19 Facts About Walter Lowenfels

Walter Lowenfels was an American poet, journalist, and member of the Communist Party USA.

Walter Lowenfels edited the Pennsylvania Edition of The Worker, a weekend edition of the Communist-sponsored Daily Worker.

Walter Lowenfels graduated from a preparatory school in 1914, and served in the military during World War I, after which he began writing poetry.

Walter Lowenfels worked for his father's company from 1914 until 1926.

Walter Lowenfels met Lillian Apotheker, who later co-edited several of the anthologies of poetry he edited, in 1924, and the couple married in 1926.

Walter Lowenfels continued to write and publish his poetry, which showcased his leftist political views, as well as editing the poetry of others.

Walter Lowenfels became concerned about the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy.

Walter Lowenfels returned to the United States in 1934, settling in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey, and went back to work for his father.

In 1938, Walter Lowenfels moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles of working people.

Walter Lowenfels began writing for and became the editor of the Pennsylvania edition of The Worker, a position he held until 1953.

Walter Lowenfels later worked full-time for The Daily Worker and the Pennsylvania Edition of The Worker, and his family's income depended heavily on his wife's public school teaching salary.

Walter Lowenfels purchased a cabin in rural Weymouth Township, New Jersey, where he and his wife took up residence.

Walter Lowenfels was charged with conspiracy to overthrow the US government, a violation of the Smith Act.

Walter Lowenfels was tried with five co-conspirators, a number that later grew to nine and included Robert Klonsky.

Nonetheless, due to his health, Walter Lowenfels was often allowed to visit friends who lived near the courthouse, and even made a cross-country trip with Lillian during which he read poems publicly to raise money for his defense.

Walter Lowenfels was convicted in 1954, but his conviction was overturned in higher courts shortly thereafter for lack of evidence.

Walter Lowenfels became best known as an anthologist of avant-garde poetry.

Walter Lowenfels was active in the anti-Vietnam War peace movement, serving as the associate editor of the anti-war publication Dialog, In 1968, Lowenfels joined hundreds of well-known figures in the Writers and Editors War Tax Protest.

Walter Lowenfels wrote an autobiography, My Many Lives, the second half of which is published in The Portable Walter, an anthology of his writings.