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Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Obermayer, Leon J. (1886-1984)
Title:	Leon J. Obermayer, papers
Dates:	undated, 1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1924-1930, 1932-1934, 1936-1973, 1976-1978
Abstract:	The collection contains correspondence, documents and newspaper clippings relating to the life and activities of Obermayer in national, local and Jewish organizations. Contains also correspondence and other materials concerning the Board of Public Education of Philadelphia on which he served as member and then president 1955-1961 (of special interest are the papers pertaining to communism in the schools, educational television -WHYY, and the problems of minority students); the American Jewish Historical Society of which he served as a member, president and chairman of the Exec. Council (of special interest is the material pertaining to the litigation over the Society's move to Waltham); the Symphony Club (1959-1966); the Penn. Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1958-1960); the Penn. Alcoholic Beverage Study (1961-1967); the Heart Association of Southeastern Penn. (1964-1965); the National Committee on Employment of Youth (1965-1968); the American Bar Association Special Committee on Investigation, Solicitation and Handling of Personal Injury Claims (1957-1959); the Committee on Legal Ethics and Grievances (1961-1969); the Penn. Prison Society (1964-1969); the Phila. YM & YWHA (1925-1940, 1967-1968); the Hebrew Sunday School Society (1919-1970); the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, with special reference to Edmond Cahn's opposition to the establishment of Reform Jewish day schools (1964-1965); the Hebrew Union College (1964-1968); B'nai B'rith (1957-1967) and the Philadelphia Bar Assoc. (1937-1977).
Languages:	The collection is in English.
Quantity:	10.5 linear feet (21 manuscript boxes)
Identification:	P-141
Repository:	American Jewish Historical Society

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Biographical Note

Leon Jacob Obermayer (1886-1984)

Leon Jacob Obermayer was born on September 24, 1886, in Sciota, Illinois. He was a lawyer and a civic and communal leader. He was the son of Hermann and Veronika (Lehman) and attended Central High School in Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1908, he received his L.L.B. In 1923, he married Julia Sinsheimer and had three children, Herman, Helen Sellers and Arthur. Leon, a lifelong Philadelphian, was voted one of Philadelphia's 50 most outstanding citizens by Philadelphia Magazine on its 50^th anniversary.

Obermayer's father died in 1897 and his brother Henry assumed a working role while Leon attended school. Leon went on to attend a competitive school, Central High School, and later served as president of the school's alumni association and was his class archivist/historian. Leon's papers contain his annotated annual alumni directories which track the lives and deaths of each of the men who graduated from his year.

After a year of undergraduate work at the Wharton School, one of Obermayer's former teachers at Central High School, Franklin Spencer Edwards, encouraged Obermayer to attend law school at the University of Pennsylvania. "Mr. Edmonds" left Central High School to form his own law firm and upon graduation, Obeymayer joined the firm. In 1925, the firm's name changed to Edmonds, Obermayer, and Rebmann and continues today in Philadelphia under the name of Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell and Hippel.

Eventually, Obermayer's firm became one of the largest and most successful civil litigation firms in Philadelphia and Obermayer himself was a specialist in trusts and estates. He served as chair of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association and chair of the Ethics Committee and vice president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association and chairman of its Committee on Professional Guidance. In 1971, Leon received the Philadelphia Bar Association's Fidelity Award for his lifelong commitment to the law and remained active in the practice of law until just a few weeks before his death. On his 90^th birthday, Leon revealed to the Philadelphia Ledger that he still went to office five or six days a week. In 2002, Leon was inducted in the new Philadelphia Bar Association's Hall of Fame.

Besides his regard for the law, Obermayer also possessed a concern for children, starting out, as Libo and Feldberg write, at the age of 25 when he became a Scout leader. Obermayer went on to serve as chair of the Philadelphia Council of the Boy Scouts of America and "participated in the governance of the national Scouting movement." Obermayer also worked in the service of public education, the care of the mentally disabled, vocational training, religious instruction, and care of the elderly as well as a myriad of other humanitarian causes. In 1938, Obermayer joined the Philadelphia Board of Public Education and sat on the Board for more than 23 years. During the height of anti-Communist purges in America, Obermayer called for the firing of teachers invoking the First or Fifth Amendments to the Constitution before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the 1950s. Although the teachers were initially fired, they were reinstated by a federal appeals court. Libo and Feldberg note that "despite his conservative stance on loyalty issues, Leon proved himself a liberal regarding most other issues during his tenure on the board. Two years after Leon's term as president, the first of the major civil rights measures passed Congress and the United States made a commitment to desegregation, civil rights for African-Americans and the equality of opportunity for all of the nation's citizens."

Obermayer took a clear stance that racial discrimination was wrong and that public education was an important medium to encourage upward mobility and opportunity for all of Philadelphia's citizens. As president of the school board, Leon studied the issues raised by unequal education and encouraged the Philadelphia School District's managers to train the city's public school teachers to combat racism and pushed for improved Philadelphia schools. Among these improvements were funding university professors to educate in math, language, and science; mainstreaming mentally and physically handicapped students into regular classrooms rather than isolating them into separate ones, strengthening vocational training programs and providing internships for students in his law firm as well as pushing for music and art education. He retired from the Board of Education in 1961.

Obermayer was a staunch Republican and worked actively in the Republican Party. In regards to his congregational affiliation, he was a member and the president of Congregation Adath Jeshurum until 1935, when he resigned after a dispute with the Congregation's rabbi. Obermayer and his wife then moved on to Congregation Rodeph Shalom where they funded the newsletter and served as various officers of the Congregation. Obermayer also served on the board of the Albert Einstein Medical Center and was president of the Young Men's Hebrew Association.

In 1921, Obermayer was nominated by Cyrus Adler to become a member of the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) and eventually became its president in 1963. During his time as President, Obermayer helped the AJHS establish a permanent (at the time) home in Waltham, MA, on the campus of Brandeis University with the help of a large bequest by former AJHS president Lee M. Friedman, who wanted a permanent home for the Society created. According to Libo and Feldman, "When time came for the AJHS Board of Trustees to select a site for the organization's first real home, controversy arose. Some members insisted that New York City remain the Society's base of operations. A small group wanted AJHS to move to Philadelphia. A third faction argued in favor of a solution in which AJHS would acquire a parcel of land at Brandeis University and construct its new building in Waltham, MA. Feelings over the question of where to relocate became heated and divided the trustees. Leon favored the Brandeis proposal, where Abram L. Sachar, the university's president, promised to employ the university's academic resources to assist the Society in establishing its new home."

"Forty-seven percent of the board voted for Waltham, forty-three percent for New York and ten percent voted for Philadelphia. AJHS began building its Waltham facility under Leon's direction and the holdouts formed what is now the Jewish Historical Society of New York. The Society's budget expanded greatly under Leon's stewardship and its new home provided at the time the largest space in the United States dedicated solely to preserving the historical record of the American Jewish experience." (The AJHS eventually joined forces with the Center for Jewish History located in New York City and keeps its current New England and Boston collections in Newton Centre, MA.)

The Obermayers had an extensive Judaica collection. Again, Libo and Feldman write: "Leon and Julia extended their acquisitions into the realm of anti-Semitica, sports memorabilia and other unusual items. They particularly enjoyed discovering items from daily life that began with no Jewish content but to which craftsmen later applied some Jewish identifier. The Obermayers tried to collect as many of these hidur mitzvah artifacts as possible. Leon and Julia enlisted some of their cousins living in Germany to collect Judaica, at the time of Hitler becoming ruler, asking them to purchase any Judaica objects they could find.

When their relatives purchased items, the Obermayers put the money used aside to help relatives and others flee Germany to the States, Cuba, or Costa Rica, but many of these efforts to help did not pan out. Obermayer attempted to persuade governments to accept Jewish German refugees but was thwarted. Obermayer represented the International Committee for Jewish Refugees and was almost successful in getting Costa Rica to accept more Jews from Europe but his plans fell through after meeting with that country's President Leon Cortes Castro. He did eventually get some of his relatives out of Germany.

An avid traveler, Obermayer first visited Israel in 1951. During this visit, he met with the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Isaac Herzog and the visit sparked Obermayer's will to plant Reform Judaism in Israel based upon a comment from Herzog.

According to Libo and Feldberg: "During the family trip, the Obermayers had the opportunity after Shabbat services to visit the home of Rabbi Isaac Herzog, the Chief Rabbi of Israel. When Leon told Rabbi Herzog that he was active in the Reform Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, the rabbi's response was "Then you really are goyim." That comment shocked the family and intensified Leon's desire to see Reform Judaism gain a foothold in Israel. Leon was well connected with the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion" and an honorary degree of Doctor of Hebrew Letters was conferred on Obermayer in 1954. He joined their board in 1958, and became its vice chairman in 1962. Obermayer was a friend of the college's president, Nelson Glueck, a world renowned archaeologist who had spent many years in the Middle East on archaeological digs. In 1963 with Leon's encouragement the HUC opened a Biblical and Archaeological School in Jerusalem. Until that time, no Reform synagogues were allowed in Israel, and the HUC was reluctantly allowed to have a chapel for limited use within its own facilities. The acceptance of Reform Judaism in Israel increased with the establishment by HUC in 1970 of a Year-in-Israel Program for U.S. rabbinical students, and eventually, a program to train Reform rabbis to serve in Israel.

Despite his self-critical nature, Leon's skill as an orator and narrator was legendary. As his son Herman reflected at Leon's eulogy, by virtue of his strength of character and charisma wherever Leon sat became the head of the table. He never lost his sociability or enjoyment of companionship. His 90^th birthday party in September of 1976 was held at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, the source of many unexplained deaths from "Legionnaire's Disease" a few weeks earlier. Many people feared a new outbreak, but Leon would not be deterred. At the party he gave an eloquent talk and rarely sat at the table, as he circulated from table to table, greeting each of the 250 guests who attended. The list of attendees included Leon's three children, nine grandchildren, Senator Hugh Scott, David Maxwell and Bernard Segal (both former presidents of the American Bar Association) and several judges. At one point, he engages with repartee with bandleader Harold Ruben, who provided music for the occasion. Ruben remarked to Leon, "I played at your 80^th birthday party." Leon replied, "I hope you play at my 100^th!"

That was not to be. On October 2, 1984, Leon Jacob Obermayer passed away at 98. Until six weeks before his death, Leon was mentally alert and physically active. He enjoyed his ninety-eight birthday with his wife, children and their spouses. The next day, he went to bed, never got up and died a week later with no apparent suffering. His beloved Julia lived for another 12 years, still very much the center of the Obermayer family.

For a listing of civic, religious and professional organizations Leon belonged to, please consult The Obermayers: A History of a Jewish Family in Germany and America 1618-2009.

Sources:
Libo, Kenneth and Michael Feldberg. The Obermayers: A History of a Jewish Family in Germany and America 1618-2009. Massachusetts: Obermayer Foundation Inc., 2009.
Who's Who in American Jewry, 1980. AJHS Call # E184.J5 W6
The Concise Dictionary of American Jewish Biography, vol. 2. AJHS Call # E184.J5 C653 1994

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Scope and Content Note

The collection contains correspondence, documents and newspaper clippings relating to the life and activities of Obermayer in national, local and Jewish organizations.

The collection includes miscellaneous personal correspondence, especially with his son Arthur, and Maurice Jacobs; correspondence regarding his charitable contributions; copies of his writings and speeches in manuscript and printed form; and messages and newspaper clippings on the occasion of birthdays and honors received.

The collection also contains correspondence and other materials concerning the Boy Scouts of America (1941-1973); the Board of Public Education of Philadelphia on which he served as member and then president 1955-1961 (of special interest are the papers pertaining to Communism in the schools, educational television - WHYY, and the problems of minority students); the American Jewish Historical Society of which he served as a member, President and Chairman of the Executive Council (of special interest in the material pertaining to the litigation over the Society' s move to Waltham); the Symphony Club (1959-1966); the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1958-1960); The Pennsylvania Alcoholic Beverage Study (1961-1967); the Heart Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (1964-1965); the National Committee on Employment of Youth (1965-1968); the American Bar Association Special Committee on Investigation, Solicitation and Handling of Personal Injury Claims (1957-1959); The Committee on Legal Ethics and Grievances (1961-1969); the Pennsylvania Prison Society (1964-1969); the Philadelphia YM & YWHA (1925-1940, 1967-1968); the Hebrew Sunday School Society (1919-1970); the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, with special reference to Edmond Cahn's opposition to the establishment of Reform Jewish day schools (1964-1965); the Hebrew Union College (1964-1968); B'nai B'rith (1957-1967) and the Philadelphia Bar Association (1937-1977).

The collection is valuable to researchers interested in studying Philadelphia, Philadelphia education, U.S. education, Negro-Jewish relations, Reform Judaism in the U.S., education and discrimination, and anti-Semitism in Philadelphia.

The collection is in English.

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Arrangement

The collection is organized into six series as follows:

• Series I: Personal Papers, undated, 1925-1926, 1932-1933, 1942, 1948, 1954, 1956-1969, 1971-1973, 1976-1978
• Series II: Philadelphia Board of Public Education, undated, 1930, 1938-1941, 1943-1946, 1948-1966
  • Subseries A: Chronological Correspondence, 1953-1966
  • Subseries B: Correspondence by subject, undated, 1930, 1938-1941, 1943-1946, 1948-1965
  • Subseries C: Board of Public Education re Communism, undated, 1948-1962
• Series III: American Jewish Historical Society, undated, 1950, 1957-1973
  • Subseries A: Chronological Correspondence, 1961-1973
  • Subseries B: Correspondence, undated, 1958, 1961-1970, 1972
  • Subseries C: Correspondence and Documents re: AJHS Bequests, 1967-1971
  • Subseries D: Correspondence re: Move to Brandeis(Friedman Estate Correspondence), undated, 1957-1967
  • Subseries E: Court Papers re: Move to Brandeis, undated, 1950, 1957-1959, 1962-1966
• Series IV: Activities in National and Local Organizations, undated, 1955-1968
  • Subseries A: Correspondence, undated, 1955-1968
  • Subseries B: Correspondence and Papers, 1955, 1957-1962, 1964, 1966-1967
• Series V: Activities in Legal Associations, undated, 1937, 1942, 1949, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961-1969, 1972, 1977
• Series VI: Activities in Jewish Organizations (alphabetical), undated, 1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1924-1930, 1933-1934, 1936-1938, 1940-1947, 1965
  • Subseries A: Correspondence, undated, 1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1924-1928, 1933-1934, 1936-1938, 1940
  • Subseries B: Reports and Articles, undated, 1922, 1926, 1929-1930, 1937-1938,1941-1947, 1965

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16^th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

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Related Material

Bernard C. Ehrenreich papers (P-26)

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Leon J. Obermayer, papers; P-141; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Note

Donated by Leon J. Obermayer, 1974-1975.

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Access Points

• Subject Names:

  • Cahn, Edmond N., 1906-1964
  • Jacobs, Maurice, 1896-

• Subject Organizations:

  • American Jewish Historical Society
  • B'nai B'rith
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Hebrew Sunday School Society of Philadelphia (Pa.)
  • Hebrew Union College
  • Philadelphia -- YM & YWHA
  • Union of American Hebrew Congregations

• Subject Topics:

  • Alcoholics
  • Antisemitism -- Philadelphia
  • Communism -- United States
  • Education -- Discrimination
  • Lawyers -- Correspondence, reminiscences, etc
  • Negro-Jewish relations
  • Prisons
  • Reform Judaism -- United States
  • Scouting
  • Television broadcasting

• Subject Places:

  • Philadelphia (Pa.)
  • Philadelphia -- Education
  • United States -- Education

• Document Types:

  • Articles
  • Correspondence
  • Newspaper clippings
  • Reports
  • Speeches

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I: Personal Papers, undated, 1925-1926, 1932-1933, 1942, 1948, 1954, 1956-1969, 1971-1973, 1976-1978.
English.
Box 1 - Box 2, Folder 5.
Scope and Content: This series contains Obermayer's personal materials. These include miscellaneous correspondence, correspondence with his son, Arthur, papers regarding his "Man of the Year" honors, and miscellaneous writings and speeches. The series also contains newspaper clippings regarding his involvement with the Philadelphia Board of Public Education as well as his activities with the American Jewish Historical Society.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Miscellaneous Personal Correspondence (A-Z) (contains pin)	undated, 1932-1933, 1958-1959, 1964-1969, 1971-1972, 1976
1	2	Miscellaneous contributions to charity	undated, 1960, 1962-1963, 1965, 1967-1968
1	3	Correspondence with Son, Arthur	1960-May 1963
1	4	Correspondence with Son, Arthur	June 1963 - 1966
1	5	Personal Testimony in Auerbach vs. Philadelphia Transportation Company	1962-1963, 1965-1966
1	6	Papers regarding "Man of the Year" Honors - Congregation Keneseth Israel (contains photograph)	1925-1926, 1942, 1948, 1954, 1956-1957, 1961, 1963, 1966-1967, 1973, 1978
1	7	Messages on re-election to presidency of Philadelphia Board of Public Education	undated, 1957-1958, 1960
1	8	Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches	undated, 1956, 1960-1961, 1967-1968, 1971
1	9	Personal Messages on 75th Birthday and Retirement from Board of Public Education (1 of 2)	September 1961
1	10	Personal Messages on 75th Birthday and retirement from Board of Public Education (2 of 2)	October 1961 - 1962
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	1	Official statements and newspaper clippings regarding retirement from Board of Public Education	undated, 1961
2	2	Miscellaneous newspaper clippings regarding Board of Public Education activities of LJO	undated, 1957
2	3	Messages on election as President of American Jewish Historical Society	1964
2	4	Miscellaneous newspaper clippings regarding AJHS activities	undated, 1964, 1968
2	5	Miscellaneous Congratulatory Messages	1967-1968, 1977

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Series II: Philadelphia Board of Public Education, undated, 1930, 1938-1941, 1943-1946, 1948-1966.
English.
Box 2, Folder 6 - Box 8, Folder 14.
Arrangement: Arranged into three subseries.
Scope and Content: This series mostly consists of correspondence related to Obermayer's involvement with the Philadelphia Board of Public Education.
Subseries A: Chronological Correspondence, 1953-1966.
English.
Box 2, Folder 6 - Box 3, Folder 5.
Scope and Content: This subseries contains chronological correspondence during the years from 1953 to 1966.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	6	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: Correspondence arranged by subject (Boxes 7-12))
2	7	Board of Public Education Correspondence	1953-1959
2	8	Board of Public Education Correspondence	January-June 1960
2	9	Board of Public Education Correspondence	July-December 1960
2	10	Board of Public Education Correspondence	January-April 1961
2	11	Board of Public Education Correspondence	May-August 1961
Box	Folder	Title	Date
3	1	Board of Public Education Correspondence	September-December 1961
3	2	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: correspondence arranged by subject 7-12?)
3	3	Miscellaneous correspondence	1962
3	4	Miscellaneous correspondence	1963-1966
3	5	Miscellaneous correspondence with Public School Council	1960-1962
Subseries B: Correspondence by subject, undated, 1930, 1938-1941, 1943-1946, 1948-1965.
English.
Box 4, Folder 1 - Box 6, Folder 7.
Scope and Content: This subseries is composed of correspondence by subject. The series documents his involvement with the legal profession, Judaism, child welfare, anti-Semitism, and public education in Philadelphia.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
4	1	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: Miscellaneous correspondence chronologically arranged) (Boxes 2-3)
4	2	Correspondence regarding Greater Philadelphia Movement	1959-1964
4	3	Correspondence regarding Central High School	1960-1964
4	4	Correspondence regarding School Finances and Taxes	1960-1963
4	5	Correspondence and newspaper clippings regarding Federal Aid to Education	1959-1961
4	6	Correspondence regarding architects for new school buildings	1960-1965
4	7	Correspondence regarding naming of new schools	1960-1963
4	8	Correspondence regarding appointment of new school board members	1955-1959, 1961
4	9	Correspondence regarding care and education of blind children	undated, 1956-1959, 1961-1962, 1964
4	10	Correspondence and report regarding child and social health	1959-1962
4	11	Correspondence regarding music in the public schools	1959-1961, 1964
Box	Folder	Title	Date
5	1	Correspondence regarding released time plan of religious education	1943-1945
5	2	Correspondence regarding released time plan of religious education	1930, 1946, 1951-1952, 1954-1955, 1957
5	3	Correspondence regarding religion and the public schools	1938, 1957, 1961-1962
5	4	Correspondence regarding anti-Semitism in the public schools	1951-1952, 1959-1960
5	5	Jews in Philadelphia Schools: Correspondence	1949, 1951-1955, 1961
5	6	Jews in Philadelphia Schools: Statistical Data and Reports	undated, 1951-1955, 1961
5	7	Teaching of Hebrew in the Philadelphia Public Schools: Correspondence	1939-1941, 1950-1955, 1957
5	8	Teaching of Hebrew in the Philadelphia Public Schools: Correspondence	1958-1962
5	9	Teaching of Hebrew in the Philadelphia Public Schools: Newspaper clippings	undated, 1939, 1945, 1948-1950, 1954, 1957, 1959-1963
5	10	Teaching of Hebrew in the Philadelphia Public Schools: Reports	1939, 1955-1961
5	11	Writings of Leon J. Obermayer on integration	undated, 1960
5	12	Correspondence regarding integration	1956, 1958-1960
5	13	Correspondence regarding integration	1961, 1963-1965
5	14	Newspaper clippings on Leon J. Obermayer's stand on integration	undated, 1959-1960
Box	Folder	Title	Date
6	1	(Miscellaneous?) Correspondence	February-November 1956
6	2	Correspondence	December 1956
6	3	Correspondence	January-February 1957
6	4	Correspondence	March-December 1957
6	5	Correspondence	1958
6	6	Correspondence	1959-1962
6	7	Miscellaneous documents regarding educational television	undated, 1953, 1955-1958
Subseries C: Board of Public Education re Communism, undated, 1948-1962.
English.
Box 7, Folder 1 - Box 8, Folder 14.
Scope and Content: This subseries consists correspondence regarding communism and communist teachers, during the years from 1950-1957. It also has stenographic transcripts and case histories of fired employees. The series also has resolutions, publicity, and statements regarding dismissed teachers.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
7	1	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1950-1951, 1953
7	2	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	undated, 1953
7	3	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	January-May 1954
7	4	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	June-December 1954
7	5	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1955
7	6	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1956
7	7	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1957
7	8	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1958-1959
7	9	Correspondence re: Communism and Communist Teachers	1961-1962
Box	Folder	Title	Date
8	1	Publicity by Communist Party	undated, 1953-1954
8	2	Teacher Cases in New York	undated, 1949-1950, 1952, 1954, 1956
8	3	Jefferson Medical College	1953
8	4	Stenographic Transcripts and Case Histories of Fired Employees: Names of Dismissed Employees, Years of Service, Salaries, etc.	undated, 1954-1960
8	5	Stenographic Transcripts and Case Histories of Fired Employees: Case Histories of Fired Employees	undated, 1948-1955
8	6	Teacher Case in Los Angeles	undated, 1953-1955
8	7	Resolutions, Publicity, and Statements re: Dismissed Teachers - Publicity and Statements at Outset of Suspension	1953
8	8	Resolutions, Publicity, and Statements re: Dismissed Teachers - Hearing notices for Suspended Employees and Rules of Procedure for Hearings	1953
8	9	Resolutions, Publicity, and Statements re: Dismissed Teachers - Printed resolutions which were voted on	undated, 1953-1954
8	10	Resolutions, Publicity, and Statements re: Dismissed Teachers - Resolutions preferring changes	undated, 1952-1953
8	11	Resolutions, Publicity, and Statements re: Dismissed Teachers - Hearing Schedule and Letters to Members of the Board of Public Education Concerning Schedule	undated, 1953-1954
8	12	Publications of Teachers Union	undated, 1951-1954
8	13	Publications of Civil Liberties Union	undated, 1953-1955
8	14	Newspaper clippings re: Leon J. Obermayer and Communist Teachers' Case	1953-1954

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Series III: American Jewish Historical Society, undated, 1950, 1957-1973.
English.
Box 9, Folder 1 - Box 17, Folder 3.
Arrangement: Arranged into five subseries.
Scope and Content: The series mostly consists of correspondence relating to Obermayer's activities with the American Jewish Historical Society.
Subseries A: Chronological Correspondence, 1961-1973.
English.
Box 9, Folder 1 - Box 13, Folder 1.
Scope and Content: The subseries contains chronological correspondence with the American Jewish Historical Society from the years 1961 to 1973.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
9	1	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: Correspondence arranged by subject)
9	2	Correspondence	1961-1963
9	3	Correspondence	January-April 1964
9	4	Correspondence	April-May 1964
9	5	Correspondence	June-July 1964
9	6	Correspondence	July-October 1964
9	7	Correspondence	November-December 1964
9	8	Correspondence	January-March 1965
Box	Folder	Title	Date
10	1	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: Miscellaneous correspondence arranged by subject)
10	2	Correspondence	March-May 1965
10	3	Correspondence	June-August 1965
10	4	Correspondence	September-December 1965
10	5	Correspondence	January 1966
10	6	Correspondence	February-March 1966
10	7	Correspondence	April-May 1966
10	8	Correspondence	June-July 1966
Box	Folder	Title	Date
11	1	Correspondence	August-September 1966
11	2	Correspondence	October-December 1966
11	3	Correspondence	January 1967-December 1968
11	4	Correspondence	January-June 1969
11	5	Correspondence	July-August 1969
11	6	Correspondence	September-December 1969
Box	Folder	Title	Date
12	1	Correspondence	January-June 1970
12	2	Correspondence	July-December 1970
12	3	Correspondence	January-June 1971
12	4	Correspondence	July-December 1971
12	5	Correspondence	January-June 1972
12	6	Correspondence	July-December 1972
12	7	Correspondence	January-June 1973
12	8	Correspondence	July-December 1973
Box	Folder	Title	Date
13	1	(EMPTY FOLDER) (See also: Miscellaneous correspondence chronologically arranged)
Subseries B: Correspondence by subject, undated, 1958, 1961-1970, 1972.
English.
Box 13, Folders 2-16.
Scope and Content: The subseries consists of correspondence by subject. Examples of Obermayer's correspondence regarding the American Jewish Historical Society include correspondence pertaining to the AJHS Constitution (Box 13, Folder 2), Executive Committee Nominations (Box 13, Folder 5), publications of the American Jewish Historical Society (Box 13, Folder 6), and correspondence regarding AJHS bequests (Box 13, Folder 13). The Subseries also contains material related to the publication of Haym Salomon material (Box 13, Folder 8). The Subseries includes correspondence regarding the Lee M. Friedman award (Box 13, Folder 10). The Subseries has correspondence regarding S. Temkin (Box 13, Folder 15) and the death of Harry G. Friedman (Box 13, Folder 16).
Box	Folder	Title	Date
13	2	Correspondence regarding A.J.H.S. Constitution	1958, 1961, 1963-1966
13	3	Correspondence regarding appointment of Executive Secretary	1965-1966
13	4	Correspondence regarding Statement of Objectives	undated, 1965
13	5	Correspondence regarding A.J.H.S. Executive Committee Nominations	1966
13	6	Correspondence regarding A.J.H.S. Publications	1964-1966
13	7	Correspondence regarding Syracuse University, Rudolph Lectures	1964-1965, 1970, 1972
13	8	Correspondence regarding Publication of Haym Salomon material	1966-1967, 1969
13	9	Correspondence regarding obtaining collections	1964-1966
13	10	Correspondence regarding Lee M. Friedman award	1964-1968
13	11	Correspondence regarding Membership	1964-1965
13	12	Correspondence regarding Landing Day	1965-1966
13	13	Correspondence and documents regarding A.J.H.S. bequests	1962-1965
13	14	Correspondence regarding pensions and insurance	1958, 1965-1966
13	15	Correspondence regarding S. Temkin	1966
13	16	Correspondence regarding death of Harry G. Friedman	1965
Subseries C: Correspondence and Documents re: AJHS Bequests, 1967-1971.
English.
Box 13, Folders 17-20.
Scope and Content: This subseries includes correspondence and documents regarding AJHS bequests. The subseries contains materials related to the Goodman Agreement (Box 13, Folder 17), Dr. and Mrs. Abraham Kanof (Box 13, Folder 18), and the estates of Gertrude F. Davis (Box 13, Folder 19) and Bernard G. Rudolph (Box 13, Folder 20).
Box	Folder	Title	Date
13	17	Goodman Agreement	1967-1968
13	18	Dr. & Mrs. Abram Kanof	1967-1968, 1970-1971
13	19	Estate of Gertrude F. Davis, Deceased	1967, 1969-1970
13	20	Estate of Bernard G. Rudolph, Deceased	1970
Subseries D: Correspondence re: Move to Brandeis (Friedman Estate Correspondence), undated, 1957-1967.
English.
Box 14, Folder 1 - Box 15, Folder 12.
Scope and Content: The subseries has correspondence with legal practices such as Schapiro, Wisan and Schapiro and Mintz, Levin, Cohn and Golovsky as well as individuals. The Subseries also contains general correspondence (Box 14, Folders 6 - Box 15, Folder 7). The Subseries also consists of correspondence regarding the 1964 meeting of AJHS, proxies for vote of membership on relocation, and publications and letters of the Committee for the Preservation of the Integrity of the A.J.H.S. Also included are newspaper clippings regarding A.J.H.S. litigation. The subseries contains a folder with the will and accounts of the Lee M. Friedman estate.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
14	1	Correspondence: Schapiro, Wisan, and Schapiro	1964
14	2	Correspondence: Schapiro, Wisan, and Schapiro	1965-1966
14	3	Correspondence: Mintz, Levin, Cohn and Glovsky	1963-1964
14	4	Correspondence: Mintz, Levin, Cohn and Glovsky	1965
14	5	Correspondence: Mintz, Levin, Cohn and Glovsky	1966-1967
14	6	Correspondence: David Schwartz	1964-1966
14	7	Correspondence: Frank L. Kozol	1958-1967
14	8	Correspondence: Jackson J. Holtz	1959-1962
14	9	Correspondence	March 1959-September 1960
14	10	Correspondence	May 1961-December 1962
Box	Folder	Title	Date
15	1	Correspondence	January-July 1963
15	2	Correspondence	August-December 1963
15	3	Correspondence	January-February 1964
15	4	Correspondence	March-April 1964
15	5	Correspondence	May-December 1964
15	6	Correspondence	1965
15	7	Correspondence	1966-1967
15	8	Correspondence regarding 1964 meeting of A.J.H.S.	1964
15	9	Proxies for vote of membership on relocation	1963-1964
15	10	Committee for the Preservation of the Integrity of the A.J.H.S.: Publications and Letters	1964
15	11	AJHS Litigation: Newspaper clippings	1962-1965
15	12	Lee M. Friedman Estate: Will and Accounts	undated, 1957-1966
Subseries E: Court Papers re: Move to Brandeis, undated, 1950, 1957-1959, 1962-1966.
English.
Box 16, Folder 1 - Box 17, Folder 3.
Scope and Content: This subseries contains court decisions regarding the A.J.H.S. move to Brandeis. The subseries includes pleadings filed in the court proceedings. The Subseries is composed of briefs and memorandums of law filed in the court and memorandums of law used by counsel. The Subseries has miscellaneous items in connection with the settlement of the estate of Lee M. Friedman. Also included are notes of testimony and stenographer's minutes.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
16	1	Court Decisions in the Course of the Legal Proceedings 1964	1963-1964
16	2	Court Decisions in the Course of the Legal Proceedings	undated, 1964-1966
16	3	Miscellaneous	undated, 1950, 1964-1965
16	4	Pleadings filed in the Court Proceedings	undated, 1965-1966
16	5	Briefs and Memorandums of Law filed in Court and Memorandums of Law used by Counsel	1963-1964
16	6	Briefs and Memorandums of Law filed in Court and Memorandums of Law used by Counsel	undated, 1965-1966
Box	Folder	Title	Date
17	1	Pleadings in connection with petition of Knapp and Warshaw for payment of fees	1964-1965
17	2	Miscellaneous items in connection with the settlement of Estate of Lee M. Friedman, Deceased	1957-1959, 1962
17	3	Notes of Testimony (includes stenographer's minutes) (2 bound, 1 page)	1964-1965

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Series IV: Activities in National and Local Organizations, undated, 1955-1968.
English.
Box 18, Folders 1-7.
Arrangement: Arranged into two subseries.
Scope and Content: This series documents Leon Obermayer's involvement in national and local organizations.
Subseries A: Correspondence, undated, 1955-1968.
English.
Box 18, Folders 1-5.
Scope and Content: The subseries contains correspondence regarding the American Social Health Association, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Heart Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the National Committee on Employment of Youth, and The Symphony Club.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
18	1	Correspondence regarding American Social Health Association	1963-1964, 1966
18	2	Correspondence regarding Free Library of Philadelphia	1955-1960
18	3	Correspondence regarding Heart Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania	undated, 1964-1965
18	4	Correspondence regarding National Committee on Employment of Youth	1965-1968
18	5	Correspondence regarding The Symphony Club	1959-1966
Subseries B: Correspondence and Papers, 1955, 1957-1962, 1964, 1966-1967.
English.
Box 18, Folders 6-7.
Scope and Content: This small subseries contains correspondence and papers regarding the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee and the Pennsylvania Alcoholic Beverage Study.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
18	6	Correspondence and papers regarding Pennsylvania Advisory Committee, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights	1958-1960
18	7	Correspondence and papers regarding Pennsylvania Alcoholic Beverage Study	1955, 1957, 1961-1962, 1964, 1966-1967

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Series V: Activities in Legal Associations, undated, 1937, 1942, 1949, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961-1969, 1972, 1977.
English.
Box 19, Folders 1-7.
Scope and Content: The series documents Obermayer's activities in legal associations. The series contains correspondence and decisions of the Committee on Legal Ethics and Grievances. The series includes correspondence regarding University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni. The series has correspondence, publications, news clippings and programs of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Box 19, Folder 3 is composed correspondence, proposals and clippings of the A.B.A. special committee on investigation, solicitation and handling of personal injury claims. The series also contains correspondence and miscellaneous notes pertaining to the Pennsylvania Prison Society.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
19	1	Committee on Legal Ethics and Grievances: Correspondence	1961-1969
19	2	Committee on Legal Ethics and Grievances: Decisions of Committee	undated, 1967
19	3	Correspondence regarding University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni	1964-1966, 1977
19	4	Philadelphia Bar Association: Correspondence, publications, news clippings, and programs	1937, 1942, 1949, 1955, 1966-1969, 1972
19	5	A.B.A Special Committee on Investigation, Solicitation, and Handling of Personal Injury	undated, 1957, 1959
19	6	Pennsylvania Prison Society: Correspondence and Miscellaneous Notes	1964-1966
19	7	Pennsylvania Prison Society: Correspondence and Miscellaneous Notes	undated, 1967-1969

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Series VI: Activities in Jewish Organizations (alphabetical), , undated, 1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1924-1930, 1933-1934, 1936-1938, 1940-1947, 1965.
English.
Box 20, Folder 1 - Box 21, Folder 12.
Arrangement: Arranged in two subseries.
Scope and Content: The series contains Obermayer's activities with Jewish organizations, arranged alphabetically. The series also contains reports and articles on American and European Judaism.
Subseries A: Correspondence, undated, 1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1924-1928, 1933-1934, 1936-1938, 1940.
English.
Box 20, Folder 21 - Box 21, Folder 10.
Scope and Content: This subseries contains Obermayer's correspondence with Jewish organizations. These include the Albert Einstein Medical Center, the Allied Jewish Appeal, the American Council for Judaism, the Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana, the Hebrew Sunday School Society, Hebrew Union College, Hebrew Union College Museum, Lucien Moss Home, Philadelphia YM&YWHA, Reform Jewish Appeal, the Union of American Hebrew Congress Reform Jewish Day Schools, and The Jewish Museum.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
20	1	Albert Einstein Medical Center: Correspondence	1965-1969
20	2	Allied Jewish Appeal: Correspondence and newspaper clippings	1951-1952, 1954, 1958-1967
20	3	American Council for Judaism: Correspondence	1966-1967
20	4	Anti-Defamation League: Correspondence	1957-1958
20	5	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana	1958-April 1960
20	6	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana	May-July 1960
20	7	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana	August-December 1960
20	8	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana	1964-June 1965
20	9	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana	July 1965 - 1967
20	10	B'nai B'rith Committee on Jewish Americana: Miscellaneous	undated, 1957, 1961-1967
Box	Folder	Title	Date
21	1	The Hebrew Sunday School Society (also documents)	1913, 1919-1920, 1922, 1925-1928, 1938, 1951-1952, 1958, 1961-1963, 1968-1970
21	2	Hebrew Union College	1964, 1967
21	3	Hebrew Union College Museum	1964-1966
21	4	Hebrew Union College Museum	1967-1968
21	5	Lucien Moss Home	1964-1969
21	6	Philadelphia YM&YWHA	undated, 1967-1968
21	7	Philadelphia YM&YWHA Bond Issue (also documents)	undated, 1924-1926, 1933-1934, 1936-1938, 1940
21	8	Reform Jewish Appeal	1967-1968
21	9	Union of American Hebrew Congress Reform Jewish Day Schools	1964-1966
21	10	The Jewish Museum	undated, 1964-1966
Subseries B: Reports and Articles, undated, 1922, 1926, 1929-1930, 1937-1938, 1941-1947, 1965.
English.
Box 21, Folders 11-12.
Scope and Content: This subseries contains reports and articles on American and European Judaism.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
21	11	Reports and Articles on American and European Judaism	1922, 1926, 1929-1930, 1937-1938, 1941-1947, 1965
21	12	Reports and Articles on American and European Judaism	undated

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