Murray Kempton papers, 1940-1997, bulk 1954-1997

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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 Clippings, 1985


Box 17 Correspondence/Congratulations, 1985, 2 folders


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