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Ken Feit Collection
GTU 2020-12-01  
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Description
A small collection by and about Ken Feit (1940-1981), a Jesuit who left the order to become an itinerant fool. He died in an automobile accident in 1981. He was well-remembered by his many friends, including Matthew Fox.
Background
Kenneth (Ken) Feit was born in Chicago, graduated from Loyola University, studied medieval history at UC-Berkeley, and received a master’s in history from Xavier University, Cincinnati. He entered the Jesuit order in 1964. He worked in St Louis, especially with Black youths to develop sound poetry. Feit explored activism as a prophetic clown and jester. He studied at the Ringling Clown Circus in Florida and the National Theater for the Deaf in Connecticut. He left the Jesuits in 1972 to become a wandering minstrel. Although he died in an automobile accident in 1981, he is well remembered on the internet. The following reflects his life: “Ken Feit (1940–1981) was a Chicago-born poet, performer, and self-proclaimed itinerant fool. Although relatively unknown, Feit’s writings show him to be one of the twentieth century’s most insightful and innovative practitioners of western iurodstvo.” (https://theeconomypress.com/Ken-Feit) The term is a Russian word for the idea of “holy foolishness” for Christ's sake.
Extent
.5 linear feet (1 - .5" box)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to Graduate Theological Union.
Availability
Open to the public.