Joseph Gaer (originally Joseph Fishman) (1897-1969) was a lecturer in contemporary literature at UC Berkeley (1930-35), editor-in-chief and chief field supervisor for the Federal Writers Project (1935-39), consultant to the administrator of the Farm Security Administration (1939-41), special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury (1941-43), publicity director of the Political Action Committee for the Congress of Industrial Organizations (1943-45), founder and director of Pamphlet Press (1945-46), and president of Boni & Gaer (later Gaer Associates Publishing Company) (1946-49). He also wrote many books, including The legend called Meryon (1928), and Our Jewish heritage (1957). The collection consists of manuscripts of books written or edited by Joseph Gaer, and includes typescripts with holograph corrections and corrected galley and page proofs.

Joseph Gaer (originally Joseph Fishman) was born March 16, 1897 in Yedinitz, Russia; came to U.S., 1917; attended colleges in the U.S. and Canada; lecturer in contemporary literature, UC Berkeley, 1930-35; editor-in-chief and chief field supervisor, Federal Writers Project, 1935-39; consultant to administrator of Farm Security Administration, 1939-41; special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury, 1941-43; publicity director of Political Action Committee, Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1943-45; founder and director of Pamphlet Press, 1945-46; president, Boni & Gaer (later Gaer Associates Publishing Company), 1946-49; in 1958 became founder and director of Jewish Heritage Foundation, Beverly Hills; wrote many books, including The legend called Meryon (1928), How the great religions began (1929), and Our Jewish heritage (1957); died December 7, 1969.

5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

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