Knickerbocker Case
Encyclopedia
The Knickerbocker Case occurred at the City College of New York
(CCNY) between 1945 and 1950. It began with accusations of antisemitism against the Chairman of the Department of Romance Languages, William E. Knickerbocker, which led to state, city and college level investigations, and ultimately to the first general student strike of the modern civil rights era (which began in 1948 with President Truman’s Executive Order 9981
desegregating the military).
In April 1947, CCNY administrators issued a report finding that a clerical error had led to Gurewitch’s denial of the Ward Medal. Gurewitch was later issued a duplicate medal.
's special committee on discrimination conducted its own investigation, finding that Dr. Knickerbocker had made antisemitic jokes and treated Jewish students contemptuously. In June 1948, it recommended that CCNY remove Dr. Knickerbocker and restore Drs. Bach-y-Rita and Pollinger to the list of recommendations for promotion, from which both professors had been removed in retaliation.
Although the City Council voted to accept the committee’s report, administrators at CCNY chose to delay Dr. Knickerbocker’s dismissal. Later, a faculty committee was appointed whose report exonerated Dr. Knickerbocker and which was adopted by a 46-9 vote of the faculty.
The American Jewish Congress
conducted its own investigation and stated that Dr. Knickerbocker showed a "philosophy and program of anti-semitism." In September 1948, twenty students walked out of Knickerbocker’s class, while Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman, director of the campus Hillel Foundation, attempted to negotiate with the school to allow students to transfer into other classes.
Student protests climaxed in April 1949 when the student council voted to hold a general student strike to demand the trial and removal of both Dr. Knickerbocker and Mr. Davis. On April 11, students battled police in "near riot proportions," some shouting "Jim Crow must go." Sixteen students were arrested. It was estimated that 65 percent of students participated by staying away from classes. The student council of the business school voted to condemn the strike.
Several days later, Dr. Knickerbocker announced that he would not stand as a candidate for the Chairmanshp of the Department of Romance Languages, though he would continue as a professor.
A July 1950 report by the Associate Alumni of City College stated that "[i]t cannot be said with any degree of certainty that Prof. William E. Knickerbocker was antisemitic. By the same token, it likewise cannot be said with any degree of certainty that he was not." Regarding Mr. Davis, who had been found guilty of maintaining segregated dormitories in Army Hall, the alumni wrote that his actions were "ill-considered rather than motivated by racial bias," although it approved of his removal as director of the dormitory by the president of the college.
CCNY alumni continued to commemorate the 1949 strike, which for many students marked the beginning of their political involvement in progressive causes and in civil rights.
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...
(CCNY) between 1945 and 1950. It began with accusations of antisemitism against the Chairman of the Department of Romance Languages, William E. Knickerbocker, which led to state, city and college level investigations, and ultimately to the first general student strike of the modern civil rights era (which began in 1948 with President Truman’s Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981
Executive Order 9981 is an executive order issued on July 26, 1948 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. It expanded on Executive Order 8802 by establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services for people of all races, religions, or national origins."In 1947, Randolph, along...
desegregating the military).
Beginning
The Knickerbocker Case began on April 9, 1945 when four members of the Department of Romance Languages—Elliott H. Pollinger, Ephraim Cross, Otto Müller, and Pedro Bach-y-Rita—sent a letter to the president of the college, accusing William E. Knickerbocker of antisemitism. The letter contended that Dr. Knickerbocker had made antisemitic remarks and denied the Ward Medal for proficiency in French to a Jewish student, Morton Gurewitch, because he was Jewish.In April 1947, CCNY administrators issued a report finding that a clerical error had led to Gurewitch’s denial of the Ward Medal. Gurewitch was later issued a duplicate medal.
Investigation
On December 16, 1946, New York City's Board of Higher Education unanimously adopted the report of a special committee, finding the accusations against Dr. Knickerbocker "totally unsubstantiated." In response, the New York City CouncilNew York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
's special committee on discrimination conducted its own investigation, finding that Dr. Knickerbocker had made antisemitic jokes and treated Jewish students contemptuously. In June 1948, it recommended that CCNY remove Dr. Knickerbocker and restore Drs. Bach-y-Rita and Pollinger to the list of recommendations for promotion, from which both professors had been removed in retaliation.
Although the City Council voted to accept the committee’s report, administrators at CCNY chose to delay Dr. Knickerbocker’s dismissal. Later, a faculty committee was appointed whose report exonerated Dr. Knickerbocker and which was adopted by a 46-9 vote of the faculty.
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....
conducted its own investigation and stated that Dr. Knickerbocker showed a "philosophy and program of anti-semitism." In September 1948, twenty students walked out of Knickerbocker’s class, while Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman, director of the campus Hillel Foundation, attempted to negotiate with the school to allow students to transfer into other classes.
Segregation at CCNY
The case involving Dr. Knickerbocker overlapped with an investigation into the segregation of a CCNY dormitory. In 1948, a faculty committee found that the professor in charge of the Army Hall dormitory, William E. Davis, had segregated the dormitory during WWII. Mr. Davis was removed from his post as director of the dormitory, but retained his position as a tenured professor in the economics department.Student Strike
In October 1948, 2,000 students held a fiery meeting and a "sit-down" to demand the removal of Dr. Knickerbocker from the faculty. CCNY administrators suspended classes.Student protests climaxed in April 1949 when the student council voted to hold a general student strike to demand the trial and removal of both Dr. Knickerbocker and Mr. Davis. On April 11, students battled police in "near riot proportions," some shouting "Jim Crow must go." Sixteen students were arrested. It was estimated that 65 percent of students participated by staying away from classes. The student council of the business school voted to condemn the strike.
No Resolution
Drs. Bach-y-Rita and Pollinger appealed to the State Education Commissioner, Francis T. Spaulding, requesting that he order the Board of Higher Education to file formal charges against Dr. Knickerbocker. In February 1950, the Board of Higher Education—which had originally dismissed the complaint against Dr. Knickerbocker—declared that there was no reason to reopen the investigation. It also declined to address the restoration of Drs. Bach-y-Rita and Pollinger to the list of recommendations for promotion. The Commissioner supported the Board.Several days later, Dr. Knickerbocker announced that he would not stand as a candidate for the Chairmanshp of the Department of Romance Languages, though he would continue as a professor.
A July 1950 report by the Associate Alumni of City College stated that "[i]t cannot be said with any degree of certainty that Prof. William E. Knickerbocker was antisemitic. By the same token, it likewise cannot be said with any degree of certainty that he was not." Regarding Mr. Davis, who had been found guilty of maintaining segregated dormitories in Army Hall, the alumni wrote that his actions were "ill-considered rather than motivated by racial bias," although it approved of his removal as director of the dormitory by the president of the college.
CCNY alumni continued to commemorate the 1949 strike, which for many students marked the beginning of their political involvement in progressive causes and in civil rights.