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 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 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 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 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
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 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