Stones US tour articles, Matt Damon (actor), Shaun Cassidy (actor), other personalities, stamp collection) 4. Magazines 5. Artifacts 5. College Classwork 6. Yearbooks (Includes Serros’ mother, father, and husband) 7. Artwork-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 1. Grade School Projects 2. Jr. High-Sr. High Homemade Zines 3. Doodle Books 8. Adult Life Artifacts-After High School-Interests (scooters, music-garage band/punk; travel) 1. The Fuzztones- European Tour 2. Band Ephemera 3. Ephemera, including calendars, tickets, brochures, programs to events 4. Serros’ Personal Collection of Zines 9. Record Keeping Tools (note: notebook entries tend to merge together sometimes; poems can be found in schoolwork, journal-type notations found in general notebooks, etc.) 1. School Notebooks 2. Calendars 3. Journals 4. General Notebooks (Note: These can have journal-type writings in them; but generally consist of notes, doodles, phone numbers, recipes, etc.) 5. Address/Phone/Planner Books 10. Travel-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS-HOWEVER, SEE RG 5, SERIES 8 1. Cuba 1996 2. New York ca 2011 3. Steinbeck Tour ca 2007 (See also RG 7 Literary Works) 4. Paris 2015 6. Lationa/o Newspaper Articles and Magazines (do not mention Serros, but have significant historical value) 1. Articles 2. Magazines 7. Literary Works and Other Professional Projects 1. Manuscript Drafts 1. Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard” 1994 2. How To Be A Chicana Role Model 2000; also, Cliff Notas: “How to be a Chicana Role Model” 3. Honey Blonde Chica 2004 4. Scandalosa! 2004 5. An Unmarried Mexican (unfinished) 2. Partial/Uncompleted Works and Other Works/Projects 3. George Lopez Show and Other Scripts NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 4. Pen in the Classroom NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 5. Serros’ Poems-many undated 1. Consists of Published Poems, includes photocopied poems [majority from Chicana Falsa]; 2 books of poems that contain Serros’s poems; and a small amount of correspondence and newsletters concerning Serros’ works 2. Original hand-written poems by Serros-includes early school years (some undated)-NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 6. Serros’ Work in the Classroom NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 7. Published Articles by Serros 8. Published Books by Serros-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS-THE BROOME LIBRARY HAS COPIES OF SERROS' BOOKS 8. VHS/CD/DVD/Other Formats-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 9. Special Collections (signed, etc.)-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 1. Signed Zines 2. Signed Photographs 3. Other Unique Items 4. Signed Poetry 10. Awards/Certificates 11. Serros’s Created and Produced Line of Zines (sponsored by Serros; not spec collection signed/Serros not mentioned) 12. Vintage Magazine Collection
SEE THE ARCHIVIST FOR ASSISTANCE.
Record Groups and subsequent Series:
1. Correspondence (business-related goes into Office RG 4; family correspondence is in Bio RG 5) 1. Fan Letters to Serros (includes students) 2. Letters to Serros from Friends-CONFIDENTIAL(the majority are origami-type letters from friends during childhood-teen years, but some from later years are present 1. 1970-1986 2. 1990-2010 3. Unsent Letters from Serros 4. Serros’ Notes – often, no dates included – contains “doodling” artwork and entries from journals (some mention cancer) 5. Notes to Serros from Friends-CONFIDENTIAL (the majority is from one particular boyfriend) 6. Greeting Cards (separated by event) (includes postcards; immediate family cards are in Bio RG 5) 1. Birthday 2. Christmas 3. Wedding/Congrats 4. Other cards, holiday, congrats (not wedding), graduation, friend and fan cards 5. Serros’ mom (Bea) former card albums-cards from family members-a little bit of everything (helps to establish genealogy) 6. Family Celebration Cards 7. Family Correspondence (to and from) 8. Postcards from Friends, some family 2. Photographs 1. Childhood-High School 2. Adult 3. Events with unknown friends and family 4. Single photos of unidentified persons 3. Advertisement/Publicity for Events/Personal Appearances regarding or for Books and Readings 1. Advertisement for Books 2. Advertisement Generated for Book and Reading Events (flyers, programs, etc.) 3. Advertisement for Events (flyers, etc.-not Correspondence) 4. Appearance/Event Correspondence/Articles 5. Book Praise (Mentions) 6. Book/Reading Tours 7. Correspondence regarding Appearances (past or future) 8. Ephemera from Events (programs, newsletters acknowledging appearance, etc.) 9. Lollapalooza (1984) 10. Magazine Articles 11. Newspaper Articles 12. Notes from Events 13. Photos re: Events/Advertising 14. Price Lists for Events 15. Professional Critiques/Reviews 16. Readers Critiques/Reviews (See also Resumes) 17. Recognition at Events 4. Office/Admin/Business-re: publishing, sales (including shirts), contracts, Serros’ own office materials 1. Cancellations of Events Materials 2. Contracts for Books (may include correspondence) 3. Contracts for CD of Stories of Chicana Falsa (may include correspondence) 4. Contracts for Events and Other Written Projects (may include correspondence) 5. General Correspondence 6. Invoices 7. Office Materials (stamps, stationary, etc.) 8. “Medium Brown Girl” Patent/Trademark Documents, Graphics (may include correspondence)-Petition to Revive Abandoned Marks 9. Suggested Edits for Works 5. Biographical Materials 1. Official (Public) Documentation (includes family docs) 2. CSUCI Posthumous Articles 3. Personal Background Material (See also Readers Critiques/Reviews) 1. Articles 2. Addresses where Serros lived (envelopes) 3. Genealogy Tree 4. Jobs Held or Applied To (correspondence) 5. Obituaries 6. Publicity 7. Resumes 8. Smithsonian Finding Guide 4. Early Years (through High School) Documentation 1. Grade School Documents 2. Junior High-Senior High School Documents 3. Ephemera (Interests) (Ex: scrapbook items, calendars, 1981 Rolling Stones US tour articles, Matt Damon (actor), Shaun Cassidy (actor), other personalities, stamp collection) 4. Magazines 5. Artifacts 5. College Classwork 6. Yearbooks (Includes Serros’ mother, father, and husband) 7. Artwork-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 1. Grade School Projects 2. Jr. High-Sr. High Homemade Zines 3. Doodle Books 8. Adult Life Artifacts-After High School-Interests (scooters, music-garage band/punk; travel) 1. The Fuzztones- European Tour 2. Band Ephemera 3. Ephemera, including calendars, tickets, brochures, programs to events 4. Serros’ Personal Collection of Zines 9. Record Keeping Tools (note: notebook entries tend to merge together sometimes; poems can be found in schoolwork, journal-type notations found in general notebooks, etc.) 1. School Notebooks 2. Calendars 3. Journals 4. General Notebooks (Note: These can have journal-type writings in them; but generally consist of notes, doodles, phone numbers, recipes, etc.) 5. Address/Phone/Planner Books 10. Travel-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS-HOWEVER, SEE RG 5, SERIES 8 1. Cuba 1996 2. New York ca 2011 3. Steinbeck Tour ca 2007 (See also RG 7 Literary Works) 4. Paris 2015 6. Lationa/o Newspaper Articles and Magazines (do not mention Serros, but have significant historical value) 1. Articles 2. Magazines 7. Literary Works and Other Professional Projects 1. Manuscript Drafts 1. Chicana Falsa and Other Stories of Death, Identity and Oxnard” 1994 2. How To Be A Chicana Role Model 2000; also, Cliff Notas: “How to be a Chicana Role Model” 3. Honey Blonde Chica 2004 4. Scandalosa! 2004 5. An Unmarried Mexican (unfinished) 2. Partial/Uncompleted Works and Other Works/Projects 3. George Lopez Show and Other Scripts NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 4. Pen in the Classroom NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 5. Serros’ Poems-many undated 1. Consists of Published Poems, includes photocopied poems [majority from Chicana Falsa]; 2 books of poems that contain Serros’s poems; and a small amount of correspondence and newsletters concerning Serros’ works 2. Original hand-written poems by Serros-includes early school years (some undated)-NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 6. Serros’ Work in the Classroom NO PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH IS GIVEN 7. Published Articles by Serros 8. Published Books by Serros-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS-THE BROOME LIBRARY HAS COPIES OF SERROS' BOOKS 8. VHS/CD/DVD/Other Formats-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 9. Special Collections (signed, etc.)-NOT OPEN TO PATRONS 1. Signed Zines 2. Signed Photographs 3. Other Unique Items 4. Signed Poetry 10. Awards/Certificates 11. Serros’s Created and Produced Line of Zines (sponsored by Serros; not spec collection signed/Serros not mentioned) 12. Vintage Magazine Collection
Physical Location
The Serros Collection is currently located on the second floor, in the Archives office. It will be moved to the basement at some point.
Other Finding Aids
See the archivist for the complete (detailed) finding guide in Word.
https://repository.library.csuci.edu/handle/10211.3/207893
https://repository.library.csuci.edu/handle/10211.3/207893
Other Finding Aids
Also see https://chicanostudies.csuci.edu/about/micheleserros.htm for information on the Serros permanent exhibit at University Hall and the Michele Serros Endowment.
Other Finding Aids
See also https://repository.library.csuci.edu/handle/10211.3/207893 (on-going construction)
Custodial History
Before her death in January of 2015 at the age of 48, Serros arranged for California State University Channel Islands to receive her original manuscripts, notes, last-printed copies of her books, skateboards, personal effects and, most importantly, her desk, which she writes about in her 1993 publication, “Chicana Falsa.” A portion of the collection remains under the supervision of the Chicano/a Studies Program and researchers are encouraged to view that insightful exhibit on display in University Hall. A significant portion of the Serros documents are open for research at the University Archives in the Broome Library.
Existence and Location of Originals
The Smithsonian, National Museum of American History, has its own collection of Serros materials, including a finding guide on-line. See https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/NMAH.AC.1481.
General
Please see the Archivist for access, copyright restrictions and acknowledgments, and research assistance.
- Title
- Michele Serros Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Evelyn Taylor
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the CSUCI Archives and Special Collections Repository