Finding Aid to the Oscar A. Mintzer papers

Presley Hubschmitt
The Bancroft Library
2022
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu


Contributing Institution: The Bancroft Library
Title: Oscar A. Mintzer papers
Creator: Mintzer, Oscar A., 1916-1987.
source: Judah L. Magnes Museum
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2010/832
Physical Description: 6 linear feet (2 cartons, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes, 2 volumes)
Date (inclusive): 1945-1980
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language of Material: English .

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research with the exception of Oversize box 1, which is restricted and requires curatorial permission to view.

Accruals

No future additions are expected.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Oscar A. Mintzer papers were transferred to The Bancroft Library from the Judah L. Magnes Museum in 2010.

Existence and Location of Copies

There are no alternative forms of this collection.

Arrangement

Arranged to the folder level.

Biographical / Historical

Oscar "Art" Mintzer was born in New York City. Immediately after the end of World War II, he went to Germany with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) that was attached to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency to help Holocaust survivors. During his time in Germany from 1945-1946 he was appointed Legal Aid Director in the U.S. Zone for the JDC. In this role he provided services to protect the legal and civil rights of displaced persons. He settled in Oakland, California in 1959, became very active in local Jewish affairs and was made the executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. When he retired, he became its executive director emeritus.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Oscar A. Mintzer papers, BANC MSS 2010/832,The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Processing Information

Processed by Presley Hubschmitt in 2022.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence, reports, and other ephemera from Mintzer's work with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in Germany from 1945-1946. This includes letters between Oscar A. Mintzer and his wife discussing his work with the JDC and what he saw happening in the camps while helping displaced persons in Germany. Notably, he describes attending the Dachau Trials in November 1945. It also contains materials relating to his work as the executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties; his fundraising efforts; and to his interests and activities concerning the Jewish charities of the East Bay.

Conditions Governing Use

Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For additional information about the University of California, Berkeley Library's permissions policy please see: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/permissions-policies

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Charities -- California -- East Bay.
Fund raising -- California -- East Bay.
Jews -- Charities.
Jews -- California -- East Bay.
Fund raising.
Jews.
California -- East Bay.
Executives -- California -- East Bay.
Jewish refugees--Europe
Holocaust survivors -- Germany
Refugee camps -- Germany
Jewish Welfare Federation of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
Judah L. Magnes Museum
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee

carton 1, folder 1

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1945 October

carton 1, folder 2

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1945 November

carton 1, folder 3

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1945 December

carton 1, folder 4-5

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 January

carton 1, folder 6

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 February

carton 1, folder 7

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 March

carton 1, folder 8

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 April

carton 1, folder 9

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 May

carton 1, folder 10

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 June

carton 1, folder 11

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 July

carton 1, folder 12

Correspondence from Oscar A. Mintzer 1946 August

carton 1, folder 13

Incomplete Letters undated

carton 1, folder 14

Correspondence to Oscar A. Mintzer undated

carton 1, folder 15

Correspondence from Minna Mintzer to Oscar A. Mintzer 1946

carton 1, folder 16

Copies of Oscar A. Mintzer Correspondence undated

carton 1, folder 17-18

Typed Oscar A. Mintzer Correspondence undated

carton 1, folder 19

Certificate and Permit for Oscar A. Mintzer to work abroad for American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 1945

carton 1, folder 20-21

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Reports 1945-1946

carton 1, folder 22

Miscellaneous writings - personal undated

carton 1, folder 23

First person accounts of World War II 1945-1951

carton 1, folder 24

Oscar A. Mintzer Biography by Minna Mintzer 1993

carton 1, folder 25

"In Defense of Survivors: The Letters and Documents of Oscar A. Mintzer" 1999

carton 1, folder 26

Notes and bibliography draft for "In Defense of Survivors" undated

carton 1, folder 27

Military Government of Germany Questionnaires 1945

carton 1, folder 28

German school book 1933

carton 1, folder 29

Possible school reports in German undated

carton 1, folder 30

Holocaust and World War II writings undated

carton 1, folder 31

Ephemera from France and Germany undated

carton 1, folder 32

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1972-1977

carton 1, folder 33

Holocaust publications undated

carton 1, folder 34

"Hitler's Professors" by Max Weinreich 1946

carton 1, folder 35

Paul Von Hindenburg - President of Germany campaign handouts 1932

carton 1, folder 36

The Blue and White: Purim Edition - published for the Jewish personnel of the 3rd Infantry Division undated

carton 2, folder 1-5

Jewish Welfare Federation - correspondence and reports undated

carton 2, folder 6

Jewish Welfare Federation - correspondence and writings undated

carton 2, folder 7

Jewish Welfare Federation fundraising campaign publicity samples 1959

carton 2, folder 8

Jewish Welfare Federation of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties - Annual Reports 1973-1978

carton 2, folder 9

Jewish Welfare Federation exhibit photographs - Marion County, Indiana undated

carton 2, folder 10

Speeches undated

carton 2, folder 11

San Diego Jewish Community Centers Building Campaign 1985

carton 2, folder 12

Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare funds Personnel Services Subcommittee 1975

carton 2, folder 13

Congregation B'nai Tikvah - Walnut Creek 1984

carton 2, folder 14

Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Capital Funds Campaign undated

carton 2, folder 15

Home for Jewish Parents - Reports 1975-1976

carton 2, folder 16

Jewish Community Center of Houston - Fundraising Campaign 1976

carton 2, folder 17

Tehiyah Day School 1981

carton 2, folder 18

Oscar A. Mintzer "Man of the Year" Award from Oakland Lodge #252, B'nai B'rith 1975

carton 2, folder 19

National Association for Jewish Community Organization Personnel undated

carton 2, folder 20

Joint Distribution Committee undated

carton 2, folder 21

Maps of Israel undated

carton 2, folder 22

Oscar A. Mintzer Trip to Israel 1970-1971

carton 2, folder 23

United Jewish Appeal Public Relations Manual and Campaign Materials 1969

carton 2, folder 24

United Jewish Appeal Campaign Plan - Audiocassette 1985

carton 2, folder 25

Alameda County Human Services Council - A Feasibility Study for the Board of Supervisors 1974 July

carton 2, folder 26

Camp Arazim Fundraising Campaign 1978-1979

carton 2, folder 27

ADL Bulletin by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith 1978-1983

carton 2, folder 28

Writings - Miscellaneous undated

carton 2, folder 29

Oscar A. Mintzer Resume undated

carton 2, folder 30

Photographs undated

box 1, folder 1

United Jewish Appeal undated

box 1, folder 2

Feasibility Reports and Fundraising Campaign Materials - Miscellaneous undated

box 1, folder 3

A Report on the School of Social Welfare at University of California, Berkeley 1971 October

box 1, folder 4-5

Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds Reports and Publications undated

box 1, folder 6

Jewish Organization Publications - Miscellaneous undated

box 1, folder 7

Notebook (possibly belonging to Oscar A. Mintzer) undated

box 1, folder 8

Congregation Listings - Miscellaneous 1978-1983

oversize_box 1

German military uniform patches undated

Conditions Governing Access

Oversize box 1 is restricted and requires curatorial permission to view.
oversize_box 1

German and concentration camp currency 1923-1944

Conditions Governing Access

Oversize box 1 is restricted and requires curatorial permission to view.
oversize_box 1

Visitors passes to the Dachau Trials and Concentration Camp 1945

Conditions Governing Access

Oversize box 1 is restricted and requires curatorial permission to view.
oversize_box 2, folder 1

German newspapers 1938-1946

oversize_box 2, folder 2

American newspapers 1945

oversize_box 2, folder 3

American newspapers 1946

oversize_box 2, folder 4

Yank: The Army Weekly and Army Talk 1945-1946

oversize_box 2, folder 5

American newspapers and clippings 1950-1979

oversize_box 2, folder 6

American newspapers and clippings 1983-1984

oversize_box 2, folder 7

American newspapers clippings undated

oversize_box 2, folder 8

Hebrew and Yiddish newspapers 1945-1947, 1976

volume 1

Photograph report from five concentration camps [GRAPHIC IMAGES] undated

volume 2

Extermination of Polish Jews: Album of Pictures [GRAPHIC IMAGES] undated