Parsonnet, Victor, 2002

The bulk of the material in this series is arranged chronologically, and contains routine, incoming and outgoing correspondence regarding reference requests (some of which were answered by other librarians including Karen Gilbert and James Stuart Osbourn); permissions to use material; acknowledgments of donations; a few letters of complaint or praise; and details regarding exhibitions, conferences, meetings, talks, tours, workshops, etc. Correspondents include the general public; other librarians, historians or genealogists; local business and civic leaders; and journalists. The geographic range of the correspondents is primarily Newark and New Jersey, but includes a few correspondents from around the country and globe.

One folder contains “protest letters” regarding the removal of Cummings as Head of the New Jersey Reference Division, and his re-assignment as assistant director for Statewide Outreach, with letters from John T. Cunningham, Elizabeth Del Tufo, Kenneth Jackson, and Clement A. Price (1995) among others, along with responses from Betty S. Rufalo, president of the NPL Board of Trustees,

Also included is a small amount of personal material from “home files,” consisting of notes, cards, and information regarding a family wedding.

A few letters are filed by correspondent; these include Sharpe James, Philip Roth, Julia Sabine, and Lowell Weiss (special assistant to President Bill Clinton) among others.

Finally the series includes two postcards and one letter written to Hannah (“Honey”) and Leo Litzky from Hannah’s brother, Louis Ginsberg, and nephew, the poet Allen Ginsberg. These items were found among the exhibit files for “Newark’s Jewish Heritage,” an exhibit which was held in 1995.