Background
Neumann, Sigmund was born on May 1, 1904 in Leipzig, German. Son of Jacob and Anne (Lifschitz) Neumann.
political scientist sociologist university professor
Neumann, Sigmund was born on May 1, 1904 in Leipzig, German. Son of Jacob and Anne (Lifschitz) Neumann.
Student of University Heidelberg, 1924-1925, U. Grenoble, 1925. Doctor of Philosophy, University Leipzog, 1927. Honorary Doctor of Laws, U. Munich, 1949.
Master of Arts (honorary), Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 1944. Doctor of Philosophy (honorary), Free University Berlin, 1962.
Born in Leipzig but emigrating first to London and then to the United States following the rise of Nazi Germany, Neumann was a leading proponent of the Second Thirty Years War-outlook on World War I and World War II and was awarded honorary doctorates from both Munich and Berlin Universities following his return to Germany in 1949. Before coming to the United States in 1934 to join the faculty of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, Neumann taught at the Deutsche Hochschule fur Politik and the London School of Economics, among other institutions. He also served as a visiting professor at Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Amherst and Mount Holyoke.
During his tenure at Wesleyan, Neumann served as Lecturer, Government & Social Science (1934–39). Associate Professor, Social Sciences (1939–44). And Professor, Government (1944–60).
" gifted scholar in government and politics," Neumann was the author of many books, including his then ground breaking The Future in Perspective (1946) and Introduction to the History of Sociology (co-author 1948). He was also a contributor to many professional publications and served as consultant to the U.S. Office of Strategic Services in 1944–45. At Wesleyan, in addition to his teaching and research, he served as director of the Center for Advanced Studies (now the Center for Humanities) (1959–1962), restarted and supervised the Wesleyan Press Archives in the Public Affairs Center (beginning in 1958), and became a mentor to many students.
Neumann died in Middletown.
Member Civilian Affairs Training School for Senior Officers, Yale, 1943-1945. Fellow American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Member of America (council 1961-1963), New England (president 1962-1963) political science associations, American History Association, Council Foreign Relations.
Married Anne Kurltzkes, December 22, 1930 (deceased.