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

Title: Leonard Kniffel Papers, 1966-2020

ID: 13/6/20

Primary Creator: Kniffel, Leonard (1947-2021)

Extent: 14.7 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: alphabetical by topic

Date Acquired: 05/05/2012. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: 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

Papers of Leonard Kniffel, editor-in-chief and publisher of American Libraries (1996 -2011) contains original manuscripts of published works A Polish Son in the Motherland: An American's Journey Home, Reading with the Stars: A Celebration of Books and Libraries, Musicals on the Silver Screen: A Guide to the Must-See Movie Musicals, Busia: seasons on the farm with my Polish grandmother, and Busia: school days on the farm with my Polish grandmother. IFLA scrapbooks, ALA event photographs, personal and professional correspondence, awards, poetry, publications, and videos regarding the project Loss and Recovery: Librarians Bear Witness to September 11, 2001, American Libraries 100 Years, and library promotion. Also includes papers regarding the Polish American Librarians Association and exclusive recorded and transcribed interviews with notable figures such as former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former First Lady Laura Bush, actress and author Julie Andrews, Ray Bradbury, and Bill Gates.

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).

Repository: The American Library Association Archives

Accruals: 17 Banker Boxes Added 04/05/2022

Access Restrictions: Due to the technical requirements to access audiovisual materials, advance notice of 2 to 3 weeks is required to access audiovisual items onsite. Please contact the Archives for further information.

Finding Aid Revision History: 3/20/2024 - second accession of the Kniffel papers added, collection reprocessed.

Other Note: 12 pages

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/1306020a.pdf

PDF finding aid for Leonard Kniffel Papers (13/6/20)