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Joseph Joshua Schwartz papers
Special Collections and Archives
Joseph Joshua Schwartz papers
Special Collections and Archives
Joseph Joshua Schwartz papers
- Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
- Title: Joseph Joshua Schwartz papers
- Inclusive Date(s): 1927-1992
- Author: Finding aid prepared by Anita Clary, April 2019
- Creation: Finding aid encoded by Anita Clary using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2019
- Origination: Schwartz, Joseph Joshua, 1899-1975
- Extent: .66 cubic feet (2 document cases)
- Physical Location: 11th floor
- Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0204
- Abstract: Joseph J. Schwartz was active in Jewish community work for four decades and was recognized internationally for his humanitarian work. This collection includes his dissertation, conference reports from organizations he directed, photographs, and other materials.
- Language(s): The records are in English
Biography of Joseph Joshua Schwartz
During his life, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz worked tirelessly on behalf of the Jewish community. As Director of Overseas Operations of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, he directed the relief and rescue of hundreds of thousands of Jews in Europe during World War II. He was recognized internationally for his humanitarian work.
Detailed Biography of Joseph Joshua Schwartz
Joseph J. Schwartz was born in Nova Odessa, Russia on March 23, 1899. He studied at the Yitzchok Elchanon Theological Seminary in New York from 1915-1921, and served as a rabbi in New York. He attended Yale University in 1926, earning a doctorate in Oriental Studies in 1928. After time spent teaching at Cairo University and Long Island University, he accepted the position of Executive Director of the Brooklyn Jewish Federation. In 1938, he assumed the post of Assistant Director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). He was soon the Director of Overseas Operations and spent much of the next ten years overseas. He was headquartered in Paris, France until the Nazis captured the city in 1940, then lived in Lisbon, Portugal until after the war when he returned to Paris.
During the war, he organized emigration from Europe for those Jews who had travel permits. He funneled funds into France and occupied territories and actively supported underground activity in spite of the opposition of the JDC. After the war, he returned to Paris where he helped author the Displaced Persons Act, signed by President Truman, which allowed for the immigration of tens of thousands into the United States. Schwartz totally involved himself with the generation that founded the State of Israel, and he played a significant role in moving hundreds of thousands of Jews from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to Israel.
In 1948, Schwartz became chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and he was a most effective fund raiser. He later became Director of the Bonds for Israel agency, where he completed his forth decade in Jewish communal work. Schwartz died in 1975 at the age of 75. He was the outstanding Jewish communal worker of his era.
Scope and Content
Joseph J. Schwartz's papers include conference reports from organizations he directed, his dissertation and notes, publications he collected, photographs, and his family tree (Hamishpacha Schwartz), as well as other materials.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection is divided into files by subject which are arranged alphabetically. Subjects include conference reports, dissertation, photographs, and publications, as well as others.
Separated Material
Books from Dr. Schwartz's personal library are also held by Special Collections and Archives at Kent State University and are cataloged in KentLINK.
Preferred Citation
Joseph Joshua Schwartz papers. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Acquisition Information
This collection and books from Schwartz's personal library are on permanent loan to Special Collections and Archives at Kent State University.
Bibliography
The biography for Joseph Joshua Schwartz was excerpted from Hamishpacha Schwartz, which is part of this collection.
Controlled-access Headings
The following are found in this collection:
- Subjects:
- Schwartz, Joseph Joshua, 1899-1975 -- Archives
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Rescue
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Jewish resistance
- Organizations/Corporations:
- American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
- Functions:
- Community organization
- Jewish leadership
- Occupations:
- Civic leaders
- Jewish philanthropists
- Material Types:
- Reports
- Publications
- Photographs
- Photograph albums
- Genealogies (histories)
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Academic theses
- Conference papers and proceedings
Detailed Description of the Collection
- Box 1 / Folder 1
- Assembly Papers: The Needs We Face in 1955, November 1954
- Scope and Content
- Overseas report by Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz.
- Box 1 / Folder 2
- Conference Reports: American Joint Distribution Committee, 1961
- Scope and Content
- Proceedings of the Annual Overseas Conference Assembly of European Jewish Communities, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Box 1 / Folder 3
- Conference Reports: Inaugural Conference for Israel Bonds, February 1956
- Box 1 / Folder 4
- Conference Reports: Inaugural Conference for Israel Bonds, February, 1957
- Scope and Content
- Included National Celebration of Eddie Cantor's 65th Birthday.
- Box 1 / Folder 5
- Conference Reports: National Conference of Jewish Social Welfare, 1941
- Box 1 / Folder 6
- Correspondence, 1958, 1968
- Scope and Content
- Notes to Schwartz dated March 1958 and June 1968.
- Box 1 / Folder 7
- Doctoral Dissertation, 1927
- Scope and Content
- "The Entertainment of Guests," Edited and Translated, With Introduction and Critical Notes by Joseph J. Schwartz
- Box 1 / Folder 8
- Flyer: Fifth Annual Institute on Securities Regulation, May 1973
- Box 1 / Folder 9
- Hamishpocha Schwartz, 1992
- Scope and Content
- Includes note to Dr. Kaplan from Bess Krivitsky dated December 8, 1992. There is a brief bio of Joseph J. Schwartz on pages 30-31.
- Box 1 / Folder 10
- Newsclipping: Book Review, October 30, 1960
- Scope and Content
- Book review of The Saving Remnant: An Account of Jewish Survival, by Herbert Agar, that references Dr. Schwartz.
- Box 1 / Folder 11
- Notebook: Translations of Phrases, undated
- Box 1 / Folder 12
- Photographs, Personal, undated
- Box 2 / Folder 1
- Photograph Album, undated
- Scope and Content
- This is a professionally printed, spiral bound album with a Pan American airplane on the cover. It appears to be from a conference. One of the photographs features a document titled "Welcome to Brazil, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz."
- Box 2 / Folder 2
- Photograph Album, undated
- Scope and Content
- This is a professionally printed, spiral bound album showing Dr. and Mrs. Schwartz disembarking from a Super Convair 440 airplane. It appears to be from a conference. There are images of a banquet hall with flags of Israel and Brazil.
- Box 2 / Folder 3
- Postage stamp album, undated
- Box 2 / Folder 4
- Publications: The Apples of Gan-Yavne, undated
- Scope and Content
- The story of the Max and Eva Apple Children's Home in Gan-Yavne, Israel.
- Box 2 / Folder 5
- Publications: Catalogue 48: Old Testament and Rabbinic Studies, undated
- Scope and Content
- Judaica and Hebraica offered for sale by A. Rosenthal Ltd. Antiquarian Booksellers, Oxford England.
- Box 2 / Folder 6
- Publications: The Foundry of the Second Temple at Jerusalem, 1936
- Scope and Content
- By Charles C. Torrey. Reprint from Journal of Biblical Literature, Volume LV, Park IV.
- Box 2 / Folder 7
- Publications: Mutual Security Act of 1954, 1954
- Separated Material
- Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on H.R. 9678 and Minority Views to accompany H.R. 9678.
- Box 2 / Folder 8
- Publications: Stalinism and Bolshevism, 1937
- Scope and Content
- By Leon Trotsky, Pioneer Publishers, New York.
- Box 2 / Folder 9
- Publications: Survey of United States Private Technical Assistance, 1954
- Scope and Content
- Report of the Subcommittee on Foreign Economic Policy of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Box 2 / Folder 10
- Publications: Teaching American Jewish History in Israel, undated
- Scope and Content
- Reprinted from Assignment in Israel, from a lecture delivered by Moshe Davis on March 11, 1959.
- Box 2 / Folder 11
- Torrey, Charles C. Material, undated
- Scope and Content
- Synopsis of book Judaism and Islam (published in 1933) and selected bibliography of Prof. Charles Cutler Torrey. Both documents are typewritten.
