Today’s Project 100 memory is another unusual one.  It is an abridgement of a self-published set of memories authored by the late Sidney Kessler and provided to me by one of Professor Kessler’s former students, Virginia Fish (from whom we will hear later).

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Born in New York City in 1926, Sidney Kessler grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  Sid, as his friends called him, joined the United States Army at age 18 and served from 1944 to 1946.  After leaving the service, he attended college and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Montclair State College in 1948.  During the 1948-1949 academic year, he taught at Logan County High School in Sterling, Colorado.  He then returned to New York City where he worked as a case worker for the New York City Department of Welfare.  At the same time, he began working on a Master of Arts degree in History at Columbia University. 

During this time, he corresponded with W. E. B. DuBois about his thesis.  “Dear Dr. DuBois,” Kessler wrote on November 11, 1949, “I am a young scholar at Columbia University who has just begun to engage in scholarly research for the first time.”  He went on to ask for DuBois’s help in locating sources related to the history of African Americans in the Knights of Labor.  The subject, he wrote “is a very vital one with far-reaching significance for all the people today.”  He concluded that “no doubt you are quite busy at this time but any help in any way will be deeply appreciated.”  Three days later, DuBois, through his secretary, Lillian Murphy wrote back with several suggestions.  Kessler finished his thesis, “The Negro in the Knights of Labor,” in the Spring of 1950.  It was 300 pages in length.  Two years later, out of his thesis, he published an essay that would go on to be widely cited over the years in the Journal of Negro History.

After finishing his MA in history, he continued his graduate studies by completing a Master of Library Sciences degree from Pratt Institute.  For one year, he worked at the Brooklyn Public Library before returning to teaching.  After two more high school teaching jobs, he accepted a position as instructor of social studies at Glassboro State College, where he worked until his retirement in 1991.  He was chair of the Department in the late 1970s.  Over his long teaching career, he taught an unbelievably diverse range of courses at GSC, but his greatest legacy was developing and teaching the College’s first courses in Jewish history and the Holocaust.  While teaching at GSC during the day and taking courses in the evenings, he earned a Certificate in Judaic Studies from Gratz College and later joined the National Council of Holocaust Educators.  Beginning in 1976 and continuing every year until he retired in 1991, he alternated teaching Jewish History and the Holocaust.  No one immediately took over the teaching of his courses, but, slowly, the rest of the world and Rowan caught up with Sid Kessler.  With the hiring of Dianne Ashton and later Melissa Klapper, Rowan University became nationally known for its scholars of American Jewish history.  In the Fall of 2015, the Rowan Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies opened.  In 2019, Rowan began to offer a Master’s program in Holocaust and Genocide Education.  Today, undergraduate and graduate students can not only view film screenings, participate in book clubs, attend public events, and join field trips to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, they can take multiple courses on the topics pioneered by Sid Kessler.

The excerpt from his memoir begins with his appointment as a full-time member of the faculty in the Department of Social Studies at Glassboro State College.  A second excerpt from Sidney Kessler will appear in a subsequent entry about one of his former students.

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As I entered [Glassboro State College President Thomas Robinson’s] large office, I tried to picture Robinson shaving half-dressed, “as only a person.”  I did not succeed.  He controlled a tall body and a square-shaped head.  His gray hair was parted exactly in the center over rimless glasses. He spoke rhythmically, and his favorite pronoun was “we.”  I surmised he ruled the college as the Pope governed the Cardinals.  He had the air of a man who knew what was best for everyone in his world…. I was offered a job as an assistant librarian and an adjunct history instructor for $4500 a year… I was thrilled to be teaching American history for adults in “extreme South Jersey.” At the same time, the library was as interesting as the drip of a faucet… I was thinking of looking for another job, when the President summoned me to his office.

 “We have heard from your students, and we are pleased,” said Dr. Robinson.  The President went on to say that one of the History Professors had resigned suddenly, and since the new semester was to begin in two weeks, the college was in a difficulty.  Would I be interested in teaching full-time?  The courses would be Eastern and Western Civilizations, The Middle East, Ancient History, and American History.  My heart almost jumped out of my skin…  

“Yes, Sir,” I almost shouted. 

“We have faith in you,” said the President.

He boosted my salary $200 a year and promised a promotion to Assistant Professor. I wanted to ask a few questions, but his big arm was around me, and I was outside his door. Of my five subjects, I had studied only one, and I had two weeks to prepare to teach courses which I knew little. Panic set in…. I devised some plans.  1. Lecture and avoid questions, while telling jokes.  2.  Devote time in each class to current events and read the New York Times every day.  3.  Spread out class preparation for two or three classes. 4. Use a very thin textbook, study one more detailed and keep ahead of the students.  5. Be kind to my bread: the students.  6. Solve your own problems.  In time, it worked! 

New courses were added to my repertoire:  Senior Seminar, World War II, Asia, Black History, Jewish History, Holocaust, and Civil War.  I became known as the “all-around utility infielder.”  [Robinson resigned as President in 1968.]. The grand old gentleman returned to his college, which named a building for him.  I saw a tear in Robinson’s eye as he shook my hand and thanked me for my loyalty….

In 1967, Israel was attacked.  I read “While Six Million Die: A Chronicle of American Apathy” by Arthur D. Morse.  It revealed indifference, blocked rescue efforts, and closed borders to Jews… I was shocked numb and bitter to my bones.  I was called “a paranoid” by a colleague.  That book spurred me to reexamine my life as a history professor.  I began to study and teach the Holocaust….[One] dreary morning when I appeared before the college curriculum committee, I had folded my emotions into the papers for a new course, “The Holocaust.”  Diverse colleagues were to judge my ideas.  I could understand rejection in their words, “What about the Indian massacres?” and “Can you be objective?” and “Won’t this embarrass Jews and offend Germans?”  In 1975, few colleges offered Holocaust studies.  As I strolled across campus to my office, greeting students, waving and smiling, inwardly I felt discouraged and alone. I almost forgot that a mature “returning student” was waiting for me.  I had no idea that she would not only bring light to this day but usher in a bright beginning in my life… I turned from the window and faced my new student with recognition, “Oh, you’re the girl who drew the watercolors [that he had seen while studying at Gratz College]!”

“Yes,” she smiled.  “I survived.  My name is Nelly Toll.” 

It was natural to become friends… I encouraged her to write down her story…. “Without Surrender: Art of the Holocaust” was published by the Running Press, Philadelphia in 1978…. It contains the work of various Holocaust artists… and my own preface….  In 1993, Nelly’s second book, “Behind the Secret Window” was published by Dial Books.  It was devoted exclusively to the memoir of her hidden childhood and included 29 of her wartime paintings.  Among the acknowledgements was “to my former Professor of History, Sid Kessler, for his confidence in my work and for his knowledge.”  I was very proud and grateful…. I began teaching the Holocaust in 1976, and I taught the subject every other year until I retired in 1991… and Dean Alan Donovan honored me with the Liberal Arts Division Merit Award for outstanding teaching.  My best reward was friendship with Nelly and her family.”

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This is part of the Department of History’s “Project 100,” the collection and sharing of one hundred memories by Glassboro State College and Rowan University alumni and staff.  One memory will be released per day in the 100 days leading up to October 20, 2023, the date of a reunion celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the founding of Glassboro Normal School, later Glassboro State College, and now Rowan University.  The reunion will take place at 7pm at the Summit City Farm and Winery in Glassboro, New Jersey.  Registration for the reunion will be open from July 11^th and will remain open until the venue reaches its 100-person capacity (or October 13^th if capacity never reached).  We do anticipate that the reunion will sell out, so please register as soon as possible by visiting the Alumni Office’s registration page here:  alumni.rowan.edu/historyreunion2023.

William Carrigan arranged, interviewed, transcribed and/or edited these memories.  Laurie Lahey proofread and helped edit the final versions.  If you wish to share your own memories, please email Dr. Carrigan at carrigan@rowan.edu.  Alumni with Facebook accounts are encouraged to join the RU/GSC History Alumni group here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/251485937221524.