George Louis Kline papers

Collection

Call Number: GEN MSS 650

Scope and Contents

The collection documents George L. Kline's work as a translator for Joseph Brodsky and related activities, including the translation of other Russian prose and poetry and scholarship on Russian literature. Included are correspondence, drafts of Brodsky's poems and Kline's English translations, sound recordings of Brodsky, and photographs of Brodsky and others. Other than Brodsky, correspondents include W. H. Auden, Nina Berberova, Leonid Chertkov, Anthony Hecht, Lev Losev, Faith Wigzell and Igor Efimov. Manuscripts include signed typescripts of several of Brodsky's poems and typescript poems of Evgenii Rein inscribed to Joseph Brodsky. Among the sound recordings is a recording of Brodsky reciting his poems in 1968 in his Leningrad apartment, recorded by George Kline.

Dates

1965-2000

Creator

Kline, George L. (George Louis), 1921-2014

Language of Materials

In English and Russian.

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Access to original audiovisual recordings is restricted. Researchers should consult the Beinecke Library Access Services department for policies and procedures for the creation of reference copies, if none exist.

Conditions Governing Use

The George Louis Kline Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of George L. Kline, 2008.

Arrangement

Organized into three series: I. Correspondence, 1972-2000. II. Writings, circa 1965-2000. III. Other Papers, circa 1978-1996.

Extent

5 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.kline

Additional Description

Overview

The collection documents George L. Kline's work as a translator for Joseph Brodsky and related activities, including the translation of other Russian prose and poetry and scholarship on Russian literature. Included are correspondence, drafts of Brodsky's poems and Kline's English translations, sound recordings of Brodsky, and photographs of Brodsky and others. Other than Brodsky, correspondents include W. H. Auden, Nina Berberova, Leonid Chertkov, Anthony Hecht, Lev Losev, Faith Wizgell and Igor Efimov. Manuscripts include signed typescripts of several of Brodsky's poems and typescript poems of Evgenii Rein inscribed to Joseph Brodsky. Among the sound recordings is a recording of Brodsky reciting his poems in 1968 in his Leningrad apartment, recorded by George Kline.

George Louis Kline (b. 1921)

George L. Kline, professor emeritus at Bryn Mawr College, is a scholar of philosophy and literature and translates Russian prose and poetry. His translations include the poetry of Joseph Brodsky, Marina Tsvetaeva and Anna Akhmatova.

Appraisal

The George Louis Kline Papers were acquired to complement the Joseph Brodsky Papers. The Beinecke Library acquired papers that document Kline’s translations of Brodsky’s poetry and of other Russian prose and poetry. Papers that document Kline’s lengthy career as a professor at Bryn Mawr College and his scholarship in other domains were not acquired.

Processing Information

Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, and competing priorities. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.

This collection received a basic level of processing at the time of acquisition, including rehousing and minimal organization. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.