P/Knoepfle. John Knoepfle, Peoria Myths and Tales, 1985-1993 Series V
Scope and Contents
John Knoepfle’s papers (1985-1993) include research he conducted mostly between the years 1985 and 1993 for the Peoria Myths and Tales project. The materials gathered in this series comprise of JIK's research on the language and history of the Peoria-Miami American Indian tribes, as well as their cultural stories, poetry, myths, and tales. The materials would become The Peoria-Miami Language Collection, and "The Peoria-Miami Freeform," Nimrod (Oklahoma Indian "Markings" issue). 32:2 (Spring-Summer, 1989), 122-143.
Note: The original order of these materials, which was imposed by JIK, has been preserved.
Dates
- Usage: 1985 - 1993
- Other: Date acquired: ?
Creator
- Knoepfle, John (Person)
Biographical or Historical Information
John Ignatius Knoepfle is a professor emeritus of literature from Sangamon State University (UIS), poet, author of prose, oral historian, translator, and specialist in Midwestern literature and folklore. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 4, 1923, and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during WWII, participating in the amphibious assaults upon the Japanese-held islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Knoepfle was wounded in battle requiring a long recovery period during which he began pursuing a university education. He earned a Ph.B. (1947) and an M.A. (1949) from Xavier University, and subsequently, a Ph.D. in Medieval and Renaissance English literature from Saint Louis University (1967). While working for a Cincinnati television station in the 1950s Knoepfle interviewed rivermen of the Ohio River, eventually conducting over forty-two oral histories about life on the river. He taught English literature and creative writing at Ohio State University (1956-1957), Southern Illinois University, East St. Louis campus (1957-1961), Maryville College (1961-1965), Saint Louis University (1966-1972), and Washington University (1966-1972). Knoepfle ended his career at SSU, where he taught from 1972 to 1991. His scholarship has bridged several languages including translations of Hungarian poetry, the Peruvian poet Cesar Vallejo, in collaboration with Wang Shouyi, T'ang and Song Dynasty poetry, and the long-form poetry of the Miami-Peoria people. He has also published fifteen books and chapbooks of poetry including Rivers into Islands (1965) and poems from the sangamon (1985). In 1989 Knoepfle published a series of folktales set in the Midwest titled Dim Tales. In 1986 Knoepfle won the Mark Twain Award for distinguished contributions from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature and the same year he was designated Illinois author of the year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English.
Extent
4.0 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Source of Acquisition
John and Peggy Knoepfle
Method of Acquisition
donation
Creator
- Knoepfle, John (Person)
- Title
- John Knoepfle, Personal Papers Finding Aid
- Subtitle
- Peoria Myths and Tales
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the UIS Archives/Special Collections Repository
Archives/Special Collections LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407 US
217-206-6520
archives@uis.libanswers.com