Leonard Kniffel Papers, 1966-2020
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Brief Description: 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.
Held at:
The American Library Association Archives
19 Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61802
Phone: 217 333 0798
Fax: 217 244 2868
Email: ala-archives [at] library.illinois.edu
Record Series Number: 13/6/20
Created by: Kniffel, Leonard (1947-2021)
Volume: 14.8 Cubic Feet
Acquired: 05/05/2012. 17 Banker Boxes Added 04/05/2022
More information is available at https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/alasfa/1306020a.pdf
Arrangement: alphabetical by topic
Biographical Note for Kniffel, Leonard (1947-2021) : 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).
Subject Index
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