How to Use This Collection
The Hank Kaplan Boxing Archive is one of the largest collections at the Brooklyn College Archives. In order to help the researcher best navigate the finding aid, this document should be used as a map for finding the information he or she needs.
Like all archival collections, the Hank Kaplan Boxing Archive is organized hierarchically. The top level is the collection level, followed by the subgroup level. If necessary, subgroups are broken down further into series and sometimes subseries, which are then followed by the box and folder or item levels. An example is below.
| 2008-09. Hank Kaplan Boxing Archive | Collection |
| Subgroup I. Photographs | Subgroup |
| Series 1. Hank's Files | Series |
| Box 1. Fighters with Surname A | Box |
| Folder 1. Surnames Abbott - Aguirre | Folder |
| Folder 2. Surname Ahumada - Alfaro | Folder |
| Etc. | Folder |
| Box 2. Fighters with Surname B | Box |
| Folder 1. Surnames Baba - Baksi | Folder |
| Etc. | Folder |
| Series 2. Fighters by Weightclass | Series |
| Box 3. 105-126 Pounds | Box |
| Folder 1. Fighters weighing 105 | Folder |
| Etc. | Folder |
| Subgroup II. Artwork | Subgroup |
| Etc. | Subgroup |
The Hank Kaplan Boxing Archive is divided into 20 subgroups, many of which are further divided into series. For each subgroup and series, there is a short description regarding the scope and content of the material, the bulk and inclusive dates, and how many boxes there are. This outline describes the basic organization of the collection using broad subject descriptions (such as photographs, artwork, and posters). These descriptions can be found through the Subgroup Statements.
The researcher should refer to the Container Holdings once they have an understanding of the basic organization of the collection. The container holdings break each subgroup and series down to the box and folder or item levels. This is where the specific contents of each subgroup will be listed. It is important to note that the majority of the collection is arranged to the folder level, but some of it is to the item level. The difference is that a typical folder might be called "Folder 1. Correspondence to Hank Kaplan" with the actual items in the folder not listed, whereas an item might be "Item 1. Painting of Hank Kaplan."
The finding aid documents for a collection of this size are large files, and so the container holdings were maintained as a single file per subgroup. This means that to do a keyword search, the researcher must do a separate search in each subgroup container holdings document. If the researcher prefers to do a single keyword search across the collection, there are .pdf and .doc versions of the complete finding aid available for download.
It is important to note that the collection was processed according to Hank Kaplan's spelling and original arrangement. When doing a keyword search for a name or subject that has variable spellings, it is a good idea to search for each version.
Brooklyn College Special Collections is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. All students with a valid City University of New York (CUNY) ID card are welcome to visit the Kaplan Archive without an appointment. If you do not have a valid CUNY ID, please call Special Collections at (718) 951-5346 to make an appointment. It is suggested that all researchers look through the online finding aid and write down the subgroups and box numbers that you anticipate needing. If you call ahead with this information, Special Collections can have the material you need ready upon your arrival.
If you have questions about the Hank Kaplan Archive, getting to the Brooklyn College campus, or about navigating the finding aid, please call (718) 951-5346.