Restrictions
Some material is restricted, please consult the Archivist.
History--Biography
The president is responsible for the general administration of the
university. The president delegates this authority through various vice-
presidents who are responsible for a particular aspect of the
university's operations, such as development, academic affairs, and
finance and administration. The president is appointed by the Board of
Trustees and is responsible to the Board. The first president of Brandeis
was Abram L. Sachar from 1948 through 1968, followed by Morris B.
Abram,1968 through 1970; Charles I. Schottland, 1970 through 1972; Marver
H. Bernstein, 1972 through 1983; Evelyn E. Handler, 1983 through 1991;
Stuart H. Altman, who acted as interim president from 1990 through 1991;
Samuel O. Thier, 1991 through 1994, and Jehuda Reinharz, the current
university president who started his post in 1994.
Scope and
Contents
Files in this collection were created from 1948 through 2007. Materials include memos, correspondence, reports, speeches, newsletters, and several items of memorabilia. Subjects in this collection include presidential inaugurations, accreditation, strategic planning, the president's council--a committee which advises the president on a wide range of topics--and special events including Founders' Day and the Brandeis Forum. Some topics which recur throughout the collection include the finances of the university and personnel. Some files contain information on student unrest in the 1960s and 1970s, student and staff diversity, and the Jewish identity at Brandeis during the 1980s. Many of the documents were written by the presidents and were addressed to the Brandeis community.
Series
President's Council (box 1)
Presidential Inaugurations (box 2)
Special Events (boxes 3-4)
Strategic Planning (box 5)
President's Office Memorabilia (box 6)
Morris B. Abram Administration (box 7)
Charles I. Schottland Administration (box 8)
Marver H. Berstein Administration (boxes 9-10)
Evelyn E. Handler Administration (boxes 11-12)
Stuart H. Altman Administration (box 13)
Samuel O. Thier Administration (box 14, map drawer 4)
Jehuda Reinharz Administration (boxes 15-16, map drawer 5)
Series Summary
President's Council
Inclusive Dates: 1976-1996, n.d.
Arrangement: Organized under subseries
This series contains partial membership lists, including several
directories of the council members published during the 1980s.
Presidential Inaugurations
Inclusive Dates: 1948-1995
Arrangement: Chronological
This series contains correspondence and programs concerning the
presidential inaugurations of Sachar, Schottland, Bernstein, Handler,
Thier, and Reinharz. There are two VHS videos of the Handler inauguration.
Special Events
Inclusive Dates: 1984-1996
Arrangement: Organized under subseries, then Chronological
This series includes memos, correspondence, financial statements,
programs, drawings, and photographs concerning Founder's Day,
particularly its creation in 1986, and correspondence, memos, posters,
press clippings concerning the Brandeis Forum, and material concerning
the "Israel at 40" celebration. Most of the files focus on invitations
to participants and logistical plans. Many of the files were created by
Evelyn Handler and Suzanne Yates. Files on the Brandeis Forum concerns
presidential candidates giving speeches on campus during the 1984 and
1988 campaigns.
Strategic Planning
Inclusive Dates: 1951-2006, n.d.
Arrangement: Organized under subseries, then Chronological
This series holds reports concerning the strategic planning of the
university. The reports include, "Blueprint for Renewal,"
"Reestablishing Academic and Economic Equilibrium," and "Brandeis 2000:
Building on Strength." The President created many of these reports with
the assistance of specially appointed committees. The President usually
submitted these reports to the Board of Trustees. In addition, this
series includes material on planning conferences in the 1970s,
accreditation for the university in 1953, and re-accreditation during
the 1980s and 1990s.
President's Office Memorabilia
Inclusive Dates: 1949-1994
Arrangement: By object
This series includes memorabilia objects given to various Brandeis
presidents. The memorabilia was collected by the Assistant to the
President. Materials include the Brandeis Medallion which flew on board
the Space Shuttle, a lecture poster signed by Jack Kemp, the guest book
from a 1994 Seoul, Korea Alumni meeting, a piece of wood from the
original White House, and two honorary degree programs signed by George
Burns. There are also two medals given to David Niles at Democratic
National Conventions.
Morris B. Abram Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1968-1982
Arrangement: Alphabetical
Files within this series include correspondence, memos, and speeches
concerning the location of the Abram papers, student unrest, and the
Transitional Year Program. Banquet invitations and a vinal record of a
speech by Abram are also included.
Charles I. Schottland Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1970-1991
Arrangement: Alphabetical
This series contains budget reports and biographical information on
Schottland. Subjects in this series include campus violence and the
Vietnam conflict, African-American students, and staff benefits. This
series also includes incomplete runs of "Notes" and "President's
Newsletter", both produced by the President's office.
Marver H. Bernstein Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1971-1990
Arrangement: Alphabetical
This series contains background information on Bernstein and files
concerning administrative matters such as budgets, fundraising, staff
appointments, and financial aid. There are also incomplete runs of two
newsletters from the president's office, "From the President's Desk" and
"President's Newsletter." Several obituaries concerning Bernstein and
his wife are also included. Also included is a scrapbook of photographs,
correspondence, newsclippings, and memorials on Marver H. and Sheva R.
Bernstein. Many of the items pertain to the Bernsteins' tragic death in
a Cairo hotel fire in 1990.
Evelyn E. Handler Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1983-1990, n.d.
Arrangement: Organized under subseries, then alphabetical and
chronological
This series contains biographical information on Handler and a copy of
the Inuaguration of Evelyn Erika Handler as the fifth president of
Brandeis. It also contains files on the Committee on Students of Color;
staff resignations, and appointments; and the controversy concerning the
Jewish identity of Brandeis, particularly serving shellfish and pork and
leaving Jewish holidays off the university calendar. Various speeches,
invitations, and photographs of receptions and dinners are also in this
series.
Stuart H. Altman Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1990-1991
Arrangement: Organized under subseries
This series contains memos regarding community volunteers, staff
resignations and holidays, hiring and budget freezes, and campus security.
Samuel O. Thier Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1991-1994
Arrangement: Alphabetical
This series contains general statements from the president concerning
the University's general state of affairs, staff appointments and
diversity. This series also holds reports on affirmative action;
speeches; invitations; and files concerning the controversy over Jean
Kirkpatrick giving the 1994 commencement address. The series also
contains a copy of the inuguration of Samuel Osiah Thier as the sixth
president of Brandeis.
Jehuda Reinharz Administration
Inclusive Dates: 1965-2006
Arrangement: Organized under subseries, then alphabetical
This series contains biographical information on Reinharz. It also
contains correspondence, memos, photographs, statements, and reports
concerning the university's general state of affairs, and various
policies, the Brandeis 2000 committee, appointments, staff holidays,
affirmative action, and accreditation. There are also several items of
memorabilia in this collection, including National Women's Committee
bookplates. Additional information on the National Women's Committee is
in the National Women's Committee Collection.
Folder List
President's Council
Box 1
[Certificates], n.d.
Members of president's council, 1976
Dates of election, n.d.
Directory, 1984-1991, 1996 [6 folders]
Presidential Inaugurations
Box 2
Abram L. Sachar, 1948
Morris Berthold Abram, 1968 [2 folders]
Charles I. Schottland, 1971
Marver Hillel Bernstein, 1972
Evelyn Erika Handler, 1983
Evelyn Erika Handler--Videotape of inauguration, 1983
Samuel Osiah Thier, 1992
Jehuda Reinharz, 1995 [2 folders]
Special Events
Box 3
Founders' Day
Correspondence, 1986
Convocation, 1986
Founders' Day Dinner, 1986
Flowers, etc., 1986
Honorary degree recipients, 1986
J.B.S. Dinner, 1986
Meetings, 1986
Past Presidents and Portraits, 1986
Photos, 1986
Printing, 1986
Symposium, 1986
VIP's, 1986
Misc., 1986
Brochure, 1986
Convocation, 1988
Founders' Day 1992
Founders' Day dinner, 1992
Conference, 1993
Dinner, 1996
Photographs, 1996
The Brandeis Forum
The Brandeis Forum, 1984, 1987-1988 [3 folders]
Israel at 40
"Israel at 40" celebration at Brandeis, 1987-1988
Box 4
The Brandeis Forum
Autographed Brandeis Forum poster by Jack Kemp, 1987
Strategic Planning
Box 5
Accreditation
Status of Accreditation, 1951
Accreditation status, 1953
New England Association of College and Secondary Schools Information Blanks--Senior, 1953 [3
folders]
TL from J. F. Kauffman to Abram Sachar, 1953, 1954 [2 folders]
TL from Abram Sachar, 1954
TL from Abram Sachar to Mr. Alpert, 1954
Status of Accreditation, n.d.
Re-accreditation
Re-accreditation Self-Study Report--Draft, 1986 [2 folders]
Re-accreditation Self-Study Report, 1986 [2 folders]
New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc., 1987, 1991, 1997 [3 folders]
Strategic Reports
Planning Conference, 1973, 1978 [2 folders] [R]
"The State of the University", 1978-1980 [2 folders]
Report of an Internal Audit and Study of the Fund-Raising, n.d. Readiness and Potential of
Brandeis University, 1984
Institutional and Academic Strategic Planning, 1985
Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Academic and Financial Implications of the Strategic Plan--
"Final Report", 1987
"Diversity at Brandeis", 1988
Committee on Academic and Institutional Resources--Minutes, ca. 1989
Report of the Strategic Planning Committee, 1989
"Blueprint for Renewal: Brandeis University", 1990
"Which Side of the Fence Shall We Choose?"--Student Senate--Blueprint for Renewal, 1990
"Achieving Equilibrium"--Provisional Report of the Academic Planning Group, 1992
"Achieving Equilibrium"--The Graduate Student Association Senate's Response, 1992
"Reestablishing Academic and Economic Equilibrium", 1992
"Interim Report of the Brandeis 2000 Committee", 1995
Brandeis 2000 memos, 1996-1997
"Brandeis 2000: Building on Strength", 1996
Brandeis 2000: Information Services and Technologies at Brandeis, 1996
Brandeis 2000 Progress Report, 1997
Brandeis 2000 Progress Report: Executive Summary, 1997
Brandeis 2000: Salary Subcommittee, 1997 [R]
NEASC Accreditation, 2006
Box 6
Strategic Plan, 1998 [2 folders] [R]
"Brandeis University," n.d
President's Office Memorabilia
Box 6
Visitors Register--Seoul Hilton Kyong Ju, 1994
Honorary Degree Program--George Burns Autograph, 1993
Autographed lecture poster for Jack Kemp, 1987
Brandeis University Medallion--Space Shuttle, 1985
"Christmas Greetings From the President--1949" [wood from the White House], 1949
Morris B. Abram Administration
Flat File
An address by Morris B. Abram...at the Century Plaza Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, 1969 [LP
recording]
Box 7
Biography, 1982
Correspondence, 1969-1970
Memos, 1969
Presentation to the executive committee, ca. 1968
President's banquet, 1969
Charles Schottland Administration
Box 8
Biographical information, 1991
Budget 1971-72, 1971
Correspondence within Brandeis, 1970-1971
Memos, 1970-1971
"Notes", 1970-1971
"President's Newsletter", 1970-1972
Marver Bernstein Administration
Box 9
Academic calendar, 1973
Affirmative Action--Announcement, 1982
Awards, 1975
Biographical information, 1971, 1974, 1979
"Brandeis University Newsletter", 1973
Budget, 1972, 1975, 1976 [3 folders]
Correspondence, 1972-1977
[Description president's house], 1982-1983
Essays in Modern Jewish History: A Tribute to Ben Halpern--Copy inscribed by Ben Halpern to
Sheva and Marver Bernstein, 1982
Financial aid for undergraduates, 1973-1974
"From the President's Desk", 1973-1980
Invitations, 1977-1978, 1983
Memos, 1972-1983
Memos on financial aid, 1975
Memorial service, 1990
Mystics, Philosophers, and Politicians: Essays in Jewish Intellectual History in Honor of
Alexander Altmann--Copy inscribed by Ben Halpern to Sheva and Marver Bernstein, 1982
News clippings, 1971-1988
Obituary notices, 1990
Open office hours, 1976
"President's Newsletter", 1971-1973
Scholarships, 1976
Speeches, 1976-1980
Box 10
"Brandeis University Marver H. Bernstein" [plaque from Athletic Department], 1983
Memorial Scrapbook--Marver H. and Sheva R. Bernstein, ca. 1990
Evelyn E. Handler Administration
Box 11
Administrative files
American council on education publications on higher education funding, 1985
Biographical information, n.d.
"Brandeis seeks to restore its old sense of identity" by Fox Butterfield New York Times, 1984
"Colleges can Help" by Wendy Buchert USA Today, 1989
Convocation honoring the President of Israel, Chaim Herzog, 1987
Correspondence, 1987-1989
Correspondence within Brandeis, 1988-1990
Inauguration of Evelyn Erika Handler as fifth president of Brandeis, 1983
Interview, n.d.
Invitations, 1988-1990
JDC 75th anniversary mission, 1989
"Jewishness at Brandeis", 1987-1988
Jewishness at Brandeis--newspaper clippings, 1987
"On Campus", 1986
Outstanding mother award, 1990
"Pork and Shellfish at Brandeis University," 1997
Reaccreditation, 1987
Resignation letter, 1990
Retreats, 1988
Speeches, 1983-1990 [2 folders]
Statement Regarding South Africa and Divestment, 1987
Box 12
Receptions and dinners
Dessert meeting, 1983
Student reception, 1983
Dinner for Isador Rabi, 1983
Administrative buffet dinner, 1984
Faculty reception # 1, 1984
Faculty reception # 2, 1984
Faculty reception # 3, 1984
Faculty reception # 4, 1984
Milender fellows reception, 1984
Edward Albee dinner, 1984
Graduate student reception, 1984
Volterra dinner, 1984
National Women's Committee--Boston Chapter tea, 1984
Peter Heller dinner, 1984
Trustees brunch, 1984
Younger leadership dinner, 1984
Doris Graubart fellow dinner, 1984
Administration dinner, 1984
Ask the president, 1984
Dinner for Arthur Katzenberg, 1984
Michtom family dinner, 1984
25th year faculty dinner, 1984
Faculty reception, 1984
Admissions staff dinner, 1985
Dinner # 1, 1985
Dinner # 2, 1985
Maine planning commission, 1985
Dinner # 3, 1985
Dinner # 4, 1985
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Starr dinner, 1985
Waltham Group auction dinner, 1985
25th year faculty dinner, 1985
Rose Art Museum overseers dinner, 1985
Corporate lunches, 1985
Administration dinner, 1986
Hugh Huxley dinner, 1986
Dinner # 5, 1986
Dinner # 6, 1986
Seymour and Gladys Ziv--Photograph, 1986
Waltham Group auction dinner, 1986
Anne Carter reception, 1986
Trustees brunch, 1986
Dinner # 7, 1986
Leonard Florence dinner party, 1986
Gary David Goldberg dinner, 1986
Council of Jewish Federations/Hornstein reception, 1986
Faculty receptions, 1986
Myra Kraft dinner party, 1986
Joe Linsey dinner party, 1986
Club Louis, 1989
Red Auberbach Sports Arena Dedication--Photographs, n.d.
Stuart Altman Administration
Box 13
Memos, 1990-1991
Samuel O. Thier Administration
Box 14
Biography, 1992, 1994
Cabinet members' positions and responsibilities, May 1991
Correspondence, 1991-1993
Correspondence within Brandeis, 1991-1994
Diversity questionnaire, 1993
"Healing Brandeis" by Paul Katzeff, Boston Sunday Herald, 1992
Map Drawer 4
Inauguration poster, 1992
Box 14
Inauguration of Samuel Osiah Thier as the sixth president of Brandeis, 1992
Invitations, 1991-1994
Maintaining a drug-free environment, 1991
Memos, 1994
1994 graduation controversy over Jeane Kirkpatrick, 1994
Report on issues related to recruitment retention and advancement of Brandeis faculty and
administrators, 1993
Speeches, 1992
"Strong Medicine," by Seth Rolbein, Boston Magazine, 1994
University equal opportunity and affirmative action policy, 1991-1992
Jehuda Reinharz Administration
Box 15A
Administrative files
Amicus brief, U.S. Supreme Court affirmative action case, 2003
Biographical information, 1979
Brandeis 2000 Building on Strength--A Report to the Board of Trustees and the Brandeis
University Community, 1996
Brandeis Unites Us campaign, 2004
Brandeis University Business Conduct Policy, 2003
Curriculum Vitae, 1991
Cocktail reception for Lois Foster, 1997
Conflict of interest policy, 1995
Correspondence
Brandeis community, 1994-2007 [2 folders]
Jackson Vanik legislation, 2003
Jaffe, Edwin A., 1998
Kohl, Helmut, 1998
Saitoti, George, 2003
Suderow, Detlev H., 1995
Weltman, David, 2003
Zenkel, Bruce, 2003
Correspondence and photographs--Casty, Ronald G., ca. 1965, 1969?, 2005
Dalai Lama Visit--Briefing Book, 1998 [2 folders]
Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action statement, 1998
Final report of accreditation Team, 1996
Two Major Gifts, 2005
Integrated Planning, 2004-2005
Invitations, n.d.
"Maintaining a Drug-Free Environment", 1994
Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting, 1995
Box 15B
Memos and announcements, 1994-2006 [7 folders]
Newsletters, 2003-2004
Photo at reception, 1994?
President Reinharz, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Stephen Kay--Rabb Seminar, 2005 [2 photos]
President Reinharz with Stanley Sheinbaum at an L.A. reception, 2002 [2 photos]
President's House--National Register of Historic Places, 1998
President's Task Force on the Brandeis Experience: Embracing Diversity, 2002
"Short History, High Standing," Boston Globe article, 1997
Memorabilia
Business Cards--President Jehuda Reinharz, 199?
National Women's Committee bookplates, n.d., 1992-1998 [8 folders]
Box 16
Card commemorating anniversary of Universitaria, Mexico, 1994
Map Drawer 5
Jehuda Reinharz, Presidential Inauguration, 1995
Box 16
Certificate: Waltham Public Schools, 1996
Signed Photograph from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in honor of receiving an Honorary Degree
from Brandeis (monographed silver frame), 1998
Resolution from Mass. House of Representatives on the 50th Anniversary of the State of
Israel, 1998
Banners and Booklets from Federacion Argentina de Centros Comunitarios Mcabeos, 2000
Commencement photo, 2000
Images of President Reinharz's visit to the Museum of the Jewish Soldier, Latrun, Israel,
2002 [1 CD]
Certificate of Achievement--Alumni Campus Abroad Program, Poros, Greece, 2002
Map Drawer 5
Souvenir from president's visit to 'Yad Lashiryon', 2002
Box 16
Friedman, Jack and Lorraine--Donation Material, 2003
Posse Foundation award--Plaque honoring President Reinharz as "Posse Star 2003," 2003
Shapiro, Carl--Newsclippings and Honorary degree, 2003
U.S.S. Constitution Change of Command Ceremony--Lewin Wright, Class of 1984, 2003
Nation Women's Commttee--Gift of learned research journal in honor of Reinharz's 60th
birthday, 2004
Alumni diploma and correspondence, 2004 [R]
Holiday card to Brandeis community, 2004
Map Drawer 5
Poster for talk by Thomas L. Friedman, introduced by Jehuda Reinharz, 2004
Box 16
Germany trip--Photograph of President Reinharz with Prof. Werner Weidenfeld, 2005
Taiwan trip--Memento, 2005
Notes
The papers of the University's first president, Abram L. Sachar, are located at:
http://lts.brandeis.edu/research/archives-speccoll/collections/presidents.html.
Files concerning the 1982 and 1991 presidential searches are located in the Board of Trustees records, Presidential Search Committee series.
A more complete run of the newsletter, "From the President's Desk" is located in the University Periodicals Collection.
For additional information on Brandeis
University's presidents, search the following catalog entries in the
Brandeis University Libraries' on-line catalog, LOUIS:
Author Searches:
Sachar, Abram Leon, 1899-
Abram, Morris B.
Schottland, Charles I.
Bernstein, Marver H.
Handler, Evelyn E.
Altman, Stuart H.
Thier, Samuel O.
Reinharz, Jehuda.