Vivian C. Hopkins Papers, 1861-1984, bulk 1930-1980
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Collection context
PDF Finding Aid
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Summary
- Creator:
- Hopkins, Vivian C.
- Abstract:
- This collection consists of the papers of Dr. Vivian Constance Hopkins. These papers document Dr. Hopkins’s career in academia, her personal correspondence, familial materials, and the records of the Albany Gravel Company.
- Extent:
- 14.59 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
- Preferred citation for this material is as follows: Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Vivian C. Hopkins Papers, 1861-1984. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Hopkins Papers).
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection primarily includes correspondence, diaries, and Vivian Hopkins’ research materials and secondary sources. Correspondence of note includes the Naoshi Koriyama letters, the Virginia French letters, and the Civil War letters of William Brown and Emma Frazey, Hopkins' maternal grandparents. In addition to Hopkins' personal diaries, the collection includes the original Civil War Diary of William Brown from 1861-1864, as well as Hopkins' transcriptions. Hopkins' research materials include the following topics: the portrayal of Satan in literature, Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, DeWitt Clinton, Delia Bacon, Francis Bacon, Margaret Fuller, and Francis Adrian Van Der Kamp.
Additionally, the collection includes typescripts, drafts, and final publications of serial articles, short stories and monographs written by Hopkins which directly relate to her research materials. Monographs include Prodigal Puritan: a Life of Delia Bacon and Spires of Form: A Study of Emerson’s Aesthetic Theory. The collection has correspondence with publishers and materials that relate not only to the publication of these monographs, but other works and serials, regardless of if she was successful in publishing them.
The Hopkins Papers also include the records of the Albany Gravel Company, also known as Albany Gravel Co., up to the company's liquidation in 1980. Hopkins' father, John B. Hopkins, and her brother, Richard W. Hopkins, both served as presidents of the company, and Vivian Hopkins later served on the Board of Directors.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Vivian Constance Hopkins was born in Troy in 1909. She received a high school degree from Lansingburgh High School, a B.A. in English from Wellesley College, an M.A. in playwriting from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in English from Radcliffe College, and finally her Ph.D. in English from the University of Michigan in 1943. During her time at the University of Michigan, Hopkins would become friends, and potentially, a romantic partner, with Virginia Adeline French, with letters in the collection from 1941 to 1945 (of those with dates). In 1941, Hopkins joined the faculty of the New York State College for Teachers (today known as the University at Albany) as an English professor. During her time at the New York State College for Teachers, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1956 for her study of Francis Bacon and his influence on American thought in the early 19th century. In addition to her work on Francis Bacon, Hopkins published on other literary figures including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Delia Bacon, Margaret Fuller, Robert Frost, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. She also conducted research on the sixth governor of New York State, DeWitt Clinton.
During her time at the College, Dr. Hopkins became the mentor and later, friend, of her student Naoshi Koriyama, who studied English Literature and graduated in 1954. Koriyama became a poet and professor in Japan. Dr. Hopkins would continue in her role as a Professor of English when the College became the State University of New York at Albany in 1962, retiring in 1973. She died in 1989. Prior to her death, Dr. Hopkins assisted with the liquidation of the Albany Gravel Company, which was created by her father, John B. Hopkins. During her retirement, she worked to establish The Vivian C. Hopkins Scholarship Award at the University at Albany, SUNY for outstanding scholastic ability and character in the Department of English.
For a biographical sketch and remembrance from a student and later colleague of Hopkins, Arthur N. Collins, see the file on Hopkins in the Faculty Reference Collection.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this collection were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives in 1986 by Vivian C. Hopkins.
- Processing information:
- Collection and series-level finding aid created by Miles Lawlor in 2019. Folder-level processing, arrangement, and description was completed by Liam Sperrazza and Gabriella Baratier in 2025.
- Arrangement:
- The collection is organized into three series: Personal and Family Papers; General Research, Writings, and Publication Materials; and the Albany Gravel Company Records. Within each series, the folders are arranged alphabetically.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Indexed terms
Using these materials
- Access:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- Restrictions:
- Access to this collection is unrestricted.
- Rights and Permissions:
-
This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
The M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collection and Archives is eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
- Preferred citation:
- Preferred citation for this material is as follows: Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Vivian C. Hopkins Papers, 1861-1984. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Hopkins Papers).