Stuart Friebert Papers Collection

Collection

Identifier: RG 30-464

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection is primarily comprised of copies of poems written by Stuart Friebert, as well as articles and publications related to Stuart Friebert’s work and life. The bulk of the biographical materials relate to Stuart’s time teaching at Oberlin College. The collection also includes unfinished poems from Stuart’s computer files and several talk transcripts.

The collection is arranged into four records series: 1. Biographical Materials, 2. Creative Writing Program, 3. Writings, and 4. Correspondence. Series 3 is further subdivided into Subseries 1. Poetry and Subseries 2. Talks.

Dates

Creation: 1916-2020, undated
Other: Date acquired: 2021 May 21

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Biographical Sketch

Stuart Alyn Friebert (1931-2020) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Edward (1905-1998) and Gertrude Garber Friebert (1912-1992) on July 12, 1931. He was the oldest of the couple’s three children.

Stuart began studying German at Shorewood High School in 1944, and in 1949, traveled to Germany for a year-long undergraduate exchange program. Later, he wrote several pieces influenced by his experience as a Jewish student in post-war Germany, including The Language of the Enemy. Stuart returned to the United States in 1950 and graduated from Wisconsin State College/Milwaukee in 1952. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in German Language and Literature at the University of Wisconsin/Madison in 1957. Stuart taught German at Mt. Holyoke College from 1957-1959, at Harvard University from 1959-1961, and at Oberlin College from 1961-1997.

Stuart founded the creative writing program at Oberlin College in 1975 and directed the program until his retirement in 1997. Over his life, Stuart published 15 books of poems, 16 books of translations, and four books of prose. He wrote in both English and German and translated poems in German, Czech, Romanian, and Italian. In 1969, Stuart founded FIELD magazine, a poetry magazine edited by Oberlin College staff and students that collected international submissions. The magazine ended its run in 2019 after 100 issues. Stuart won many awards for his poems and translations, including an NEA Fellowship in Poetry.

Stuart married Diane Vreuls (1931-2023) on August 6, 1960. They had two children, Sarah Friebert (1963-) and Stephen Friebert (1965- ). Stuart died in June of 2020 and Diane passed away in April of 2023.

SOURCES CONSULTED

Broszkowski, Roman. “Nationally- Acclaimed FIELD Magazine Ends after 50 Years, 100 Issues.” The Oberlin Review. April 19, 2019. https://oberlinreview.org/18559/arts/nationally-acclaimed-field-magazine-ends-after-50-years-100-issues/.

“Diane Friebert Obituary (1931 - 2023) - Oberlin, OH - Cleveland.com.” Legacy.com. 2023. https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/diane-friebert-obituary?id=51621503.

Faculty file, Stuart Friebert, RG28

“Obituary: Stuart Friebert MA’53, PhD’58 | Wisconsin Alumni Association.” n.d. https://uwalumni.com/alumni-notes/stuart-friebert/.

Note written by Lee Must.

Extent

0.21 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Source of Acquisition

Diane Vreuls

Related Materials

Department of English, 1922-1996, RG 9/009, Oberlin College Archives.

Dzvinia Orlowsky Papers, RG 30/476, Oberlin College Archives.

Faculty file, Stuart Friebert, RG 28, Oberlin College Archives.

FIELD Magazine, RG 0, Series 29, Oberlin College Archives.

Friebert, Stuart, Box: 5, Folder: 21. Diane Wakoski papers, MSS 304 large. Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections, Michigan State University Libraries.

Friebert, Stuart, undated, Box: 2, Folder: 5. Dan Jaffe Collection, MS-0188. University of Missouri-Kansas City Special Collections and Archives.