Leonard Kniffel Papers, 1966-2020 | The American Library Association Archives

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Leonard Kniffel (1947-2021) was a writer, librarian, and the former publishing executive for the American Library Association. He was a librarian at the Detroit Public Library for 18 years. Kniffel traveled to IFLA conferences all over the world, often accompanied by long-term partner Carlon Walker, to act as foreign correspondent and photographer for American Libraries Magazine, of which he was editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2011. He interviewed such important figures as former first lady Laura Bush, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, author Ray Bradbury, actress Julie Andrews, and more for his book, “Reading with the Stars" (2011). Kniffel also served as president of the Polish American Librarians Association and wrote extensively about his Polish heritage in memoirs: “A Polish Son in the Motherland: An American’s Journey Home” (2005), “Busia: seasons on the farm with my Polish grandmother” (2017), and “Busia: school days on the farm with my Polish grandmother” (2019).

ALA Annual Conference
American Libraries
Andrews, Julie
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Booklist
Bradbury, Ray
Bush, Laura
Clinton, Bill
Detroit Public Libraries (Michigan)
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues
Gay librarians
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
Journalism
Library Quarterly
Obama, Barack
Poetry
Poland
Polish American Librarians Association
September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001