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 - 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

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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.

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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 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 , 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 , the 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: , 1977

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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