Joseph Willen appointed to Executive Council of American Jewish Historical Society

Previously, we had posted information on an interesting connection between Joseph Willen and Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach and, through association, the American Jewish Historical Society.  Joseph Willen’s association with the Historical Society was actually much more pronounced than his correspondence with Dr. Rosenbach. In correspondence dated February 1952, the Executive Secretary of the American Jewish Historical Society, Philip Goodman, notifies Mr. Willen of his recent election to the Executive Council of the American Jewish Historical Society.

Letter from Philip Goodman to Joseph Willen, regarding his appointment to the Executive Council of the American Jewish Historical Society

Willen’s term as a member of the Executive Council would last two years–from 1952 to 1954. As busy as Willen would have been as one of two Executive Vice Presidents of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, Willen hopes to “participate actively” and “make every effort to be helpful” in his return letter to Philip Goodman.

Letter from Joseph Willen to Philip Goodman, accepting his appointment to the Executive Council of the American Jewish Historical Society

Perhaps further processing of Willen’s correspondence, during these years, will yield discussion of Willen’s participation with or assistance to the Historical Society. Nevertheless, it is interesting to process the papers of a prominent executive of a philanthropic organization who also happens to have served on the Executive Council of your employer.

As a member of the Executive Council, Joseph Willen joined many other historically prominent individuals who served or provided guidance to the American Jewish Historical Society. Please notice the many distinguished names found on the letterhead, including A. S. W. Rosenbach (Honorary President), Jacob Rader Marcus (Vice President), Justice Felix Frankfurter (Executive Council member), Dr. Moshe Davis (Executive Council member), and other distinguished professors, judges, and professionals.