Ely Jacques Kahn Jr.: The Prolific Writer Behind The New Yorker

A Journalism Legacy Spanning Five Decades

Ely Jacques Kahn Jr. was an American writer renowned for his extensive contributions to The New Yorker, where he worked for an impressive five decades. As a prolific journalist, Kahn's writing career was marked by a remarkable range of subjects, from Coca-Cola to Frank Sinatra, and from Harvard University to the Postal Inspection Service.

Early Life and Education

Born on December 4, 1916, in New York City, Kahn was the son of architect Ely Jacques Kahn and the brother of mystery editor and anthologist Joan Kahn. He attended the Horace Mann School and later graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in 1937.

A Career at The New Yorker

Kahn's writing career began at The New Yorker in 1937, where he was hired by St. Clair McKelway. His first byline appeared in the April 3, 1937 issue, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career with the magazine. During World War II, Kahn was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945, an experience that inspired 39 pieces published in The New Yorker, later collected in book form.

Notable Works and Critiques

Kahn's extensive bibliography includes books on diverse subjects, such as Lesley J. McNair, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and Dwayne O. Andreas of Archer Daniels Midland. However, his multipart series on grain, published in book form as Staffs of Life in 1985, was criticized by some as an example of self-indulgent journalism typical of The New Yorker during the 1970s and 80s.

Teaching and Personal Life

In addition to his writing career, Kahn taught writing at Columbia University from 1974 to 1977. He lived in Scarborough-on-Hudson, New York, for over 20 years and was a member of the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department.

Autobiographical Works

Kahn's autobiographical books, The New Yorker and Me (1979) and Year of Change (1988), offer a unique glimpse into his life, the magazine, and its editor William Shawn, whom Kahn affectionately called "The Iron Mouse."

Legacy and Passing

Ely Jacques Kahn Jr. died in a traffic accident on May 28, 1994, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, at the age of 77. His remarkable career and contributions to The New Yorker continue to inspire generations of journalists and writers.

Bibliography

• Army Life (1942)
• G. I. Jungle (1943)
• McNair: Educator of an Army (1945)
• Fighting Divisions (1945)
• The Voice (1947)
• Sinatra—Who, Me? (1949)
• The Peculiar War (1952)
• The Merry Partners (1952)
• Staffs of Life (1985)
• The New Yorker and Me (1979)
• Year of Change (1988)