Virginia Levitt Snitow Papers

A long-time teacher, activist, and philanthropist, Virginia Snitow was born in Brooklyn on April 9, 1911 to Louis Levitt (1874-1960) and Tillie (Toba) (Rosenberg) Levitt (1892(?)-1959). She attended the Girls' High School in Brooklyn, Hunter College for her undergraduate degree, and her post graduate at Columbia University, She worked as New York City teacher of English at Wadleigh Public High School for Girls in Harlem through the 1930s and early 1940s.

As a teacher at Wadleigh, she wrote the essay, "I Teach Negro Girls." This article dealt with the obstacles faced by her students in achieving academic success. Originally published in the New Republic in 1942, it was also reprinted in the Negro Digest to critical acclaim. Written in 1958, "The Mushroom Cloud" described the dangers of nuclear energy. A prolific writer, Snitow was also published in Ship and Sailing, Family Circle, Western Political Quarterly and Jewish Currents. The collection includes copies of these articles, as well as many unpublished articles assembled as "I Remember Letters," "Confrontations of a Quiet Woman," "Biography of Juarez" and "People and Places" and poetry assembled as "Poems and Sayings."

After a brief marriage to Harold Clemenko, in 1935, Virginia Levitt married Charles Snitow, an attorney who developed the national and then international Tradeshow business. They had two children, Ann Barr Snitow, born May 8, 1943 and Alan Mark Snitow born February 4, 1948.

A frequent traveler, Virginia and Charles Snitow purchased a winter home on the island of Grenada. She did much of her writing there, including many of her "I Remember Letters" and her "Grenada Diaries."

Along with Leonard & Jean Boudin, Margaret Mead, William Scott, and a number of artists and writers, Snitow founded the progressive Downtown Community School in New York City. Snitow initially became active in the Scarsdale-White Plains Chapter of the American Jewish Congress, then the Westchester County Division. Eventually, Snitow rose through the ranks of the national American Jewish Congress (AJC) over two decades. In 1958-1959, Snitow organized and directed a study group called the Wednesday Morning Discussion Group. This program became a prototype for the AJC, used for new member outreach. The published articles are part of this collection.

Always politically active Snitow attended the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami as an elected delegate for New York State.

Through her years in the AJC Women's Division, Snitow was an outspoken opponent on issues of racial inequality, parochial school aid, the war in Vietnam, and nuclear power. But her passion was one of equal rights for women, both in the United States and in Israel. She was elected President of the AJC Women's Division in March 1964. On her retirement from the Women's division in March 1971 Snitow received "A Woman of Our Time Award."

Snitow fought against elimination of the Women's Division, which was founded by Louise Waterman Wise in 1932, into the AJC. In 1982, the division became fully merged into the American Jewish Congress.

Her most significant contribution to helping women in Israel was the founding of US/Israel Women to Women in 1978. After seeing a news item about the closing of a women's shelter due to lack of funds, Snitow raised the money and formed this organization that supported a rape crisis center, women's studies courses, a health hotline, leadership development programs, battered women's shelters, antidiscrimination lawsuits, a lecture series, and pregnancy advisory services. Their motto was "Women Must Help Women."

Virginia Snitow passed away at her home in Scarsdale on October 16, 2000. After her death "The Virginia Levitt Snitow Lecture Series" was established by Women to Women in Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities.

1911

Born April 9, 1911 to Louis Levitt and Tillie (Toba) (Rosenberg) Levitt in Brooklyn, NY

1927

Graduated from Girls' High School in Brooklyn

1931

Graduated with BA in English from Hunter College

1931-1933

Graduate work at Columbia University in English Literature

1932-1944

Taught at Wadleigh Public High School in Harlem, New York, New York

1935

Married Charles Snitow, son of Aaron Snitow and Mary (Sackowitz) Snitow, November 2, 1935 (6 Heshvan 5696) (after marriage and divorce of Harold Clemenko (Clem))

1942

"I Teach Negro Girls" published in the New Republic

1943

Daughter Ann Barr Snitow born May 8, 1943

1944-1946

Taught at Seward Park High School, New York, New York

1945-1947

Active in the Downtown Community School

1948

Son Alan Mark Snitow born February 4, 1948

1952

Parents Louis and Tillie divorce, June 4, 1952

1957-1966

Vice President United States World Trade Fare

1959

Mother Tillie Levitt dies, July 22, 1959 (16 Tamuz 5719)

1960-1962

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representative to the UN

1960

Father Louis Levitt dies, June 15, 1960

1961

Became a shareholder of Artis Corporation

1964-1970

National President American Jewish Congress Women's Division

1968

Appeared on WNBC Channel 4 TV to discuss "Full Equality in a Free Society," July 14, 1968

1968

Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, pledged to Eugene McCarthy

1969

Delegate to the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health

1969

Received "A woman for our time award," January 20, 1969

1970-1972

Co-Chair Governing Council American Jewish Congress

1970-1973

President Leadership Conference of National Jewish Women's Organizations

1970-1975

Founder and Vice President of Encounter Films, Inc

1971

Recipient of "A Woman of Our Time Award" as outgoing president of the National Women's Division of the American Jewish Congress, March 28, 1971

1972

Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Miami

1973

Snitow's first visit to Port Saline, Grenada

1975

Attended the Paris energy conference, November 25, 1975

1975

Attended the Universal Front of Survival in Brussels

1977-1978

New York State Co-ordinating Committee for International Women's Year

1977

Named to Hunter College Hall of Fame

1978

Founded US/Israel Women to Women

1979

Recipient of the Louise Waterman Wise Laureate for distinguished service and dedication to the American Jewish Congress and for strengthening community life. May 14, 1979

1980

Honorary Vice President American Jewish Congress

1981

Appeared on Channel 11 AJC program "To Be A Woman Soldier." August 19, 1982

1992

Recipient of the National Organization for Women (NOW) New York Chapter Susan B. Anthony Award. February 11, 1992

2000

Included in 27^th edition of Who's Who in the East

2000

Charles passes away, June 28

2000

Virginia passes away in Scarsdale, October 16

2005

US/Women to Women (W2W) became part of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). The Virginia Levitt Snitow lecture series established by Women 2 Women in Haifa and Tel Aviv Universities.