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Harry Kline

Number of games in database: 21
Years covered: 1911 to 1938
Overall record: +4 -14 =3 (26.2%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games.

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D63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense (2 games)


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HARRY KLINE
(born Jun-10-1888, died Aug-17-1943, 55 years old) Lithuania (federation/nationality United States of America)

[what is this?]

Harry Kline was born in Lithuania (sources also say Latvia, Russia, and Liban) and immigrated to the Boston area, Massachusetts, USA ca. 1905. He went to high school, was a crack player in Boston (1907), had a stay in Denver, Colorado (1911) and was a farmer in Dorchester, Boston (1913). At a late age he went to Townsend High School* in Queens, New York (1913). A year later, he passed the entrance examinations for the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine# (in Philadelphia). He took the BA degree (1917), and emerged in 1919 from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) with a VMD degree.

Dr. Kline worked as a veterinary inspector in St. Paul, Minnesota (1919) and surgeon in Minneapolis (1921-1924). Ca. 1925 he married Esther from Poland, who had come to USA in 1923. They had a daughter, Deborah. Ca. 1927 the family moved to Queens, New York where he established his own veterinary practice. After a stay in New Jersey (1933-1938) they moved back again to New York (1938-1942). In 1942, Dr. Kline was appointed as professor of anatomy at the Middlesex University School of Veterinary Science in Boston. He died in Waltham, Massachusetts on 17 August 1943, and was buried in West Roxbury (Boston), Massachusetts the following day.

Harry played for the high school chess club (1906), the Paul Morphy Club in Boston (1907), Rice Progressive Chess Club (1912-1914), Pennsylvania College Chess Club (1914-1917), Rice again after returning from Minnesota (1928-1930), the Hungarian Chess Club (1930), Philidor Chess Club in Brooklyn (1931), Empire City Chess Club (1934), and the Stuyvesant Chess Club (1934). After returning from New Jersey he played for and sponsored the newly started Steinitz Chess Club in Brooklyn (1939-1942). Dr. Kline also played in three Manhattan Chess Club championships (1928-29, 1936), in qualifications for the American National, and held simultaneous exhibitions.

In 1907, Kline played in Boston vs Harlow Daly. In 1911 he finished fourth in the 'US Open' (Excelsior, Minnesota) (+8 -4 =1). In 1912, Kline lost a match to Abraham Kupchik (+0 -3 =4). The peak of his career was 11th place in the American National (1913) (+3 -7 =3). On that occasion Kline won the speed event, ahead of Frank Marshall (+12 -2). In 1914, he was joint champion of New England (with John Finan Barry). Before the play commenced, Kline was elected secretary of the newly created New England Chess Association. During the next three years, he was the star of the Pennsylvania College team, after which followed ten apparently inactive chess years in Minnesota.

In the US Opens of 1936 (Philadelphia) and 1938 (Boston), Dr. Kline played in the preliminaries but did not reach the final. After more than 30 years, his strength had declined.

Main sources: online newspapers, Gaige's Chess Personalia, American Chess Bulletin Jan. 1944 (p. 11), US Naturalization Records, US World War I Draft Registration Cards, US College Students Lists, US City Directories, US census 1930, JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry. *Wikipedia article: Townsend Harris High School. #Wikipedia article: University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Last updated: 2025-06-10 01:37:26

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 page 1 of 1; 21 games  PGN Download 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. D Barkuloo vs H Kline 1-046191112th Western ChampionshipC53 Giuoco Piano
2. H Kline vs E F Schrader  ½-½42191112th Western ChampionshipC49 Four Knights
3. H Kline vs J L Clark  1-046191112th Western ChampionshipD60 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
4. H Kline vs Kupchik 0-1421912MatchC98 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin
5. N Whitaker vs H Kline  ½-½451913American NationalC90 Ruy Lopez, Closed
6. J H Stapfer vs H Kline  1-0381913American NationalD37 Queen's Gambit Declined
7. H Kline vs E Tenenwurzel  ½-½471913American NationalC13 French
8. C Jaffe vs H Kline 1-0251913American NationalC44 King's Pawn Game
9. H Kline vs S Rubinstein  1-0321913American NationalD44 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
10. O Chajes vs H Kline  1-0241913American NationalC22 Center Game
11. H Kline vs Capablanca 0-1511913American NationalA46 Queen's Pawn Game
12. Marshall vs H Kline 1-0161913American NationalD63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
13. H Kline vs Kupchik  1-0431913American NationalB40 Sicilian
14. H Kline vs L Zapoleon  1-0391913American NationalC10 French
15. Janowski vs H Kline  1-0411913American NationalD51 Queen's Gambit Declined
16. Lasker vs H Kline 1-0321928Clock simul, 10bC83 Ruy Lopez, Open
17. H Kline vs Kashdan  0-1361929Manhattan CC-chC77 Ruy Lopez
18. Kupchik vs H Kline 1-0241929Manhattan Chess Club-chE12 Queen's Indian
19. Kashdan vs H Kline 1-0281930Metropolitan Chess LeagueC26 Vienna
20. W Suesman vs H Kline  1-0411938USA-ch prel BD63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
21. H Kline vs I A Horowitz  0-140193839th ACF Congress. Prelim 2D02 Queen's Pawn Game
 page 1 of 1; 21 games  PGN Download 
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Kline wins | Kline loses  

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Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) has this:

Harry Kline
Burial Date: 18 Aug 1943
Burial Plot: Section 4, side 5B, grave 7
Burial Place: West Roxbury, Massachusetts

So he was buried the day after he died..

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 has a Harry Kline born 10 June 188<7> (not 1888):

Harry Kline
3909 Pine Phila Penn
June 10 1887
naturalized citizen
Leban-Cousland [?] Russia
Veterinary student
single, Caucasian
Defective eye sight

Not sure of 'Leban-Cousland', possibly e.g. Seban-Consland

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: 1930 census:

Harry Kline, 41, born in Latvia, age at first marriage 35, Proprietor Veterinary, year of immigration 1905. Wife: Esther, 26, born in Poland, year of immigration 1923. Daughter: Deborah, 4 1/2, born in Minnesota. Lives in Queens, New York.

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 11 March 1913:

Kline, Harry
109 Elmo St., Dorchester
June 10th 1887, Liban, Russia
Farmer, Unmarried

Dorchester is in Boston area - fine. Farmer? Ok, he studied vet. in 1914. And 1887, again. Where is Liban?

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <Harry L. Kline, born 4 July 1888 in Kovno, Russia (= Kaunas, Lithuania)> Also for him the U.S. Naturalization Record Index 1917 has <Liban, Russia>.

---

From http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/lit...:

<Before World War I the Agudath Yisrael party was very active. The list contains the names of paying 78 members. The economic situation of Zhidik deteriorated in these years to such an extent that the estate owners had to donate flour and firewood to the needy people. Emigration to America and South Africa increased and almost every week a family departed to a new country.>

And many of them took the name 'Harry Kline'.

<During World War I, in the summer of 1915, the remaining Zhidik Jews were exiled to remote parts of Russia.>

This concludes my investigation on Harry P. Kline!

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: http://www.waltham.lib.ma.us/localh...

Simply "Harry Kline".

I am beginning to doubt the middle initial, Gaige notwithstanding. Every reference I've found has been for "Harry Kline" or "Dr. Harry Kline". There is a "Harry P Kline" from Philadelphia in the 1900s-1910s, but he is a billiards player who keeps losing to Willie Hoppe.

I notice another of Kline's teammates was E. S. Jackson, whom I played in a tournament in 1975. Darn. If only I'd known, I could have asked.

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: Some more, for completion (sorry I can't resist):

From U.S. College Students Lists, University of Pennsylvania, Veterinary, p. 775:

“Harry Kline, V. M. D., 1917; Veterinarian; attached O. R. C., U. S. A. 5324 Lyndale Ave., S. Minneapolis, Minn.”

Whatever O. R. C. is. The Minnesota stay ca. 1917-1927 explains why there are few (if any) chess reports in online newspapers from that period.

From US City Directories:

1919 St. Paul, Minnesota Kline Harry Vet insptr B of A Ind rms 238 5th av N S St P

1921 Minneapolis, Minnesota, Veterinary surgeons [--] Kline Harry 5320 Lyndale av S

1922 Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kline Harry Veterinary surgeon 5324 Lyndale av S r same

1924 Minneapolis Minnesota Kline Harry Veterinarian Surgeon 5324 Lyndale av S

There were 6 or 8 Harry Kline's in Minneapolis only, and thousands in the US.

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <Phony B> I've tried desperately to find him in the 1910 census. He is probably there somewhere, likely in Boston area, but it may be that he used the real name in 1910. The first I've found in newspapers so far is in 1912: "Harry Kline of Boston".
Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: <Tabanus> Did you try Denver? It's a long shot, but the <Brooklyn Daily Eagle>, August 31, 1911, in a report on the Western Championship puts "Harry Kline" in Denver.

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers...

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <PB> I'm trying to learn US geography here. Now I know Denver Colorado is in the middle of US, far away :)

I suppose it must be Denver New York?

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: If Denver Colorado there is a Harry Kline also there (in 1910): 20, Born in Illinois (sigh), employment 'Kitchen Hospital'. No other good candidates.
Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: Denver Illinois, Denver Indiana, Denver Iowa, Denver Missouri, Denver North Carolina, Denver Ohio, Denver Pennsylvania, Denver West Virginia, Denver City, Texas, Denver Township Isabella County Michigan, Denver Township Newaygo County Michigan, Denver Township Minnesota.

I tried Denver New York. Last try: Denver, Minnesota. Which is near to Excelsior, Minnesota where the Western Ch was held.

Jun-11-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: From Turner's Public Spirit (Ayer, Mass.), 4 July 1914:

"<Harry Kline>, a special student for the past year in the Townsend high school, has received word that he has successfully passed the entrance examinations for the University of Pennsylvania. His marks in the languages were in the 80's and in science and mathematics in the 90's. When Mr. Kline entered the high school last fall he had never attended grammar school, his only preparation being a little private tutoring. When we add to this the fact that he has been working his way through school his success seems nothing short of marvelous and reflects great credit upon himself and upon the school. Mr. Kline is to take a course in veterinary medicine at the University ot Pennsylvania."

From Minnesota Alumni Weekly, 24 March 1919, p. 10:

"Appointments.
Appointments were made as follows: Henry W. Vaughn, professor of animal husbandry and animal husbandman of the experiment station, $3.300, effective August 1; Robert E. Hodgson, superintendent of the Vaseca station. Special lectures as follows: Alma Binzel, Adele Koch, home economics, A. W. Hodgman, forestry. Instructors as follows: Edwin A. Hansen, dairy husbandry; A. C. Heine, agricultural engineering, Morris. Assistants: Charles L. Lewis, Jr., plant pathology and botany, two months; <Dr. Harry Kline>, veterinary medicine, one month; ----"

Jun-12-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: The Pittsburgh Gazette Times, 3 Sept. 1911:

"Harry Kline of Denver, Col., is a newcomer, and carried off fourth prize."

Jun-12-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: The Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 1907:

“Articles were signed last night at the Boston Chess Club between Harlow B. Daly, the secretary of the Metropolitan chess league and member of the Dorchester Chess Club, and <Harry J. Kline>, the crack player of the Paul Morphy Club for a series of games and a money stake. [---] The first game will be decided at the Boston Chess Club Monday night, March 4, and the contest is to end April 1.”

There was a Paul Morphy Club in Boston, and cf. Harlow Bussey Daly.

Philadelphia Inquirer 23 Dec. 1906:

“On December 6 a match was played between the Central High School Chess Club and the Chess Club of the West Philadelphia Y. M. C. A. at the rooms of the latter club. The result was as follows: [---] <Kline>, 1 Noble, 1 [---]”

Where is “Central High School Chess Club”?

Jun-12-13  TheFocus: <Tabanus> Gaige's <Catalog of USA Chess Personalia> has Harry P. Kline, born in USSR and died in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Maybe that's a clue?

Jun-12-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: <TheFocus> No! Look:

Gaige has Zhidik Lithuania URS
1930 census has Latvia
Naturalization Index 1913 has Liban Russia.
World War I Cards, 1917-1918 has Leban-Cousland Russia

The middle P. is in Gaige only. The middle J. is in Boston Herald 1907 only. Everywhere else it's just 'Harry Kline'.

Jun-12-13  TheFocus: <Tabanus> Thumbs up! Good.
Jun-13-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: The New York Press, 21 Jan. 1913:

"From one of the strongest fields that has ever participated in the rapid transit tournaments of the Manhattan Chess Club, and which included six of the national tournament competitors, <Harry Kline of Boston> carried off the chief prize in the lightning contest played after the conclusion of the first round of the masters' competition, the time limit being ten seconds to a move. Kline, though he lost his individual encounter with F. J. Marshall, the United States champion, finished with a total of 12 to 2, or half a point better than the score of the latter. Charles Jaffe won the third prize with a score of 10½ to 8½. The fourth and fifth prises were divided between four players, who made scores of 8½ to 5½, viz, Major J. M. Hanham, L. B. Meyer, J. Rosenthal and G. H. Koehler. Oscar Chajes of Chicago was placed next with a score of 8 to 6. Other players were L. E. Zapoleon. H. Liebenstein, G. J. Belhoff, A. Pulvermacher, H. Wahrburg, H. Cabot and J. F. Smyth."

Jun-13-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: <American Chess Bulletin>, January 1944, p.13:

<The Late Dr. Henry> [sic] <Kline

We are indebted to Barnie F. Winkelman, of Philadelphia, for information concerning the passing of Dr. Harry Kline, prominent in his youth in intercollegiate chess, and subsequently active in Boston, Philadelpha, and New York circles. We quote from Mr. Winkelman's communication:

"Possibly you noted the death of our good friend, Dr. Harry Kline, in Waltham, Mass., last month. I knew him for many years, from the days when we were on the chess team of the University of Pennsylvania together.

"He had come down from Boston, where he had just won the New England chmpionship, and he did well in the tournaments of the Philadelpha and Pennsylvania chamionships.

"He was a man of sterling character and a real sportsman. He loved chess and it meant much to him. Few knew how hard he had worked to achieve his rank as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; and as a professional man his days were a continued round of duties. Near the end, he became Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Boston University, but the strain had already weakened him.

"In the November, 1921, issue of the "American Chess Bulletin", I came across a reference to the champion Paul Morphy chess team--H. W. Barry, W. Marshall, Moses Sussman, Kline and Zeidman. Harry learned his chess in the group, as a boy in Boston and it was good chess. But his work had to come first.">

Jul-16-13
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tabanus: Obituary in Waltham News-Tribune 18 Aug. 1943:

"Prof. Harry Kline Dies Suddenly

A heart attack at his home, 95 Adams street, Waltham, yesterday morning, caused the sudden death of Dr. Harry P. Kline, a professor of anatomy at the Middlesex University School of Veterinary Science.

Dr. Kline had been a resident of Waltham for the past year and was a member of the Beth Israel Community. He was born in Lithuania. He received his education in this country and was a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania. He was an agriculturist as well as a veterinarian.

Dr. Kline is survived by his wife, Esther Kline, and a daughter, Deborah, a Sophomore in the Middlesex University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He was editor of the Yiddish weekly magazine, Heft-n, and was a prominent chess player."

Jul-16-13  Bureaucrat: With his boss:

http://www.zdf-enterprises.de/en/in...

Jun-24-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: <Tabanus: ...Denver, Minnesota. Which is near to Excelsior, Minnesota where the Western Ch was held.>

Nice city, Excelsior. You can get promoted quicker there than anywhere else.

Jun-24-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: True, but y'all can get high quicker 'n easier in Denver.
Jun-10-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, Harry Kline.
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