Guide to the School of Fine Arts Records, Academic Departments and Schools, American Jewish University Archives (Institutional
Records)
Prepared by Sivan Siman-Tov, American Jewish University
Ostrow Library and University Archives, American Jewish University
Bel and Jack M. Ostrow Library
15600 Mulholland Dr.
Bel-Air. California 90077
310-440-1238
URL: http://library.aju.edu/
Archives URL: http://callimachus.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15008coll11
E-mail: library@aju.edu
E-mail: sivanst3@gmail.com
© June, 2014
All rights reserved.
School of Fine Arts, Academic Departments and Schools, American Jewish University Archives (Institutional Records)
Collection number: CaLaAJUL1_9
American Jewish University
Bel-Air, CA 90077
- Date Completed:
- 2014
- Encoded by:
- American Jewish University Archives
© 2014. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Identifier/Call Number: CaLaAJUL1_9
Title: School of Fine Arts, Academic Departments and Schools, American Jewish University Archives (Institutional Records)
Date (inclusive): 1961-1972 inclusive
Collector:
American Jewish University;
University of Judaism;
Brandeis-Bardin Institute (Brandeis, Simi Valley, Calif.)
Repository:
University Archives and Ostrow Library, American Jewish University
15600 Mulholland Dr.
Bel-Air. California 90077
Extent:
1 Box (Box 16)
Location: Physical files are housed at the Ostrow Library of the American Jewish University.
Abstract: The records in this series contain materials related to the School of Fine Arts, which originated from the Fine Arts Department.
Language: Materials are in English and Hebrew
Administrative Information
Access:
This collection is open for research with permission from the Ostrow Library staff. Some materials may be restricted. Contact
the Archive (sivanst3@gmail.com) or the Library (library@aju.edu).
Accruals:
Additions to this collection may be transferred regularly.
Rights:
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission
of the copyright owners. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreement,
donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially
exploited without permission of the copyright holder. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation:
[Identification of item], School of Fine Arts, Academic Departments and Schools, Guide to the American Jewish University Archive,
American Jewish University, Bel-Air, CA 90077.
Acquisition Information:
Collected by various members of the American Jewish University.
Scope and Content:
The records in this series contain materials related to the School of Fine Arts, which originated from the Fine Arts Department.
The American Jewish University Archive is a collection of documents, pamphlets, recordings, letters, publications, photographs,
scrapbooks, and ephemera that document the history of the University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin Institute which merged
to become American Jewish University in 2007, depicting people, places and events at both campuses.
Organization:
The collection is part of Series 5: Academic Departments and Schools.
It is organized in 9 sub-series.
- V. Academic Departments and Schools: 1947-2014
- 5. School of Fine Arts 1961-1972
- Subseries 1. Foundational Materials
- Subseries 2. Accreditation Materials
- Subseries 3. Board of Governors of the School of Fine Arts
- Subseries 4. Catalogs and Schedule of Courses
- Subseries 5. Registration Summaries
- Subseries 6. Academic Departments
- 6.1 Theatre Arts Department
- 6.2 Creative Writing Department
- 6.3 Visual Arts Department
- Subseries 7. Non-Academic Programs
- Subseries 8. Communications
- Subseries 9. Faculty
American Jewish University:
The
American Jewish University , with its Familian campus in Bel Air, California and Brandeis-Bardin campus in Simi Valley, California, is the outcome of
the 2007 union of Brandeis-Bardin Institute (BBI) and the University of Judaism (UJ).
In 1947, the University of Judaism was founded in Los Angeles, the vision of Dr. Mordecai Kaplan, the author of Judaism as
a Civilization, who advocated the creation of an educational institution incorporating diverse elements of Jewish civilization
and culture under one roof. To carry out his dream, he received the support of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York
and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Los Angeles.
Six years earlier, BCI was founded by Dr. Shlomo Bardin to safeguard against assimilation of young American Jews by making
“the great ethical heritage of Judaism” relevant to them. Brandeis Camp Institute was named to honor our nation’s first Jewish
Supreme Court Justice, Louis D. Brandeis, who was instrumental as the visionary and primary funder of Dr. Bardin’s initial
programmatic endeavor. BBI was located for brief periods of time in Amherst, NH, Winterdale, PA and Hendersonville, NC before
finding its home in 1947 in Simi Valley.
The Bel and Jack M. Ostrow Academic Library:
The Ostrow Library , is designed to meet the needs of the University's faculty and students, as well as scholars conducting research in all fields
of Jewish culture and civilization. Members of the general public are also invited to use the Library’s materials for personal
enrichment and enjoyment. With approximately 110,000 print volumes, the library's collections have grown consistently through
endowments, gifts of major private collections and an ongoing acquisition program.
The Burton Sperber Memorial Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles:
The Burton Sperber Jewish Community Library at American Jewish University now serves as the official Jewish Community Library of Los Angeles. This new library succeeds
the original Peter M. Kahn Jewish Community Library that was formerly housed at the Los Angeles Jewish Federation. Dedicated
by his family in memory of noted Los Angeles philanthropist and landscape developer Burton Sperber, this library welcomes
the entire Los Angeles Jewish community to enjoy its state-of-the-art facility including regularly scheduled programs for
children and families as well as author and other literary encounters.
The Lowy-Winkler Family Rare Book Center:
The Lowy-Winkler Family Rare Book Center , a gift of Peter and Janine Lowy, is home to the Maslan Bible Collection. This unusual assemblage of exceptional volumes
includes approximately 4,000 Bibles, some dating back almost to the inception of the printing press. This collection also
features bible translations representing most of the written languages of the world, as well as the Kalman-Friedman Collection
of Italian Judaica.
The University Archives:
The
University Archives of the American Jewish University is a collection of documents, pamphlets, recordings, letters, publications, photographs,
scrapbooks, and ephemera that document the history of the University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin Institute which merged
to become American Jewish University in 2007, depicting people, places and events at both campuses.
Photograph and Digital Archive:
- The American Jewish University
Digital Archive includes photographs, scrapbooks, and ephemera that document the history of the University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin
Institute which merged to become American Jewish University in 2007, depicting people, places and events at both campuses.
These photographs include great Jewish thinkers who founded AJU and were involved with its growth over the years. The creation
of both institutions was made possible by philanthropists to whom we owe the building of University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin
Institute.
Audio-Visual Archive:
- The American Jewish University
Audio-Visual Archive is a collection of audio-visual records of lectures, shows, and events taking place at or produced by the American Jewish
University (formerly University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute) over the years.
Louis Shub Documentation Center:
- The
Louis Shub Documentation Center at the American Jewish University is a collection of thousands of articles from various newspapers and periodicals covering
a range of subjects. Gathered by Dr. Shub, the former library director of the University of Judaism, the collection was used
by students to research
subjects such as Israeli and Jewish figures, Foreign Policy, Global Jewish Communities, Israel, the Middle East and many other
issues and subjects. The importance of this collection is the juxtaposing of articles from major papers with those of small
local papers both covering the same event.
The finding aid to the collection can be viewed at:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c85h7jcf/
Subjects:
Note
(Library of Congress Subject Headings)
Personal and Corporate Names:
American Jewish University
Brandeis-Bardin Institute (Brandeis, Simi Valley, Calif.)
University of Judaism
Camp Ramah.
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
United Synagogue of America.
Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
National Women's League
University Women of the University of Judaism
Sinai Temple (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Shub, Louis
Lieber, David L.
Greenberg, Simon, 1901-
Wexler, Robert
Turner, Justin G.
Fligelman, Julius, 1895-1980
Heschel, Abraham Joshua, 1907-1972
Kohn, Jacob, 1881-1968
Swig, Benjamin Harrison, 1893-1980
Pressman, Jacob;
Kaplan, Mordecai Menahem, 1881-1983
Finkelstein, Louis, 1895-1991
Levine, Sid
Wise, Aaron M.
Vorspan, Max
Zemach, Benjamin
Helfman, Max
Warren, Earl, 1891-1974
Eisenshtat, Sidney, 1914-2005
Gindi, Elie M.
Bergman, Martin
Jospe, Erwin
Alexander, Hanan A., 1953-
Bradley, Tom, 1917-1998
Dorff, Elliot N.
Cohen, Gerson D. (Gerson David), 1924-
Dortort, David
Goodhill, Victor, 1911-
Gordis, David M.
Schulweis, Harold M.
Glass, Judith
Ray, Eric
Krems, Nathan
Ackerman, Walter I.
Kahn, Peter M., 1878- [from old catalog]
Gordis, Robert, 1908-
Wolfson, Ron
Cohen, Aryeh
Oppenheim, Lois Hecht
Schary, Dore
Zevit, Ziony
Familian, Isadore
Seewack, Benjamin
Ostrow, Jack
Ostrow, Bel
Easton, Harold
Subjects and Indexing Terms
General Subjects:
Judaism.
Zionism and Judaism.
Israel.
Education.
College presidents.
Jewish college presidents
Rabbis.
Philanthropists
Scholars.
Art.
Patrons of education
Board of directors--United States.
College administrators
Libraries.
Jewish artists
Jewish college teachers
Authors.
Faculty, University
Women.
Musicians
College campuses.
Box 16
Subseries: 5.5:
School of Fine Arts
1961-1972
Archival Materials:
Physical Description: 1 Box
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
Fine Arts Department (1949-1961), see Box 16.
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
Fine Arts Program (1973-), see Box 15.
Scope and Content Note
This subseries contains materials related to the School of Fine Arts, which originated from the Fine Arts Department.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
Developed from the
Fine Arts Department (1949-1961), the School of Fine Arts was founded in 1961
with Max Helfman as Dean, Max Vorspan as Director, Benjamin Zemach as the head of the Department of Drama, Joseph Young as
the head of the Visual Arts, and Eric Ray
as Art Director.
The School was "dedicated to the high purposes of a creative renaissance in Judaism". It included a Theatre Arts Department,
Visual Arts Department,
Humanities, Dance, Art Exhibits, Public Lectures and Seminars, Choir, and the Arts in Your Life Series. Faculty included Roy
Harris, Alfred Sendrey, Ernest Toch,
Max Band, Stephen Kayser, Mario Castelnuevo-Tedesco, and Robert Strassburg (Registrar). In 1963, Max Helfman passed away,
and was succeeded by Erwin Jospe. In 1972,
School of Fine Arts became the
Fine Arts Program (1973-) under the University's extension program and the Department of Continuing Education (DCE).
Box
16, folder 2
1.
Foundational Materials
approximately 1961
Scope and Content Note
Includes an Editorial article by Max Vorspan on the establishment of the School; a
Booklet (Including an excerpt from Mordecai Kaplan's blueprint of a University of Judaism in which he gives a substantial
place for a School
of Fine Arts, a writing titled "Sword and Spirit" by Rabbi Jacob Pressman, and sheet music for "Al Hanisim" with Folk Melody
by ARR. M. H from 1950); and
a Preliminary draft Conspectus of courses, program, lecture series and other activities proposed for the School of Fine Arts
(prepared
by the Fine Arts Faculty Committee composed of Ted Post, Joseph Young, and Benjamin Zemach under the Chairmanship of Max Helfman).
Box
16, folder 2
2.
Accreditation Materials
1963-04-15
Box
16, folder 2
3.
Board of Governors of the School of Fine Arts
1961-06-21
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter to Irving Weinrot from Max Vorspan, including the minutes for the first meeting of the Board.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
Members of the Board included Michael Blankfort, David Dortort, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Fligelman,
Dr. and Mrs. Simon Greenberg, Max Helfman, Jack Ostrow (Chairman), Herman Platt (Vice Chairman), Dr. Victor Goodhill (Vice
Chairman),
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Post, Saul Rubin, Maurice Hyman,
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice (Rose) Turner (Vice Chairman), and Dr. and Mrs. Max Vorspan. The Board disbanded in 1963 when the University
Women of the School of Fine Arts
proved successful at raising money for the School.
Box
16, folder 3-4
4.
Catalogs and Schedule of Courses
1962-1969
Course Schedule, 1966 (a_cajoul048)
Physical Location:
Additional Location:
For the Course Schedule of the Spring Semester of 1966, please Vol. 19, No. 2, University of Judaism Newsletter, 1966 (a_cajoul048).
Scope and Content Note
Includes Catalogs and Schedule of Courses for the School, including draft materials.
Box
16, folder 5
5.
Registration Summaries
1970-1972
Box
16, folder 6
6.
Academic Departments
1962-1964
Box
16, folder 6
a.
Theatre Arts Department
1962-1967
Scope and Content Note
Includes a flyer for "Three Poetry Evenings", approximately 1971, featuring Black Poetry,
Spanish and Latin-American Poetry, and Hebrew and Yiddish Poetry; a program for the Hebrew and Yiddish Poetry evening, approximately
1971; a flyer for the Yiddish Theatre Studio presenting "A Comedy in 3 Acts by Sholem Aleichem", 1967-02-23; and
news clippings about the Folk Dance Center and more.
Box
16, folder 6
b.
Creative Writing Department
1963-02
Scope and Content Note
Includes a suggested syllabus for a Creative Writing Department.
Box
16, folder 6
c.
Visual Arts Department
1962-09-14
Scope and Content Note
Includes news clippings, such as "UJ to Offer Varied, Expert Visual Courses" with Joseph Young.
Box
16, folder 7-12
7.
Non-Academic Programs
1962-1971
Box
16, folder 7
a.
The Art of Benjamin Zemach Film
1971
Scope and Content Note
Includes drafts for a Descriptive Leaflet; Correspondence to/from Erwin Jospe, Miriam Rochlin; Hora Vol. 3; Introductory Notes
for Documentary Films of Israel by Gurit Kadman and more.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
The Art of Benjamin Zemach Film takes four examples of Benjamin Zemach's work. They include the Chassid, the Beggar's Dance,
Prologue to Benjamin the Third, and Bialik. Zemach was a modern dancer and the Director of the Dance and Drama Department
of the University of Judaism since its inception. It was produced by Miriam Rochlin, and edited by Roger Andrieux and Rochlin.
Musical director was Kenneth Klauss, sets by Moi Solotaroff, director of photography was Ray Steckler, and Lou Brandt as director.
1.
Spring Song of our People
1963-06-21
Flyer (a_cajoul038)
Scope and Content Note
Includes flyer, program and news clipping.
2.
Israel Festival: L.A Zimria Chorale Farewell Concert
1964-06-22
Scope and Content Note
Includes program.
Box
16, folder 9-10
c.
UJ Art Gallery
1964-1969
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
Art Gallery and Museum (1947-1960), see Box 22.
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
UJ Art Gallery (1974-1983) see Box 15
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
Platt and Borstein Galleries (1985-) see Box 24
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
The UJ Art Gallery began as part of the Museum and under the Fine Arts Department and continued under the School of Fine Arts
in 1961. Located at the Sunset Campus, it presented monthly exhibits of significant works by Jewish and non-Jewish artists.
1.
Art Exhibits and Shows
1964-1969
Scope and Content Note
Includes programs and news clippings from exhibits, and letter from Eric Ray. Artists include Shirley Bruck, Burton Freund,
Alfredo Goldstein, Harry Lieberman, Molly Fligelman, Aaron J. Goodelman, Diane Travis and more.
2.
Molly Fligelman Art
1965
Box
16, folder 11
d.
Arts in Your Life Series
1962-1965
Scope and Content Note
Includes a letter from Max Helfman and programs regarding the inauguration of the Series on 1962-02-14; Pamphlet for the 1962
year program; Invitation to Contemporary Music for the Synagogue event, with works by composers Yehudi Wyner, Marvin David
Levy, Max Helfman, and Carl Urstein with Erwin Jospe as conductor, 1965-02-24; and news clippings.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
Beginning in 1962, the Arts in Your Life series included different evenings of "provocative and illuminating experiences in
the living arts for the art of living". Programs featured all the arts (music, theatre, and visual arts). The inaugurating
event included Abraham Kaplan, Roger Wagner, Caltech Men's Glee club, and more. By 1965, it included a varied program of music,
dance, dramatic presentations, lectures, and discussions by members of the faculty and students of the School of Fine Arts.
Events were held at the University Theatre at 8:30 pm.
Box
16, folder 12
e.
University of Judaism Sinfonietta
1962
Scope and Content Note
Includes news clippings.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
Beginning in 1962, the Sinfonietta, or chamber orchestra, was directed by Robert Strassburg.
Box
16, folder 12
f.
University of Judaism Chorale
1962-1963
Archival Materials and Photographs:
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
UJ Chorale Society (1973-) see the Fine Arts Program & the Center for the Arts (Box 15)
Physical Location:
Related Materials:
For materials on the
AJU Choir(1994-) see Box 28.
Scope and Content Note
Includes news clippings.
Biography/Organization History
Historical Note:
Beginning in 1962, the Chorale, with over 100 members, was directed by Max Helfman and assisted by Robert Strassburg.
Box
16, folder 13-18
8.
Communications
1961-1972
Box
16, folder 13
a.
Press Releases and News Bulletins
1962-1966
Box
16, folder 14
b.
Newspaper Articles and Clippings
1962-1972
Scope and Content Note
Examples include Launch Fine Arts School at UJ, 1961-12-1; Series of Plays Planned at University of Judaism, 1963-10-04;
Dr. Kaplan Hails Fine Arts School of UJ, 1962-11-16; United Synagogue of America, Greet the Establishment of the School of
Fine Arts, 1962-09-21; UJ Fine Arts School is Dedicated to a Creative Renaissance, 1963-04-05.
Box
16, folder 15
a.
Faculty News Clippings
Scope and Content Note
Includes articles on Isaac Van Grove, Roy Harris, Moi Solotaroff, Ted Post, Eric Ray, Stephen S. Kayser and more.
