Milton R. Konvitz
Encyclopedia
Milton Konvitz was a former Cornell University
faculty member. He died September 5, 2003 at the age of 95.
, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1929 and in 1930 a law degree. In 1933, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Cornell. Prior to joining Cornell's faculty, he worked at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he was one of three assistant general counsels to Thurgood Marshall
.
and a founding faculty member of School of Industrial and Labor Relations
. He retired in 1973. He was an authority on constitutional and labor law, and on civil and human rights, coining the term "civil liberties." He was famous for teaching a class called American Ideals at Cornell for many years; it was based in the College of Arts and Sciences and regularly drew enrollments in the many hundreds, with the eventual total exceeding over 8,000. Young Ruth Bader, later Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, was one of those students.
Konvitz was one of the founder's of Cornell's Department of Near Eastern Studies and of its Program of Jewish Studies. He and his wife, the former Mary Traub, often hosted Jewish students and others.
A professorship in his name was dedicated with funds from former students and others; Ross Brann is the current Milton Konvitz Professor of Judeo-Islamic Studies.
James A. A. Pierre
of the Supreme Court of Liberia
, Konvitz, for nearly 30 years, drew up the body of statutory laws in the Republic of Liberia. He also edited the opinions of Liberia's Supreme Court. As a token of thanks for his work he received the Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa, as well as an honorary degree from the University of Liberia
.
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
faculty member. He died September 5, 2003 at the age of 95.
Early Life, Education and Early Career
He was born in 1908 in Safed, Palestine (now Israel), and was the son of a rabbi. In 1915, he immigrated to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1926. He studied at New York UniversityNew 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...
, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1929 and in 1930 a law degree. In 1933, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Cornell. Prior to joining Cornell's faculty, he worked at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he was one of three assistant general counsels to Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991...
.
Academic career
Konvitz was a professor in Cornell's Law SchoolCornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
and a founding faculty member of School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations is an industrial relations school at Cornell University, an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, USA...
. He retired in 1973. He was an authority on constitutional and labor law, and on civil and human rights, coining the term "civil liberties." He was famous for teaching a class called American Ideals at Cornell for many years; it was based in the College of Arts and Sciences and regularly drew enrollments in the many hundreds, with the eventual total exceeding over 8,000. Young Ruth Bader, later Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, was one of those students.
Konvitz was one of the founder's of Cornell's Department of Near Eastern Studies and of its Program of Jewish Studies. He and his wife, the former Mary Traub, often hosted Jewish students and others.
A professorship in his name was dedicated with funds from former students and others; Ross Brann is the current Milton Konvitz Professor of Judeo-Islamic Studies.
Liberian Codification Project
Working with Chief JusticeChief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
James A. A. Pierre
James A. A. Pierre
James Alexander Adolphus Pierre was the 13th Chief Justice of Liberia, serving from 1971 until his death in 1980...
of the Supreme Court of Liberia
Supreme Court of Liberia
The Supreme Court of Liberia is the highest judicial body in the West African nation of Liberia. The court consists of the Chief Justice of Liberia and four Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
, Konvitz, for nearly 30 years, drew up the body of statutory laws in the Republic of Liberia. He also edited the opinions of Liberia's Supreme Court. As a token of thanks for his work he received the Grand Band of the Order of the Star of Africa, as well as an honorary degree from the University of Liberia
University of Liberia
The University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
.
Personal life
Konvitz was married for over 50 years to the former Mary Traub. Their son Josef is an official of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), based in Paris, where he lives with his wife, Isa. Their sons, Eli and Ezra, live in London.Published Works
- A Century of Civil Rights ISBN 9780313241239
- The Constitution and Civil Rights
- Fundamental Liberties of a Free People: Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly ISBN 9780313201042
- The American Pragmatists : Selected Writings edited by Milton Ridvas Konvitz ISBN 9780758183286
- Judaism and Human Rights
- Fundamental Rights
- Emerson: A Collection of Critical Essays
- Torah and Constitution: Essays in American Jewish Thought
- The American Pragmatists, edited by Milton R. Konvitz and Gail Kennedy
- The Alien and the Asiatic in American Law
- Expanding Liberty: Freedom's Gains in Postwar America
- Religious Liberty
- Nine American Jewish Thinkers
- Bill of Rights Reader: Leading Constitutional Cases
- Judaism and the American Idea
- Civil Rights in Immigration
- The Legacy of Horace M. Kallen
- First Amendment Freedoms: Selected Cases on Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly
- On the Nature of Value: The Philosophy of Samuel Alexander
- Aspects of Liberty: Essays Presented to Robert E. Cushman, by Milton R. Konvitz and Clinton Rossiter
- The Recognition of Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Essays in Political Theory
- Liberian Code of Laws Revised
- Profane Religion and Sacred Law
Books and Articles About
- Rights, Liberties, and Ideals: The Contributions of Milton R. Konvitz, by David Joseph Danelski
- Biography - Milton Ridvas Konvitz (1908–2003), from Contemporary Authors
- Milton R. Konvitz, z"l.: from Midstream
- A Guide to the Papers of Milton R. Konvitz, School of Industrial Relations, Cornell University