Rudolph John Chauncy Fisher, "Bud," was born to Reverend John Wesley and Dora Fisher on May 9, 1897 in Washington D.C. Fisher grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating from Classical High School in 1915, Fisher went on to Brown University where he majored in English and biology. While at Brown, Fisher won a number of honors, including the Carpenter Prize Speaking contest, and was selected for Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and Delta Sigma Rho. Because of his noted oration skills, Fisher was selected to be both Class Day Orator and Commencement Day Speaker for his class of 1919. In 1920, Fisher returned to Brown for his A.M. in biology.
Following his Master’s degree at Brown, Fisher moved on to medical school at Howard University in Washington D.C. He was equally as successful at Howard and graduated with high honors in 1924. During the same year, Fisher married Jane Ryder, a Washington D.C. school teacher, and fellow minister’s child. Fisher was then selected as a Fellow of the National Research Council at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, focusing on biology. In 1927, Fisher began to work in New York City hospitals as a specialist in roentgenology, an early form of radiology. As the Superintendent of International Hospital in New York City, Fisher conducted a great deal of research and published a number of scientific articles. He was also a First Lieutenant, MC of the 369th Infantry of the New York National Guard.
While studying and working in the medical field, Fisher wrote numerous short stories and two novels. “The City of Refuge,” Fisher’s first short story, was accepted for publication at Atlantic Monthly in 1923. Following this first success, Fisher has many stories published in well-known publications such as: Opportunity, Crisis, McClure’s, and Story. “The City of Refuge” and “Miss Cynthie” were both selected for Edward O’Brien’s Best Short Stories, in 1925 and 1934.
In 1928, Fisher released his first novel, The Walls of Jericho, to rave reviews in both American and British publications. The Conjure-Man Dies, published in 1932, also received strong reviews, hailing Fisher as the first black mystery writer. Fisher also wrote reviews for many titles, including those later recognized as key works of the Harlem Renaissance, printed in The New Amsterdam and The New York Herald Tribune.
Before his death in 1934, Fisher dramatized his second novel, The Conjure-Man Dies. Sadly, Fisher died before he saw his play performed by the Federal Theatre Players at the Lafayette Theatre in New York. The play enjoyed a long run at the Lafayette and became an outdoor production, traveling around New York City parks. Later, the play was performed by the Karamu Plays of Cleveland, Ohio – also part of the Federal Theatre Project.
In addition to his scholarly and writing talents, Fisher was a talented musician. He wrote and arranged many African-American spirituals – though he never published them. Notably, he wrote and arranged music for Paul Robeson.
Rudolph Fisher suffered from an intestinal ailment in 1934 that required multiple surgeries in six months. The third surgery proved fatal, and Fisher died December 26, 1934. His death was a shock to the black literary community. Jane Ryder Fisher received sympathy notes from Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Alain Locke and other known authors and publishers who helped to create the canon of Harlem Renaissance literature. Hughes later wrote admiringly about Fisher in his autobiography, The Big Sea.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Rudolph Fisher papers, MS-1U-F5, Brown University Archives.
The Rudolph Fisher papers consist of Fisher’s writings, correspondence, publicity and newspaper clippings – the majority of which is related to his novels. Also contained in the collection are papers relating to Fisher’s immediate family, namely his wife, Jane, son, Hugh and sister, Pearl.
Among the highlights of this collection are the twenty-six drafts and manuscripts of Fisher’s writings, both published and unpublished. A number of these items are handwritten or contain handwritten edits throughout the piece. Included in the writings are Fisher’s famous stories, “City of Refuge,” "Miss Cynthie,” and “High Yaller,” as well as three printing drafts of Fisher’s first novel, The Walls of Jericho. Fisher’s writings also contain book reviews written by Fisher for The New York Herald Tribune and other publications. Within the writings are a couple of stories, each known by two different titles. "The Caucasian Invades Harlem" was published under the title, "The Complexion of Negro Night Clubs." "The Incident in Harlem, or Perryn Joel Passes" was later known as, "Passing for Black: An Incident in Harlem."
Correspondence in the collection is comprised of letters to and from Fisher’s many publishers, including Atlantic Monthly, Edward O’Brien and Story. These publisher letters range from rejection letters to invitations to publish more material. Fan mail also accounts for a number of letters, primarily complimenting Fisher on The Conjure-Man Dies. Personal letters, addressed to “Bud,” Fisher’s nickname, discuss literature and daily events. These include a letter from Nancy Cunard to Rudolph Fisher, from A.D. Mead, Vice President of Brown, to Fisher, and from Langston Hughes to Pearl Fisher. Letters from Edward A. Balloch, Dean of Howard University, and J. Stanley Durkee, President of Howard, address Fisher’s funding issues in attending the university.
The personal papers of Rudolph Fisher include transcripts from Brown University, death announcements and funeral arrangements. Included in this series are sympathy telegrams from Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Alain Locke, and other notable figures, to his widow, Jane.
Publicity contains the original book jacket draft for The Walls of Jericho. Also included is a review of Fisher’s first novel, The Walls of Jericho, by Mary White Ovington, the Chair of the NAACP in 1928. Fisher’s dramatic version of The Conjure-Man Dies was performed by the Federal Theatre Project of New York in 1934. This series contains playbills, photographs and programs from this event and the performance in Cleveland, Ohio a few months following.
The Rudolph Fisher papers contain helpful information about the writing and publishing process of one of the most prolific writers in the Harlem Renaissance. This collection also contains many of the newspaper and journal articles written about Fisher, both during his life and after, providing an interesting view of the public’s response to his life and his work.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series 1 (Writings) is comprised of twenty-five short stories, one novel and four book reviews, separated accordingly. Each genre is arranged alphabetically.
Series 2 (Correspondence, 1921-1983) contains three subseries; Personal letters to and from Rudolph Fisher, personal letters to and from the Fisher family, and letters to and from publishers. Each subseries is arranged chronologically, with undated materials at the end of each subseries.
Series 3 (Publicity) consists of materials associated with novels, plays and events relating to Rudolph Fisher. The material is arranged by title of the event or publication, and then chronologically.
Series 4 (Personal Papers) includes materials relating to Fisher's schooling, health, death and funeral arrangements, arranged chronologically.
Series 5 (Family Papers) contains three subseries; Jane Ryder Fisher Papers, Pearl Fisher Papers, and Hugh Fisher Papers. Each subseries is arranged chronologically.
Series 6 (Newsclippings) is comprised of newspapers clippings about Rudolph Fisher arranged chronologically.
Donated by Pearl Fisher in April 1951. A later donation was made by Laurel Fisher in March 2003.
This collection was arranged and described by Amy Greer, student at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
The book signed by Rudolph Fisher is cataloged separately and can be found in the Library's catalog under the heading: Fisher, Rudolph; or, The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem