Collection inventory

printer friendly version

Pedro Cuperman Papers

A description of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Summary

Creator: Cuperman, Pedro.
Title: Pedro Cuperman Papers
Dates: 1958-2015
Size: Approximately 10 linear feet
Abstract: Correspondence, typescripts, manuscripts and printed material concerning the life and career of Syracuse University professor Pedro Cuperman
Language: English Spanish
Repository: University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives

Biography

Pedro Cuperman (1936-2016) was an Argentinian artist, scholar, professor at Syracuse University and the founder of the arts journal Punto de Contacto, also known by its English name Point of Contact. Cuperman was raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied at the University of Buenos Aires and the Jose Manuel Estrada Institute where he received degrees in philosophy. Upon his graduation, Cuperman received a two-year fellowship to study at Banaras Hindu University. In 1968, Cuperman moved to the United States and took a teaching position at the University of Connecticut. In 1970, he began teaching at New York University, where he founded the arts journal Punto de Contacto/Point of Contact in 1975. In 1976, Cuperman accepted a position as an associate professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at Syracuse University, where he would teach for over 40 years. Point of Contact moved to Syracuse with Cuperman, where it became known for publishing works in the visual and verbal arts by up-and-coming artists. Point of Contact expanded to include the Corresponding Voices poetry series and an art gallery in 2005. Over the course of his career, Cuperman wrote or edited 10 books, and served as the editor for both the Point of Contact arts journal and the Corresponding Voices series. He also helped found the Syracuse International Film Festival with his colleague and collaborator Owen Shapiro, a film professor at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Cuperman’s contributions to Syracuse University have continued after his death in 2016. Point of Contact celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and continues to publish the Corresponding Voices poetry series as well as host exhibitions and educational programming in its gallery space at Syracuse University’s Nancy Cantor Warehouse.

Return to top

Scope and Content Note

The Pedro Cuperman Papers contain materials related to Cuperman's scholarly career, personal life, and his work as the founder and editor of the arts journal Point of Contact. These materials include correspondence, course materials, typescripts, manuscripts, notes and printed materials pertaining to Cuperman's time as a professor at both New York University and Syracuse University, as well as correspondence, layouts, proofs, artwork and other materials related to the creation and publication of Point of Contact. The collection also includes transcripts of interviews carried out by Cuperman of notable arts and literary figures including Jorge Luis Borges, Saú Yurkiévich, and Amy Tan.

The Media series consists of CD-Rs containing images produced or collected by Cuperman for use in Point of Contact as well as a DVD containing a video recording reproduced from a VHS tape.

The rest of the collection is unprocessed, not included in the inventory, and unavailable for research.

Return to top

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to audiovisual media requires advance notice to produce a listening copy.

Only the media portion of this collection has been processed. Unprocessed materials are closed to researchers.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Return to top

Related Material

Additional materials related to Pedro Cuperman and Point of Contact can be found in the Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto Records and the Syracuse University Clipping Files.

Return to top

Selected Search Terms

Names

Cuperman, Pedro.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

Punto de contacto/point of contact.

Subjects

Art and literature.
Art.
Literary theory.
Poetry.
College teachers.
Higher education.
Periodical editors.

Types of material

Artists' periodicals.
CD-Rs.
Children's books.
Correspondence.
Diplomas.
Exhibition catalogs.
Fliers (printed matter)
Interviews.
Layout (composition)
Manuscripts (documents)
Notebooks.
Notes (documents)
Official documents.
Photographs.
Posters.
Proofs (printed matter)
Résumés (personnel records)
Screenplays.
Serials (publications)
Sketchbooks.
Typescripts.

Return to top

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Pedro Cuperman Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Point of Contact Gallery/Punto de Contacto in 2025.

Processing Information

Only the media portion of this collection has been processed. Unprocessed materials are not open to researchers.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: Anna E. Shuff
Date: 2025
Revision history:

Return to top

Arrangement

Media is arranged in alphabetical order.

Return to top

Inventory

Media
Box 6 Cuperman's East Hampton (Aug. 13-17); Isabelle Friedman Lapfire (Aug. 19) - DVD video dub from VHS (DVD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_007)
Box 6 None Descending, photos by Joseph Kugielsky (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_005)
Box 6 On Love (disc 3 of 3) 4 November 2002 (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_006)
Box 6 Point of Contact [Gallery] images (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_002)
Box 6 Point of Contact [Gallery]: Alberto Lastreto 3 October 2003 (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_003)
Box 6 Regina Silvera: Carros - note on CD reads: "Impressive remains: La imagen es la 21 la que tiene los coates en photo shop se ven marcas de core" (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_004)
Contains tracks: tiscornia.psd; tiscornia21.psd.
Box 6 Yurkievich-Franzen Nov. 1989 (CD) (ID#: sua_cuperman_p_001)

Return to top