Julius CC Edelstein Papers, 1917-1961
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Julius C. C. Edelstein Papers, 1917-1961 (Bulk Dates: 1948-1958) MS#1435 ©2008 Columbia University Library SUMMARY INFORMATION Creator Julius C. C. Edelstein, 1912-2005. Title and dates Julius C. C. Edelstein Papers, 1917-1961 (Bulk Dates: 1948-1958). Abstract Julius Caesar Claude Edelstein (1912-2005), served as advisor and executive assistant to military officials and political figures. His papers primarily encompass his job as executive assistant and chief of legislative staff to Senator Herbert H. Lehman during Lehman’s senatorial years 1949- 1956. Edelstein remained executive assistant to former senator Lehman from 1957-1960. His files include correspondence, memoranda, press releases, clippings, speeches, statistics, maps, pamphlets and government publications. Size 72.11 linear feet (135 document boxes and 33 index card boxes). Call number MS# 1435 Location Columbia University Butler Library, 6th Floor Julius C. C. Edelstein Papers Rare Book and Manuscript Library 535 West 114th Street New York, NY 10027 Language(s) of material Collection is predominantly in English; materials in Hebrew are indicated at folder level. Biographical Note Julius C. C. Edelstein was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 29, 1912. He studied at the University of Wisconsin in law and medicine, supporting himself through newspaper reporting. In 1937 he began working for the United Press covering US territories and island possessions. His career in journalism continued until World War II when he secured an ensign’s commission in the US Navy. After training as a communications officer, he became assistant naval aide to Admiral William D. Leahy, later being promoted to naval aide. Between 1945 and 1947 he served as public affairs advisor to the US High Commissioner to the Philippines, Paul V. McNutt, and as personal advisor to the President of the Philippines, Manuel Roxas. In 1949, Edelstein became Senator Herbert H. Lehman’s executive assistant and chief of legislative staff. Senator Herbert H. Lehman believed in the ability of government to help those that can not help themselves. He fought for civil rights, displaced persons, affordable housing and voted against the popular anti-immigrant legislation. He was responsible for various social reforms such as minimum wage, unemployment insurance, public housing, medical care for the disabled and labor laws to protect workers. Edelstein championed these causes and became personally involved as well, researching and corresponding with numerous democratic constituents’ and political figures. He was also a trustee of the National Committee on Immigration and Citizenship (NCIC), secretary for the New York Committee for Democratic Voters and a member of the American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). In 1955, Edelstein married Rivka Ben-David. In 1956, Julius and Rivka’s daughter Suzy was born. Rivka was an assistant military attaché to the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Edelstein continued to serve Lehman until 1960. In 1962, Edelstein became executive assistant to Mayor Robert F. Wagner. While under Mayor Wagner, he served as executive secretary of the city’s antipoverty board. When Robert F. Kennedy ran for the Senate, Mayor Wagner lent Mr. Edelstein to advise him on Jewish and Israeli issues. In 1965, Edelstein embarked on a career at the City University of New York (CUNY). He served as senior vice chancellor of CUNY until 1984 when he retired. He was the primary force behind open admissions at CUNY in the late 1960s, fighting for the economically disadvantaged so as to ensure they had access to an undergraduate education. In 2005, at the age of 93, Julius Edelstein died at New York Hospital. Description This collection holds the papers of Julius C. C. Edelstein. The records that comprise this collection primarily encompass the years in which Edelstein acted as executive assistant and chief of legislative staff to Senator Herbert H. Lehman, 1949-1956. He remained Lehman’s assistant through 1960. The records are primarily political in nature although there is personal correspondence of Edelstein’s included. The subjects found throughout the collection are Page 2 of 45 Julius C. C. Edelstein Papers agriculture, appropriations, civil rights, civil service, defense, foreign policy and aid, health, housing, immigration, internal security, labor, minimum wage, St. Lawrence project, social security and welfare, tideland offshore oil, tariffs, taxes and veterans. The types of records that can be found are correspondence, pamphlets, government publications, clippings, press releases, statistics, maps and memoranda. Arrangement This collection is arranged in eight series. Series I: Bills, 1950-1956 PAGE 9 Series II. Campaigns, 1934-1960 PAGES 9-13 Series III. Correspondence, 1923-1960 (1950-1960) PAGES 13-17 Subseries III.1: Alphabetical, 1954-1960 PAGES 13-15 Subseries III.2: Chronological, 1950-1960 PAGES 15-16 Subseries III.3: Personal, 1923-1959 PAGES 16-17 Series IV. Office Files, 1932-1956 (1950-1955) PAGES 17-18 Series V. Personal Research Files, 1928-1961 PAGES 18-26 Series VI. Speeches, 1952-1957 PAGES 26-36 Series VII. Subject Files, 1917-1958 (1948-1953) PAGES 36-43 Series VIII. Indexed Address Cards, undated PAGES 44-45 Series I: Bills, 1950-1956 This series contains both public and private bills introduced or co-introduced, by Herbert H. Lehman. Also found are amendments, drafts and senate resolutions regarding bills. The topics of the bills are immigration, juvenile delinquency and social security. Series II: Campaigns, 1934-1960 (1949-1960) Files on the campaign years 1950, 1954, 1956 and 1960 are contained here. In 1949, Lehman was elected US Senator, replacing Robert F. Wagner who retired before his term expired due to ill health. In 1950, Lehman was reelected US Senator for a full 6 year term. Lehman campaigned vigorously for the presidential elections of 1952, 1956 and 1960, supporting Stevenson in 1952 and 1954 and Kennedy in 1960. In 1954, Lehman supported Wagner for New York City Mayor and Harriman for Governor. Series III: Correspondence, 1923-1960 (1950-1960) Series III primarily consists of correspondence directly related to the office of Senator Lehman. The majority of letters address issues surrounding immigration laws in the United States. In November of 1953, Senator Lehman called a meeting where he invited outstanding leaders of various the religious and civic organizations which had expressed concern about the racist aspects of US immigration laws. The group which participated in the meeting set up a steering committee to follow through for the purpose to help organize a campaign with the goal toward educating US citizens about the un-American nature of the country’s immigration policies as designated under the McCarran-Walter Immigration Act. The steering committee set up two subcommittees: one to prepare an outline of the structure and program, and the other to prepare a statement of the policies which the National Committee would adhere. Next, the committee prepared a letter to solicit membership. The letter was mailed in early 1955 to numerous individuals resulting in 350 people accepting membership on the National Committee. The National Committee was granted a charter of incorporation in the spring of 1955 under the New York State Education Law resulting in the formation of the National Committee on Immigration and Citizenship (NCIC). The incorporators were as follows; Spyros S. Skouras, Senator William Benton, F. Ernest Johnson, Page 3 of 45 Julius C. C. Edelstein Papers Philip B. Perlman, Thomas K. Finletter, Theodore R. McKeldin, Daniel Bell and Senator Herbert H. Lehman. In conjunction with the incorporators, the following individuals were on the first board of trustees; Francis B. Sayre, Jr., Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, John O’Grady, Walter P. Reuther, Roy Williams, Thomas A. Pappas, Jefferson B. Fordham and Jane M. Hoey. The chairman of the Board of Trustees, Spyros Skouras, was unable to devote a sufficient amount of time to the affairs of the Committee so Senator Lehman accepted the chairmanship. Throughout all three subseries there is correspondence regarding the NCIC, ADA, American Jewish Congress and American Jewish Committee because of Lehman and Edelstein’s affiliation with these organizations. Office memorandums are abundant, Lehman to Edelstein and the reverse. These are usually the method by which Edelstein briefs Lehman on current news concerning his Senatorial post. The original order of the series consisted of five subseries: two arranged alphabetically, one for the years 1954-1958, and a second for 1960, one chronologically, and two titled “personal correspondence”. This has been maintained with the two alpha files under subseries III.1 and subseries III.3. It should be noted that Edelstein’s personal correspondence can be found in all three subseries. Suberies III.1, Alphabetical, 1954-1960, contains letters and memoranda. Political topics addressed: immigration, power projects, campaigns, civil rights, McCarthyism, labor, health and housing. Names that frequently appear are Senator Lister Hill; Edward Marks, Executive Director of the US Committee for Refugees; Jefferson B. Fordham, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School; Michel Cieplinski of the Nationalities Division (Democratic National Committee); V.A. Marcantonio of the American Labor Party; O.R. Ewing, Administrator of the Federal Security Agency; and James T. Farrell, an American novelist. Subseries III.2, Chronological, 1950-1960, is comprised of a large amount of material from constituents expressing concern on a political issue or asking for the Senator’s help. As in all the other subseries in Series III, letters to and from various government officials are found throughout. The same political topics found in subseries III.1 are addressed with an emphasis on agriculture, civil rights and immigration. Subseries III.3, Personal, 1923-1960 (1950-1959), includes both personal and professional correspondence. Many letters are with regard to Julius’s wife, Rivka and her health. Much of the correspondence is between Edelstein and both his family and Rivka’s parents in Israel. There is some material in Hebrew.