University community remembers former professor, Edgar Allan Poe scholar Stuart Levine
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas community is remembering Stuart Levine, a professor emeritus of English.
Levine died Oct. 29 in Lawrence. He was 84.
Levine was a scholar of 19th century American literature and an expert on the work of Edgar Allan Poe, yet he is perhaps best remembered for his role in establishing KU’s Department of American Studies.
“Stuart Levine touched many lives and made important contributions to our departments of English and American Studies during his more than 30-year career at KU,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “On behalf of the entire KU community, I extend my deepest condolences to Professor Levine’s family, friends, colleagues and former students.”
He also was founder of the scholarly journal American Studies, which he edited for 30 years. David Katzman is a professor emeritus of American studies who worked as associate editor with Levine for 25 of those years.
The journal American Studies not only published significant articles, Katzman said, but it also played a major role in nurturing authors, even ones whose manuscripts were not published. Every submission received serious, thorough and encouraging feedback, he said.
“This was a policy and spirit initiated by Stuart,” Katzman said. “It also reflected that he loved being editor of the journal and encouraging interdisciplinary scholarship in American studies in the Midwest. He regularly visited editorial board members and American studies departments in the region, playing a personal role in the spread of American studies in the Midwest.”
Services for Levine were Oct. 31 in Lawrence.