Sam Abrams personal papers
Scope and Contents
Collection of research materials on poetry including well known poets such as Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg and Joel Oppenheimer. Materials organized by subject matter, collected by Sam Abrams either for research purposes related to his poetry and teaching, or for personal interest reasons. Includes biographical documents, newspaper clippings, correspondence, brochures, maps, and other ephemera. Also includes many of Abrams’ original writings.
Dates
- Creation: 1990 - 2014
Creator
- Abrams, Sam (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to all researchers.
Biographical / Historical
Samuel Abrams (1935- ) was born on November 18, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY to Moe and Miriam (née Rosenthal) Abrams. After graduating from Brooklyn College with his A.B. in 1958, Abrams attended the University of Illinois where he earned his M.A. in 1959. He then worked at Drew University in Madison, NJ as an instructor and the head of the classics department.
Abrams was opposed to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. He participated in anti-war demonstrations and was arrested for civil disobedience. From January 29 to February 4, 1967, Abrams participated in the Angry Arts Against the War in Vietnam protest. The protest was held in New York City and attracted over 600 artists.
In 1978, Abrams accepted a position in the Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) College of Liberal Arts. As an associate professor in the English department, Abrams taught literature courses at the university. While serving as the coordinator for the Writers Series at RIT, he was able to convince Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder to visit Rochester. Abrams was also able to bring Ted Turner to speak at the university on September 29, 1981. He retired from RIT in 2005.
Extent
16 Box(es) (8 boxes of various size and 4 crates - processed into 16 document boxes.) : Some papers were in labeled folders, but a majority were loose and unorganized.
Language
English
Overview
Collection consists of Abrams’ research material used in his personal and professional projects. Series of materials established are subject files, poetry, correspondence, writings, biographical files and clippings.
Arrangement
Arrangement is by three series: Series 1: Subject files; Series 2: Writing; and Series 3: Personal papers
Physical Location
C.S. South, Shelf 770 - Box 1-7
C.S. South, Shelf 771 - Box 8-13
C.S. South, Shelf 772 - Box 14-16
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection was donated to RIT Archives by a family member in 2016.
Subject
- Ginsberg, Allen, 1926-1997 (Person)
- Title
- Sam Abrams personal papers
- Status
- Published
- Subtitle
- RIT Archive Collections
- Author
- Emily King/Jody Sidlauskas
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Box: 1 (Mixed Materials)
- Reel: 2 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 3 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 4 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 5 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 6 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 7 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 8 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 9 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 10 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 11 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 12 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 13 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 14 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 15 (Mixed Materials)
- Box: 16 (Mixed Materials)
Repository Details
Part of the RIT Archives Repository
