Finding Aid to the Jack Kurzweil Papers
Finding aid prepared by Wendy Welker
Labor Archives and Research Center
2018
San Francisco State University
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco 94132-1722
larc@sfsu.edu
Title: Jack Kurzweil papers
Date (inclusive): 1968-2015
Date (bulk): 1969-1971
Creator:
Kurzweil, Jack
Extent:
1.25 Cubic Feet
(1 carton)
Collection number: larc.ms.0417
Accession number: 2015/022
Repository:
Labor Archives and Research Center
J. Paul Leonard Library, Room 460
San Francisco State University
1630 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132-1722
(415) 405-5571
larc@sfsu.edu
Abstract: This collection documents the 1970-1972 grievance case of Jack Kurzweil, professor of electrical engineering at San Jose State
College, who, after being denied tenure, filed a grievance against the college for its rejection of tenure based on political
prejudice.
Physical Location: Collection available on site.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English.
Availability
Collection is open for research. Some material is restricted to protect personal identifiable information. Access restrictions
are noted at the file level. Please contact the Director of the Labor Archives and Research Center for more information.
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Labor Archives and Research Center. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the Labor Archives and Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Jack Kurzweil Papers, larc.ms.0417, Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University.
Acquisition
Donated by Jack Kurzweil in 2015.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Wendy Welker in 2018.
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Biographical Note
Jack Kurzweil taught electrical engineering at San Francisco State College from 1966 to 1968. In November, 1967 he was informed
that his appointment would end at the close of the spring sememster and he then took a position in the fall at San Jose State
College, where he would be denied tenure and subsequently begin the grievance process. Kurzweil was active in liberal political
demonstrations and organizations. During his years at San Jose State, Kurzweil became the president of the faculty union
and its delegate to the Santa Clara County Labor Council, ran for County Assessor as a Communist Party candidate, was treasurer
and then president of the local chapter of the California Faculty Association, and organized two Marxist Scholars Conferences
at the University of California, Berkeley. Kurzweil retired in 2001 and helped found the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club.
Historical Note
In the spring of 1970, Jack Kurzweil, represented by free speech attorney Malcolm Burnstein, filed a grievance with the San
Jose State College Grievance Committee after being denied tenure. The Grievance Committee found in favor of Kurzweil but
Chancellor Glenn S. Dumke denied tenure. Kurzweil took his case to a statewide grievance committee, which found unanimously
in his favor. Dumke and the San Jose State Board of Trustees then called a state of emergency because of political activity
on campus. This changed the grievance process so that the decision would no longer be binding, but would be advisory to the
chancellor, and Dumke again denied tenure. Kurzweil then took the case to the Federal Court of Appeals, with Doris Walker
as council. Kurzweil was awarded tenure as an assistant professor through a court order in February 1972. Kurzweil's case
was based on the discovery that the decision to deny tenure was politically motivated. Kurzweil had been active in campus
demonstrations in support of progressive issues and in opposition to the Vietnam War, and was involved in the faculty union,
United Farm Workers Support Committee, and Faculty for Social Responsibility. His wife, activist Bettina Aptheker, had announced
her membership in the Communist Party and she and Kurzweil worked on organizing support for Angela Davis after her firing
from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Kurzweil received a promotion to associate professor in 1978 and was
made full professor in 1982.
Scope and Contents
This collection documents the 1970-1972 grievance case of Jack Kurzweil, professor of electrical engineering at San Jose State
College, who, after being denied tenure filed a grievance against the college for its rejection of tenure based on political
prejudice. The records comprise correspondence, memos, legal documents, case notes, minutes, instructor evaluations, class
visit reports, and invoices and receipts used in support of the grievance or generated by the case itself. Also includes
a personal narrative by Kurzweil, documents from his prior teaching position at San Francisco State College, material compiled
for post-grievance academic promotion, published writing and letters to the editor, clippings and articles on various academic
and political topics, material pertaining to the Engineering Department at San Jose State, documents, flyers, clippings and
other ephemera related to Kurzweil's involvement with Faculty for Social Responsibility.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
College teachers -- Tenure -- United States.
Discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Cases.
College teachers -- Political activity.
San Jose State College -- Faculty.
San Francisco State College -- Faculty.
Universities and colleges -- Faculty.
Kurzweil, Jack
carton 1, folder 2
Retention and tenure process
1968-1970
carton 1, folder 3
Personal papers and documents
1968-1971
Contents
Includes letter from Bettina Aptheker and Jack Kurzweil to their friends providing details of Kurzweil's situation and appealing
for financial assistance to help with legal fees, a redacted FBI document apparently targeting Kurzweil, and a flyer for a
rally in support of Kurzweil.
carton 1, folder 4
Grievance brief preparation
1970
carton 1, folder 5
Grievance brief and support documents
1970
carton 1, folder 6
Report of Hearing Board of the College Grievance Panel
1970 May 20
carton 1, folders 7-8
Grievance brief and support documents -- State Court of California
1968-1971
carton 1, folders 9-11
Grievance support documents -- State Court of California
1968-1971
Restrictions
Folder 10 includes non-Kurzweil faculty evaluations that are restricted and sealed until 2030 to protect personal identifiable
information. Please contact the Director of Labor Archives and Research Center for more information.
carton 1, folders 12-17
Grievance support documents -- U. S. Court of Appeals
1968-1972
Contents
Includes court opinion and order to accord full tenure to Kurzweil, and prepared statements to the press.
carton 1, folders 18-19
Research material
1970-1971
Contents
Contains case notes and support documents.
carton 1, folders 20-21
Jack Kurzweil case file
1969-1973
Contents
The contents of Jack Kurzweil's case file from the law office of Treuhaft, Walker and Burnstein. Includes receipts for monetary
donations to Kurzweil's case.
carton 1, folders 22-23
Promotion dossier material
1969-1978
Contents
Documents compiled by Kurzweil in support of his academic promotion, post-grievance. Includes a 1975 letter denying promotion.
Also includes correspondence and clippings regarding the question of Kurzweil's involvement in a 1976 disturbance on campus
that occured during a talk by speaker Alvaro Pineda de Castro, editor of a pro-junta newsletter published in Chile.
carton 1, folder 24
Faculty material
1985-1995
Contents
Includes letters from faculty members thanking Kurzweil for his participation in various events, letters of recommendation
for a Merit Teaching Award, correspondence with Art Davis regarding the issue of diversity in the San Jose State University
Electrical Engineering Department's vision statement, and a 1988 document written by Kurzweil regarding quantity of classes
offered and type of faculty hired.
carton 1, folder 25
Faculty for Social Responsibility (FSR)
1982-1991
Contents
Contains flyers, notices and articles on war, peace, and justice. Includes correspondence of FSR and senators and congressmen
regarding anti-war and anti-military actions.
carton 1, folder 26
Writings
circa 1970-1992
Contents
Contains Kurzweil's writings for presentation and publication. Includes a 1990 presentation against the Gulf War for the
San Jose State University Conference on Academic Freedom, and "An Ideology for the Information Society," (1986, publication
unknown).
carton 1, folder 27
Booklets, clippings, ephemera
1987-2002
Contents
Contains material on political movements or groups with which Kurzweil was affliated. Includes a brochure for a 1987 Marxist
Scholars Conference at the University of California, Berkeley that Kurzweil helped organize, and material on prisoner Mumia
Abu-Jamal.
carton 1, folder 28
Clippings
1969-1977
Contents
Contains clippings, primarily about Kurzweil's denial of tenure.
