Steven M. Lowenstein Collection - Addenda
Scope and Content Note
The Steven Lowenstein Collections documents professional activities of Steven Lowenstein, writer, researcher, historian, and teacher.
Documents comprising the collection reflect Dr. Lowenstein’s interests in a wide spectrum of topics related to Jews and Judaism, such as modernity and tradition and their influence on the religion and common folks, Berlin Jews of the upper strata, similarities and differences between agrarian/rural and urban Jews, popular and official Judaism, secular and religious Jews, and other Jewish related topics.
However, there is a very small amount of materials related to Dr. Lowenstein’s professional activities other than research and writing.
There are two distinct types of materials – correspondence and manuscripts.
There is correspondence with educational, cultural, historical and research institutions such as Leo Baeck Institute, University of Judaism, Hebrew Union College to name just a few.
Correspondence collected here pertain to Steven Lowenstein’s writings and publishing efforts, his teaching activities, conferences, writings by others, and research projects.
Additional correspondence dealing with Steven Lowenstein’s editorial work, writings, and publishing efforts is found in Series II: Writings.
Writings collected here explore a wide spectrum of topics related to Jews and Judaism, such as modernity and tradition and their influence on the religion and common folks, Berlin Jews of the upper strata, similarities and differences between agrarian/rural and urban Jews, popular and official Judaism, and secular and religious Jews.
The writings range from large scale works to short essays, reviews and lectures.
By and large, Steven Lowenstein’s manuscripts are accompanied by very extensive supplementary materials such as notes, research files, correspondence with publishers regarding publications and publication’s rights, small amount of correspondence with colleagues, and printed materials.
However, manuscripts by other authors lack annotations and are not accompanied by supplementary materials.
Additionally, there are legal documents, such as agreements and permissions; small amount of printed materials, and photographs.
Dates
- 1960s-2007
Creator
- Lowenstein, Steven M., 1945- (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English and German with some Hebrew, Yiddish, and French.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org
Biographical Note
Steven Lowenstein, scholar, teacher, and a writer was born in New York in 1945 into a family of German–Jewish refugees.
He received his master’s degree from Princeton University in 1969 and went on earning a doctorate degree from Princeton University in 1972.
He taught at a number of universities, including Columbia University and Monmouth College, and worked as a researcher and an assistant archivist at YIVO and Leo Baeck Institute.
In the late 1970s Dr. Lowenstein moved to California, teaching Jewish history at the American Jewish University.
Beginning in the late 1970s Steven Lowenstein served as Isadore Levine Professor of Jewish History at the, American Jewish University.
He is the author of a large number of scholarly works, including The Jewish Cultural Tapestry: International Jewish Folk Traditions; The Berlin Jewish Community: Enlightenment, Family and Crisis, 1770-1830; and Frankfurt on the Hudson: The German-Jewish Community of Washington Heights, 1933-1983, Its structure and Culture.
Extent
6 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Steven Lowenstein Collections documents professional activities of Steven Lowenstein, writer, researcher, historian, and teacher. Documents comprising the collection reflect Dr. Lowenstein’s interests in a wide spectrum of topics related to Jews and Judaism, such as modernity and tradition and their influence on the religion and common folks, Berlin Jews of the upper strata, similarities and differences between agrarian/rural and urban Jews, popular and official Judaism, secular and religious Jews, and other Jewish related topics. However, there is a very small amount of materials related to Dr. Lowenstein’s professional activities other than research and writing.
Arrangement
The collectionis divided into three series:
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Steven M. Lowenstein 2 (1945-) 1960s-2007 AR 25335 A
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Yakov Illich Sklar
- Date
- © 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- Made possible by the Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives Grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources through The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support "Illuminating Hidden Collections at the Center for Jewish History"
Revision Statements
- February 26, 2015 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository