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Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo, Selig Adler papers

 Collection — Box: 1-5
Identifier: MS-0150-0002

Scope and Contents

I. Personal information contains vitae and other biographical information on Adler, as well as photographs and correspondence. Also includes information on Adler's family, news clippings and an annotated bibliography.
Publications, Series II documents Adler's articles and book reviews, and includes articles by other writers and friends of Adler. Writings in this series relate to issues on U.S. foreign policy, Jewish American communities, and Jewish and American history.
III. Subject files and Lectures includes Adler's notes, lectures, and lecture notes on subjects such as Zionism, Jewish history, U.S. foreign policy, education, and civil rights. Also of interest are Adler's notes on archives and the nature and importance of establishing Jewish archives and documenting Jewish community.
IV. Additional materials includes correspondence and committee reports describing the establishment of the Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo. Series IV documents various administrative activities of the Jewish Archives in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo such as research inquiries, personnel, physical space, and budget matters.

Dates

  • 1932-1988

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English and Hebrew.

Terms of Access

The Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo, Selig Adler papers, 1932-1988 are open for research.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical Note

Selig Alder (1909-1984) was an accomplished historian and faculty member of the State University of New York at Buffalo Department of History. In 1980 Adler became archivist 1980 of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo. He was the Samuel Capen Professor of American History from 1958-1980 and in 1975 was named a State University of New York Distinguished Service professor. His published works include The Isolationist Impulse: It's Twentieth-Century Reaction (1957), The Uncertain Giant, 1921-1941; American Foreign Policy Between the Wars(1965) and with co-author Thomas E. Connolly, From Ararat to Suburbia: A History of the Jewish Community of Buffalo (1960).

Chronology

1909
Born January 22 in Baltimore, Maryland
1927
Graduated from Utrecht High School, Brooklyn, New York
1928
Entered College of Arts and Sciences, University of Buffalo
1931
B.A., summa cum laude, University of Buffalo
1932
M.A., University of Illinois
1934
Ph.D., University of Illinois
1934-1937
High School teacher, Buffalo (Grover Cleveland and Kensington)
1936
Married Janet Sukernek
1938-1947
Part-time instructor, University of Buffalo summer programs
1943-1944
Taught civilians and Air Force cadets at University of Buffalo
1947
Assistant Professor of History, University of Buffalo
1950
Associate Professor of History, University of Buffalo
1952
Full Professor of History, University of Buffalo
1952-1953
Visiting professor, University of Rochester
1952-1979
Appointed by Governor Dewey to Kosher Law Advisory Board
1957
Published The Isolationist Impulse: It's Twentieth-Century Reaction
1957-1963
Director, Master of Science in Social Studies program
1958-1980
Samuel P. Capen Professor of American History
1960
Published (with Thomas E. Connolly), From Ararat to Suburbia: A History of the Jewish Community of Buffalo
1961-1965
Chairman, Educational Policy and Planning Committee of Faculty Senate
1961-1965
Executive Committee, Arts and Sciences College
1961-1965
Vice President, University Senate
1962
Chairman, Faculty Committee on merger with State University of New York
1963
Chairman, Faculty Conference on merger with State University of New York
circa 1962-1969
State University of New York Faculty Senate and Faculty Senate Executive Committee
1965
The Uncertain Giant, 1921-1941: American Foreign Policy Between the Wars
1966
Chairman, History Department
1966-
Chairman, State Education Department College Proficiency Examination in American History Committee
circa 1968-1969
Visiting professor at Cornell
1974
State University of New York Faculty Exchange Scholar
1975
Distinguished Service professor
1980
Retired from University of Buffalo
1980-
Archivist, Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo
?-1984
Archivist, Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo at State University College at Buffalo
June 1984
Archives dedicated as Selig Adler Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo
1984
Died, November 8, Buffalo

Extent

4.42 Linear Feet (4 cartons, 1 manuscript box)

Abstract

The Selig Adler collection in the Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo consists of Adler's published articles as well as those of colleagues and friends. Includes biographical information on Adler and his family as well as his notes and lecture materials on Jewish and American history.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series as follows: I. Judaism, II. Jews-History-General, Middle Ages, III. Jews-History-20th Century, IV. Jews-History-Zionism, V. Jews-History-United States-Contributions of Jews to American Life. VI. Jews-History-United States-all lectures and notes, VII. Jews-History-United States-Buffalo-lectures, VIII. United States History and Foreign Policy, IX. United States history, and X. Lectures.

Acquisition Information

The collection was transferred from the State University of New York College at Buffalo (Buffalo State) Archives in 2006 by the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.

Related Resources

Processing Information

Collection originally processed by the staff of the State University of New York College at Buffalo (Buffalo State) Archives.
Collection rehoused by Mark McGuire, January 2007.
Finding aid updated by Karen Morse, October-November 2006.
Finding aid encoded by Danielle White, February 2015.

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the Jewish Archives of Greater Buffalo, Selig Adler papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by staff of the State University of New York College at Buffalo (Buffalo State) Archives.
Date
2010
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)