Descriptive Summary
Scope and Content of Collection
Biography
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
OFF-SITE STORAGE
Publication Rights
Processing Information
Restrictions
Descriptive Summary
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Daniel Yankelovich Papers
Creator:
Yankelovich, Daniel
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0804
Physical Description:
37.6 Linear feet
(93 archives boxes and 1 card file box)
Physical Description:
.002 GB
of digital files
Date (inclusive): 1947-2017, bulk 1970-2010
Abstract: Papers of Daniel Yankelovich (1924-2017), a noted public opinion analyst and social researcher. The collection includes his
writings, project and consulting materials, interviews, speeches, teaching files, and documentation related to organizations
founded by Yankelovich.
Scope and Content of Collection
Papers of Daniel Yankelovich (1924-2017), a noted public opinion analyst and social researcher. The collection includes his
writings, project and consulting materials, interviews, speeches, teaching files, and documentation related to organizations
founded by Yankelovich. It also includes a small amount of biographical material, correspondence related to his research,
and contributions by Yankelovich's third wife, Mary Komarnicki (1958-1995).
The bulk of the collection consists of research material and drafts of his writings, especially the books
Coming to Public Judgment: Making Democracy Work in a Complex World (1991),
Starting with the People (1988), and
New Rules: Searching for Self-fulfillment in a World Turned Upside Down (1981), as well as drafts for other monographs and innumerous articles and essays. Other significant portions are devoted
to conference appearances and presentations, and research for major survey projects. Although the majority of Yankelovich's
survey material covers public opinion on politics and international affairs, a wide variety of American social issues are
represented, including perceptions on class, success, race, work-life balance, women in the workplace, and youth engagement.
The papers also chronicle Yankelovich's participation in and contributions to numerous organizations, corporations, and his
own companies. Teaching materials document his time in academia as a Research Professor of Psychology at New York University
(1968-1973) and a Professor of Psychology in the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research (1973-1978).
Accession Processed in 2002
Arranged in six series: 1) SHORT WRITINGS, 2) BOOKS, 3) PROJECTS, 4) ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, 5) STATISTICS
FILES, and 6) MARY KOMARNICKI YANKELOVICH MATERIALS.
Accession Processed in 2018
Arranged in seven series: 7) BIOGRAPHICAL AND AWARDS, 8) SHORT WRITINGS, 9) BOOKS, 10) PROJECTS, 11) TALKS AND APPEARANCES,
12) ORGANIZATIONS, and 13) UC SAN DIEGO.
Biography
Daniel Yankelovich was born on December 29, 1924 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents of Russian decent. He received his Bachelor's
(1948) and Master's (1950) degrees from Harvard University. Yankelovich was drafted into the Army as an undergraduate and
served as an engineer during WWII from 1943-1945. From 1950-1952, Yankelovich studied at the Sorbonne in Paris but did not
complete his doctorate. In 1958 he founded his own research firm, Daniel Yankelovich, Inc. (renamed Yankelovich, Skelly and
White, Inc. in 1974 to reflect the contributions of his business partners Florence R. Skelly and Arthur White). Yankelovich
returned to academia in the 1960s and began teaching part-time as a Research Professor of Psychology at New York University
(1968-1975) and as a Professor of Psychology at The New School for Social Science Research (1973-1978). During this period,
he also co-founded the nonprofit research organization Public Agenda Foundation in 1976 with future Secretary of State Cyrus
Vance. After selling YSW, Inc. in 1984 to the Saatchi & Saatchi Company, Yankelovich founded a new research company with Skelly
and White called Daniel Yankelovich Group, Inc. in 1986. It was later known simply as DYG, Inc. to avoid confusion with other
companies using the Yankelovich name.
After moving to La Jolla in the late 1990s, Yankelovich became involved with many local institutions including UC San Diego,
San Diego Dialogue,
The San Diego Union-Tribune, and San Diego Unified School District. He also co-founded Viewpoint Learning, Inc., a consultancy group based in La Jolla,
with Steven Rosell in 2000. He began teaching as a lecturer at UCSD Extension, and later served as a member of the UC San
Diego Foundation Board of Trustees and the Social Sciences Dean's Advisory Council. In 2009, he endowed the Yankelovich Chair
in Social Thought and in 2012 established the Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research through an endowment made by
him and his fourth wife, Barbara Lee.
Known as the "dean of American pollsters," Yankelovich was named by
PR Week as one of the top ten most influential people of the twentieth century in public affairs. His notable projects include the
New York Times/Yankelovich poll, since renamed the
New York Times/CBS News poll, and the
TIMES/Yankelovich Poll. Yankelovich was the author, co-author, and editor of at least thirteen books about American politics and
social values, including a memoir entitled
Chasing the Socratic Dream (2017). He was also honored with many awards, such as the Helen Dinerman Award, the Parlin Award, and the UC San Diego Chancellor's
Medal Award. He consulted with many notable corporations and organizations, including Toyota, The Aspen Institute, Harvard
University, CBS, Brown University, and the Kettering Foundation. Additionally, he helped to popularize the term "baby boomers."
Yankelovich passed away at 92 on September 22, 2017 in La Jolla, California.
Preferred Citation
Daniel Yankelovich Papers. MSS 804. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2017-2018
OFF-SITE STORAGE
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. ALLOW ONE WEEK FOR RETRIEVAL OF MATERIALS.
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Processing Information
Daniel Yankelovich's papers were donated to the UC San Diego Library in two separate accessions, in 2017 and 2018. The first
accession was transferred to UC San Diego by the University of Connecticut (where it had been originally donated by Yankelovich
in 1995). That portion of the collection was processed by UConn staff at the Thomas J. Dodd Center Archives & Special Collections
in 2002. The UC San Diego Library largely maintained the order and series arrangement of this material post-transfer, removing
only published documents and duplicates, and clarifying elements of the description. The 2018 accession represents the remainder
of Yankelovich's post-1995 papers and was processed separately, but it was arranged in an order intended to complement and
enhance the original portion of the collection. Materials for some book titles and major projects are represented in both
sections of the collection.
Restrictions
Original sound recordings on audiocassette are restricted. Patrons may request user copies in advance of their visit.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Social sciences -- Research
Public opinion polls
United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century
United States -- Social conditions -- 20th century
Yankelovich, Daniel -- Archives