Iowa Women's Archives
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa

CHERRY MUHANJI (1939- )

PAPERS, 1984-2001
5 linear inches

Collection Overview

Biography

Writer, mother, activist, lesbian, Cherry Muhanji embodied the term ‘non-traditional’ student. Jeannette Cherry Muhanji grew up in Detroit, Michigan where she married at nineteen (later marrying a second time), mothered four sons (Abram, Wardene, David and Tracy), and spent eighteen years working for the phone company. She began her formal education in 1985 at the age of forty-six, entering the University of Iowa as an undergraduate. After earning her BS in General Studies, Muhanji went on to earn an MA from the African American World Studies Program, followed by an Interdisciplinary PhD in 1997 with a focus on English, African American Studies and Anthropology. All of her degrees are from the University of Iowa.

Muhanji’s first book Tight Spaces (1987) was co-authored with her niece Kesho Scott (also a University of Iowa alumna) and their friend Egyirba High. The work which Muhanji has referred to as “the family laundry,” began as Muhanji’s response to an essay written by Scott at a time when the two were estranged. High’s contribution to the book is a response to Muhanji’s and Scott’s work. Tight Spaces won the 1988 Before Columbus American Book Award. The last chapter of Tight Spaces laid the groundwork for Muhanji’s next book, the novel Her (1990), winner of two 1991 Lambda Literary Awards: the Lesbian Debut category and the Ferro-Grumley Award for outstanding works of fiction on lesbian and gay life.

After earning her PhD in 1997 Muhanji taught at several institutions including the University of Minnesota and Goddard College in Vermont. Noticing a lack of writing and thinking skills in her college pupils, Muhanji later earned a certificate so she could also teach and mentor students in junior high and high school.

The name Cherry Muhanji is a combination of her two husbands’ last names.

Scope and Content Note

The Cherry Muhanji » papers date from 1984 to 2001 and measure 5 linear inches.

The Biography folder consists of articles about Muhanji and a 1990 student paper resulting from an interview with Muhanji. There are also articles about her son, Tony Cherry, and her niece, Kesho Scott. The Correspondence folder contains a few personal letters. The Goddard Collegefolder includes faculty profiles, including one of Muhanji, along with her residency schedule and residency workshops. The Media folder contains flyers and announcements for readings, performances and scholarly conferences featuring Muhanji. The Writer folders include an excerpt from Muhanji’s dissertation novel, Mama Played First Chair, published in Iowa City Magazine, September 1993. Also included are book reviews for Her and Tight Spaces, an article and a crossword puzzle citing Muhanji’s work, articles regarding the Lambda Literary Awards, a 1985 version of Tight Spaces and the new introduction for its republication by the University of Iowa Press in 1999, with handwritten remarks by Muhanji, Kesho Scott and Egyriba High The Photographs folder includes a 1988 group shot of Muhanji with writers Alice Walker, Kesho Scott, Egyirba High and others. There is also a photograph of Muhanji with writer Michelle Cliff at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa. Other photographs include Muhanji in Cuba, in Kenya, and with her dissertation committee at the University of Iowa.

There are two videocassettes of Muhanji from her years in Iowa. One documents a June 30, 1995 University of Iowa Clapp Recital Hall presentation by POW (Pissed Off Women). It includes poetry and performance by Muhanji. The other videocassette is an undated brown bag gathering of African American lesbians. Muhanji is shown with other participants discussing the importance of self-identity and experiences of homophobia, racism and sexism.

Box List

Box 1

Biography, 1990-2001 Correspondence, 1984-2000 Goddard College, 1999 Media, 1990-2001 Writer (7 folders)

Book reviews, 1991-1992 Citing Muhanji, 1991-1993 Lambda Literary Awards, 1991 Mama Played First Chair (excerpt), 1993 Promotion, 1987 and 1999 Tight Spaces

Early version, 1985 New introduction, 1998

Photographs, 1988-1993 and undated Videocassettes

Pissed Off Women (POW), Clapp Recital Hall, University of Iowa, June 20, 1995 (V193) Brown bag gathering of African American lesbians, undated (V194)

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Page created September 2005.