P. F. Kluge papers
Content Description
The P.F. Kluge Papers in the holdings of the University of Hawaii at Manoa span the years 1969 to 1994, with the bulk of the material falling into the period when Kluge was researching and writing the book, Edge of Paradise: America in Micronesia, in an attempt to understand the death of his friend Lazarus Salii, namely 1988 to 1992. The papers consist of travel diaries, correspondence, newspaper clippings, journal articles, monographs, serials, manuscripts and galley proofs. Some of the correspondence has been photocopied and the originals returned to Kluge; some other materials were in such poor condition that it was photocopied and the originals discarded. Newspaper clippings are photocopies of the originals unless otherwise indicated (Original). The collection is arranged in 7 major series: Biographical Features, Field Diaries, Subject, Manuscripts & Galley Proofs, Correspondence, Reviews and Works.
The BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURES series contains journal articles, biographical entry and papers. It is divided into biographical materials compiled about Kluge for this finding aid, but was not created or collected by Kluge, and an autobiography/statement of plan written by Kluge about his intentions for the book, Edge of Paradise: Americans in Micronesia.
The FIELD DIARIES series represents P.F. Kluge's research notes accumulated in the field for the book, Edge of Paradise: America in Micronesia, published in 1991. It contains seven (7) spiral bound notebooks arranged in chronological order according to itinerary indicated in notes. It covers Kluge's trip from Honolulu-Marshalls-Ponape-Truk-Marianas-Saipan-Guam-Yap-Palau, spanning March to June 1989, and his review of notes for Edge of Paradise and a manuscript with Salii.
The SUBJECT series contains correspondence, monographs, newspaper clippings, journal articles and other research material collected and used by Kluge for the book, Edge of Paradise: America in Micronesia. It is subdivided into 2 sub-series: Salii Death and Palau. The Salii Death sub-series covers 1985, 1988-1989, the bulk of which are newspaper clippings. The folders are arranged in chronological order, with the individual clippings arranged chronologically within. The Palau sub-series includes primarily monographs, journal issues and book excerpts and is further sub-divided into topics: Historical Background and Guides, Superport and 1988 trip.
The MANUSCRIPTS & GALLEY PROOF series is comprised of the manuscript and galley proofs of the publication Edge of Paradise: America in Micronesia by Kluge and the unpublished manuscript by Salii and Kluge entitled, Inside Micronesia: Struggle Without End. The manuscript and galley proof folders are arranged in chapter order. Additional manuscript materials are placed at the end of each manuscript sub-series.
The CORRESPONDENCE series contains correspondence (original and photocopies), newspaper clippings, journal articles and poems, covering the years 1968-70, 1984, 1988-1989, 1991-1992. It is divided into two sub-series: General and Business. The General Correspondence sub-series includes correspondence to Kluge and between other individuals. The bulk of the correspondence concerns Edge of Paradise, after the publication of the book, 1991-1992. It also includes correspondence from Salii to Kluge and a letter from American actor Lee Marvin, 1968. It is arranged in chronological order according to date written; the postmark date was used when no date was available on the letter. Items with no date are located at the front of the folders. The Business Correspondence sub-series contains correspondence to and from Michael Carlisle, Kluge's agent. Other Carlisle correspondence is located in the REVIEWS series.
The REVIEWS series contains published reviews from newspapers and journals. The bulk of the reviews concern Edge of Paradise, 1991-1992. It also includes reviews of other Kluge works: The Day that I Die and MacArthur's Ghost. The reviews are organized within folders by document type and arranged in chronological order with non-dated items in the front, following the correspondence.
The WORKS series contains a few of the published works of P. F. Kluge and responses to them, including newspaper clippings and an audiotape interview. The book, Edge of Paradise, is located in the Pacific Collection and Hamilton library stacks (DU500 .K58 1991).
Dates
- Creation: circa 1969-1994
Biographical / Historical
Noted writer, P. F. (Paul Fredrick) Kluge was born to Walter (a machinist) and Maria (Ensslen) Kluge on January 24, 1942, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. He graduated from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, with a Bachelor's Degree (Liberal Arts) in 1964. He received his M.A. Degree in 1965 and a Ph.D. in American Literature two years later from the University of Chicago.
The United States was heavily involved in the Vietnam War at the time. Rather than going to Vietnam, Kluge joined the Peace Corps at age 25, hoping for an assignment in Ethiopia or Turkey. Instead, he was sent to Saipan where he excelled in his position as editor/writer of the quarterly magazine, Micronesian Reporter from 1967 to 1969. For two years Kluge examined the politics, culture, U.S. Trusteeship and other notable events occuring in Micronesia. In the course of his tour Kluge became a friend and confidant of Palauan Lazarus Salii, who would later become Micronesia's second president and whose death would be the inspiration for Kluge's return to Micronesia in 1988 and subsequent book, Edge of Paradise: America in Micronesia. He circulated in political circles and was sympathetic toward the Micronesian desire for independence. He wrote speeches for Lazarus Salii, as well as the oft quoted Preamble of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Constitution.
At end of his tenure Kluge returned to the United States and became a journalist, and later a novelist. From 1969 to 1970, he was a staff reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles. He was the Assistant editor for Life, 1970 to 1971. Kluge continued to write for magazines and newspapers, such as Rolling Stone, Smithsonian, New York Times and Readers' Digest, while embarking on a parallel career as a fiction writer in 1976 with his first novel, The Day That I Die. "If I wrote only magazine articles, I would despair. If I confined myself to novels, I would also despair. I do both, and from two negatives, attempt to construct a positive. The differences between fiction and nonfiction--between my novels and everything else I wrote--mattered much more to me [earlier] than they now do. Old distinctions have blurred, for better and for worse. It's all writing, and it's always hard. I do the best that I can, with the time and talent that I have." [Contemporary Authors. New revision series, vol. 37.] He has written six more books to date: Eddie and the Cruisers (1980), Seasons for War (1984), MacArthur's Ghost (1987), The Edge of Paradise: Americans in Micronesia (1991), Alma Mater: A College Homecoming (1993) and Biggest Elvis (1997).
While delving into serious non-fiction subject matter (Edge of Paradise and Alma Mater) and revisiting Micronesia periodically, Kluge's writing also has dramatic flair that appeals to a broad audience. Kluge co-authored an article based on true events that became the genesis for the 1975 Warner Brothers motion picture, Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino. Eddie and the Cruisers was made into a major motion picture and produced a sequel.
Kluge continued his contact with Micronesia. He was asked back in 1970 and 1972, to help in negotiations with "the Americans." He returned to Saipan in 1975 for a year as director of Micronesian Constitution Convention. He made reporting trips in 1978, 1981 and 1986.
In February 14, 1977, Kluge married Pamela Hollie (a journalist).
Kluge was the James Thurber Writer-in-Residence in the Ohio State Graduate School of Journalism in 1988 and was the "Writing coach" at the Columbus Dispatch Newspaper, while living in the James Thurber family house in Columbus. [Ronck, Ronn. "Firing Up the Crises of War in 'MacArthur's Ghost'." Honolulu Advertiser, 17 March 1988, B3.]
Today, Kluge is an occasional visiting professor at Kenyon College, 1987- , and continues to write.
_Extent
10? Linear Feet (8 document boxes)
Language
English
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Libraries Repository