Jerome K. and Ora Engelberg Percus Papers
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Abstract
Jerome K. Percus (1926-2021) was a physicist and mathematician who taught in both the NYU Departments of Mathematics and Physics and spent the majority of his academic career at NYU. His research and teaching focused on many-body systems, statistical and mathematical physics, biophysics, chemical physics, and mathematical biology. Ora Engelberg Percus was a mathematician who taught as an adjunct professor in the NYU Department of Mathematics, in addition to her previous teaching positions at the University of Tel Aviv, Columbia University's Teachers College, and City College (CUNY). Her primary research interests included many-body systems, probability and queueing theory, and random number generators. The Jerome K. and Ora Engelberg Percus Papers (dated 1933-2021) consist of materials documenting the academic careers of Jerome K. Percus and Ora Engelberg Percus. Materials in this collection include correspondence; college and graduate school coursework; research files, including data and calculations; original writings in various stages of completion; teaching files, including course materials and lecture notes; grant proposals and other project files; and conference presentations. Materials documenting Jerome and Ora's original research represent their scholarly outputs, both as individuals and as collaborators who often co-authored work together. This collection also documents Ora Engelberg Percus' experiences as a woman in the male-dominated field of mathematics. Correspondence, resumes, and legal filings document her tenure denial at City College, CUNY's policy in the 1970s of required unpaid maternity leave, her claims of gender discrimination for being dismissed while pregnant, and her participation in the Melani v. CUNY lawsuit. The collection also includes materials documenting Jerome K. Percus' early life, including childhood drawings, photographs, and school yearbooks.
Biographical Note of Jerome K. Percus
Jerome K. Percus (1926-2021) was a physicist and mathematician who taught in both the NYU Departments of Mathematics and Physics. Percus was a three-time graduate of Columbia University (B.S. in electrical engineering (1947), M.S. in mathematics (1948), and Ph.D. in physics (1954)), and spent the majority of his academic career at NYU. His research and teaching focused on many-body systems, statistical and mathematical physics, biophysics, chemical physics, and mathematical biology.
Biographical Note of Ora Engelberg Percus
Ora Engelberg Percus (1934-2020) was a mathematician who taught as an adjunct professor in the NYU Department of Mathematics. She graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with an M.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics (1959) and Columbia University with a Ph.D. in Mathematical Statistics (1965). Ora taught at the University of Tel Aviv, Columbia University's Teachers College, City College (CUNY), and NYU. Ora struggled to secure consistent academic employment due to her gender and pregnancies. Her primary research interests included many-body systems, probability and queueing theory, and random number generators.
Arrangement
This collection has not been arranged by an archivist. The materials are arranged in the order in which they were received from the donor.
Scope and Contents
The Jerome K. and Ora Engelberg Percus Papers (dated 1933-2021) consists of materials documenting the academic careers of Jerome K. Percus, who taught physics and mathematics at NYU, and Ora Engelberg Percus, who taught mathematics at NYU and other institutions. Materials in this collection include correspondence; college and graduate school coursework; research files, including data and calculations; original writings in various stages of completion; teaching files, including course materials and lecture notes; grant proposals and other project files; and conference presentations. Materials documenting Jerome and Ora's original research represent their scholarly outputs, both as individuals and as collaborators who often co-authored work together. This collection also documents Ora Engelberg Percus' experiences as a woman in the male-dominated field of mathematics. Correspondence, resumes, and legal filings document her tenure denial at City College, CUNY's policy in the 1970s of required unpaid maternity leave, her claims of gender discrimination for being dismissed while pregnant, and her participation in the Melani v. CUNY lawsuit. The collection also includes materials documenting Jerome K. Percus' early life, including childhood drawings, photographs, and school yearbooks.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Jerome K. and Ora Engelberg Percus Papers; MC 346; box number; folder number or item identifier; New York University Archives, New York University.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Allon Percus, son of Jerome K. and Ora Engelberg Percus, in March 2023. The accession number associated with this gift is 2023.027. In August 2024, an accretion to this collection was donated by Allon Percus. The accession number associated with this accretion is 2024.064.
Appraisal
The following materials were reviewed, identified as being out of scope for this collection, and not acquired: financial, legal, and medical records (with the exception of materials documenting Ora Engelberg Percus' employment lawsuit); glass slides with biological materials; family medical records; the majority of the Percus' research and subject files, such as reprints, duplicates, referee reports for peer reviewed articles, and grant proposals; correspondence with students about grades and coursework; grade reports for classes taught by Jerome and Ora; and a small amount of lecture notes and original writings on extremely brittle paper.
Materials concerning the Percus' primary interests were prioritized for retention if any annotations or notes were present. These areas for Jerome included many-body systems, statistical and mathematical physics, biophysics, chemical physics, and mathematical biology. These areas for Ora included many-body systems, probability and queueing theory, and random number generators.
Files concerning Ora Engelberg Percus' challenges securing academic work following the birth of her children are retained in this collection, and document a significant experience in her life and career.
One floppy disk was appraised out of the collection due to the presence of student coursework and figures used for Jerome K. Percus' writing that could not be rendered through imaging.
Following digitization in February 2024, glass slides in the collection were discarded as hazardous waste as they contained cellulose nitrate film, a fire safety hazard.
One flash drive containing emails, photographs, and videos was appraised out of the collection because these materials did not relate to Jerome and Ora Engelberg Percus.
About this Guide
Processing Information
At the time of accessioning in 2023, materials were rehoused in archival boxes, keeping materials in their original folders (with the exception of a small amount of damaged folders or loose materials). Materials were described on the collection-level with a box-level inventory. One document of research notes written on the back of a credit card statement was photocopied and the original destroyed.
At the time of accessioning in 2024, accretion materials were rehoused in archival boxes and folders. Original titles were kept, when available. Materials were described on the collection-level with a box-level inventory. Four 16mm film reels were sent to NYU's Preservation department for examination and rehousing.