Israel David Fishman papers

Description data TOP

physdesc

{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"5.46 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"14 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}

unitid

{"value"=>"MssCol 1012", "type"=>"local_call"}

{"value"=>"1012", "type"=>"local_mss"}

unitdate

{"value"=>"1967-2002", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1967/2002"}

{"value"=>"1970-1979", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1970/1979"}

date_inclusive_start

1967

date_inclusive_end

2002

keydate

1967

unittitle

{"value"=>"Israel David Fishman papers"}

repository

{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. <span class=\"subarea\">Manuscripts and Archives Division</span></span> <div class=\"address\"><span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}

abstract

{"value"=>"Israel David Fishman (1938-) is best known for founding the Task Force on Gay Liberation (TFGL), a section of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Libraries Association. His papers document the early years of TFGL, Fishman's collaboration with other activists, and the issues surrounding being an openly gay professional in the late-1960s and early-1970s."}

prefercite

{"value"=>"<p>Israel David Fishman Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>Israel David Fishman was born on February 21, 1938 in Westerly, Rhode Island. His given name was Israel Fishman. His parents, Minnie C. and Benjamin Fishman, were Orthodox Jews. His father was an ordained rabbi, although he never held a pulpit position or earned a living as a clergyman.</p> <p>In September 1946, Israel Fishman was sent to Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In letters, he described his childhood as one of much turmoil and loneliness. At the age of fifteen he was hospitalized for twelve weeks and treated with electric shock therapy. Fishman rebelled against the confines of Orthodoxy, finding them inconsistent and irreconcilable with an openly gay life. Still, his childhood spent in the Orthodox community formed a major part of his character and, viewed by Fishman, to be an essential part of his personal conflict. Much of this conflict is demonstrated by his name changes. In 1958, he used the name Yisroel Fishman. In early 1964, he used I. Ronald Fishman, but in June officially changed his name back to Israel Fishman. Later, Fishman added David as a middle name. His correspondence and writings are punctuated with Talmudic references and perspectives, the lives of homosexuals under the Nazis, and his interest in chazzanut, a form of Jewish liturgical music.</p> <p>Fishman worked in various New York businesses as an office assistant between the years 1956 and 1965. In 1958, he enrolled in the City College of New York, first as an evening student, before enrolling full time. He graduated with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in Philosophy in 1965. In May 1966, he received an M.L.S. from Columbia University's School of Library Science.</p> <p>Fishman began his library career as the Head of Technical Services at the Jewish Theological Seminary library, before becoming an Acquisitions Librarian at Richmond College. In 1970, Fishman was hired as Circulation Librarian at Upsala College in East Orange, NJ, at the rank of Assistant Professor. In early 1973, he learned that he had been denied tenure. After considering the appeal process and other options, he requested and was granted a six month sick leave, at the end of which, in January 1974, his employment ended. This was to be the conclusion of Fishman's career as a library professional.</p> <p>In 1970, Fishman attended the American Library Association meeting in Detroit and conceived the idea of a gay liberation group within the library profession. With the help of others, Fishman organized the Task Force on Gay Liberation (TFGL), a section of the Social Responsibilities Round Table. The group's activities at the Dallas convention the next year (June 1971) gained national attention. TFGL members were vocal about their work and the issues they championed were featured in library journals, in the gay press, and even in mainstream publications. Fishman believed that these public activities were responsible for the demise of his career in librarianship. He was succeeded in leadership of the TFGL by Barbara Gittings. In addition to his activist duties, Fishman has been featured in the documentary <span class=\"title\">Trembling Before God</span>, and wrote chapters for the anthologies, <span class=\"title\">Daring to Find Our Names</span> and <span class=\"title\">Liberating Minds</span>.</p> <p>After leaving librarianship, Fishman went to Los Angeles, California for a period of work and study at the Gay Community Services Center. He returned to New York in the winter of 1973 to study Swedish massage and was licensed in 1974. The same year, Fishman met his partner, Carl Navarro at the West Side Discussion Group (a regular gathering of gay men in New York City). Fishman went on to run a mail order vitamin store, to organize tours through Hasidic Brooklyn, called Big Knish Tours, and to be active in the Park Slope Food Cooperative.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>The Israel David Fishman papers address his role as a librarian and activist, as well as concern the issues surrounding being an openly gay professional in the late-1960s and early-1970s. His papers contain correspondence with friends, colleagues, and family members and letters of inquiry to businesses and organizations. As founder of the Task Force on Gay Liberation (TFGL), Fishman documents the formative years of this group while simultaneously collecting material from other organizations he was involved with or interested in. Fishman was particularly concerned about the ways in gay liberation issues in the library profession were covered by the media. Fishman wrote chapters for two anthologies regarding his role in the TFGL. Files for these projects include correspondence, typescript drafts, publicity material, and reviews. Fishman also kept records of his employment as a librarian at Upsala College and the rejection of his bid for tenure at that institution. There are extensive personal documents regarding his hobbies, his daily activities, and personal milestones. This collection contains sound recordings, including talks given by early TFGL members. Select sound recordings are unavailable pending preservation transfer.</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Israel David Fishman papers are arranged in six series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64653'>Series I: Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1969-2004</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Fishman was a prolific correspondent; additionally, Fishman would made carbon copies of letters that he typed or hand-wrote to others. Personal correspondents included library professional colleagues, such as Janet Cooper and Barbara Gittings; others concerned either publicly or privately with gay issues and liberation struggles; holistic doctors and healers; and personal friends, many of whom Fishman and Navarro met on their many trips to Italy. Fishman often wrote letters to product manufacturers, radio stations, travel agents, and others with a commodity he wished to purchase or comment on. His employment as a librarian at Upsala College (1970-1973) is documented by resumes, job applications, reference letters, memoranda, and a few official letters. Many of Fishman's letters to individuals during this time also comment on his employment and dismissal. For additional material regarding his Upsala employment, see Series II. Library Activities.</p> <p>Notable correspondents include Susan Saxe, Janet Cooper's friend, who was imprisoned in Massachusetts for bank robbery and murder; Robert Austin Sullivan, a gay prisoner on death row in Florida (he was executed on November 30, 1983); Barry Weaver, the head of Sullivan's defense fund; Allen Young, a writer on gay themes whom Fishman visited at Butterworth Farm, an intentional gay community; and Ron Lambe and Rocco Platt, members of the Radical Faerie Movement who lived at the Running Water intentional community. This series contains three sound recording of Fishman reading correspondence. Sound recordings are unavailable for use pending preservation transfer.</p> <p>Family letters consists of correspondence Fishman had with his father, and with his sister, Soro Reize. The bulk of these letters regards Fishman's anger that they would not accept his chosen lifestyle and partner. Correspondence with the Navarro family primarily includes letters regarding Carl's father, Frank Navarro, and his reluctance to sell the family business to his son and Fishman. Navarro correspondents are Carl's cousins in Italy with whom the couple visited on their trips abroad. Cards and postcards are primarily holiday and birthday cards, many gay-themed.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64694'>Series II: Library Activities</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1970-1995</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series II is comprised of material reflecting Fishman's involvement with the Task Force on Gay Liberation (TFGL) and his position at Upsala College. Records of the TFGL represent the early years of the task force and contain correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and press releases. Upsala College files cover Fishman's position at the school, talks and programs he organized on LGBT issues, his work to get LGBT material into the library's holdings, correspondence regarding his colleagues responses to his sexuality, and the denial of tenure. This series contains sound recordings of early talks and speeches given by TFGL members, a recording of the 25th Anniversary Dinner, and of talks organized by Fishman at Upsala. Select sound recordings are unavailable for use pending preservation transfer.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64715'>Series III: Subject Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1970-2002</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is arranged alphabetically. Fishman saved many items published by, or related to, the gay organizations proliferating in the early 1970s. These items reflect a broad cross-section, covering onetime events, religious organizations, health bulletins, theater productions, social and self-help groups, and conflicts and \"zaps\" of establishments who were perceived to be discriminating against gay men and lesbians. Later files reflect Fishman's role on the Board of Directors of the Park Slope Food Coop, publicity material for <span class=\"title\">Trembling Before G-d</span>, VegOut, a vegan dining group that Fishman and Navarro were active in, and their attendance at Mameloshn and radical faerie events. Select gay publications have been transferred to the LGBT Periodicals Collection</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64753'>Series IV: Writings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1970-2002</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series IV is arranged alphabetically and holds correspondence, typescript drafts, and publicity material. Files regarding <span class=\"title\">Daring to Find Our Names</span> include extensive correspondence with editor James (Jim) Carmichael as well as material Carmichael collected regarding Fishman's role in the formative years of the TFGL. <span class=\"title\">The Linewaiters' Gazette</span> contains copies of articles or letters to the editor written by Fishman.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64758'>Series V: Personal Documents</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1967-2001</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series is arranged alphabetically. Topics covered here include Fishman's interest in religion and Chazzanuth music, his job searches, and his relationship with Carl Navarro. Ephemera and Memorabilia files consist of pamphlets, programs, and fliers for events and protests, call slips, LGBT zines, and clippings. This series contains one sound recording of a Yom Kippur reading by A. Bruce Goldman Select sound recordings are unavailable for use pending preservation transfer.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/1012#c64772'>Series VI: Artifacts</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1973-2001</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series VI is the smallest in the collection and contains a variety of ephemera such as t-shirts celebrating activist events, pride-related memorabilia, and a banner acknowledging the long-term relationship between Fishman and Navarro.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}

arrangement

{"value"=>"<p>The Israel David Fishman papers are organized in the following series:</p> <ul> <li>Series I: Correspondence, 1969-2004</li> <li>Series II: Library Activities, 1970-1995</li> <li>Series III: Subject Files, 1970-2002</li> <li>Series IV: Writings, 1970-2002</li> <li>Series V: Personal Documents, 1967-2001</li> <li>Series VI: Artifacts, 1973-2001</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}

acqinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Israel David Fishman, 1994-2003</p>"}

processinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Susan Malsbury.</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p>Original donation was received in 1995. From 1996-2004, Fishmen sent the library additions, one box at a time. These newer materials have been intellectually integrated with the original material. The organization of the papers has been rearranged from the original accession to further clarify the material in this collection.</p>"}

accessrestrict

{"value"=>"<p>Select correspondence is closed until 2052.</p>"}

userestrict

{"value"=>"<p>Copyright retained by donor, and by Carl Navarro following donor's death. No restrictions on photocopies. Certain material, noted in the FA, is restricted.</p>"}

relatedmaterial

{"value"=>"<span class=\"archref\">Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen gay history papers and photographs. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">Butterworth Farm collection. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span> <span class=\"archref\">LGBT Periodicals Collection. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span>"}

origination

{"value"=>"Fishman, Israel David, 1938-", "type"=>"persname"}

extent_statement

5.46 linear feet (14 boxes)

date_start

1967

date_end

2002

date_bulk_start

1970

date_bulk_end

1979

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Child components TOP

1. Series I: Correspondence [2/1]
2. Series II: Library Activities [3/1]
3. Series III: Subject Files [37/1]
4. Series IV: Writings [4/1]
5. Series V: Personal Documents [13/1]
6. Series VI: Artifacts [6/1]