Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Finding aid prepared by Sarah Quick, Reference Archivist
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit January 23, 2019
Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn Collection , 2018 10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY, 11238 718.230.2762 [email protected] Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical Note...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Arrangement...... 5 Administrative Information ...... 5 Related Materials ...... 6 Controlled Access Headings...... 6 Collection Inventory...... 8 Series I: Writing and Speeches...... 8 Series II: Correspondence...... 9 Series III: Degrees and Certificates...... 9 Series IV: Clippings...... 10 Series V: White House Invitations...... 10 Series VI: Death and Memorial Services...... 11 Series VII: Photographs...... 11 Series VIII: Art and Textiles...... 15 Series IX: Legislative Material...... 15
- Page 2 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017
Summary Information
Repository Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn Collection
Creator Celler, Emanuel, 1888-1981
Title Emanuel Celler Collection
Date 1912-1981, bulk 1950-1980
Extent 27.6 Linear feet , 1 carton, 19 oversize boxes
Location Brooklyn Collection Morgue, shelf 10.4-10.6
Language English
Preferred Citation This collection should be cited as the Emanuel Celler Collection, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection.
Abstract Materials created and collected by Congressman Emanuel Celler, who served Brooklyn’s 10th, 11th and 15th districts for nearly 50 years. Items include speeches, correspondence, photographs and legislative materials.
- Page 3 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017
Biographical Note
Emanuel “Manny” Celler was born on May 6, 1888 on Sumner Avenue, where his family owned a whiskey business called Echo Spring. The business eventually failed and Celler’s father took a job as a door-to-door wine salesman. Celler graduated from Boys’ High School in 1906 and enrolled at Columbia University where he studied Law. While at Columbia, Celler went to class in the morning and sold wine in the afternoon and evening, a job he inherited after his father’s sudden death. He graduated from Columbia and passed the New York bar exam in 1912. Celler quickly found work as an attorney and eventually opened his own practice, which remained open even after he was elected to Congress. In 1922 Celler was asked to run as the Democratic Party’s nominee for Congress in the 10th District. Celler campaigned hard and won the election by just over 3,111 votes, becoming the first democrat to represent the district. After taking office he devoted himself to a number of issues including the repeal of prohibition and immigration reform. His first speech on the floor of the House was in opposition to the Johnson Immigration Act of 1924, which limited the number of immigrants admitted to the United States to two percent of the total number of individuals from each nationality living in the United States according to the 1890 census. The Act passed despite his efforts. During the 1940s he worked to allow larger numbers of Europeans fleeing World War II to enter the United States, calling Roosevelt’s current policy “cold and cruel.” His work on exclusionary immigration laws culminated in the Hart-Celler Act of 1965, which eliminated national origin as a basis for exclusion. Cellar was a vocal opponent of the House Un-American Activities Committee and Joseph McCarthy, who he rallied against in a strongly worded speech delivered at the 1952 Democratic National Convention. He was also on the forefront of civil rights legislation, helping to write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A strong supporter of Israel, he was honored by several Jewish organizations including with an honorary doctorate from Yeshiva University. Celler also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brooklyn College. Celler served in Congress for almost fifty years and as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 1949 to 1973. In the 1972 primary Celler lost in an upset to newcomer Elizabeth Holzman. After leaving office Celler returned to his law practice and to his home at 9 Prospect Park West. He died at the age of 92 on January 15, 1981.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of items created and collected by Congressman Emanuel Celler (1888-1981). Celler’s research and writing on topics such as antitrust, immigration and copyright are included, as well as speeches delivered at events and honors. Celler also kept a small, handwritten appointment diary and book of collected jokes. Correspondence is both personal and professional, the bulk of which are from
- Page 4 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 his last year in office and post-congressional life. His invitations to presidential inaugurations and White House events are also included. Certificates include a copy of Celler’s marriage license and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brooklyn College. Academic hoods worn by Celler at the commencement exercises of Brooklyn College and possibly Yeshiva University are included. Clippings cover a range of topics concerning Celler’s congressional activities. Clippings concerning Celler’s death are housed in the Death and Memorial Services series. Photographs include both portrait and candid images of Celler and other political figures. A series of framed Acts and Resolutions with the signing pens are also included.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in nine series by type: Series I: Writing and Speeches arranged alphabetically by topic or occasion. Series II: Correspondence arranged by date. Items kept by Celler in a binder have been left in original order. Series III: Degrees and Certificates arranged by type. Series IV: Clippings arranged chronologically whenever possible. Series V: White House Invitations arranged chronologically. Early non-inaugural items are foldered together. Series VI: Death and Memorial Services arranged together in one folder. Series VII: Photographs arranged by subject. Series VIII: Art and Textiles arranged by type. Series IX: Legislative Material arranged chronologically.
Administrative Information
Publication Information Brooklyn Public Library - Brooklyn Collection , 2018
Access
- Page 5 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Collection is located in the Brooklyn Collection at the Central Branch at Grand Army Plaza. The collection may only be used in the library and is not available through interlibrary loan. Requests to view the collection must be made at least 48 hours in advance of visit.
Use While many items in the Brooklyn Collection are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Provenance This collection was donated by Emanuel Celler's daughter, Jane Wertheimer.
Related Materials
Articles about Emanuel Celler appearing in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1910-1955). Brooklyn Biographical File: Emanuel Celler. Celler, Emanuel. You Never Leave Brooklyn. J. Day Co. 1953. Transcript of Oral history interview with Emanuel Celler, member of Congress from New York, 1923-73. c1981.
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
• Antitrust law • Civil rights • Equal rights amendments • Legislators--New York (State) • Presidents--United States--Inauguration • United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century
- Page 6 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 • United States--Politics and government--20th century
- Page 7 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series I: Writing and Speeches
Collection Inventory
Series I: Writing and Speeches
Box 1
Folder 1: Antitrust , 1976-1977
Folder 2: Armenia , 1953
Folder 3: Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Honor , 1973
Folder 4: ARMD , 1978
Folder 5: Congressional Censors , circa 1960
Folder 6: Copyright Revision , 1975
Folder 7: Diaries and Joke Books , circa 1935-1945
Folder 8: Displaced Persons , 1948
Folder 9: Double Taxation Laws , 1977
Folder 10: Equal Rights Amendment , 1977
- Page 8 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series II: Correspondence
Folder 11: Impeachment , 1973
Folder 12: India , 1977
Folder 13: National Arts and Humanities Foundation , 1973
Folder 14: Palestine , 1943
Folder 15: Poetry and Sketches
Folder 16: Prohibition , 1929
Folder 17: Warsaw Ghetto , circa 1960
Series II: Correspondence
Box 1
Folder 18: Correspondence , 1949-1978
Binder: Correspondence , 1972-1973
Series III: Degrees and Certificates
Box 1
- Page 9 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series IV: Clippings
Folder 19: Personal , 1912-1914
Folder 20: Professional , 1953-1973
Box 3
Plaque from the Jewish Nazi Victim Organization
Plaque from United Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Service
Folder 1: Professional , 1951-1967
Series IV: Clippings
Box 1
Folder 21: Clippings , 1926, 1957-1978
Box 3
Folder 2: Clipping , 1969
Series V: White House Invitations
Box 1
- Page 10 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series VI: Death and Memorial Services
Folder 22: General White House Invitations , 1935-1936
Folder 23: Franklin Roosevelt Inauguration , 1945
Folder 24: Harry Truman Inauguration , 1949
Folder 25: John F. Kennedy Inauguration , 1961
Series VI: Death and Memorial Services
Box 1
Folder 26: Death and Memorial Services , 1981
Series VII: Photographs
Portraits, Celler
Box 1
Folder 27: Emanuel Celler Portraits
Box 2
Folders 1-2: Emanuel Celler Portraits
- Page 11 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series VII: Photographs
Portraits, Not Celler
Box 1
Folder 28: Cashmore, John
Folder 29: Tarchian, Albert
Folder 30: Wilson, Woodrow
Folder 31: Wise, Stephen S.
Box 2
Folder 3: Elath, Eliahu , 1948
Folder 4: Smith, Alfred E.
Folder 5: Wagner, Robert F.
Folder 6: Warren, Earl
Group Portraits, Identified
Box 1
Folder 32: Cardinal Cooke
- Page 12 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series VII: Photographs
Folder 33: Congressional Dinner Guests
Folder 34: Craige, Tom
Folder 35: Eighty-Sixth Congress Committee on the Judiciary , 1961
Folder 36: Eisenhower, Dwight D.
Folder 37: Gandhi, Manilal , 1953
Folder 38: Heuss, Bundespresident; Altmaier, Jacob
Folder 39: Hooker, Robert; Vilfan Joza , 1955
Folder 40: Keller, John W.
Folder 41: McCormick, John
Folder 42: McCormick, Steve
Folder 43: Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli , 1953
Folder 44: Silver, Abba Hillel
Folder 45: Walter, Francis; Keating, Kenneth
Box 2
- Page 13 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series VII: Photographs
Folder 7: Clark, Ramsey
Folder 8: Johnson, Lyndon , 1967
Folder 9: National Federation of Women’s Clubs , 1936
Folder 10: Group on Steps of Capitol Building
Group Portraits, Unidentified
Box 1
Folder 46: Group Portraits, Unidentified
Box 2
Folder 11: Group Portraits, Unidentified
Family
Box 1
Folder 47: Celler Family
Office
Box 2
- Page 14 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series VIII: Art and Textiles
Folder 12: Office
Neighborhoods
Box 2
Folder 13: Neighborhoods
Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope
Series VIII: Art and Textiles
Bronze bust by Nathan Rapoport , 1960
Currently on display in the Brooklyn Collection reading room.
Box 4
Academic hood, Brooklyn College
Academic hood, possibly Yeshiva University
Series IX: Legislative Material
Box 1
- Page 15 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series IX: Legislative Material
Folder 48: Emanuel Celler Federal Building , 1972
Box 5
Pen that signed H.R. 5884, an Act to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy through-out the United States. Includes letter from Louis McH. Howe , 1934
Box 6
Pen that signed H.R. 8368, an Act to enforce the twenty-first amendment. Includes letter from M.H. McIntyre , 1936
Box 7
Pen that signed H.R. 4011, an Act to continue the functions of the Commodity Credit Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of Washington, and for other purposes. Includes letter from M.H. McIntyre , 1939
Box 8
Pen that signed the 1946 immigration quota. Includes photograph , 1946
Box 9
Pen that signed H.R. 4233, an Act to provide for the naturalization of persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States after 1953. Includes photograph , 1953
Box 10
- Page 16 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series IX: Legislative Material
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 137, an Act to amend the Clayton Act by granting a right of action to the United States to recover damages under the antitrust laws, establishing a uniform statue of limitations, and for other purposes , 1955
Box 11
Signing pen and a copy of Public Law 85-315, an Act to provide means of further securing and protecting the civil rights of persons within the jurisdiction of the United States , 1957
Box 12
Signing pen and a copy of Public Law 87-36, an Act to provide for the appointment of additional circuit and district judges, and for other purposes , 1961
Box 13
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 87-664, an Act to authorize the Attorney General to compel the production of documentary evidence required in civil investigations for the enforcement of antitrust laws, and for other purposes , 1962
Box 14
Pen that signed H.R. 7193, an Act to provide for the striking of medals in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the first union health center in the United States by the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union. Includes letter from Lawrence F. O’Brien , 1963
Box 15
- Page 17 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series IX: Legislative Material
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 89-129, a Joint Resolution to provide for the development of Ellis Island as a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, and for other purposes , 1965
Box 16
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 89-236, an Act to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, and other purposes , 1965
Also known as the Heart-Celler Act
Box 17
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 90-158, an Act to amend sections 337 and 338 of the Bankruptcy Act and to add new section 339 , 1967
Box 18
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 90-198, an Act to extend the life of the Civil Rights Commission , 1967
Boxes 19
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 90-338, a Joint Resolution authorizing the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence , 1968
Box 20
- Page 18 - Guide to the Emanuel Celler Collection, BCMS.0017 Series IX: Legislative Material
Signing pen and copy of Public Law 90-383, an Act to amend section 127 of title 28, United States Code, to define more precisely the territory included in the two judicial districts of Virginia , 1968
- Page 19 -