Harry Keyishian papers, 1952-1997
Collections Number:
16/4F/1333
Abstract: The Harry Keyishian papers consist primarily of correspondence and newspaper clippings pertaining to Harry Keyishian's refusal to sign the so-called "Feinberg Oath," a disclaimer of Communist Party membership required by the State of New York Education and Civil Service Law, and the resultant legal battle. Keyishian joined with four other employees of the State University of New York at Buffalo to challenge the Feinberg law. Keyishian vs. the New York Board of Regents was settled by the US Supreme Court in 1967.
The correspondence in this collection is both contemporary and retrospective to the Keyishian vs. Board of Regents case. Contemporary correspondence includes correspondence with Keyishian's co-litigant Ralph Maud, national and local officials of the American Association of University Professors, administrators of the University at Buffalo, and Richard Lipsitz, Sr., lawyer of the "Keyishian" case. An unsigned Oath of Office pledge card and statement are attached to the June 13, 1966 letter from Myles Slatin, Acting Dean of the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences.
The newspaper clippings include coverage from the 1950s of faculty dismissals from Keyishian's alma mater, Queens College. Other newspaper clippings are both contemporary and retrospective to the Keyishian vs. Board of Regents case.
Topics: Education History, Social Activism
Terms of Access:
Some or all of these records may be restricted. Contact University Archives at 716-645-2991 or lib-archives@buffalo.edu for more information.
