Marvin Kitman papers, 1950-2006

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Series II: Correspondence, 1950-2005

This Series is split into three sub-series: personal and professional correspondence, fan mail and polls.

Subseries II.1: Personal and Professional Correspondence, 1950-2006

This large sub-series contains Kitman's personal and professional correspondence from his time as a freelance journalist through his tenure as Newsday's resident television critic. Letters within this sub-series are to and from other family members and friends, letters to publishers and editors concerning Kitman's authorial and journalistic projects. There is also a selection of Kitman's letters of complaint to various companies, which reflect Kitman's humor and tenacity. The last two decades of material are chiefly related to Kitman's position at Newsday and feature emails and letters from readers, as well as Kitman's responses. While some of this professional correspondence might be categorized as fan mail, Kitman's own distinctions have been kept in tact and this sub-series retains both Kitman's folders and chronological arrangement of this material.

Request Box 51

Box 51 1950 December -- 1959 August, 1950, 1959

Box 51 1953

Box 51 1954, 2 folders

Box 51 1955

Box 51 1955 July -December, 1955

Box 51 1956-1957

Box 51 1958

Box 51 1958 April, 1958

Box 51 1959, 2 folders

Request Box 52

Box 52 Buchwald, Art, 1959-1965

Box 52 Lynchburg Property, Tennessee, 1960-1970

Box 52 1960 January, 1960

Box 52 1960 March, 1960

Box 52 1960 April, 1960

Box 52 1960 June, 1960

Box 52 1960 September, 1960

Box 52 1960 December, 1960

Box 52 1961

Box 52 1962 January -March, 1962

Request Box 53

Box 53 1962 September, 1962

Box 53 1963

Box 53 Inland Revenue, 1963-1964

Box 53 1964

Request Box 56

Box 56 Complaints to Corporations, 1964

Box 56 1964 October -1965, 1964

Request Box 53

Box 53 Schick Safety Razor Company, 1966

Box 53 1966 January -- October, 1966

Box 53 1966 November -- December, 1966

Box 53 1967 January -March, 1967

Box 53 1967 April -- September, 1967

Box 53 1967 September -- December, 1967

Request Box 54

Box 54 1967 September -December, 1967

Box 54 1968 January -- December, 1968

Box 54 1969 January -- April, 1969

Box 54 1969 May -- December, 1969

Box 54 1970 January -- March, 1970

Box 54 1970 April -- June, 1970

Box 54 1970 August -September, 1970

Request Box 55

Box 55 1970 October -December, 1970

Box 55 1971 January -April, 1971

Box 55 1971 May -December, 1971

Box 55 1972 January -- April, 1972

Box 55 1972 May -- June, 1972

Box 55 1972 July -September, 1972

Box 55 1972 October -- November, 1972

Box 55 1973 January -- March, 1973

Box 55 1973 April -- June, 1973

Box 55 1973 July -- October, 1973

Request Box 56

Box 56 1973 November -December, 1973

Box 56 1974 January -- March, 1974

Box 56 1974 April -May, 1974

Request Box 55

Box 55 1974 May -- June, 1974

Box 55 1974 July -- October, 1974

Box 55 1974 November -December, 1974

Box 55 1975 January -- March, 1975

Request Box 56

Box 56 1975 March-May, 1975

Box 56 1975 April -- September, 1975

Box 56 1975 October -December, 1975

Box 56 1976 January -February, 1976

Box 56 1976 March-June, 1976

Box 56 1976 April -- June, 1976

Box 56 1976 July -September, 1976

Box 56 1976 September -November, 1976

Request Box 57

Box 57 1976 December, 1976

Box 57 1977 January -- February, 1977

Box 57 1977 March-- May, 1977

Box 57 1977 June -- August, 1977

Box 57 1977 September, 1977

Box 57 1977 November -- December, 1977

Box 57 1978 January -- February, 1978

Box 57 1978 March-- April, 1978

Box 57 1978 May -- June, 1978

Box 57 1978 July -- August, 1978

Box 57 1978 September, 1978

Box 57 1979 April -- May, 1979

Box 57 1979 June -- July, 1979

Box 57 1979 September -- October, 1979

Box 57 1979 November -- December, 1979

Request Box 58

Box 58 1980 January, 1980

Box 58 1980 March, 1980

Box 58 1980 May, 1980

Box 58 1980 July, 1980

Box 58 1980 September, 1980

Box 58 1980 November, 1980

Box 58 1981 January, 1981

Box 58 1981 March, 1981

Box 58 1981 May, 1981

Box 58 1981 July, 1981

Box 58 1981 September, 1981

Box 58 1981 November, 1981

Box 58 1982 January, 1982

Box 58 1982 March, 1982

Box 58 1982 May, 1982

Box 58 1982 July, 1982

Box 58 1982 September, 1982

Box 58 1982 November, 1982

Box 58 1983 January, 1983

Box 58 1983 March, 1983

Box 58 1983 May, 1983

Box 58 1983 July, 1983

Box 58 1983 September, 1983

Box 58 1983 November, 1983

Box 58 1984 January, 1984

Box 58 1984 March, 1984

Box 58 1984 May, 1984

Box 58 1984 July, 1984

Box 58 1984 September, 1984

Box 58 1984 November, 1984

Box 58 1985 January, 1985

Request Box 59

Box 59 1985 March, 1985

Box 59 1985 May, 1985

Box 59 1985 July, 1985

Box 59 1985 September, 1985

Box 59 1985 November, 1985

Box 59 1986 January, 1986

Box 59 1986 March, 1986

Box 59 1986 May, 1986

Box 59 1986 July, 1986

Box 59 1986 September, 1986

Box 59 1986 November, 1986

Box 59 1987 January, 1987

Box 59 1987 March, 1987

Box 59 1987 May, 1987

Box 59 1987 July, 1987

Box 59 1987 September, 1987

Box 59 1987 November, 1987

Box 59 1988 January, 1988

Box 59 1988 March, 1988

Box 59 1988 May, 1988

Box 59 1988 July, 1988

Box 59 1988 September, 1988

Box 59 1988 November, 1988

Box 59 1989 January, 1989

Box 59 1989 March, 1989

Box 59 1989 September, 1989

Box 59 1989 November, 1989

Box 59 Newsday Column 20th Anniversary Correspondence, 1989 December (4 folders), 1989

Request Box 60

Box 60 1990 January, 1990

Box 60 1990 March, 1990

Box 60 1990 May, 1990

Box 60 1990 July, 1990

Box 60 1990 September, 1990

Box 60 1990 November, 1990

Box 60 1991 January, 1991

Box 60 1991 March, 1991

Box 60 1991 May, 1991

Box 60 1991 July, 1991

Box 60 1991 September, 1991

Box 60 1991 November, 1991

Box 60 1992 January, 1992

Box 60 1992 March, 1992

Box 60 1992 May, 1992

Box 60 1992 July, 1992

Box 60 1992 September, 1992

Box 60 1992 November, 1992

Request Box 61

Box 61 1993 January, 1993

Box 61 1993 March, 1993

Box 61 1993 May, 1993

Box 61 1993 July, 1993

Box 61 1993 September, 1993

Box 61 1993 November, 1993

Box 61 Emails, 1994

Box 61 1994 January, 1994

Box 61 1994 March, 1994

Box 61 1994 May, 1994

Box 61 1994 July, 1994

Box 61 1994 September, 1994

Box 61 1994 November, 1994

Box 61 Newsday Column 25th Anniversary Correspondence, 1994 December (4 folders), 1994

Request Box 62

Box 62 1995

Box 62 Emails, 1995

Request Box 61

Box 61 1995 January, 1995

Box 61 1995 March, 1995

Box 61 1995 May, 1995

Box 61 1995 July, 1995

Request Box 63

Box 63 1996 March, 1996

Request Box 62

Box 62 1996 May, 1996

Box 62 1996 July, 1996

Box 62 1996 September, 1996

Request Box 63

Box 63 1996 May, 1996

Box 63 1996 November, 1996

Box 63 Emails, 1997 January -- December, 1997

Box 63 1997 January, 1997

Box 63 1997 July, 1997

Box 63 1997 September, 1997

Box 63 1997 November, 1997

Box 63 Emails, 1998 January -December, 1998

Box 63 1998 Column Mail, 1998

Box 63 1998 January, 1998

Box 63 1998 March, 1998

Box 63 1998 May, 1998

Box 63 1998 July, 1998

Box 63 1998 September, 1998

Box 63 1998 November, 1998

Box 63 1999

Box 63 1999 January, 1999

Request Box 64

Box 64 1999 March, 1999

Box 64 1999 May, 1999

Box 64 1999 July, 1999

Box 64 1999 September, 1999

Box 64 1999 November, 1999

Box 64 Email, 2000

Box 64 2000 January, 2000

Box 64 2000 March, 2000

Box 64 2000 May, 2000

Box 64 2000 September, 2000

Box 64 2000 November, 2000

Box 64 2001 July, 2001

Box 64 WLIW/21 -- WNET/13 Merger, 2001 July, 2001

Request Box 151

Box 151 2001-2005

Request Box 63

Box 63 2006 January, 2006

Box 63 2006 July, 2006

Subseries II.2: Fan Mail, 1971-1993

This provides a sampling of the huge amount of fan mail Kitman received from the loyal and colorful readers of his Newsday column and illustrates both the depth of affection for Kitman and their ardent interest in debating topical issues in television, ranging from the mystery of who shot Dallas' JR Ewing to outrage over Kitman's slur on David Cassidy. Kitman placed a high value on feedback from readers and often incorporated their comments or concerns into hisNewsdaycolumn.

This sub-series is split into chronological and alphabetical fan mail, based on Kitman's divisions of the material. Chronological fan mail presents a sampling of fan mail from the 1970s to early 1990s; alphabetical fan mail features multiple letters from single fans. Fanmail after 1993 is absorbed into Kitman's professional correspondence.

Sub-subseries 1: Chronological

Request Box 65

Box 65 1971

Box 65 1981 -- 1983, 1981, 1983

Box 65 General Hospital Clinic, 1983

Box 65 1983

Box 65 1990

Box 65 1991

Box 65 1992

Box 65 1993 January -February, 1993

Box 65 1993 July, 1993

Box 65 1993 July -- November, 1993

Box 65 1994 March-- October, 1994

Box 65 1994 October -- December, 1994

Request Box 66

Box 66 Fan Clubs, 1980 -- 1993, 1980, 1993

Box 66 Vested Interest, Bryne Balton Correspondence, 1988-1993

Request Box 67

Box 67 Sub-subseries 2: Alphabetical Correspondence

Box 67 Abrahamer, Barbara, 1983-1985

Box 67 Ackerman, Laura, 1978

Box 67 Benevento, John, 1981

Box 67 Block, Mina, 1981

Box 67 Blum, Cheryl, 1974--1981

Box 67 Brown, Richard, 1979-1981

Box 67 Capone, Chris, 1977

Box 67 Castine, Suzanne, 1978

Box 67 Clogher, Robert, 1974-1975

Box 67 Chinnery, Hilda, 1974

Box 67 Cooper, John P, 1980

Box 67 Corrigan, Don, 1979

Box 67 Cruet, Betty, 1977

Box 67 Dehart, Stephanie, 1979

Box 67 Delfin, Jon, 1980

Box 67 Dodge, Alan Scott, 1978

Box 67 Eagle, Leo, 1977

Box 67 Esposito, Nick M, 1977

Box 67 Fauvell, Anne, 1987

Box 67 Feldman, Susan, 1975

Box 67 Forde, Terry, [undated]

Box 67 Foster, Doris, 1981

Box 67 Feigenbaum, Fred, 1981

Box 67 Freidman, May, 1980

Box 67 Gallagher, Kate, 1986

Box 67 Gershen Howard, 1975

Request Box 62

Box 62 Ghent, Bob, 1978-1982

Box 62 Giglio, Rose, undated

Box 62 Grossman, Karl, 1976

Box 62 Horn, John, 1981

Box 62 Hysen, Jeff, 1980-1982

Box 62 Kirsch, Linda, 1975-1977

Box 62 Martinez, Anthony, 1975-1978

Box 62 Mattimore, Jim, 1976-1981

Box 62 Paic, Walter, 1978-1982

Box 62 Ritchie, Ed, 1973-1985

Box 62 Ryan, Jim, 1974-1975

Box 62 Schubin, Mark, 1973-1975

Box 62 Tango, Louisa, 1980

Box 62 Wagenhauser, John, 1978

Box 62 Zacharia, Irwin, 1977

Subseries II.3: Polls, 1970-1999

Kitman's popular polls posed topical multiple choice questions to his readers, ranging in topic from the sexiest television stars to campaigns to save or cull individual shows. Kitman's 'Exit Polls' asked readers to judge television's best and worst at the years end. This sub-series contains a sampling of readers responses sent in toNewsday. The data from the polls was collected and analyzed in one of Kitman's columns and Kitman frequently quoted some of the more lively reader responses. Also included is the compiled data from 1998 and 1999's exit polls.

Request Box 66

Box 66 Obscenity Test, 1970 March25, 1970

Box 66 King of Tacky, 1979

Box 66 All Star Anglo-American Comedy Team

Box 66 Who Shot JR, 1980

Box 66 Petition for a VHF Station for Long Island, 1980

Box 66 Jiggly Poll, 1981

Box 66 First Annual Secret Long Island Soap Opera, 1981

Box 66 Richard Dawson, 1981

Box 66 Sexy II, 1982

Box 66 Second Best Soap, 1983

Box 66 ST. ELSEWHERE, 1988

Request Box 68

Box 68 Docudramas, 1989

Box 68 Funniest Briton, 1989

Box 68 MURPHY BROWN, 1991

Box 68 Fight to the Death to Save Next, 1988

Box 68 MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, 1989

Box 68 MTV Awards, 1986

Box 68 Kitman Presidential Ballot, 1992

Box 68 NYPD BLUE/David Caruso, 1994

Box 68 Nudity, 1995

Box 68 Marvy's Official Ballot, 1995

Box 68 Olympics, 1996

Box 68 Seinfeld Presidential Poll, 1996

Box 68 Best Shows of 1995 1996, 1995, 1996

Box 68 V-Chip, 1997

Box 68 Exit Poll, 1997

Box 68 Exit Poll, 1998

Box 68 SEX AND THE CITY, 1998

Request Box 69

Box 69 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1998 Collected Data, Monday -- Tuesday Nights, 1998

Box 69 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1998 Collected Data, Tuesday-Thursday Nights, 1998

Box 69 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1998 Collected Data, Thursday-Friday Nights, 1998

Box 69 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1999 Collected Data, Monday to Thursday Nights, 1999, 1999, 1999

Request Box 67

Box 67 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1999 Collected Data, Friday Nights, 1999, 1999, 1999

Box 67 Famous Kitman Exit Poll 1999 Pollers Information, 1999, 1999, 1999

Collection Overview

Collection Contents

Marvin Kitman papers, 1950-2006

Series II: Correspondence, 1950-2005

Subseries II.1: Personal and Professional Correspondence, 1950-2006

Subseries II.2: Fan Mail, 1971-1993

Subseries II.3: Polls, 1970-1999