Series I: Newspaper and Magazine Columns, 1943-1997
Series I consists of Murray Kempton's newspaper and magazine columns. These span the whole of his career, ranging in date from 1943-1997. Numerous publications are represented, including: the New Republic, the New York Post, and Newsday. Kempton wrote over 10,000 columns in his career. It is difficult to say how many of those are represented in this series, however, it is an extensive sampling showcasing the breadth of Kempton's subject matter as well as his unique style.
Box 1
1943
Box 1
1949
Box 1
1950
Box 1
1951
Box 1
1952
Box 1
1953, 2 folders
Box 1
1954, 2 folders
Box 1
1955, 2 folders
Box 1
1956, 2 folders
Box 1
1957
Box 1
1958, 2 folders
Box 1
1959, 2 folders
Box 1
1960, 2 folders
Box 1
1961, 2 folders
Box 1
1962
Box 1
1963, 2 folders
Box 1
1964, 5 folders
Box 1
1965, 9 folders
Box 1
1966, 6 folders
Box 2
1967, 5 folders
Box 2
1968, 3 folders
Box 2
1969, 3 folders
Box 2
1970, 2 folders
Box 2
1971, 2 folders
Box 2
1972
Box 2
1973
Box 2
1974, 2 folders
Box 2
1976
Box 2
1977, 3 folders
Box 2
1978, 4 folders
Box 2
1979, 4 folders
Box 2
1980, 5 folders
Box 2
1981, 3 folders
Box 3
1981, 2 folders
Box 3
1982, 5 folders
Box 3
1983, 4 folders
Box 3
1984, 6 folders
Box 3
1985, 6 folders
Box 3
1986, 5 folders
Box 3
1987, 3 folders
Box 4
1987, 4 folders
Box 4
1988, 5 folders
Box 4
1989, 3 folders
Box 5
1989, 4 folders
Box 5
1990, 7 folders
Box 6
1991, 6 folders
Box 6
1992, 2 folders
Box 7
1992, 4 folders
Box 7
1993, 2 folders
Box 7
1994, 5 folders
Box 8
1995, 2 folders
Box 8
1996, 3 folders
Box 8
1997
Box 8
undated, 5 folders
Box 9
Various Dates, 1965-1992, 2 folders
Box 19
Various Dates, 1990-1997
Box 9
The 1960s, 1966-1968
Box 9
Artists, 1986-1987
Box 9
Arts, 1965-1990
Box 9
Bush, George, 1983-1991
Box 9
Civil Rights/1960s, 1957-1991
Box 9
Civil Rights, 1965-1969
Box 9
Clinton, Bill, 1992
Box 9
Courts and Lawyers, 1964-1991
Box 9
Government Operations, 1966-1991
Box 9
Heroes, 1965-1988, 2 folders
Box 9
Kennedy Family, 1980
Box 9
Honest Business, 1966-1990
Box 9
Labor, 1966-1991, undated, 1966-1991, undated, 3 folders
Box 9
Johnson, Lyndon Baines/Humphrey, Hubert, 1966-1968
Box 9
Mafia, 1966-1992
Box 10
Media, 1982-1986
Box 10
Music, 1978-1981
Box 10
New York Mayoral Politics, City Politics, 1965-1991
Box 10
New York State Politics, 1966-1990
Box 10
New York Stories, 1966-1991
Box 10
Nixon, Richard, 1964-1981, 2 folders
Box 10
Politicians, 1964-1991
Box 10
Pope John Paul II, 1979-1981
Box 10
Pope/Religion, 1981-1985
Box 10
Powers and Principalities, 1967-1990
Box 10
Reagan, Ronald, 1976-1985
Box 10
Rebels, 1966-1983, undated, 1966-1983, undated, 2 folders
Box 10
Russia/USSR, 1981-1985
Box 10
Satan, 1981-1991
Box 10
Sports, 1965-1992
Box 10
Unfairness, 1964-1992, 4 folders
Box 10
Washington DC, 1982-1987
Box 10
Westmoreland, General William, 1984
Box 10
Williams, Wayne, 1982-1985, 2 folders
Series II: Correspondence, 1953-1997
Series II contains a sampling of Kempton's correspondence. There were alphabetical correspondence files in the collection ranging in date from 1953-1958. Included in these files are letters from William F. Buckley Jr., Howard Fast, Langston Hughes, Martin Luther King Jr., and Richard Nixon. The correspondence often expresses great praise as well as criticism of Kempton's work. This series also contains condolence letters to Kempton and his wife following the tragic death of their son and daughter-in-law. There are also a number of personal cards, for birthdays, holidays, and illness.
Box 11
A, 1954-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
B, 1955-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
C, 1954-1957, undated, 1954-1957, undated, 2 folders
Box 11
D, 1955-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
E-F, 1954-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
G, 1954-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
H-J, 1953-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
K-L, 1953-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
M, 1953-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
N-O, 1955-1958, 2 folders
Box 11
P-Q, 1954-1958, 2 folders
Box 12
R, 1954-1957, 2 folders
Box 12
S, 1954-1957, 2 folders
Box 12
T-V, 1955-1958, 2 folders
Box 12
W, 1954-1958, 2 folders
Box 12
X-Z, 1954
Box 12
1960s
Box 12
1970s
Box 12
1980s
Box 12
1990s, 4 folders
Box 12
undated
Box 13
Birthday Cards, undated
Box 13
Cards, 1990s, 2 folders
Box 13
Condolence Letters for Death of Beverly Kempton, 1995
Box 13
Condolence Letters for Death of James Kempton, 1971, 3 folders
Box 13
Epstein, Barbara, undated
Box 13
Epstein, Helen, 1994, undated
Box 13
Get Well Cards, 1997, undated, 2 folders
Box 13
Invitations, 1997, undated
Series III: General Files, 1940-1997
Series III represents a somewhat random selection of Kempton's files. There are drafts, manuscripts, notebooks, and reviews for Kempton's books. A letter Kempton wrote expressing his conscientious objection to involvement in WWII as well as his honorable discharge form can be found in this series. Also included here are some personal materials related to Murray Kempton's marriages and his will and funeral arrangements.
Box 13
America Comes of Middle Age--Reviews, 1963-1964
Box 13
70th Birthday, 1987, 2 folders
Box 14
75th Birthday, 1992
Box 14
Ambler, Virginia--Estate, 1983-1985
Box 14
American Academy and Institute of Art and Letters--Awards, 1978
Box 14
American Society of Newspaper Editors--Award, 1984-1985
Box 14
Appointment Book, 1986
Box 14
APSA Annual Meeting--Carey McWilliams Award, 1984
Box 14
Articles About, 1956-1998, undated, 1956-1998, undated, 4 folders
Box 14
Autobiography (?)--Draft, 1994, 1997, 2 folders
Box 14
Awards and Recognitions, 1976-1995
Box 19
Awards and Recognitions, 1973-1975
Box 14
Biographical Material, undated
The Briar Patch: The People of the State of New York v. Lumumba Shakur et al.
Box 14
Correspondence, 1973-1974, 1996
Box 14
Reviews and Clippings, 1973-1974
Box 14
Dorsey, Thomas A./Gospel Music, undated
Box 14
Drafts, 1940, undated, 4 folders
Box 19
Drawings of, 1987-1996, undated
Box 14
Esquire--Article on Robert Oppenheimer--Draft and Correspondence,, 1982
Box 14
Expenses, 1981-1995, 7 folders
Box 14
Firing Line Newsletter
, 1984-1994
Box 14
Honorable Discharge Form, 1945
Box 14
Funeral Arrangements and Correspondence about Will, 1989-1997
Box 14
Kempton, Beverly--Wedding Service Book, undated
Box 14
Kempton, Christopher, 1960 1996, 1960, 1996
Box 14
Kempton, Christopher--Trust, 1992-1996
Box 14
Kempton, Mina--Divorce Papers, 1962
Box 14
Lasky, Victor--Trial, 1954
Box 14
Lists, undated
Box 14
Looking Glass Library, 1959-1960
Box 14
Los Angeles Times Syndicate, 1985
Box 14
Manuscript--Draft, undated, 9 folders
Box 15
Manuscript--Draft, undated, 2 folders
Box 15
National Book Awards, 1974
Box 15
Newsday and Murkempt Enterprises, Inc.--Agreement, 1982
Box 15
Notebooks, undated, 8 folders
Box 16
Notebooks, undated, 5 folders
Box 16
Notes, undated, 4 folders
Box 16
Obituaries and Retrospectives, 1997
Box 19
Obituaries and Retrospectives, 1997
Box 16
Pamphlets Written by, 1970, undated
Part of Our Time
Box 16
1955-1958
Box 16
Correspondence, 1955
Box 16
Reviews, 1955-1956
Box 17
Reviews, 1955
Box 17
Photographs, 1992, undated, 2 folders
Box 19
Photographs, undated
Box 19
Police Department Press Pass (in frame), 1993
Pulitzer Prize
Box 17
Randolph Family Notes, 1951
Box 17
Rebellions, Perversities and Main Events--Reviews, 1993-1994
Box 17
Spectrum Radio Broadcasts, 1971-1974, 2 folders
Box 18
Spectrum Radio Broadcasts, 1971-1978, 2 folders
Box 18
Speeches, 1962-1988, 2 folders
Box 18
Wilmington Evening Post--Scrapbook of Clippings,, 1946