Ruth Newman Schwarz papers

Collection

Identifier: UA10025

Staff Only
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Scope and Contents

The Ruth Newman Schwarz papers, 1939-1989, contains correspondence, writings, and organizational materials relating to her research on Jewish childcare facilities in post-war France. In 1946, Schwarz traveled to children's homes run by organizations such as Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants and Oeuvre de Protection des Enfants Juifs, while her husband ran the Jewish-American Joint Distribution Committee. which provided support to Displaced Persons (DP) camps. The collection contains correspondence with organizational leaders, reports on the condition of the homes, financial reports, and meeting minutes.

There is also a series of correspondence after the death of her husband, containing condolence letters, correspondence regarding the donation of his books and papers to the University of Iowa library, and correspondence with editors about her husband's works-in-progress.

Dates

Creation: 1939 - 1989

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Biographical / Historical

Ruth Newman Schwarz was born on February 22, 1908, to Burt H. and Jeanette Newman in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1946, Schwarz and her husband, Leo W. Schwarz, traveled to France to run Displaced Persons camps for Holocaust survivors. While he ran the American-Jewish Joint Distrubution Committee (JDC), Schwarz researched child care facilities for Jewish children orphaned by World War II and the Holocaust. This research made up her thesis "Child Care Standards of Jewish Children's Agencies in France in 1946," submitted as part of her Master of Social Work from Washington University (St. Louis) completed in 1949.

After returning to the US, Schwarz started working for the Community Service Society of New York, serving in various capacities from 1948 to 1973, including 12 years as the director of its West Side office.

After her husbands death in 1967, Schwarz arranged for the donation of his papers to the University of Iowa, as well as attempted posthumous publications of his incomplete works.

She died on December 28, 1989, in Manhatten, New York.

Source: "Ruth Newman Schwarz, Social Worker, 81." The New York Times, 10 January 1990.

Extent

0.84 Linear Feet (2 containers)

Language of Materials

English

French

Additional Description

Abstract

The Ruth Newman Schwarz papers, 1939-1989, contain correspondence, writings, and organizational materials relating to her research on Jewish child care facilities in post-war France. There is also a series of correspondence after the death of her husband, author Leo W. Schwarz, containing condolence letters.