United States Holocaust Museum Committee Collection of Alfred Gottschalk

Manuscript Collection No. 712

1978-2000. 11.2 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The United States Holocuast Museum Committee Collection was donated to the American Jewish Archives by Dr. Alfred Gottschalk in June, 2000. Property rights are assigned to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights to materials are held by the individual author or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The collection is open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives.

INSTITUTIONAL SKETCH top

On November 1, 1978, President Jimmy Carter established the President’s Commission on the Holocaust. The purpose of the Commission was to make recommendations on establishing and funding an appropriate memorial to victims of the Holocaust. The Commission suggested the following:

that a living memorial be established to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and which would ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust be taught in perpetuity;

that an educational foundation be established to stimulate and support research in the teaching of the Holocaust;

that a Committee on Conscience be established that would collect information on and alert the national conscience regarding reports of actual or potential outbreaks of genocide throughout the world; and

that a national Day of Remembrance of victims of the Holocaust be established in perpetuity and be held annually.

In order to meet these goals, the Commission took on a new identity, that of the United States Holocaust Memorial Committee. The Committee, brought about by passage of Public Law 96-388 in 1980, was made up of prominent Jews and non-Jews alike. Chaired by Elie Wiesel, its members included Mario Cuomo, Kitty Dukakis, Rabbi Irving Greenberg, Miles Lerman and Professor Alfred Gottschalk, then president of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. The membership of the Committee has changed over the years; however, it is the Museum’s governing body to this day.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was completed in 1994, the product of endless meetings, phone calls, correspondence, and even research trips. The Museum consists of 44,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as an archive, library, Hall of Witness and Hall of Remembrance. Built by architectural firm Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners, it is the recipient of numerous awards, most notably the National Honor Award of the American Institute of Architects, and the Sixth Annual Jewish Cultural Achievement Award of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.

SCOPE AND CONTENT top

Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion from 1971–1995, served on both the President’s Commission on the Holocaust and the United States Holocaust Museum Committee. The scope of this collection reflects the extent of his involvement. Dr. Gottschalk served on the following committees:

· Executive Committee
· Committee on Commemoration
· Committee on Conscience
· Subcommittee on Higher Education
· Committee on International Relations

As a result, these are the committees about which we have the most information.

It could not have escaped Dr. Gottschalk at the time that he was participating in an historic undertaking, one in which future generations would take a keen interest. This awareness manifested itself in his diligent recordkeeping. The items to be found include correspondence, financial reports, periodical articles, minutes of meetings, press releases and publicity.

It should be noted that this is the story of the United States Holocaust Museum, not of Alfred Gottschalk. The strength of this collection resides in its unbiased and comprehensive presentation of the facts.

The content of this collection is organized into one series and is presented in approximate chronological order. By going through its 14 boxes from first to last, a “you were there” sensibility can be created as events unfold. While the minutes of meetings will never be the stuff of high drama, the people involved were – some of them – very well known within the Jewish community, and sometimes beyond. The task they set themselves was one of the most important of their careers.

The task was also onerous and time-consuming. Committee meetings were held almost entirely in Washington, D.C., undoubtedly a hardship for some. Members, all of whom acted in a leadership capacity in their daily lives, had to somehow find the time and energy so that they could give the evolving Museum their very best. Finally, it must certainly have been true that all those involved realized that seeing this project through to completion would take years. For those who stuck with it, the level of commitment required was nearly heroic. Dr. Gottschalk’s service began in 1978 and ended in 1997.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST top

Box		Folder		Contents


1		1		Establishment. November 1, 1978.
		2		Members. 
		3		Press Releases and Publicity. 1978-1979. 
		4		Miscellaneous. 1979.
		5		First Meeting. February 15, 1979.
		6		Subcommittee Meetings and Recommendations. March 1979. 
		7		Days of Remembrance and Second Meeting. April 24, 1979.
		8		Third Meeting. June 7, 1979.

					
2		1		Correspondence A-Z. 1980-1984. 
		2		Fact-Finding Mission to Europe, Soviet Union and Israel. July 29 – August 12, 1979.
		3		Committees and Subcommittees on which Dr. Gottschalk served.
		4		Final Report of the Commission. September 27, 1979. 
		5		Education Subcommittee – Minutes. March 26, 1979.
		6		Academic Research and Higher Education Subcommittee - Minutes. April 16, 1979. l  
		7		By-laws and Establishment. January 16, 1980.
		8		Days of Remembrance. April 26. 1980. 
		9		Meetings and Minutes. May 28, 1980.
		10		Working Committees.   
		11		Publicity and Press Releases. 1980 – 1983.  
		12		Subcommittee on Higher Education.   
		13		Members, Corrected List. June 3, 1980.   
		14		Subcommittee Meetings and Minutes. June 11, 1980. 
		15		Emergency Session. October 22, 1980. 

		 
3		1		Miscellaneous. 1980 – 1982.   
		2		Meeting Minutes.  December 10, 1980.								

		3		Coordinating Committee Membership List.
		4		Development and Budget Committee Meeting Minutes. March 19, 1981.
		5		Site Committee Meeting Minutes. April 29, 1981.  
		6		Days of Remembrance. April 26 – May 3, 1981.
		7		Meeting Minutes. April 30, 1981.
		8		Ohio Holocaust Commemoration (photographs).
		9		Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes. September 10, 1981.
		10             	Meetings (1981 – 1985), inc. Emergency Session. April 15, 1985.


4		1		Recommendations on Themes of the Museum.
		2		International Liberators’ Conference. October 26-28, 1981.
		3		Search for Director. 1981 – 1982.
		4		Meeting Minutes. September 24, 1981.
		5		Meeting Minutes. December 2, 1981.
		6		Miscellaneous. 1982 – 1984.
		7		Days of Remembrance. April 18-25, 1982
		8		Fundraising. 1982 – 1985.


5		1		American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors. April 11-14, 1984.  
		2		Seymour Siegel, Director. 1982 – 1984.
		3		Staff Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. 1983–1984.
		4		Chairman’s Executive Committee Meeting 	Minutes. 1983.
		5		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. May 23, 1984.
		6		Days of Remembrance. April 29-30, 1984.
		7		Meeting Minutes. 1986.
		8		Members, inc. Congressional Members. 1985.
		9		Days of Remembrance. April 14-21, 1985.
		10		Content Committee Meeting Minutes. September 3, 1985.
		11		Museum Groundbreaking Ceremony. October 16, 1985.
		12		Amended Bylaws. June 10, 1986.
		13		Miscellaneous. 1984 – 1986.


6		1		Museum Design Concept Proposal. January 31, 1986.
		2		Holocaust Genocide Studies: An International Journal.
		3		Meeting and Minutes. June 9-10, 1986.
		4		Day of Remembrance for Gypsy Victims. September 16, 1986.
		5		Meeting, Minutes, Resolutions. December 4, 1986.
		6              	Miscellaneous. 1986 – 1987.		
		7              	Museum Development Committee Meeting Minutes. 
		8              	February 4, 1987.
		9              	Museum Development Committee Meeting Minutes. March 4, 1987.
		10		Miscellaneous. 1987.

7		1		Museum Development Committee Meeting Minutes. April 27, 1987.
		2		Meeting Minutes, inc. Executive Committee 
		3		Meeting Minutes. April 27-28, 1987.
				Members; Quarterly Financial Reports; 
				Fundraising; Executive Committee Terms of Reference; Meeting Minutes; Museum Design; Miscellaneous. 1987.
		4		Museum Design. May 22, 1987.
		5		Executive Committee Meeting: Financial Reports. June 1987.
		6		Approval of Museum Design. July 1987.
		7		Days of Remembrance: Press Reports/Newspaper Articles.1987.
		8		Miscellaneous. 1987.

8		1		Education Committee.  First Meeting. 1987.
		2		Various Committee Meetings.  1987.
		3		Education Committee Meetings.  1987-1988.
		4		United States Holocaust Memorial Council.  1987-1988.
		5		Executive Committee.  Special Meeting.  November 10, 1987.

9		1		Executive Committee.  January 20, 1988.
		2		Executive Committee.  April 14, 1988.  Days of Remembrance.  April 10-17, 1988.
		3		USHMC Spring Meeting.  May 12, 1988.
		4		Cornerstone Dedication.  October 5, 1988.
		5		USHMC.  Fall Meting.  November 29, 1988.
		6		Search Committees for various positions.  1988.
		7		Museum Development Committee.  “A Campaign to Remember.”  Museum Design.  1988.
		8		USHMC.  Includes two reports: Understanding Children’s Perceptions of the Holocaust, Psychological Reactions to the Holocaust.  1988
		9		Museum Development Committee.  “A Campaign to Remember.”  Museum Design.  Report: Gypsy 	

				History in Germany and Neighboring Lands: A Chronology Leading to the Holocaust.  1988.
10		1		Narrative Justification Statement. 1988.
		2		Executive Committee Meetings.  1988-1989.
		3		Days of Remembrance.  1989.
		4		Academic Committee.  May 2, 1989.
		5		USHMC Spring Meeting.  May 3, 1989.
		6		Academic Committee.  Informal Meeting.  June 22, 1989.
		7		Academic Committee.  October 25, 1989.
		8		USHMM. 1989-1990.
		9		USHMC. 1989-1990.
		10		USHMM. 1990.
		11		Academic Committee.  Archive Work in USSR.  1990.
		12		Academic Committee.  March 21, 1990.
		13		Academic Committee.  October 22, 1990.
		14		Academic Committee.  1989-1991.
		15		USHMM.  Museum Development Committee.  1990-1991.
		
11		1		USHMC Spring Meeting.  May 8, 1991.
		2		USHMM Third Annual Progress Report.  June 1991.
		3		Academic Committee Meeting.  July 8, 1991.
		4		USHMC Meeting.  November 13, 1991.  Inc. reports from all committees.
		5		Opening Committee. 1991-1992.
		6		Opening Committee. 1991-1992.
		7		Opening Committee Meeting.  February 6, 1992.
		8		Opening Committee Meeting.  March 25, 1992.

12		1		Miscellaneous. 1988 - 1993
		2		Fundraising. 1992.
		3		Progress Report. 1992 – 1993.
		4		Academic Committee Meeting.  January 24, 1992.
		5		Days of Remembrance.  April 30, 1992.
		6		Opening Committee Meeting Minutes. June 24, 1992.
		7		Academic Committee.  July 1992.
		8		Dinner hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Gottschalk. October 27, 1992.
		9		Academic Committee Meeting.  November 10, 1992.
		10		USHMC.  1992-1993.
		11		Meeting Minutes. 1992 – 1993.

13		1		Academic Committee Meeting.  April 9, 1993.
		2		Days of Remembrance. April 18-25, 1993.
		3		Dedication Ceremony. April 22, 1993.
		4		Academic Committee Meeting.  June 11, 1993.
		5		Post-Dedication Correspondence. 1993.
		6		USHMC Meeting.  June 24, 1993.
		7		Museum Opening – Newspaper Articles. 1993.
		8		Miscellaneous. 1993.
		9		Miscellaneous, inc. Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. 1993 – 1994.
		10		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. August 26, 1993.
		11		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. September 29, 1993.
		12		Academic Committee Meeting.  October 5, 1993.
		13		International Scholars Conference.  December 5 – December 8, 1993.

14		1		Museum Visitor Study. 1993.
		2		USHMC Fall Meeting.  November 4, 1993.
		3		U.S. Holocaust Research Institute Inaugural Conference. December 5-8, 1993.
		4		Committee on Conscience Meeting.  December 6, 1993.
		5		Executive Committee Meeting. October 27, 1993.
		6		Executive Committee Meeting. December 8, 1993.
		7		Miscellaneous. 1993.
		8		United States Holocaust Research Institute.  1993-1994.
		9		Comments and Suggestions.  January 1994.

15		1		Office of Council Relations. 1994.
		2		Background Information about Committee on Conscience. 1980-1982.
		3		Committee on Conscience – Various. 1994.
		4		Executive Committee, inc. First Quarter Report FY 1994.
		5		United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Miscellaneous. 1994.
		6		Committee on Conscience Meeting Minutes. February 23, 1994.
		7		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. February 23, 1994 and March 23, 1994.
		8		Publications Subcommittee, inc. Policies and Procedures and Meeting Minutes. April 12, 1994.
		9		Days of Remembrance. April 6, 1994.
		10		Committee on Conscience Meeting Minutes. May 24-25, 1994.
		11		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. May 25, 1994.
		12		Committee on Conscience Meeting Minutes. June 22, 1994.
		13		Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. June 22, 1994.	

16		1		1994 Mid-Year Report.
		2		Brunch honoring German Resistance.  May 21, 1995.
		3		Spring Meeting Minutes, inc. various Reports. June 23, 1994.
		4		Press Releases/Newspaper Articles. 1994-1995.
		5		Academic Committee. 1994.
		6		Miscellaneous. 1994.  
		7		Miscellaneous. 1995.
		8		Third Quarter Report. FY 1994.
		9		Museum Orientation Meeting – Governance Processes and Committee Structure. October 25, 1994.
		10		Committee on Conscience Meetings and Minutes. October 25, 1994.

17		1		Fall Meeting, inc. Minutes of Spring Meeting. November 15, 1994.
		2		Miscellaneous. 1994.
		3		USHMM. 1993, 1995.
		4		Academic Committee Meetings and Minutes. 1995.
		5		Committee on Conscience. 1995-1996.
		6		Committee on Conscience Meeting Minutes. April 26, 1995.
		7		Days of Remembrance. April 27, 1995.
		8		Steg Correspondence. 1995.
		9		Meyerhoff Lecture. June 11, 1995.
		10		Miscellaneous. 1995-1996.

18		1		Academic Committee.  January 20, 1995.
		2		Academic Committee.  June 12, 1995.
		3		USHMC Spring Meeting.  June 14, 1995.
		4		Academic Committee.  December 4, 1995.
		5		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 5, 1995.
		6		Miscellaneous.  1995.

19		1		Committee on Conscience.  January 26, 1996.
		2		Days of Remembrance.  1996.
		3		Academic Committee. June 18, 1996.  (Inc. U.S. Holocaust Research Institute)
		4		Committee on Conscience Inaugural Meeting.  June 18, 1996.  (Inc. material on Genocide.)
		5		USHMC Spring Meeting.  June 19, 1996.
		6		Executive Committee.  August 21, 1996.
		7		Executive Committee.  September 18, 1996.
		8		Transfer of KGB WWII files to Museum.  October 28, 1996.
		9		Executive Committee.  November 20, 1996.
		10		Subcommittee on Governance.  Report on Governance Review.  November 20, 1996.
		11		Executive Committee. Fall Meeting.  December 4, 1996.
		12		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 4, 1996.
		13		Collections and Acquisitions.  December 5, 1996.
		14		Academic Committee.  December 18, 1996.
		15		Exhibit: The Nazi Olympics.  1996.

20		1		Miscellaneous.  1996.
		2		Academic Committee.  1996-1997.
		3		Executive Committee.  1996-1997.
		4		USHMM.  July 1996 – June 1997.
		5		Academic Committee.  1997.
		6		Media coverage.  January – February 1997.
		7		Media coverage.  March – April 1997.
		8		Executive Committee.  March 19, 1997.
		9		Search Committee.  April 16, 1997.
		10		Prospectus Revision.  Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  April 1997.
		11		Academic Committee.  June 17, 1997.
		12		Committee on Conscience.  June 17, 1997.
		13		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 3, 1997.
		14		Draft Prospectus.  Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  USHMM Reorganization Report.
		15		USHMM.  Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  1997.

21		1		Executive Committee.  February 19, 1997. 
		2		Executive Committee.  March 19, 1997.
		3		Days of Remembrance.  1997.
		4		Media coverage.  June 1997.
		5		Media coverage.  July 1997.
		6		Executive Committee.  July 23, 1997.
		7		Media coverage.  August 1997.
		8		Executive Committee.  September 24, 1997.
		9		Executive Committee.  October 22, 1997.
		10		Media coverage.  October 1997.
		11		Executive Committee.  November 19, 1997.
		12		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 3, 1997.
		13		Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  1997.
		14		Controversy regarding film about anti-semitism.  1997.
		15		Exhibit – Hidden History of the Kovno Ghetto.  1997.
		16		Exhibit – Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust.  1997.
		17		USHMM.  Nationwide Survey.  1997.
		18		Programming.  1997.
		19		Search for Director of Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  1997.
		20		U.S. Senate Resolution – German Health Insurance Fund for Holocaust Survivors.  1997.
		21		State Dept. Preliminary Study of stolen assets.  “Eizenstat Study.”  1997.
		22		USHMM.  1997.
		23		Visiting Chinese Scholar Xu Xin.  1997.

22		1		Executive Committee.  January 21, 1998.
		2		Executive Committee.  March 26, 1998.
		3		Executive Committee.  April 22, 1998.
		4		Executive Committee Emergency Meeting.  June 16, 1998.
		5		Collections and Acquisitions.  June 16, 1998.
		6		USHMC Spring Meeting.  June 17, 1998.
		7		Roth, John.  Resignation as Director of Center for  Advanced Holocaust Studies.  
				June 29,1998.
		8		University Consortium Ad Hoc Committee.  September 15, 1998.
		9		Academic Committee.  September 15, 1998.
		10		Search for USHMM Director Committee Meeting.  September 15, 1998.
		11		Search for USHMM Director Committee Meeting.  October 21, 1998.
		12		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 8, 1998.
	
23		1		Academic Committee.  Access to Vatican Archives.  1998.
		2		Academic Committee Memos.  1998.
		3		Arafat Visit to Museum.  1998.
		4		Attacks in the Media.  1998.
		5		Executive Committee.  Various Meetings.  Inc. memo “Holocaust Victims’ Assets and the 
				Museum.”
		6		Executive Committee.  October, November, December 1998.
		7		Media coverage.  January 1998.
		8		Media coverage of traveling exhibitions.  1998.
		9		Media coverage.  Fifth Anniversary Activities.  1998.
		10		Reich, Walter.  Resignation.  1998.  RESTRICTED.	
		11		Weiss, Avi.  1998.  RESTRICTED.
		
24		1		Programming.  1998-1999.
		2		Search for USHMM Director.  1998-1999.
		3		Search for USHMM Director.  1999.
		4		Media coverage.  January 1999.
		5		Media coverage.  March 1999.
		6		Media coverage.  April – May 1999.
		7		Media coverage.  October – November 1999.
		8		Media coverage.  November 1999.
		9		USHMM Miscellaneous.  1999.
		10		Committee on Conscience.  East Timor, Kosovo.  1999.
		11		Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  “Moritz Frohlich – Morris Gay: A German Refugee in
				the United States.”  1999.

25		1		Updates.  June 26, 1998.  July 16, 1998.
		2		Media coverage.  August 1998.
		3		Media coverage.  September, November 1998.
		4		Programming.  1998-2000.
		5		USHMM’s First Five Years. 1998.
		6		Conference on Early Warning and Prevention of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity.  1998.
		7		International Directory of Organizations in Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. 
 				1998.
		8		Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust Teachers’ Guide.
		9		USHMC Spring Meeting.  1999.
		10		Days of Remembrance.  1999.
		11		Update.  1999.

26		1		Executive Committee.  January, February, March 1999.
		2		Executive Committee.  April 21, 1999.
		3		Academic Committee.  April 22, 1999.
		4		Executive Committee.  May 19, 1999.
		5		Media coverage.  June 1999.
		6		USHMC Spring Meeting.  June 16, 1999.
		7		Media coverage.  July 1999.
		8		Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  July – August 1999.
		9		Collections and Acquisitions.  July – December 1999.
		10		Executive Committee.  September 22, 1999.
		11		Congressional Reauthorization.  October 15, 1999.
		12		Executive Committee.  November 17, 1999.
		13		Ad Hoc Committee on Governance.  Report.  November 8, 1999.
		14		USHMM Statistics.  December 1, 1999.
		15		USHMC Fall Meeting.  December 8, 1999.
		16		Academic Committee.  December 13, 1999.
		17		Academic Committee.  December 13, 1999.  Re: Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.
		18		Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies.  Inaugural Conference.  December 13-15, 1999.

27		1		Committee on Conscience.  July 1996 – February 2000.
		2		Academic Committee.  September 1998 – February 2000.
		3		USHMM. NAPA Report: A Study of Governance and Management.  1999.
		4		Shaike Weinberg, Death of.  January 1, 2000.
		5		Miles Lerman’s resignation.  January 12, 2000.
		6		USHMM Conference.  Life Reborn.  January 14-17, 2000.
		7		Executive Committee.  January 19, 2000.
		8		Executive Committee.  Informal Discussion.  February 16, 2000.
		9		Executive Committee.   March 16, 2000.
		10		Media coverage.  March – April 2000.
		11		Media coverage.  April 2000.
		12		Executive Committee.  April 12, 2000.
		13		Days of Remembrance.  May 3-4, 2000.
		14		USHMC.  Revised By-laws.  May 16, 2000.
		15		Tribute Dinner.  Miles Lerman.  May 31, 2000.
		16		USHMC Spring Meeting.  June 1, 2000.
		17		Programming.  2000.

28		1		USHMC Spring Meeting.  April 25, 1990.
		2		USHMC Fall Meeting.  November 28, 1990.  (Inc. Committee Reports)
		3		Academic Committee.  1992 – 1994.
		4		USHMC. Letters of Recommendation for Gottschalk Reappointment.
		5		Academic Committee.  July 1997 – April 1999.
		6		Collections and Acquisitions.  September 1996 – July 1998.
		7		Academic Committee.  December 18, 1996.

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