Archives and Special Collections: Archive of Dan Levin, Ph.D.

Born in Russia in 1914, Dan Levin spent his early childhood in a country torn by revolution. His family eventually immigrated to Cleveland where he grew up. Levin lived in Washington D.C., New York, and abroad. He met his artist wife, Kathaleen in college. They married in 1938, had two sons and enjoyed a long life together.

During World War II, Levin was a combat correspondent in the U.S. Marines. Out of this experience, he wrote the war novel Mask of Glory, 1949. This was followed by other novels. He worked as a reporter for the U.S. Delegation of the United Nations, covering all U.N. meetings. He returned to Russia to do research for his biography Stormy Petrel: The Life And Work of Maxim Gorky, 1988. Another autobiographical manuscript, Skaz, is housed in this archive. Other published works by Levin include The Dream of The Flesh, Son Of Judah, Spinoza (his early years), and From The Battlefield. His Poems of the Marines appears in the Scimitar & Song Anthology, 1976 (Scimitar and Song Publications). He also translated Russian poetry.

Over his lifetime, Dr. Levin's published works include two novels, two biographies, one wartime autobiography, and a book of poetry.

He wrote book reviews for such publications as The Nation and Newsday. Before his years at LIU Post, he taught philosophy at Case Western Reserve University and the humanities at the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.D. in the History of Culture in 1964.

Beginning in 1964, and for the next forty years, Dr. Levin was an Associate Professor in the English Department at C. W. Post. He conducted Writers Workshops, and taught Comparative Literature. During his years at LIU Post, Dr. Levin was involved in fellowships in Korea and Russia, where he developed friendships with the many exchange students he met in his travels.

Dr. Levin's true passions were writing and teaching. He taught at LIU Post until 2011.

At a tribute gathering in 2011, The C. W. Post Poetry Center asked Dr. Dan Levin, Professor Emeritus, to read from his published collection of poems, Waiting For B Train. The poems Dr. Levin read spoke of his immigration from Russia during the Great Depression and his time spent as a Sergeant combat correspondent during World War II. Students at the event paid tribute by reading poems written by Dr. Levin. This was a poignant celebration of the life and career of a remarkable man.

Dr. Levin's son Forrest Levin commented about his father's last year:

"Even as he approached and passed 100 years of age, with many of his physical systems weakening, he remained mentally clear with a resilient spirit until the end."

Dr. Dan Levin passed away in 2015.

Archives and Special Collections is located on the second floor of the LIU Post Library.
Rooms: 345-346

Heather Hesse - Special Collections Assistant
Archives and Special Collections
516/299-2880
Heather.Hesse@liu.edu

Hours: 9:00-5:00, Monday-Friday