Finding Aid for the Philip Fried papers

Repository: Kent State University. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: Philip Fried papers
Inclusive Dates: 1968-2024
Author: Finding aid prepared by Abigail Fife, March 2026
Origination: Fried, Philip, 1945-
Extent: 4 cubic feet (4 boxes = 4 record storage boxes and one oversized folder)
Physical Location:  11th floor
Abstract: This collection, dating from 1968-2024, consists mainly of correspondence, drafts, and personal writings by Philip Fried, a poet, founding editor of the poetry magazine, The Manhattan Review, and creator of The New York Times Poetry Initiative.
Language: English
Descriptive Rules: DACS 2nd Edition

Biography of Philip Fried

Philip Fried was born January 8, 1945, in Atlanta to parents Seymour Fried and Mollie Ellen (Green) Fried. Fried received his Bachelor in English from Antioch College in 1966, a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from the University of Iowa in 1968, and a Doctor in Philosophy in English from State University of New York, Stony Brook, in 1978. An avid poet and poetry reader, Fried is the founding editor of The Manhattan Review, a poetry journal dedicated to American and international poetry, which first began publishing in 1980. In 1994, The Manhattan Review, led by Fried, conducted a campaign called The New York Times Poetry Initiative to increase the number of poetry reviews published in The New York Times. Additionally, Fried has published his own books of poetry, as well as had numerous poetry journals publish his works.

Scope and Content

This collection contains professional and personal papers of Philip Fried, including correspondence, personal writings, and drafts surrounding his poetry, publications of his poetry journal The Manhattan Review, and the founding and research involved in his project, The New York Times Poetry Initiative. Additional materials in the collection are personal and professional correspondence and documents with other poets. 

Statement of Arrangement 

The Philip Fried papers are divided into series as follows:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1971-2012
Series 2: Materials on Peter Redgrove and Penelope Shuttle, 1983-2005
Series 3: Materials on A.R. Ammons, 1973-2001
Series 4: The Manhattan Review Materials, 1982-2001
Series 5: The New York Times Poetry Initiative Materials, 1973-1996
Series 6: Personal Writings, 1968-2024

Preferred Citation

Philip Fried papers. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. 

Separated Material

Please note that books from the Philip Fried papers are cataloged in LIBRARYsearch. 

Controlled Access Headings

The following are found in this collection:

Subjects:

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

Series 1: Correspondence, 1971-2012

1. Correspondence, 1971
2. Correspondence, 1975
3. Correspondence, 1987
4. Correspondence, 1988
5. Correspondence, 1989
6. Correspondence, 1990
7. Correspondence, 1991
8. Correspondence, 1992
9. Correspondence, 1993
10. Correspondence, 1994
11. Correspondence, 1995
12. Correspondence, 1996
13. Correspondence, 1997
14. Correspondence, 1998
15. Correspondence, 1999
16. Correspondence, 2000
17. Correspondence, 2001
18. Correspondence, 2002
19. Correspondence, 2003
20. Correspondence, 2004
21. Correspondence, 2005
22. Correspondence, 2006
23. Correspondence, 2007
24. Correspondence, 2008
25. Correspondence, 2009
26. Correspondence, 2010
27. Correspondence, 2011
28. Correspondence, 2012
29. Correspondence, undated

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

Series 2: Materials on Peter Redgrove and Penelope Shuttle, 1983-2005

1. Correspondence, 1983-2005
2. Notes and Drafts, undated
3. Reviews, 1985-2003
4. “Scientist of the Strange: An Interview with Peter Redgrove,” undated
5. “Scientist of the Strange: An Interview with Peter Redgrove,” undated
        Scope and Content: Includes notes
6. Works, 2001-2002

Series 3: Materials on A.R. Ammons, 1973-2001

7. Biographical Materials, 1982-2001
8. Correspondence, 1978-2001
9. Reviews, 1974-2001
10. Works, 1973

Series 4: The Manhattan Review Materials, 1982-2001

11. Correspondence, 1982-1983
12. Correspondence, 1989-1990
13. Reviews, 1992-2001
14. Volume 3, Number 2, Correspondence, 1984
15. Volume 3, Number 2, Notes and Drafts, 1984
16. Volume 5, Number 2, Correspondence, 1990-1991
17. Volume 6, Number 1, Correspondence, 1990-1991 (Folder 1 of 4)
18. Volume 6, Number 1, Correspondence, 1990-1991 (Folder 2 of 4)
19. Volume 6, Number 1, Correspondence, 1990-1991 (Folder 3 of 4)
20. Volume 6, Number 1, Correspondence, 1990-1991 (Folder 4 of 4)
21. Volume 6, Number 1, Notes and Drafts, 1991

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

Series 5: The New York Times Poetry Initiative Materials, 1973-1996

1. Book Review Documentation, 1973
2. Book Review Documentation, 1978
3. Book Review Documentation, 1983
4. Book Review Documentation, 1988
5. Book Review Documentation, 1993
6. Book Review Documentation, 1994
7. Book Review Documentation, 1995
8. Correspondence, 1994 (Folder 1 of 4)
9. Correspondence, 1994 (Folder 2 of 4)
10. Correspondence, 1994 (Folder 3 of 4)
11. Correspondence, 1994 (Folder 4 of 4)
12. Correspondence, 1995
13. Correspondence, 1996
14. Correspondence, undated
15. Poetry Documentation, 1994 (Folder 1 of 3)
16. Poetry Documentation, 1994 (Folder 2 of 3)
17. Poetry Documentation, 1994 (Folder 3 of 3)
18. Poetry Documentation, 1995 (Folder 1 of 4)
19. Poetry Documentation, 1995 (Folder 2 of 4)
20. Poetry Documentation, 1995 (Folder 3 of 4)
21. Poetry Documentation, 1995 (Folder 4 of 4)
22. Notes and Drafts, 1994-1995

Box 4
Folder -- Contents

Series 6: Personal Writings, 1968-2024

1. Biographical Materials, 1990
2. Dissertation, “Abstract of the Dissertation Three Essays on the Poetry of A.R. Ammons,” 1978
3. Journal Entries, 1970-1971 (Folder 1 of 3)
4. Journal Entries, 1970-1971 (Folder 2 of 3)
5. Journal Entries, 1970-1971 (Folder 3 of 3)
6. Journal Entries, 1975
7. Journal Entries, undated
8. Poetry, 1970
9. Poetry, 1971
10. Poetry, 2016
11. Poetry, 2024
12. Poetry, Oversized, 1982-1998
         Physical Location: Shelved in map case.
13. Poetry, undated
         Scope and Content: Includes Rilke translations, unpublished and published works.
14. Reviews and Blurbs, 1997-2023 (Folder 1 of 3)
15. Reviews and Blurbs, 1997-2023 (Folder 2 of 3)
16. Reviews and Blurbs, 1997-2023 (Folder 3 of 3)
17. Story Drafts and Essays, 1971-1975
18. Thesis, “Considered Separately,” 1968, June
         Scope and Content: Inscribed.