Henry Marcus Leipziger papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library
Henry Marcus Leipziger (1854-1917) was an educator, lecturer and teacher. Born in England, he came to the U.S. as a child and settled in New York City. He established the Hebrew Technical Institute and became its director between 1884 and 1891. Other positions he held were Assistant Superintendent of New York City public schools and Supervisor of Lecturers. He was active in various historical societies and community organizations. Collection consists of addresses and lectures of Leipziger and others, correspondence, resolutions, notes, scrapbooks, and printed matter that relate to Leipziger's career as a lecturer and educator. Bulk of the collection is his addresses and lectures, 1875-1917, on education and religion. Collection contains other addresses and papers, 1891-1934. Correspondence, 1861-1934, includes family letters and general correspondence of Leipziger and others. Also, resolutions, 1873-1917; notes, 1887-1917; scrapbooks containing photographs, 1867-1917; and printed material.
Henry Marcus Leipziger, educator, lecturer and teacher, was born in Manchester, England on December 29, 1854. As a child, Leipziger emigrated with his family. He was educated in public schools, received a Bachelors of Science degree from the City University of New York in 1873; an LLB and Ph. D. from Columbia University circa 1888, followed by an LLD from Union College. Leipziger taught for several years until ill health forced him to resign.
During the interim, he traveled to Europe and throughout the western United States examining educational systems. Upon his return to New York City, Leipziger established the Hebrew Technical Institute. The Institute's objective was to educate Jewish boys in both intellectual and manual skills. Leipziger acted as director of the school from 1884 to 1891.
Leipziger was a pioneer in the area of adult education. From 1891-2896 he worked for the New York City Board of Education as Supervisor of Lecturers from 1890-1917. As such he organized an extremely popular series of free public lectures. Other positions he held were Assistant Superintendent of New York City Public Schools (1891-1896), Chairman of the Library Committee of Aguilar Free Library (now part of the New York Public Library), and vice president of the American Scenic and Historical Society. He was also a trustee for several organizations. The National Institute of Social Science awarded Leipziger a gold medal for service to the community (1916). Leipziger died on December 1, 1917 at Mt. Sinai Hospital after a long illness. He never married.
The papers reflect Henry Marcus Leipziger's career as a lecturer and educator through his correspondence, addresses, lectures, scrapbooks, resolutions, notes and printed material. The lectures form the bulk of the collection. Most of them deal with education and religion. The remainder of the collection consists of family letters and photographs.
Gift of Mrs. Bernard Frankel in 1947; later additions in 1980.
Valerie Wingfield, 1984, rev. 1992