Edward Kaplan Papers

Collection

Identifier: 1984-0015

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains manuscripts of poems (circa 1977-1983), artwork (collages), letters and an audio tape of the poet reading his "Rain Poem". A copy of Zero Station has been removed from the collection for cataloging. An addition to the collection was received in 2012 and is comprised of letters documenting long-term correpondence and friendship between Ed Kaplan and George Butterick. The letters include Kaplan's poetry and references to Charles Olson, life, family and personal matters (1978-1985). Kaplan had at one time considered publishing this correspondence and sorted the manuscripts with an historical preface written by Vince Ferrini, a photocopy typescript of which is included in the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1955-1991

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Edward Kaplan was born 1 March 1946, in New Jersey, the son of Philip (a salesman) and Leah (a jewelry manager; maiden name, Melnick) Kaplan. He attended Temple University (B.A., 1969, M.A., 1972) and Gratz College (teaching certificate, 1973). A member of the National Conference of Jewish Communal Service, Artist and Writers for Peace in the Middle East, Academy of American Poets, and B'nai B'rith Century Club, Kaplan has received an award of merit from United Jewish Appeal (1974), a citation from the northern New Jersey Council of B'nai B'rith (1976) and a New Jersey State Council on the Arts poetry grant fellowship (1982-1983). In his career he has been the Director of Residences for the Association for Jewish Children (Philadelphia, PA, 1971-1973), executive director of the Jewish Memorial Center (Altoona, PA, 1973-1975), Regional director for Northern New Jersey of B'nai B'rith (Millburn, N.J., 1975-). He has also been and Instructor at Temple University and given performance oriented poetry readings at >Walt Whitman International Poetry Center, St. Clement's Poetry Festival, Hammerjack's, and Ziesing Brothers' Book Emporium. He has exhibited visual poems A Hole in the Sky Gallery, Grover City, CA, 1982, and in "The Magic Show," presented by the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, CA (1982-1983).