Joseph Levy papers, 1897, 1919-1973

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Summary

Creators:
Levy, Robley and Levy, Joseph M. (Joseph Meyer), 1901-1965
Abstract:
The Joseph Levy papers contain daily dispatches, correspondence, research materials, photographs, and newspaper clippings that document Joseph Levy's journalism career and the events and politics of the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Extent:
18.7 Linear Feet 17 half cartons; 5 flats; 4 cartons
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Joseph Levy papers. MS 275. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains daily dispatches from Jerusalem, Cairo, and Ankara between 1928 and 1945. In addition there is personal correspondence, research materials, financial papers, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and ephemera that document Levy's journalism career, the events and politics of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and Levy's public relations work for Congressman Emmanual Cellar and the French government in the United States.

Joseph Levy's papers contain substantial raw historical information. Particularly rich are the voluminous near daily and sometimes several times a day dispatches from Jerusalem, Cairo and Ankara between 1928 and 1945. While Levy's work often appeared in The New York Times, these documents offer many that were not used for publication and which contain substantially greater detail and information than those that were printed.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Meyer Levy (1901-1965) was an American citizen, due to his father's citizenship, who was born, brought up and educated in Palestine. He was the New York Times correspondent for the Middle East, reporting from Jerusalem in Palestine, and Cairo, Egypt from 1928 to 1940, and from Ankara, Turkey from 1943 to 1944. Previously he had worked for the Civil Authorities of the British Mandate in Jerusalem. He was multilingual, speaking English, French, German, Hungarian, Hebrew, Yiddish, and a number of Arabic dialects. His Arabic was augmented by his experiences living with the Bedouin in the desert for six months. Following his work with the New York Times he worked for the American Jewish Committee in New York, and was a public relations representative for Congressman Emmanuel Cellar and the French government in the U.S., for Ambassadors Herve Alphand and Couve de Mourville.

Chronology

  • 1920 - employed as a clerk for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC)
  • 1928 - appointed The New York Times correspondent
  • 1930's - reviews and reports on Middle East situations, including the administrative, political, psychological and social causes. Corresponds with British intelligence and armed forces, General Henry Maitland Wilson
  • 1936 - British forces commendation
  • 1943-1944 - reports on the plight of the Jewish people in the Balkans and Eastern Europe
  • 1945 - suffers ill health; denied accreditation and Egyptian visa
  • 1946 - retires from the New York Times
  • 1948-1950 - corresponds with Nessim Moreno and starts work for the American Jewish Committee
  • 1954-1959 - Public Relations Representative for Congressman Emmanuel Cellar and the French government in the U.S. with ambassadors Herve Alphand and Couve de Murville
  • 1960 - awarded Legion of Honor by French ambassador Herve Alphand
  • 1965- Joseph Meyer's obituary written by Ben Avi for Maariv

Among the significant issues, though not a comprehensive list, on which these documents shed light are:

  • Actions of the British Civil and Military Authorities in Palestine in the 1920's and 1930's
  • Arab/Jewish relations in Palestine, both Arab and Jewish political factions, ambitions and actions, and the Arab Riots of 1929
  • The British Commission of Inquiry, 1929
  • Jewish and Zionist politics both in Palestine and internationally
  • Issues of Jewish immigration and its impact on Palestine and Palestinians
  • In the run up to World War II, potential Arab alliance with the Axis Powers
  • Events in Egypt from the death of King Fuad and the ascension of Farouk to onset of World War II, including reports of archaeological finds
  • The War in the Western Desert
  • The Axis threat to the Middle East
  • Jewish refugee crisis in the Balkans as the Germans moved east toward the the end of the war

Biography written by Robley Levy, Joseph Levy's daughter-in-law.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Robley Levy, Joseph Levy's daughter-in-law.
Processing information:

This collection was processed by Debra Roussopoulos in 2019. Additions to the collection were processed by Zoe MacLeod in 2023. Original folder titles were retained when possible.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged chronologically by series.

Physical / technical requirements:

Many of the documents in this collection are in fragile condition.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.

Preferred citation:

Joseph Levy papers. MS 275. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
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