Max M. Laserson Papers, 1900-1951
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#0743
- Bib ID:
- 4079008 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Laserson, Max M., 1887-1951
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 3 linear feet (4 manuscript boxes, 2 tall manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box, 1 flat box)
- Language(s):
- English , Latvian , German , Yiddish , Russian , French , Hebrew .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Description
The bulk of the collection comprises Max Laserson's professional and personal correspondence and his writings. There are also some documents, materials related to his teaching at Columbia University, and a photograph. Papers include materials in English, French, German, Hebrew, Latvian, Russian and Yiddish languages.
Correspondence with various people and organizations includes letters from European and American professors, lawyers, public figures, prominent people such as Julius Genss, Oskar Gruzenberg, Vladimir Jabotinsky, Mark Vishniak and others, as well as correspondence with universities, Jewish organizations and agencies, Zionist associations, publishers, state institutions, etc.
Laserson's writings include published and unpublished articles, books, some lectures, talks and reports. His works cover a variety of subjects, such as law and philosophy, minorities rights in Latvia and Estonia, Jewry in Latvia and Estonia, Mandate of Palestine, constitution of Israel, Soviet foreign policy, and others.
Max M. Laserson's name has several variations – he is often referred to as Moisei (Maksim) Iakovlevich Laserson, Max Matthasia Laserson, Matasiia Zusmanovich Laserson, Matisiia Iakovlevich Laserson, or Maks Iakovlevich Laserson.
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Series I: Correspondence, 1915-1951
The series consists of Max Laserson's personal and professional correspondence with various people and organizations, as well as family correspondence. Letters are in English, Russian, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, French, Latvian languages. Arranged in three subseries: Correspondence with Individuals; Family Correspondence; Correspondence with Organizations. There are letters from European and American professors, lawyers, prominent people such as Julius Genss, Oskar Gruzenberg, Vladimir Jabotinsky, and Mark Vishniak.
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Series II: Writings, 1919-1951
The series comprises published and unpublished works of Max Laserson, including articles, monographs, talks, reports, etc. Arranged in five subseries.
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Series III: Teaching at Columbia University, 1945-1951, undated
The series consists of course proposals, internal correspondence and documents.
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Series VI: Research and Reference Materials, 1932-1951, undated
The series comprises reprints, clippings, newspapers with materials on subjects related to Laserson's writings and teaching.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in six series.
- Series I: Correspondence, 1915-1951
- Subseries I.1: Correspondence with Individuals, 1921-1950
- Subseries I.2: Family Correspondence, 1934-1949, undated
- Subseries I.3: Correspondence with Oraganizations, 1915-1951
- Series II: Writings, 1919-1951
- Subseries II.1: Articles and Monographs, 1927-1951
- Subseries II.2: Loose Notes and Drafts, 1946-1950, undated
- Subseries II.3: Lectures, Talks, Reports, 1919, undated
- Subseries II.4: Diary
- Subseries II.5: Bibliography of Works of Max Laserson
- Series III: Teaching at Columbia University, 1945-1951, undated
- Series IV: Documents, 1942, 1947, undated
- Series V: Photographs and Postcards, 1900, undated
- Series VI: Research and Reference Materials, 1932-1951, undated
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Max M. Laserson papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Rosorosky, Rachel. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1965. Accession number--M-65.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 07/--/89.
The collection was processed and finding aid written by Katia Davidenko in 2019.
Biographical / Historical
Max M. Laserson, philosopher, jurist, professor, politician and public figure, was born in Mitau, Latvia (now - Jelgava), February 1 (Jan. 20), 1887. He studied and lectured at many universities in Europe and United States, was at one time a member of the Latvian Parliament and an official in the Kerensky Provisional government in Russia.
In 1911 Max Laserson graduated from the Faculty of Law of the St. Petersburg Imperial University where he obtained his Doctor of Law (LL.D.) degree. He also studied at Berlin University (1912-1913), Heidelberg University (1913) and Tartu University (1914-1916; Magister of Constitutional Law).
Max Laserson was assistant professor of constitutional and public law at Petrograd University (1916-1920), professor of legal theory and international law at the Riga Graduate School of Economics (1924-1934), co-founder of the Tel Aviv School of Law and Economics (1935), professor of legal philosophy and international law there (1935-1939), lecturer in Contemporary Civilization and Legal Philosophy at Columbia University.
In 1917 Laserson joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Provisional Government. From 1922 to 1932 (1931?) he was a deputy (Zionist-Socialist party) of the Latvian Parliament where he served as secretary of the Public Law and Constitutional Committee (1925-1932) and was a member of the International Association for the Protection of Minority Rights (Hague).
Laserson left Latvia and went to Mandatory Palestine in 1934 and then in 1939 he moved to United States where worked as a consultant for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 1944-1946. Since 1944 visiting professor at Columbia University and lecturer there in contemporary civilization and legal philosophy.
Author of books and articles in various languages concerning state law, general and international law, theory and philosophy of law; wrote several books on Russia including "The American Impact on Russia, 1784-1917" and "Poland and Russia, 1919-1945 " (co-authored with James T. Shotwell). Contributor to reviews and journals in the field.
Max M. Laserson died on 29 November 1951, aged 64, in New York.
Subject Headings
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