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1media/OSCAR IN OFFICE.jpg2024-10-08T06:54:58-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b04609919Home Pageimage_header15561032024-10-11T09:28:21-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0Oscar Shaftel was one of the original faculty members when Queens College opened its doors in 1937. He was beloved by students and known for his meritorious service as a member of the United States Air Force during World War II.
In 1953 he was one of three Queens College faculty members fired for citing the Fifth Amendment and refusing to answer questions about Communist affiliation in academia before the Senate Internal Security Committee. This McCarthyistic purge had long-lasting repercussions for Queens College, New York State, and more personally, Shaftel’s family. Through it all, Shaftel never gave up the fight for restitution, which he finally won thirty years later.
"Oscar Shaftel and the Menace of McCarthyism" shines a light on this dark and debilitating chapter in American history, as well as the heroic fight waged by Shaftel and others for democratic, First Amendment rights. This digital exhibit also publicizes unique resources held by Queens College Special Collections and Archives that tell this story.
Use the blue buttons on the bottom of each page to follow the narrative, or access the table of contents from the menu at the top of each page.
Contents of this path:
12024-10-08T10:28:41-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0Who is Oscar Shaftel?12plain2024-10-11T09:25:11-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0
1media/PhotoArchive_B4F40_Quad_students_0.jpgmedia/PhotoArchive_B4F40_Quad_students_0.jpg2024-10-08T08:51:36-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0McCarthyism at Queens College41plain15561222024-10-15T07:43:40-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0
12024-10-08T10:27:30-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0The Oscar Shaftel Papers11plain2024-10-11T09:29:47-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0
12024-10-09T17:21:57-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0Image Gallery22gallery2024-10-15T08:13:30-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0
12024-10-08T10:29:19-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0Resources15plain2024-10-09T17:19:23-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0
12024-10-08T10:29:26-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0Credits14plain2025-07-28T07:26:27-07:00Queens College Special Collections and Archivese5d75124350046eec0e648a38e4b73292f02c4b0