Dates
- 1934-1987
Scope and Content Note
The Alan Silver Papers consist of nineteen file folders and one photograph taken by Sylvia Bergel. All relate to the Bergel/Hauptman case of 1935 and the subsequent re-investigation that was undertaken because of Silver's renewed investigation of the issue in 1986. The papers are a collection of the personal correspondence of Alan Silver, Sylvia Bergel and Lienhard Bergel; unpublished manuscripts written by Silver; interviews with Alan Silver, Lienhard Bergel, Dean Albert Meder, and Emil Jordan( the faculty member of the German Department that was promoted instead of Bergel); and a vast number of government documents pertaining to Bergel and Hauptman from the late 1930's to the early 1940's.
The Papers include correspondence between Silver, the Bergels, and the following individuals:
- · Dr. Edward J. Bloustein - President of Rutgers University during the 1986 reinvestigation.
- · Arthur F. Burns - Once an economics professor at Rutgers, but later Director of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington D.C.
- · Dr. Tilden Edelstein - Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences during the 1986 reinvestigation.
- · Daniel Horn - Professor of History at Rutgers University and a member of the 1986 reinvestigation panel.
- · Richard P. McCormick - Professor of History at Rutgers University and a member of the 1986 reinvestigation panel.
- · David Oshinsky - Professor of History at Rutgers University and a member of the 1986 reinvestigation panel.
- · Ruth Simmons - Archivist at Special Collections and University Archives, Alexander Library, Rutgers University.
- · Ms. Jose Steinback - Assistant Vice President for Public Information at Rutgers University in 1986.
- · Mark Wasserman- Professor of History at Rutgers University.
Extent
.4 Cubic Feet (1 manuscript box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Alan Silver Papers, 1934-1987 comprise the private collection of Rutgers alumnus Alan Silver, relating to his involvement in the Bergel/Hauptmann affair of the 1930's. Silver, a Rutgers student from 1931 to 1935, was instrumental in the formation of the Special Trustees Committee to Investigate the Charges of Lienhard Bergel. This case, involving the alleged firing of a New Jersey College for Women professor for anti-Nazi sympathies, raised doubts about the political alignment of some Rutgers administrative officials. Silver helped to bring nationwide attention to the affair, and succeeded in having the case reopened 50 years later. The files are arranged in a single series, Papers 1934-1987.
Biographical Sketch of Alan Silver
Alan "Buddy" Silver was born on January 3, 1914 in Rochester, NY. He attended Rutgers University from 1931 to 1935, where he witnessed the Bergel/Hauptmann incident firsthand. During this controversial period in the history of Rutgers University, Lienhard Bergel, a German Professor at the New Jersey College for Women (later to become Douglass College), was removed from his position by German Department Chair Friederich Hauptmann. Though the reason given for his firing was "incompetence," Bergel believed that Haputmann had targeted him for his anti-Nazi sympathies.
Although Silver never studied under either professor, he became interested in the case because of his extracurricular involvement in the National Student League and the Targum newspaper.`In May 1935 he challenged Rutgers Dean of Men Fraser Metzger to open an investigation of Bergel's firing, threatening to contact the New Jersey State Legislature if his plea was ignored. Silver's ensuing meeting with College for Women President Robert C. Clothier led to the formation of the Special Trustees Committee to Investigate the Charges of Lienhard Bergel. Silver also contacted a World Telegram reporter and the American Civil Liberties Union about the case, bringing nationwide attention to the Bergel/Hauptmann affair. The investigation concluded with the committee upholding Hauptmann's decision.
Silver graduated with honors, double-majoring in economics and history. In 1963, he went on to establish a management and consulting firm, of which he was Chief Executive Officer. The firm of Alan Silver & Associates, Inc. was a pioneer in the design and development of inventory control systems for the hard goods distribution agency. He wrote numerous articles that were published in the industry's major periodicals, such as Supply House Times, The Wholesaler, and The Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning Wholesaler.
In 1985, Silver demanded that Rutgers University reopen the Bergel/Hauptmaan case. After meeting with some resistance from President Edward J. Bloustein, Silver contacted the American Association of University Professors, as well as numerous reporters, politicians and alumni. His efforts resulted in the forming of a second committee, made up of historians, to investigate the causes of Bergel's firing. Between the years of 1985 and 1988, this group collected information on the case, and published their findings in 1989 as the book The Case of the Nazi Professor.
Alan Silver married Alice Moolten Silver and had three sons, Thomas, Daniel, and Paul. He was also a World War II army veteran, stationed in Hawaii. Alan Silver died on Tuesday, March 29, 1988, at the age of 74, from cancer.
Arrangement Note
The original order and titles of the Alan Silver Papers have been retained (except that his correspondence was divided into three files and the government documents in the BUFILE 65-28688 were divided into two files). Although there were numerous duplications, very little was discarded because many documents contain different hand-written notes by Silver.
Records of the Special Trustees Committee are arranged into one series.
- I. Papers, 1935-1987
Bibliography
- McCormick, Richard P. Rutgers: A Bicentennial History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1966
- Oshinsky, David M., McCormick, Richard P., and Horn, Daniel. The Case of the Nazi Professor. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1989
- Schmidt, George P. Douglass College: A History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1968
- McCormick, Richard P. Rutgers: A Bicentennial History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1966
- Oshinsky, David M., McCormick, Richard P., and Horn, Daniel. The Case of the Nazi Professor. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1989
- Schmidt, George P. Douglass College: A History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1968
- Academic freedom--New Jersey--History--20th Century
- Civil rights--New Jersey--New Brunswick
- College teachers--New Jersey--Dismissal--History--20th Century
- Education, Higher--New Jersey
- Fascism--New Jersey--History--20th Century
- Politics and education--New Jersey--History--20th Century
- Rutgers University--History
- Title
- Guide to the Alan Silver Papers, 1934-1987 R-MC 023
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Stephanie Iberer
- Date
- April 2007
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written inEnglish.
Part of the Rutgers University Archives Repository
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