Epstein, Abraham, 1892-1942

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Research Director, Pennsylvania Commission on Old Age Pensions, 1918-1921 and 1923-1927; Executive Secretary, American Association for Social Security, 1927-1942.

From the description of Abraham Epstein papers, 1918-1945. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 493895947

Public officer, scholar, and specialist in social and old age security.

From the description of Papers, 1922-1931. (Wayne State University). WorldCat record id: 28414377

BIOGHIST REQUIRED Research Director, Pennsylvania Commission on Old Age Pensions, 1918-1921 and 1923-1927; Executive Secretary, American Association for Social Security, 1927-1942.

From the guide to the Abraham Epstein Papers, 1918-1945., (Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library, )

Executive secretary of the American Association for Old Age Security (name later changed to American Association for Social Security.).

From the description of Abraham Epstein papers, 1920-1942. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419885

Abraham Epstein was born in Liubarn, Russia, in 1892, and immigrated to the United States in 1910. After graduation from the University of Pittsburgh in 1917 and work on his masters degree at Columbia University, he embarked upon a lifelong crusade for enactment of adequate old age, unemployment, and health insurance programs.

After six years with the Pennsylvania Commission on Old Age Pensions, and three with the Fraternal Order of the Eagles (during which he worked with the aged), Epstein became a founding member and executive secretary of the American Association for old Age Security (AAOSS). Epstein and the organization, which changed its name to the American Association for Social Security (AASS) in 1933, conducted a tireless campaign on behalf of the elderly poor and unemployed worker, and were a contributing factor in the passage, in 1935, of the Social Security Act. Thereafter, Epstein, who was critical of the limitations of the act, constantly prodded and worked for improvements in it, and strove for a social insurance program that meant "social safety for Americans."

In addition to his work with the AASS, Epstein was a noted lecturer and author, and taught for many years at Brooklyn College and New York University. He died after a short illness in 1942, at the age of fifty. He was survived by his wife, Henrietta.

From the guide to the Abraham and Henrietta Epstein Papers, 1920-1960, 1930-1942, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn American Association for Labor Legislation. Series 1, Subseries 4. Correspondence, 1920-1925. [microform]. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Epstein, Abraham, 1892-1942. Papers, 1922-1931. Wayne State University
referencedIn Wolfson, Theresa, 1897-1972. Wolfson, Theresa. Series 1. Correspondence, 1919-1970. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Cohen, Wilbur J. (Wilbur Joseph), 1913-1987,. Social security files, 1932-1957. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Epstein, Abraham, 1892-1942. Abraham Epstein papers, 1918-1945. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security. Series 5. Newspaper clippings, 1920-1944. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Abraham Epstein Papers, 1918-1945. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. Series 2. Subject files, 1920-1944. Cornell University Library
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security. Series 4. Legislative bills, 1920-1944. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Epstein, Abraham, 1892-1942. Papers, 1918-1930 and 1973. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf American Association for Old Age Security. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1931. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Leiserson, William M. William M. Leiserson papers, 1901-1959. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security records, 1909-1944, bulk 1920-1944. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Witte, Edwin E. (Edwin Emil), 1887-1960. Edwin E. Witte papers, 1903-1970. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn American Association for Labor Legislation. Series 1, Subseries 5. Correspondence Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security. Series 6. Miscellaneous, 1909-1944. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Consumers' League of Massachusetts. Records, 1891-1955 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Epstein, Henriette Castex. Reminiscences of Henriette Castex Epstein : oral history, 1976. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Stern, Max William, 1884-1950. Max William Stern papers, 1923-1942. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Epstein, Abraham, 1892-1942. Abraham Epstein papers, 1920-1942. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf National Consumers' League. Records, 1922-1931. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Abraham and Henrietta Epstein Papers, 1920-1960, 1930-1942 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security series 3. Card files, 1935-1943. Cornell University Library
referencedIn American Association for Social Security records, 1909-1944, bulk 1920-1944. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
referencedIn American Association for Social Security. American Association for Social Security. Series 1. Correspondence, 1927-1944, bulk 1931-1944. Cornell University Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Association for Labor Legislation. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Old Age Security. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Old Age Security. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Old Age Security. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Old Age Security. corporateBody
associatedWith American Association for Social Security. corporateBody
associatedWith Cohen, Wilbur J. (Wilbur Joseph), 1913-1987, person
associatedWith Consumers' League of Massachusetts. corporateBody
associatedWith Epstein, Henrietta. person
associatedWith Epstein, Henrietta. person
associatedWith Epstein, Henriette Castex. person
associatedWith Epstein, Henriette Castex, interviewee. person
associatedWith Leiserson, William M. person
associatedWith National Consumers' League. corporateBody
associatedWith O'Connell, Janice, interviewer. person
associatedWith Pennsylvania Commission of Old Age Pensions. corporateBody
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
associatedWith Saposs, David J. (David Joseph), 1886-1968. person
correspondedWith Stern, Max William, 1884-1950. person
associatedWith Witte, Edwin E. (Edwin Emil), 1887-1960. person
associatedWith Wolfson, Theresa, 1897-1972. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
France
Pennyslvania--Pittsburgh
United States
United States
United States
Subject
African Americans
Unemployment insurance
Labor movement
Labor policy
Labor unions
Old age
Old age pensions
Older people
Social problems
Social security
Social security
Working class
Occupation
Public officers
Scholars
Social reformers
Activity

Person

Birth 1892

Death 1942

Information

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