Call Number:

ARC MS 43

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Archives at the Library of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Extent:

90 linear feet (91 boxes)

Preferred Citation:

Sample Citation: "Abraham A. Neuman Papers, Box 4, Library at the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania"

Date:

1910-1966 (inclusive) and 1940-1960 (bulk)

Abstract:

The following is a brief sketch of the life of Abraham Neuman, and is intended to highlight the salient facts in his professional and public career. The researcher may wish to consult the Selected Bibliography for a listing of some of the published biographical data.

Dr. Abraham Neuman was born in Brezau, Austria, in September 1890, to Max and Rachel Neuman and was a descendant of an old Rabbinic family. He immigrated to the United States in 1898, at the age of eight. He studied at the Rabbi Isaac Elhanan Yeshiva, Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Recognized by the President of JTS, Solomon Schechter, he was appointed as an instructor at the Teachers Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a rabbi and received a B.S. from Columbia University in 1912.

In 1913 he joined the faculty of Dropsie College in Philadelphia, where he taught history until 1940. He was appointed associate professor in 1923 and full professor in 1934. Neuman held rabbinical posts at the B'nai Jeshurun congregation from 1919-1927, and the Sephardi congregation Mikveh Israel, the second oldest pulpit in America, from 1927-1940.

Dropsie College President

After Cyrus Adler's death in 1940, Neuman became president of the Dropsie College, which was a post-graduate, non-sectarian and non-professional institution leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. He held this post until his retirement in 1966.

Under Neuman's inspiration as second president of Dropsie College, the college expanded its curriculum, appointing new professors and adding new departments. In 1941, departments of Jewish Philosophy and Hebrew Literature were opened. In 1942, the department of History and Semitic Civilization was opened, followed by the department of Assyriology and Egyptology (1944) and Comparative Religion (1945). Neuman recognized the need for a Jewish graduate school of education on American soil. He perceived the deep need for a school of higher education, irrespective of its adherence to either orthodox, conservative or reform Judaism. The school was organized under the direction of Dr. Leo L. Honor in 1946.

The Institute for Israel and the Middle East was established in 1948 and was the first complete unit of Middle East studies at any American university, embracing history, anthropology, economics, religious, social and political institutions in the countries of the Middle East, with parallel courses relating to Israel. The Institute was well-known for training consular and diplomatic personnel. Under Neuman's administration, the enrollment of Jews, Christians and Moslems greatly increased.

From 1940, Dr. Neuman joined forces with Solomon Zeitlin to continue publishing the Jewish Quarterly Review, which had been published for 30 years under the aegis of Dropsie College and, before that, for 20 years in London under the editorship of Claude J. Montefiore and Israel Abrahams. In 1940 this journal almost ceased to exist because of a drop in the number of subscribers coming mainly from Jewish communities in Europe. The Dropsie College correspondence reflects relentless efforts to reach new subscribers.

Dr. Neuman launched the Dropsie College edition of the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, of which seven books in six volumes were published.

Professional and Public Career

Neuman produced a number of works of high scholarly merit, chief among them being The Jews in Spain (two volumes, 1942). The work was based primarily on the responsa of Solomon Ibn Adret (RashBa), and it attempted to reconstruct the social life of the Jews in Spain. It served as a model of research in this type of Jewish source material. Also of importance was Cyrus Adler, a biography (1942) evaluating the life of an exemplary public servant during the period when American Jewry was assuming worldwide responsibilities. Neuman contributed to many scholarly periodicals and some of his important monographs on historical and religious themes were published in 1952 by the Board of Governors of the Dropsie College in "Landmarks and Goals."

Neuman served as chairman of the College Committee of Gratz College and Vice President of the Board of Overseers. He played a leading part in the reorganization of this institution in 1928.

Neuman was a member of the Publication Committee of the Jewish Publication Society of America and a recording secretary of the American Jewish Historical Society. He was associated with the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia as a collaborating editor in the Department of History.

Under Neuman's leadership, the United Synagogue of America erected the Palestine Synagogue Center in Jerusalem. In the Presidential election of 1940, he served as a Democratic Presidential Elector for the State of Pennsylvania.

Neuman was active in the development of the Zionist movement in the United States. He was recognized as a leader in cultural activities throughout the country. Neuman was renowned as an orator, and was much sought after as a public speaker.

Abraham Neuman died on November 20, 1970.

Short List of Affiliations:

Editorial Board for Jewish Apocryphal Literature -- Chairman

Jewish Quarterly Review -- Editor

Gratz College, College Committee -- Trustee and Chairman

Jewish Publication Society of America -- Member of the Publication Committee

Jewish Publication Society of America, Committee of Jewish History -– Chairman

American Jewish Historical Society -- Member, Executive Council and Vice-President

American Jewish Tercentenary Committee -- Associate Chairman

Universal Jewish Encyclopedia -- Revising Editor

American Schools of Oriental Research -- Associate Trustee

Rabbinical Assembly -- Member

American Historical Society -- Member

Historical Society of Pennsylvania -- Member

Pennsylvania Constitution Commemoration Committee (150th Anniversary) -- Member

Advisory Committee of the Adult Education Council for Philadelphia -- Member

Better Philadelphia Committee -- Member

National Education Association of the United States -- Member

American Oriental Society -- Member

Commission on Religious Organizations, National Conference of Christians and Jews -- Member

Jewish Historical Society of Israel -- Member

Jewish Academy of Arts and Sciences -- Honorary Fellow

American Academy for Jewish Research -- Honorary Member

Jewish Historical Society of England -- Member

Democratic Presidential Elector for the State of Pennsylvania (1940)

''The World History of the Jewish People" (Medieval Period) -- Editor-in-Chief

The collection ranges in date from about 1910 (almost no earlier material was found in the collection) to 1966, with the bulk of the material relating to the 1940s and 1950s. The material is divided into two distinct groups:

Professional work - consisting of notes, diaries, drafts, manuscripts, articles and correspondence on Neuman's work as a scholar in Jewish History.

Dropsie College material - pertaining to the period of Neuman's presidency of Dropsie College.

While the Dropsie College material was filed alphabetically during Neuman's tenure as president of Dropsie College, the professional material was only generally arranged during the years by Neuman himself. Therefore, the processor arranged this material topically. As personal material was scattered in the various files, an effort was made to gather the material into one box of personal material (Box 9). In spite of this, personal material that was filed originally in the Dropsie College alphabetical files was left untouched.

Group and Series Descriptions

1. Professional and Personal Papers (Boxes 1-20)

As was mentioned above, the professional material was accumulated throughout Neuman's career. Therefore, one may find notes and drafts of articles from an early period of his career, as well as from later periods. Usually the notes and drafts are undated. Except for the Cyrus Adler Biography material, most of the material was unorganized. Therefore, the processor made an effort to group the material in a few boxes. Missing from the collection as a whole is pre-Dropsie College period correspondence with family and colleagues of Dr. Neuman. This might have been kept by the family.

Worth mentioning in this series are:

Addresses (Box 1)

Box 1 consists of addresses made by Neuman on various occasions. The first items on the container list are undated addresses; the rest of the addresses are organized chronologically. The bulk of the material consists of addresses made while Neuman was President of Dropsie College.

For additional information, the researcher may refer to addresses and lectures of Neuman according to specific organizations, universities, etc. in the Dropsie College Correspondence.

Drafts of Books and articles (Boxes 3, 11) and Offprints (Box 8)

These boxes contain drafts of books later published, such as The Jews in Spain, and drafts of articles. Box 8 contains offprints of articles written by Neuman, arranged chronologically. Box 11 also contains typescripts of articles sent to the press.

Correspondence with Neuman on his writings (Box 10)

This box contains correspondence on lectures, articles and books published by Neuman during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Books of Chronicles (Boxes 6 and 7)

These books were arranged chronologically, probably by Neuman. They include photographs, newspaper clippings and reprints.

Album of Clippings (Box 20)

Arranged probably by Neuman, this album consists of clippings and photographs mainly concerning Neuman's professional activities.

Cyrus Adler Biography (Box 4)

This box contains mainly correspondence with Harry Schneiderman of the American Jewish Committee on the Cyrus Adler biography (1942).

Typescripts and offprints by other authors (Box 5)

Box 5 consists mainly of offprints of articles by other authors. The container list is alphabetically arranged. Correspondence with these authors and sometimes their manuscripts can also be found in the Dropsie College Alphabetical Correspondence.

Notes (Boxes 12-19)

These boxes of notes consist mainly of catalog cards, handwritten by Neuman, including notes for his writings as well as an alphabetical card catalog of various quotations by other authors (Box 17). The notes are in English and Hebrew.

Personal Box (Box 9)

This box consists of scattered material, arranged chronologically: curriculum vitae, correspondence with and by family members, sketches of Neuman, honorary degrees, etc.

2. Dropsie College Correspondence (Boxes 21-91)

Correspondence constitutes the lion's share of the Neuman Papers. This group is arranged alphabetically and includes personal names, corporate names, and subjects. All files are organized in a strict alphabetical order (Ma before Mc-) and each new letter of the alphabet starts with one or more files of "miscellaneous" correspondence. The "miscellaneous" files consist of correspondence with various persons or organizations too slight in extent for each to be given a separate folder. However, an attempt was made to keep the original filing of material, done by assistants and secretaries of Neuman, even if folders are slight. The rare presence of photographs is indicated in the container list.

The container list consists of a description of boxes which are arranged alphabetically. Files of special interest are specifically mentioned in a note on the "scope and contents" of a box. This includes files which contain correspondence - either short or extensive - with well-known figures (scholars, politicians, rabbis, etc.), organizations (for example, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah, etc.) or institutions (for example, The Jewish Theological Seminary, The Hebrew University). The correspondence reflects not only professional contacts but sometimes Neuman's personal ties. For example, in the Louis Levinthal correspondence, some of the letters belong to the days of Cyrus Adler's presidency of Dropsie College. Another example is correspondence with the Graduate School for Jewish Social Work, which begins with correspondence with Cyrus Adler and continues with correspondence with Abraham Neuman.

Topical Files

Most of the correspondence files relate to individuals, while others concern organizations, activities or topics. Files pertaining to specific topics usually consist of material sent or received through the mail. There are virtually no "vertical files," or collections of what might be called general information about any subject, although many files do include such ephemera as brochures and newspaper clippings. Dr. Neuman or his assistants did not cross-file carbon copies between individual correspondents and subjects. For example, while there is a file of letters exchanged with Moshe Davis, it does not contain every single letter Neuman exchanged with him. Many other letters both to and from Mr. Davis appear in other files. A researcher seeking information on M. Davis should consult files of the Hebrew University, etc.

Individual Files

Files of individual persons contain both the letters received from that individual (and/or his family) and any drafts or carbon copies made of Neuman's letters to that individual. In addition, many files also contain correspondence to and from others about that individual. For example, files relating to faculty members may contain letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf. A few individual boxes or series are worthwhile mentioning:

Cyrus Adler Correspondence

Box 21 contains mostly correspondence between Neuman and Adler, death notices upon Adler's death and correspondence with Mrs. Adler. This box is important in the Neuman collection because it documents Neuman's history at the College and his relationship with Cyrus Adler. Further correspondence between Adler and Neuman can be found in a few files, such as Fundraising in New York (Box 48).

The American Jewish Committee

Correspondence and ephemera of the American Jewish Committee can be found in boxes 24 and 25. For correspondence with specific members of the Committee, see individual files.

Dropsie College Series

Boxes 37, 38 and 39 contain material relating to Dropsie College administrative and financial matters. History examinations of Dropsie College can also be found in this series.

Fundraising Activity

Boxes 46, 47, 48 and 49 contain material on fundraising activity during the 1950s and 1960s. This material was originally arranged according to names of cities and not according to names of states. The original organization was maintained.

The Jewish Quarterly Review

Box 59 contains correspondence regarding the Jewish Quarterly Review (JQR). As a matter of fact, a large portion of the Dropsie College correspondence consists of correspondence with subscribers of the journal, with potential donors and with scholars wishing to publish in the journal. Drafts of articles, correspondence on content and the structure of articles, as well as rejection letters, are numerous.

The Jewish Theological Seminary

Boxes 60 and 61 contain correspondence and ephemera of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). Elsewhere in the container list, one may find additional information (for instance, correspondence with faculty of the JTS, JTS publications, cooperation on certain topics between the JTS and Dropsie College, etc.).

The Middle East Institute

Boxes 68, 69, 70 and 71 contain correspondence of and about the Middle East Institute.

Neuman as Dropsie College President

Box 79 consists of material relating to Neuman as president of the Dropsie College. Numerous notes of congratulations, sent to Neuman upon his election to the post in 1940, as well as administrative matters concerning Neuman, can be found in this series.

Certificates, Honorary Degrees

Files 92-97 consist of certificates and honorary degrees conferred upon Neuman. They are all oversized and have been transferred to the oversized documents storage.