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Chaim Potok papers
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
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1929
Herman Harold Potok (Hebrew name Chaim Tzvi) is born 17 February, the eldest of four children, to Benjamin Max Potok and Mollie Friedman Potok, both Polish immigrants, practicing Orthodox Jewish faith of Hasidism. Potok attended Orthodox Jewish schools. They lived in the Bronx, New York.
1939
At age of ten Potok displays a talent for drawing and painting. He is discouraged from pursuing this path by his father and teachers. Instead, he is encouraged to follow a scholarly course of study at the Yeshiva schools in the Bronx, focusing on the Talmud.
1945
While attending Talmudic Academy High School of Yeshiva University in Washington Heights in Manhattan, Potok reads Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited. This work influences him to become a writer and gives him a new outlet for his creativity.
1946-1950
Potok studies liberal arts and theology at Yeshiva University. He publishes both fiction and non-fiction in college publications and is literary editor of the year book. He receives a B.A. summa cum laude in English literature, abandons Orthodox Judaism, and enrolls in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Conservative Jewry's Teachers Institute and Rabbinical School.
1952
While attending the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Potok spends summers teaching at Camp Ramah in the Poconos and Connecticut. He rediscovers painting and first meets his future wife Adena Sara Mosevitzky.
1954
Potok graduates from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America as an ordained Conservative rabbi. His many accolades include the Bible Prize, Hebrew Literature Prize, and the Homiletics Prize. He becomes the national director of a youth organization of the Conservative movement, called the Leaders Training Fellowship.
1955-1957
Potok volunteers for the chaplaincy in the United States Army serving 15 1/2 months in Korea. He serves with Paul Melacon in a combat medical battalion and an engineers combat battalion, and they become life-long friends. Potok begins his first novel. He receives a deferment.
1957
Potok moves to California to teach at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and becomes director of Camp Ramah, Ojai, California.
1958
On 8 June Potok marries Adena Sara Mosevitzsky (b. 1933), a psychiatric social worker. She becomes Potok's first reader.
1959
The newly-married couple moves to Philadelphia where Potok enters graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania in the department of philosophy. In addition, he is scholar-in-residence at Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia (1959-1962). Potok finishes his first novel about Korea, but it is rejected by publishers for its non-commercial appeal.
1960
Potok submits his novel, I Am the Clay, to publisher Barthold Fles.
1962
The Potok's first child, Rena, is born.
1963
Potok travels to Israel to work on his dissertation The Rationalism and Skepticism of Solomon Maimon. His first short story, "Reflections on a Bronx Street," is published in the Reconstructionist.
1964
Potok moves to Brooklyn, New York and takes the position of managing editor with Conservative Judaism. Two of his stories are published in the journal: "The Cats of 37 Alfasi Street" and "The Mourners of Yehezkel Kaufman". Another short story, entitled "The Dark Place Inside," is published in Dimensions in American Judaism. He joins the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Teachers Institute and writes a pamphlet series on ethics for the Leaders Training Fellowship.
1965
The Potok's second child, Naama is born. Potok receives a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. He takes the position as associate editor of the Jewish Publication Society.
1966
Potok becomes editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society and is appointed to the Bible translation committee. He publishes the essay "Martin Buber and the Jews" in Commentary. Potok completes the revisions of his second novel and works with Simon & Schuster editor Robert Gottlieb on the title for the upcoming publication of The Chosen.
1967
The Chosen is published by Simon & Schuster; by October 92,000 copies have been sold. The novel is nominated for the National Book Award and receives the Edward Lewis Wallant Prize.
1968
The Potok's third child, Akiva, is born.
1969
The Promise, a sequel to The Chosen, is published by Alfred A. Knopf. Potok joins his editor Robert Gottlieb, who has left Simon & Schuster, at Alfred A. Knopf. The novel receives the Atheneum Award.
1972
Alfred A. Knopf publishes My Name Is Asher Lev, and the novel wins the Jewish Cultural Achievement Award. Potok begins exhibiting his paintings.
1973
The Potok family moves to Israel and settles in Jerusalem. The short story, "The Fallen," is published in Hadassah.
1974
Potok is appointed as special projects editor for the Jewish Publication Society. He begins to oversee and coordinate with scholars and rabbis, including the Rabbinical Assembly, to prepare a new authorized translation of the Hebrew Bible.
1975
Potok's third novel, In the Beginning. is published by Alfred A. Knopf. The essay, "Rebellion and Authority: The Adolescent Discovering the Individual in Modern Literature," is published in the journal, Adolescent Psychiatry.
1977
The Potok family moves back to the United States and settles in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb.
1978
Potok produces his first major non-fiction work, entitled Wanderings: Chaim Potok's History of the Jews.
1979
In November an exhibition of Potok's paintings and coinciding lecture is held at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is entitled "Toward a New Syntax."
1980
Potok delivers the paper "Culture Confrontations in Urban America: A Writer's Beginnings" at a Rutgers University conference. The paper is printed in Literature and the Urban Experience: Essays on the City and Literature. NBC airs the Eternal Light Television interview "Chaim Potok Paints."
1981
The Book of Lights is published by Alfred A. Knopf. In April The Chosen premieres as a major motion picture at Radio City Music Hall.
1982
Potok publishes the following articles: "What Will You Do When April Comes?," Moment; "Barbara Streisand and Chaim Potok," Esquire; "The Bible's Inspired Art," New York Times Magazine; "Teaching the Holocaust," Philadelphia Magazine. The short story "The Gifts of Andrea" is printed in Seventeen. Artist and writer Mary S. Costanza (1927-2000) organizes an exhibition of Potok's paintings at the Costanza Art Gallery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
1983
Potok takes the position of visiting professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania ; he teaches Philosophy of Literature. The essay, "The Age of Permanent Apocalypse," is published in the University of Pennsylvania's Gazette.
1984
Director Fred Zinnemann collaborates with Potok on a screenplay, The Dybbuk, based on the play by S. An-Ski.
1985
Davita's Harp is published by Alfred A. Knopf. Potok narrates Chagall's Journey, an NBC documentary profiling painter Marc Chagall. He teaches literature at Bryn Mawr College. He writes a collection of pamphlets entitled Ethical Living for the Modern World: Jewish Insights. Potok writes the forward for From the Corners of the Earth: Contemporary Photographs by Bill Aron. The Jewish Publication Society publishes Tanakh, the translation of the Hebrew Bible, with Potok as project editor of the decade-long collaboration.
1986
Potok writes the adaptation and collaborates on The Chosen—The Musical. The biography, Tobaisse: Artist in Exile, is published by Rizzoli. The short story "Long Distance" appears in The American Voice.
1988
The Chosen—The Musical opens 6 January at the 2nd Avenue Theatre in New York.
1989
Potok writes the forward to The Jews in America, published by Collins.
1990
The Gift of Asher Lev is published by Alfred A. Knopf. Potok's seventh novel wins the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction. His plays Out of the Depths, a drama in two acts; Sins of the Father: The Carnival and The Gallery premiere in Philadelphia.
1991
Potok writes the introductions to Tales of Hasidism by Martin Buber and The Book of Jonah by Ismar David. He writes a screenplay for My Name is Asher Lev.
1992
I Am the Clay is published by Alfred A. Knopf. Potok worked on this novel from 1956. His play, The Play of Lights, premieres in Philadelphia. The 25th anniversary edition of The Chosen is published. Through the United States Information Agency Potok travels to Japan, Singapore, and Korea.
1993
Potok's first children's book entitled The Tree of Here, illustrated by Tony Auth, is published. He writes the introductions to Graven Images: Graphic Symbols of the Jewish Gravestone by Arnold Schwartzman and I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children's Drawings & Poems, edited by Hana Volavkova. The novella "Het Kanaal" (The Canal) is published in the Netherlands.
1994
The Sky of Now, a children's book, is published by Alfred A. Knopf. Potok writes the introduction to Reclaiming the Dead Sea Scrolls: The History of Judaism, by Lawrence H. Schiffman. He travels to Germany through United States Information Agency.
1995
Potok writes the introduction to The Holocaust Museum in Washington by Jeshajahu Weinberg and Rina Elieli. The novella, "The Golem's Hand," is published in Italy.
1996
Potok's study of the refusniks, entitled The Gates of November: Chronicles of the Slepak Family, is published. He writes the introduction to As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg. Potok's brother Simon dies.
1997
Potok receives the Jewish Cultural Achievement Award.
1998
Zebra and Other Stories, for young readers, is published by Alfred A. Knopf. A short story from the book entitled "Moon" receives the O. Henry award.
1999
The Chosen is adapted as a play written by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok. The autobiography, Isaac Stern: My First 79 Years, which is written by Potok, is published.
2000
Potok receives the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pennsylvania. He is honored with the Distinguished Arts Award from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
2001
Potok's last major work, Old Men at Midnight, containing the novellas "The Ark Builder," "The War Doctor," and "The Trope Teacher," is published by Alfred A. Knopf.
2002
Potok dies 23 July from a brain tumor.
The Chaim Potok Papers, spanning the years 1954 to 2002, comprise the documents of the acclaimed Jewish-American writer, rabbi, and scholar. The collection reveals the life, work, and spirituality of this prolific writer and engaging speaker through a wide array of materials. It contains 233 boxes and 6123 folders, housing the correspondence, writings, contracts, reviews, promotional materials, exhibitions, interviews, additional professional materials, photographs, writings by others, and oversize materials. The papers are chiefly in English with some correspondence and writings in Hebrew.
The early years of Potok's life are sparsely documented. Highlights include some materials on map reading from his chaplaincy army training and records from his teaching positions at several Camp Ramah sites in the 1950s. Further evidence of his time in Korea can be found in the early manuscripts of Potok's novel I Am the Clay. Pamphlets from his directorship of the Leaders Training Fellowship show Potok's early writing and commitment to tradition. Brochures and newsletters announcing his early rabbinical appointments are also included in the papers.
One of the largest series pertains to correspondence, showing the professional aspects of Potok's life and career; some of these letters contain personal notes, but they are chiefly business related. There is small amount of correspondence with Potok's family for instance, his mother, Mollie Potok; his brother, Simon; and his brother-in-law, Lester Hering. In an intriguing letter from circa 1975, Potok's brother Simon relays in great detail the surgery performed on his nose as a young boy. Potok used his brother's recollection of the event in the novel In the Beginning (1975).
The correspondence series also provides an intimate look into the creative process of Potok's works, illustrated by letters with his editor Robert Gottlieb, discussing titles and themes. Correspondence with friends and colleagues Jonas C. Greenfield, Nahum M. Sarna, and Moshe Greenberg--scholars for the Jewish Publication Society's Bible translation project under Potok's adept editorialship--reveal both working and personal relationships. There are also letters from his contemporaries, including Cynthia Ozick and Elie Wiesel. Additionally, within the series is correspondence with foreign and domestic publishers--Simon & Schuster, Alfred A. Knopf, and Bzztôh--a myriad of institutions, universities, synagogues, Jewish organizations, and Israeli officials display the breath of Potok's interests and influence. Admiration from the famous include notes from Marlene Dietrich and Roald Dahl. Some of the correspondence displays Potok's meticulous research and attention to detail, as evidenced by his communications with the Slepak family while writing The Gates of November: Chronicles of the Slepak Family. Furthermore, the correspondence records the public's reaction to Potok's work and include letters from admirers, children, and teachers. Some letters are personal seeking advice, relaying religious conversions, criticism, clarification, or autograph requests. Potok's handwritten date on the letter lingers as evidence of his responses to the public.
In general, Potok's writings are preserved from their inception, tracing and revealing the author's process and in most cases his research. All of the materials--from annotated outlines to galleys, for each novel, non-fiction work, short story, play, and children's book--have been organized and housed together based on how the author had kept the documents. The collection reveals that Potok started almost every work in a spiral notebook, handwriting each piece; some of these manuscripts have commentary to himself, editorial changes, character changes, and directions for typists. Potok's first published novel, The Chosen (1967), launches his recurring theme of culture confrontation, rebellion, and the choices one makes when confronted with or immersed in a new cultural world. The papers bear witness to the author's profound struggle between being an individual artist and preserving his ancestral Jewish traditions. One of Potok's many lectures--regarding what he calls core-to-core culture confrontation--addresses the subject metaphorically, "A Bible may not serve as a prop for any other kind of book . . . On top of a novel you can put anything." This statement succinctly summarizes his dilemma to either follow the path of tradition, being a scholar working with sacred texts or being a writer, individually and artistically expressing oneself with the novel as the vehicle. Researchers are able to follow all of the manifestations of a work by title. For example, the papers contain all the expressions of The Chosen, this novel was developed as a screenplay for a motion picture, a musical, a 25th anniversary edition, and a stage play. Revealed are collaborative processes from the writer's novel into all of its manifestations.
The clash of tradition and individual pursuits was encountered by Potok early in life. His first passion as a child was drawing and painting. Although Potok was discouraged in his early childhood from pursuing that path, the collection contains some of his adult drawings. Even though he painted and had exhibitions of his work, the collection does not contain any of his paintings. There are records of Potok's exhibitions, including sales of some of his works, announcements, and a few photographs. Some examples of Potok's drawings are preserved in the papers. The exhibition series and portions of the writing series display his enthusiasm for artistic expression. For instance, there are ink drawings that are most likely images from My Name Is Asher Lev and drawings for the research of Korean customs and rituals surrounding rice harvesting and burials.
Although Potok chose to break with the Orthodox tradition of his upbringing, he was a Conservative rabbi and maintained traditional pursuits through the Jewish Publication Society and performing rabbinical services. The papers contain his relationship and editoral work with scholars on the Bible translation project. Potok's commentary and suggestions on Moshe Greenberg's portion of the translation from Hebrew is one example of how Potok maintained his path in Judaic scholarship. Potok also remained connected to community and spiritual tradition as evidenced from sermons delivered at various synagogues during the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The papers have both manuscripts and typescripts of his sermons and Potok's research and references used in his rabbinical life.
Additional series in the Potok Papers exemplify the author's other writings and the business of selling books. Included are Potok's many articles, essays, book reviews, and op-ed pieces. Some of these are lacking the draft version. One article--"What Will You Do When April Comes?--was published in the March 1982 issue of Moment; it describes the precarious situation of and Israeli settlement in Yamit, Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula. Preserved are interviews and photographs for the article. Potok's concern for Israel and its people was deeply rooted; he not only supported the State of Israel, but in 1973 the Potok family moved to Jerusalem living there until 1977. Potok delivered many addresses and lectures, gave sermons, taught several courses at Philadelphia-area colleges including the University of Pennsylvania and Bryn Mawr College. All of these professional, public personas are preserved from hand-written outlines to annotated typescripts. Surprisingly, for a man often in the public spotlight there are few photographs documenting his life. Considered a private man, Potok does give glimpses of his personal life, disclosed in his calendars. One can see how important events in his family are from the notations of the milestones in their lives among the plethora of speaking engagements, travel commitments, and meetings. In addition to these materials are the contracts for novels and speaking engagements, brochures and advertising for appearances and book publicity, and national and international reviews of his work.
The many facets of Chaim Potok's life and work can be traced from these papers. This collection reveals Chaim Potok, as author, rabbi, scholar, father, and husband. The writer's struggle to understand worlds and cultures that collided with his own traditions. He was an artist and scholar maintaining both his individual artistic expression through novels and his ancestral traditions. Even though his first love was drawing, Potok remarked in a 1982 interview with Leonard Rubenstein, "Nothing is capable of being understood except through words" (Walden, 46). Potok's legacy of words is left to researchers as expressed through artistic means, religious, or intellectual by this prolific writer and speaker.
Works Consulted
Abramson, Edward A. Chaim Potok. Boston: Twayne Pulbishers, 1986.
Chaim Potok Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Library. University of Pennsylvania.
Kremer, S. Lillian, ed. "Chaim Potok (1929-2002)" in Holocaust Literature: An Encyclopedia of Writers and Their Work, Vol. II. New York: Routledge, 2003.
Sternlicht, Sanford. Chaim Potok: A Critical Companion. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2000.
Walden, Daniel, ed. Conversations with Chaim Potok. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001.
Estate of Chaim Potok, 2008.
For a complete list of the more than 1500 correspondents, do the following title search in Franklin: Chaim Potok Papers.
Subject
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Finding Aid Author
- Donna Brandolisio
- Finding Aid Date
- 2010
- Use Restrictions
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