Isidor Chein was a psychologist who conducted research on minority group identification. He co-wrote an amicus curiae brief in the Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...

case. He earned a bachelor's degree from City College

City College of New York

The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...

 in 1932 and a doctorate from Columbia University

Columbia University

Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...

 in 1939.

Chein's research was mainly concerned with social concern. He worked for the administration of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia on social problems affecting New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. He was also director of research of the Commission on Interrelations of the American Jewish Congress

American Jewish Congress

The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....

. In 1954, Chein and Kenneth B. Clark wrote what was known as "the social scientists' brief" for the purpose of acquainting the judges on the Supreme Court with the impact segregation had on the psychological functioning of African American children. The court cited two papers written by Chein in its 7-0 decision to strike down school segregation.

Chein taught psychology at City College and New York University

New York University

New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...

. In 1976 he was name Great Teacher by the Alumni Federation of NYU.