The materials in this collection are the personal papers of Leo W. Schwarz, who, as Director of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in 1946-1947, oversaw the rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons following World War II. Schwarz later held the position of Visiting Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Iowa's School of Religion.

The largest grouping of materials in the collection relates to Schwarz's own writings and the several anthologies he edited. This series is further divided into work that is substantially original to Schwarz and collected research/contributions from other authors. The former includes draft and final manuscripts, manuscripts edits, notes, book chapters, interview transcripts, book ideas, and publication records. The latter includes primarily short stories and anthology contributions from other named authors.

The collection also includes documents pertaining to Schwarz's academic work, both as a student and as a professor, lecturer, and presenter. These documents take the form of syllabi, reading lists, course schedules, assignments, presentations, transcripts of lectures given, class ntoes, and a draft of Schwarz's dissertation.

Of particular note are the records dealing with Schwarz's time as Director of the JDC. While not as extensive as other series in this collection, these materials will be of interest to scholars of the Jewish diaspora and the history of displaced persons in the aftermath of World War II. They includ eoperational records, correspondence, maps, receipts, trail records, newspaper and other periodical clippings, and government reports.



Subjects include a projected biography of Harry A. Wolfson, a Harvard professor; Jewish displaced persons in Germany; Jewish studies; Jewish youth in South Africa; the relationship of psychiatry and religion; Ruth N. Schwarz's work with Jewish children in France at the end of World War II; teaching at the University of Iowa and elsewhere; and World War II military service at Etampes, France.

Collection materials include the Congress Bi-Weekly, Menorah Journal, Unzer Weg, and other periodicals. Correspondents include Ralph Marcus, Cecil Roth, Ruth N. Schwarz, and Harry A. Wolfson.