Henry Marcus Leipziger

Background

Henry Marcus Leipziger was born in Manchester, England, the son of Marcus and Martha (Samuel) Leipziger. The family emigrated to the United States early in the boy's life and settled in New York City.

Education

He attended the public schools in New York City and entered the College of the City of New York, from which he received the degrees of A. B. and B. S. in 1873. He distinguished himself in history, literature, English composition, oratory, and debating. Entering the law school of Columbia College, he received the degree of LL. B. in 1875.

Career

Upon graduation, Leipziger was admitted to the bar. He opened an office, but soon determined to return to teaching, a profession which he had been following in the evening schools of New York while pursuing his law studies. He suffered a complete nervous breakdown in 1881 and from then until 1883 traveled widely and read extensively. In 1884 he persuaded a group of Jewish philanthropists to establish the Hebrew Technical Institute, of which he became the superintendent. In it he organized courses to train Jewish youths in the trades and crafts so as to fit them for special callings. The reputation which he won for this work led, in 1891, to his appointment as assistant superintendent of schools in New York City, a position which he held until 1896.

During this period he laid the plans for a system of public lectures to be given evenings in different school centers, under the auspices of the board of education. That which was a small experiment at first soon grew into one of the largest organized lecture systems of the country, if not of the world. He himself used to call it "The People's University. " Hundreds of lecturers were employed, thousands of lectures were given, and audiences numbering more than a million a year were in attendance. So heavy became the work that a special position of supervisor of public lectures was created, and this office Leipziger filled up to the day of his death.

Thereafter the work gradually disintegrated, not primarily because of faulty foundations, but from various causes--evening extension courses in colleges and schools, and more particularly, the phonograph and the moving pictures. For twenty years, however, it had been one of the greatest forces for adult education in New York City, and as a result of it Leipziger became one of the best-known educators there. Outside of his regular work he interested himself in various Hebrew charities, in libraries, and in historical societies. In personal appearance he was a most distinguished figure despite his medium stature and somewhat frail body. The best likeness of him in the form of an oil painting now hangs in the College of the City of New York.

Achievements

• Leipziger took an active part in extending the system of manual and industrial training in public schools and development of lecture system. He brought the special attention to the necessity for Jews to engage in mechanical occupations. He was the author of "The New Education, " New York, 1888, and of a large number of articles on educational and ethical subjects.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Education of the Jews

    (The Education of the Jews is an unchanged, high-quality r...)

Connections

Father:

Marcus Leipziger

Mother:

Martha (Samuel) Leipziger

References

• Henry M. Leipziger, educator and idealist,