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Queens University’s Barton Jackson Cathey Archives is the repository of the collected books, papers, and memorabilia of Dr. Paul B. Newman, Professor of English at Queens from 1962 to 1992. The gift of Dr. Newman’s materials comes from his daughter, Betsy Newman and his son, Bill Newman. The materials are currently being cataloged and prepared for display and research in late Fall of 2005.
“Paul Baker Newman was a surprising man. He could explain the inner workings of a Honda engine in one breath and quote Yeats in the next, a reflection of his curiosity about the world and his broad education." His degrees included the B.S. in Physics and the Ph.D. in Literature from the
University of Chicago, as well as the M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop.
Dr. Newman was born in Chicago at the beginning of World War I and raised during the Great Depression; he served in the Army Air Corps in World War II and was stationed in Italy, North Africa and Florence, South Carolina, where he met his wife, Anne Royall. He began writing poetry while stationed abroad, and was published in Poetry, Commentary, and other well-known literary journals. He went on to earn several prizes in poetry, and to publish widely. |
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When he returned to the U.S. after the war he became a labor organizer, working for the AFL-CIO, and was involved in the early days of the Civil Rights movement for several years. He helped to establish “Anti-Jim Crow Sunday,” a bus boycott in Columbia, South Carolina.
Dr. Newman had a long career as a professor of English, beginning at the University of Puerto Rico in 1955. He was also on the faculty of Kansas State University, and took a position in the English Department at Queens College in 1962. He remained at Queens until he retired in 1992. After his retirement he concentrated on writing novels, a children’s book and a memoir, entitled Between the Wars.” (written by his daughter, Betsy Newman)
Collection Includes:
- Dr. Newman’s Diplomas and Certificates
- Dr. Newman’s mailed correspondence
- Dr. Newman’s manual typewriter in a metal case
- Dr. Newman’s Collection of Poetry Classics
- Dr. Newman’s photographs
- Dr. Newman’s clippings
- Dr. Newman’s memorabilia/Hobbies
- Dr. Newman’s original manuscripts and books
- A Box of Assorted files from Dr. Newman’s home
- A Box containing:
Dr, Newman’s roll-a-dex; two books in which his poetry appears; a tin lock box
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