Access is granted in accordance with the
Protocols for the University Archives and Records Center.
PROVENANCE
Gift of Clara Heller Isaacman, December 1989, November 1992.
ARRANGEMENT
The papers of Daniel Isaacman, educator and President of Gratz College,
are arranged in four series. They include correspondence, miscellaneous,
photoprints, and monographs. The correspondence is arranged chronologically.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Daniel Isaacman was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended the
University of Pennsylvania where he earned his B.A. (C'48) and M.A.
degree (GED'51). He received his Ed.D. from Dropsie University. Joining
the staff of Gratz College in 1951, he served in various capacities: as professor of Education and History, Registrar and Vice-President.
In 1973 he was named President and held this post until his death in
1982. In addition to his success at Gratz College, Dr. Isaacman was
highly involved with many Jewish associations and philanthropic committees.
During the Second World War, Daniel Isaacman served with the U.S.
Army in Europe and worked with the Jewish Brigade in Antwerp, Belgium
in an attempt to reunite decimated Jewish families with their children.
It was during this time that Isaacman developed his strong ties to the
cause of Zionism and met his future wife, Clara Heller, a leader for
the Jewish Youth Movements.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The bulk of the collection is comprised of personal letters, 1940-1947,
1958, n.d., to and from "Danny" Isaacman during a pivotal
period of his life. The collection's strength lies with the way "Danny"
comes to terms with some fundamental issues of his day: World War II
and its devastating physical and psychological effects on the men with
whom he served and their families, his maturing relationship with his
parents, his hopes and growing commitment to the cause of international
Zionism and a Jewish homeland, as well as the beginnings and growth
of a lifelong love for his future wife.
The photoprints are "snapshots" taken during the war and
include images of friends, family, and locations. Monographs dealing
with the Holocaust, written by Clara Isaacman, finish out the collection.
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