Wouk, Herman, 1915-2019

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Herman Wouk is a prolific author and enthusiastic supporter of Jewish culture. Wouk was born in the Bronx on May 27, 1915 to Abraham Isaac and Esther (neé Levine) Wouk, Russian Jewish immigrants. Wouk attended Townsend Harris Hall and continued his education at Columbia University, where he graduated with a B.A. with general honors in 1934.

After graduation, Herman Wouk was a staff writer for comedian Fred Allen. However, with the onset of World War II, Wouk traveled to Washington D.C. in order to use his talent to support the war effort. He wrote promotional radio scripts for the United States Treasury Department in 1941 to entice Americans to purchase more war bonds. Wouk also began to compose other radio plays featuring soldiers and military themes. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Herman Wouk joined the United States Navy where he served on a destroyer minesweeper called the U.S.S. Zane in the Pacific. Wouk's free time was spent writing within a broad spectrum of genres. He penned poems praising the work of the faceless individuals involved in the war, radio and play scripts, and the beginnings of his novel, Aurora Dawn, published in 1946 after he was discharged. While in the Navy, Wouk married Betty Sarah Brown on December 9, 1945. They had three sons, the first of whom died in childhood.

Herman Wouk continued to produce a stream of books, articles, essays, and plays. Two years after his first novel, Wouk's second The City Boy was published. This was followed by The Caine Mutiny, a book partially culled from Wouk's war experience and which became his first number one bestseller. The accolades did not stop and The Caine Mutiny won the Pulitzer Prize in 1952. Other titles followed, Marjorie Morningstar (1955), Youngblood Hawke (1962), Don't Stop the Carnival (1965), The Winds of War (1971), War and Remembrance (1978), Inside, Outside (1985), The Hope (1993), and The Glory (1994). Wouk has also written two studies on the history and the culture of Judaism, This Is My God (1959) and The Will to Live On (2000).

Writing is not all that defines Herman Wouk. He is strongly committed to promoting and supporting Judaism. Wouk spent several years in the late 1950s as a visiting professor at Yeshiva University. He and his wife Betty Sarah traveled to Israel in 1955 where Wouk gave lectures, attended a performance of The Caine Mutiny, and participated in cultural and religious ceremonies. His visit was widely covered in the press. Additionally, in the 1970s Herman Wouk endowed Beit Ephraim, a Jewish communal residence located at his alma mater, Columbia University. He continued to serve on its advisory board and, in 2002, received a Gershom Mendes Seixas Award, for outstanding contribution to Jewish life at Columbia.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Harold Matson Company, Inc. (New York, N.Y.). Harold Matson Company, Inc. Records, 1937-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph). The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial / a play by Herman Wouk based on his novel The Caine Mutiny ; directed by Brian Kremen, 1993 - performance file. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Engle, Paul, 1908-1991. Paul Engle papers, 1930-1991. Coe College, Stewart Memorial Library
creatorOf Hawkins, John R. John R. Hawkins '56 literary manuscript collection, 1972-80. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Carpenter, Margaret Haley. Papers of Margaret Haley Carpenter [manuscript], 1898-1985, bulk 1953-1985. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Abraham S. Burack collection Boston University. School of Medicine
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Master File Photographs of U.S. and Foreign Personalities, World Events, and American Economic, Social, and Cultural Life National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Nancy Dawson and Herman Wouk Collection, 1952-1965. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Stuart Eizenstat Papers, 1929-2003, (bulk 1976-2001) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Sam Schaefler historical and literary letters and documents, 1674-1970s Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Miller, Judea B., 1930-1995. Judea B. Miller letter, 1961 Apr. 3. The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
referencedIn Daniel J. Boorstin Papers, 1882-1995, (bulk 1944-1994) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Varsity Show. Varsity Show Records 1894- Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Charles Abrams papers, 1923-1970. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Marjorie Morningstar manuscript, 1954-1958. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn John Phillips Marquand correspondence Houghton Library
referencedIn The E.Y. Harburg Collection, 1929-1968 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Slattery's hurricane : typescript, 1948 Nov. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Rome, Harold, 1908-1993. The Harold Rome papers, 1873-1988 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Robert Chester Ruark Papers, 1942-1965 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Jung, Leo, 1892-1987. Leo Jung Papers, 1878-1992, 1970-1979. Yeshiva University
referencedIn Varian Fry Papers, [ca. 1940]-1967 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Wouk, Herman Gerald R. Ford Library
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Manuscripts, n.d. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Lenya, Lotte, 1898-1981. General correspondence, [ca. 1920]-1981. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Winds of war. Yeshiva University
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Papers of Herman Wouk, 1931-1996. Library of Congress
referencedIn Stuart Eizenstat Papers, 1929-2003, (bulk 1976-2001) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn General Photographic Files, 1943 - 1968 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph). The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial / by Herman Wouk ; directed by Charlie Tomlinson, 1995 - reviews and articles. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Burgess, Anthony, 1917-1993. Anthony Burgess Papers, 1956-1997. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Esquire, Inc. Records, 1933-1977 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Angoff, Charles, 1902-1979. Charles Angoff collection, 1927-1978. Boston University. School of Medicine
creatorOf Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph). The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial / a play by Herman Wouk based on his novel The Caine Mutiny ; directed by Brian Kremen, 1993 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Jacques Barzun Papers, ca.1900-1999. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Herman Wouk papers, 1951-1953 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Dawson, Nancy, 1920-. Nancy Dawson-Herman Wouk papers, 1955-1965. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Herbie Bookbinder. Yeshiva University
referencedIn Weill, Kurt, 1900-1950. The papers of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, 1890-1984 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Herman Wouk Papers, 1915-2003, [Bulk Dates: 1940-1960]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Rome, Harold, 1908-1993. The Harold Rome papers, 1873-1988 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Daniel Schorr Papers, 1922-2006, (bulk 1943-2006) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Varsity Show Records, 1894- Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gail and Stephen Rudin autograph collection, 1841-1993. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Buell, Thomas B. Thomas B. Buell papers, 1992-1998. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Victor Wouk Papers, 1934-2004 California Institute of Technology. Archives.
referencedIn Buchanan, Thompson R. Thompson R. Buchanan papers, 1961-2000. Library of Congress
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Herman Wouk papers, 1915-2003 (bulk dates 1940-1960). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Register to the Papers of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, 1890-1984, inclusive Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf State of Israel Bonds Organiztion. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1953-1984. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Souvenir programs for theatrical productions, 1906-2005. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Ken McCormick Collection of Doubleday and Company, Inc., Records, 1882-1992, (bulk 1910-1992) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Weill, Kurt, 1900-1950. The papers of Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, 1890-1984 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Stockdale, James B. Papers, 1977-1979. Naval War College, Henry E. Eccles Library
referencedIn Louis Untermeyer collection of papers, 1913-1975 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. The Caine mutiny. Yeshiva University
referencedIn Rome, Harold, 1908-1993. Harold Rome collection, 1937-1969. Library of Congress
referencedIn Weill, Kurt, 1900-1950. General correspondence, [ca. 1925]-1950. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. Herman Wouk papers, 1951-1953. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn George P. Garrett Papers, 1929-2008, (bulk 1960-2000) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Thomas B. Buell Papers (#4915), 1991-1998 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Hammerstein, Oscar, 1895-1960. Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers: transcript, 1956. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Varian Fry Papers, [ca. 1940]-1967 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn New Yorker records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Vonnegut mss., 1941-2007 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph). The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial / by Herman Wouk, based on his novel "The Caine Mutiny" ; directed by Charlie Tomlinson, 1995 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn James A. Michener Papers 1906-1992 (bulk 1945-1992) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn The Harold Rome Papers, 1873-1988 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Charles Abrams papers, 1923-1970. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Anthony Burgess Papers TXRC00-A18., 1956-1997 (bulk 1970s-1980s) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Wouk, Herman, 1915-. This is my God. Yeshiva University
referencedIn American screen and theater : photographs and lobby cards, 1914-1965, (bulk: 1930-1949) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abrams, Charles, 1902-1970. person
correspondedWith Angoff, Charles, 1902-1979. person
associatedWith Auerbach, Red, 1917-2006. person
associatedWith Barzun, Jacques, 1907- person
correspondedWith Boorstin, Daniel J. (Daniel Joseph), 1914-2004. person
correspondedWith Buchanan, Thompson R. person
associatedWith Buell, Thomas B. person
correspondedWith Buell, Thomas B. person
correspondedWith Burack, A. S. (Abraham Saul), 1908- person
associatedWith Burden, Carter, person
associatedWith Burgess, Anthony, 1917-1993 person
associatedWith Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Carpenter, Margaret Haley. person
associatedWith Charles Abrams 1902-1970. person
associatedWith Columbia College (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Columbia University corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia University. Varsity Show. corporateBody
associatedWith Dawson, Nancy, 1920- person
associatedWith Doubleday and Company, inc. corporateBody
correspondedWith Eizenstat, Stuart. person
associatedWith Engle, Paul, 1908-1991. person
associatedWith Esquire, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith E. Y. Harburg person
associatedWith Fry, Varian, 1907-1967. person
correspondedWith Garrett, George P., 1929-2008 person
associatedWith Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Hammerstein, Oscar, 1895-1960. person
associatedWith Harold Matson Company, Inc. (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harold Rome person
associatedWith Hawkins, John R. person
associatedWith Jung, Leo, 1892-1987. person
associatedWith Lenya, Lotte, 1898-1981. person
correspondedWith Marquand, John P. (John Phillips), 1893-1960 person
associatedWith McCormick, Ken, 1906-1997 person
correspondedWith Michener, James A. (James Albert), 1907-1997. person
associatedWith Miller, Judea B., 1930-1995. person
correspondedWith New Yorker Magazine, Inc corporateBody
correspondedWith Rome, Harold, 1908-1993. person
associatedWith Ruark, Robert Chester, 1915-1965 person
associatedWith Schaefler, Sam, 1920-, person
correspondedWith Schorr, Daniel, 1916-2010. person
associatedWith State of Israel Bonds Organiztion. corporateBody
associatedWith Stockdale, James B. person
associatedWith Thompson, Ira. person
associatedWith Thompson, Ira. person
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Navy. corporateBody
associatedWith Untermeyer, Louis, 1885-1977 person
associatedWith Varsity Show. corporateBody
associatedWith Vonnegut, Kurt person
associatedWith Weill, Kurt, 1900-1950. person
associatedWith Wouk, Victor. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Palm Springs CA US
Bronx NY US
Subject
American literature
City children
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature
Jewish women in literature
Judaism
Judaism
Judaism
Manuscripts
Military occupation in literature
Mutiny
Trials (Naval offenses)
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Authors, American
Authors
Activity

Person

Birth 1915-05-27

Death 2019-05-17

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6b38mbx

SNAC ID: 87314640