Sarfaty, Maurice, 1940-2001.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The papers are divided into three major series: correspondence, journals, and literary manuscripts.  In addition to these are three minor series dealing with Sarfaty's hobbies, which included fencing and drawing. Also included are his published opinion pieces on topics ranging from abortion to gun control. 

Correspondence consists of letters exchanged between Sarfaty and his family and friends; various political figures, including Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold; and prospective publishers of Sarfaty's literary writing.

The series of journals is arranged chronologically. They describe the daily life of an average working American, who lived in Milwaukee County while working for Kroger's and A.O. Smith. Specifically, the journals describe Sarfaty's military training, his two divorces, and the legal fight for custody of his son.

The literary manuscripts series consists of short stories of various literary genres (gothic, horror, and fantasy). The series is arranged alphabetically by title. It also includes a group of untitled stories as well as a collection of poems and sonnets. The majority of this work was published in Varvanna and Interludes in Horror and Other Short Stories. 

The remainder of the collection consists of several small series. These include fencing ephemera from the Shorewood Fencing Club, biographical information, photos, and opinion pieces published in the Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee Sentinel, and Chicago Tribune from 1968 to 2000. 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Maurice Sarfaty, a self-published author and prolific writer of both fantasy and gothic tales, was born in Athens, Greece on March 5, 1940 to Jack and Mitsi Sarfaty. With his birth occurring just prior to the German invasion of Greece, his early childhood was, as Sarfaty put it, "hampered by a very real war." It consisted not of playing, but reading. He later claimed that his love for reading classic tales led him to writing stories of love and adventure.

Following the war, the Sarfaty family remained in Greece for a brief time. In 1951, the family immigrated to the United States and eventually settled on Milwaukee's north side. Maurice graduated from Washington High School in 1960. After graduation, he entered the National Guard and remained a guard member for six years during the height of the Cold War. His first serious written work was an autobiographical account of his experiences at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri's army boot camp. Following his initial training period Maurice became interested in fencing and participated in amateur fencing events for over twenty years. Sarfaty was also avid collector of weapons. He amassed a large collection of swords, sabers, foils, as well as guns of all types and calibers. In addition to these hobbies, Sarfaty loved the life of the outdoorsman. He competed as a trap shooter, equestrian rider, and show jumper.

In 1964, Maurice began to write stories and poems. His writing consisted of hundreds of stories, poems, and two books, Varvanna and Interludes in Horror and Other Short Stories. As well as writing fiction, Sarfaty kept a journal from 1960 to 1990s. The journal describes events from his personal life, and events of local and national significance.   

Sarfaty wrote over two hundred opinion pieces published in the Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee Sentinel, and the Chicago Tribune on topics such as religion, abortion, the right to bear arms, citizenship and immigration.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Sarfaty, Maurice, 1940-2001. Papers, 1960-2001. UWM Manuscript Collection 198. UWM Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS: Szcymcak, Chester. Papers, 1930-1980. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 103)

ACQUISITION: Janine Arseneau donated the collection to the Archives in 2003 (accession 2003-003).

PROCESSING: Joel Westphal processed the collection at the Archives in December 2003.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• Greek American authors.
• Fantasy fiction.
• Horror tales.
• Poetry--20th Century.

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Last edited on Wednesday, November 3, 2004.
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