Konvitz, Milton R. Additional Papers, 1936-1986
Collection Number: /4039 B

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Milton R. Konvitz Additional Papers, 1936-1986
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
/4039 B
Creator:
Konvitz, Milton R.
Quanitities:
6.33 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English, French

Biographical / Historical

March 12, 1908-September 5, 2003 Milton Konvitz, a Cornell University faculty member and authority on constitutional and labor law, and civil and human rights, died Sept. 5 at the age of 95. Konvitz was a founding faculty member in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations from 1946 until his retirement in 1973. He was also a professor in Cornell's Law School. Konvitz is perhaps best known for his American Ideals course, which he taught to more than 8,000 students over the course of his career, never giving the same lecture twice. "I saw the U.S. Constitution as it has been interpreted as a magnificent depository of our ideals, both individual and social," he said. His course exposed students to the great intellectual thinkers and philosophers throughout history whose writings had shaped those ideals. They included Sophocles, whose play Antigone is Cornell's New Student Reading Project this year. One student he influenced was U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cornell Class of 1954, who considers him a mentor. At Cornell Konvitz also was a founder of the university's Department of Near Eastern Studies and Program of Jewish Studies. "I felt it was essential for a college interested in the humanities not to leave out Hebrew language and literature," he said. "And the knowledge of Jewish history, which began 4,000 years ago and has contributed to civilization no less than Greek, Roman or English history, is important to today's students-Jewish and non-Jewish." He often hosted students at his Ithaca home and helped start the first Kosher dining option at Cornell, Young Israel House. In addition, for nearly 30 years he directed the Liberian Codification Project, which drew up the official body of statutory laws that is still in force in the Republic of Liberia today, despite the current political upheaval there. Konvitz also edited the opinions of Liberia's Supreme Court and received the Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa, the highest award given to foreigners, as well as an honorary degree from the University of Liberia, one of seven honorary degrees he received in his lifetime. Active as a scholar and writer until his death, he wrote books and articles on American constitutional law that won him wide recognition and were cited in U.S. Supreme Court opinions. Among his nine books is Fundamental Liberties of a Free People: Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, which was republished earlier this year with an expanded introduction by him that is strongly critical of the Rehnquist Supreme Court. Other books include A Century of Civil Rights (1983) and Judaism and Human Rights (2nd ed. 2001). He also edited a dozen volumes, including two on American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose thinking shaped his views. One Emersonian idea he absorbed was that readers give life to books, which Konvitz recast as follows: "It is in their hearing that students bring life to the words, the thoughts, the teacher." Konvitz was born in Safed, Palestine (now Israel ), in 1908, the son of a rabbi. He immigrated to the United States in 1915 and became a naturalized citizen in 1926. He received a bachelor's degree in 1929 and a law degree in 1930, both from New York University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Cornell in 1933. Before joining Cornell's faculty, he was one of three assistant general counsels to Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund for three years. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of Oakhurst, N.J.; a brother, Phillip, of Elberon, N.J.; a son and daughter-in- law, Josef and Isa, of Paris, France; and two grandsons, Eli and Ezra. Josef Konvitz, who grew up in Ithaca, is now an official at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Conditions Governing Use

This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Preferred Citation

Milton R. Konvitz Additional Papers #/4039 B. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.

Related Materials

Related Collections: /3033: Milton R. Konvitz Liberian Project Files /4039: Milton R. Konvitz Papers /4039 AV: Milton R. Konvitz American Ideals Lectures Audio-Visual Materials /4039 a: Milton R. Konvitz Papers Guide (Volume 1). Laser Copy /4039 L: Milton R. Konvitz Liberian Codification Project /4085: Milton R. Konvitz Additional Papers /4220m: Milton Konvitz Additional Papers /4289 AV: ILR School Alumni Affairs and Development Audio-Visual Materials /4297: ILR School Biography Files 6047: Archives Information File

SUBJECTS

Names:
Konvitz, Milton R.(Milton Ridvas), 1908-2003

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1
Whole file folders of newspaper clippings removed from Subject file series as per RS instructions
Box 1 Folder 1
Folder A, Correspondence of Rabbi Jacob B Agus
1984-1986
Scope and Contents
Has English and Hebrew
Box 1 Folder 2
Folder B, Primarily the Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 3
Folder C, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1983-1986
Box 1 Folder 4
Folder D, Correspondence and Newspaper Clippings, Professor Konvitz
1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 5
Folder E, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 6
Folder F, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz and Papers
1984
Box 1 Folder 7
"Free Inquiry: Why I am a Jew"
1984
Scope and Contents
Newspaper clipping and correspondence
Box 1 Folder 8
Folder G, Envelopes of Professor Konvitz
1986
Box 1 Folder 9
Folder G, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz and Miscellaneous Papers
1985-1986
Box 1 Folder 10
Sidney Goldmann, Correspondence, Obituary, and Profile
1974-1981
Box 1 Folder 11
Folder G, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1983-1986
Box 1 Folder 12
Folder H, Professor Konvitz Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 13
Folder H, Papers and Correspondence
1984
Box 1 Folder 14
Hebrew Culture Foundation
1982-1984
Box 1 Folder 15
Hebrew Culture Foundation
1983-1985
Box 1 Folder 16
Folder I-J, Hebrew Culture Foundation and Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 17
Professor Konvitz, "Hakhanah"
1984
Scope and Contents
July 1984
Box 1 Folder 18
Folder I-J, Correspondence of Milton Konvitz
1983-1986
Box 1 Folder 19
Folder I-J, Correspondence of Milton Konvitz and "A Century of Achievement" Booklet
1986
Scope and Contents
In English and Hebrew
Box 1 Folder 20
Pamphlets for "Jewish Academy of Arts and Sciences" and Biographies
1984
Scope and Contents
In Hebrew and English
Box 1 Folder 21
The Journal of Law and Religion Documents
1982-1984
Box 2
Whole file folders of newspaper clippings removed from Subject file series as per RS instructions
Box 2 Folder 1
Folder K, Correspondence and Biography of Horace Kallen
1985
Box 2 Folder 2
Folder K, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1983-1986
Scope and Contents
In English and Hebrew
Box 2 Folder 3
Biography and Publications of Max Kampelman
1986
Box 2 Folder 4
Folder L, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz, Paper by Beryl Levy
1984-1985
Box 2 Folder 5
Folder M, Correspondence and Miscellaneous Writing
1985-1986
Box 2 Folder 6
"Midstream: A Monthly Jewish Review" Documents and Correspondence
1984-1985
Box 2 Folder 7
Folder M, Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1983-1986
Box 2 Folder 8
Correspondence of Shirley McClintock
1986
Box 2 Folder 9
Folder N, Correspondence, Royalty Statements
1983
Box 2 Folder 10
Folder O, Correspondence
1985
Box 2 Folder 11
Essays in Honor of Leo Pfeffer Paper
1982-1985
Box 2 Folder 12
Folder P, Correspondence, Royalty Statements, Miscellaneous Papers
1983-1986
Box 2 Folder 13
Folder R, Correspondence
1985
Box 2 Folder 14
Folder R, Correspondence and Book Reviews
1983-1986
Box 2 Folder 15
Folder S, Correspondence and the Smilen Literary Award
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 16
Folder S, Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 17
Folder S, Correspondence
1983-1984
Box 2 Folder 18
Folder T-U, Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 19
Folder W, Correspondence, Guide to American Law
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 20
Folder X-Y-Z, Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 21
Unidentified Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 2 Folder 22
Unidentified Correspondence
1983-1986
Box 3
Whole file folders of newspaper clippings removed from Subject file series as per RS instructions
Box 3 Folder 1
School of Industrial and Labor Relations Documents
1983-1986
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondence Regarding Forest Home
1984
Box 3 Folder 3
Docum Center and Correspondence regarding the Milton Konvitz Papers
1984
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence and Writings of Professor Konvitz
1983-1985
Box 3 Folder 5
Cornell Inquiry and Writing by Konvitz
1984
Box 3 Folder 6
Cornell/ILR Correspondence, Correspondence with Glen Faber
1984
Box 3 Folder 7
Cornell/ILR Correspondence
1984-1986
Box 3 Folder 8
Cornell/ILR Correspondence
1983-1986
Box 3 Folder 9
Cornell/ILR Correspondence
1984-1985
Box 3 Folder 10
Cornell/ILR Correspondence
1983-1984
Box 3 Folder 11
The Legacy of Horace M Kallen
1986
Box 3 Folder 12
Correspondence of Professor Konvitz
1983-1984
Box 3 Folder 13
Council on Religion and Law Documents
1984
Box 3 Folder 14
Evaluation of a Research Proposal to the National Endowment for the Humanities
1985
Box 3 Folder 15
Alan Dershowitz, Biographies and Newspaper Clippings
1985
Box 3 Folder 16
Newspaper Clippings
1984-1986
Box 3 Folder 17
Newsletters, etc.
1983-1984
Box 4
Whole file folders of newspaper clippings removed from Subject file series as per RS instructions
Box 4 Folder 1
ACLU Papers
1982-1984
Box 4 Folder 2
ACLU Papers
1983
Box 4 Folder 3
ACLU Papers
1983
Box 4 Folder 4
ACLU Papers
1983
Box 4 Folder 5
ACLU Papers
1983-1984
Box 4 Folder 6
ACLU Papers
1983-1984
Box 4 Folder 7
ACLU Papers
1983-1984
Box 4 Folder 8
ACLU Papers
1943-1985
Box 4 Folder 9
Anti-Defamation League Papers
1983-1985
Box 4 Folder 10
Anti-Defamation League Papers
1983-1985
Box 5
Whole file folders of newspaper clippings removed from Subject file series as per RS instructions
Box 5 Folder 1
Council of Europe Press Releases
1983-1985
Scope and Contents
In English and French
Box 5 Folder 2
Council of Europe Press Releases
1984-1985
Box 5 Folder 3
Council of Europe Press Release, Directorate of Press and Information
1983-1985
Scope and Contents
English and French
Box 5 Folder 4
Council of Europe Press Releases
1980-1982
Scope and Contents
English and French
Box 5 Folder 5
Council of Europe, Collection of Decisions of the European Commission of Human Rights
1960-1963
Scope and Contents
French and English
Box 5 Folder 6
Council of Europe, Collection of Decisions of the European Commission of Human Rights
1960-1962
Scope and Contents
English and French
Box 6
Recent accession from MK of current newsletters, etc.
Box 6 Folder 1
Legalization of Bingo in New York City
1958
Scope and Contents
August 8 1958
Box 6 Folder 2
Bilingual Rights and Issues Newspaper Clippings
1973-1980
Box 6 Folder 3
Confirmation of Judge John Bigelow
1956
Box 6 Folder 4
African American and Jewish Rights and Issues
1971-1979
Box 6 Folder 5
Birth Control Legality and Religious Opposition Newspaper Clippings
1958
Box 6 Folder 6
The Bible and Prayer Newspaper Clippings
1961-1963
Box 6 Folder 7
The Bible and Love Newspaper Clippings
1955-1957
Scope and Contents
English and Hebrew
Box 6 Folder 8
Beggars in New York Newspaper Clipping
1969
Box 6 Folder 9
Father Berrigan Newspaper Clippings
1970-1973
Box 6 Folder 10
The Allan Bakke Case Newspaper Clippings
1977-1978
Box 6 Folder 11
The Bible Newspaper Clippings
1952-1973
Box 6 Folder 12
Newspaper Clippings on Bail
1951-1974
Box 6 Folder 13
Backlash Newspaper Clippings
1966-1969
Box 6 Folder 14
Automobile Newspaper Clippings
1950-1967
Box 6 Folder 15
Automation Newspaper Clippings
1955-1968
Box 6 Folder 16
The Arts Newspaper Clippings
1965-1980
Box 6 Folder 17
Army Segregation Newspaper Clippings
1953
Box 6 Folder 18
Artificial Insemination on Humans Newspaper Clippings
1967
Box 6 Folder 19
Arbitration Newspaper Clippings
1968-1983
Box 6 Folder 20
Association: NAACP Newspaper Clippings
1958-1964
Box 6 Folder 21
Rights to Asylum Newspaper Clippings
1950-1966
Box 6 Folder 22
Athens Newspaper Clipping
1966
Box 6 Folder 23
Attica Incident Newspaper Clippings
1971
Box 6 Folder 24
Australia Newspaper Clippings
1948-1951
Box 6 Folder 25
Arrest and Records Newspaper Clippings
1962-1973
Box 6 Folder 26
Arts and State Aid Newspaper Clippings
1961-1969
Box 6 Folder 27
Annual Wage Articles
1961-1966
Box 6 Folder 28
Arms Newspaper Clippings
1963-1977
Box 6 Folder 29
Newspaper Clippings Regarding Arabs
1964-1970
Box 6 Folder 30
Anti-Trust Laws Newspaper Articles
1947-1964
Box 6 Folder 31
Appalachian Indictment Newspaper Clippings
1959-1970
Box 6 Folder 32
Anti-Trust Laws Newspaper Clippings
1958-1969
Box 6 Folder 33
Anti-Semitism Newspaper Clippings
1966-1979
Scope and Contents
English and Hebrew
Box 6 Folder 34
"American Way of Life" Newspaper Clippings
1958
Box 6 Folder 35
Anti-Discrimination Legislation Newspaper Clippings
1965-1967
Box 6 Folder 36
Quentin Anderson Newspaper Clipping
1971
Box 6 Folder 37
Anderson Papers Newspaper Clippings
1972
Box 6 Folder 38
Anarchism Newspaper Clippings
1964-1968
Box 6 Folder 39
Amsterdam Article
Box 6 Folder 40
American Medical Association Article
1949
Scope and Contents
July 30 1949
Box 6 Folder 41
American Labor Research Institute Newspaper Clippings
1946
Box 6 Folder 42
American Jews Miscellaneous Articles
1959-1964
Box 6 Folder 43
American Committee for Cultural Freedom Newspaper Clippings
1954-1956
Box 6 Folder 44
American Civilization Article
1960
Scope and Contents
December 23 1960
Box 6 Folder 45
Saul Alinsky Articles
1964
Box 6 Folder 46
"ALIEN" Treaties Senate Record
1953
Box 6 Folder 47
Japanese Aliens Newspaper Clippings
1949-1951
Box 6 Folder 48
Aliens Deportation Newspaper Clippings
1949-1952
Box 6 Folder 49
Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings
1955-1979
Box 6 Folder 50
Last Folder
Box 7
Recent accession from MK of current newsletters, etc.
Box 7 Folder 1
New Jersey Law Journal Volume 59
1936