New Jersey Books

Bought this for a dear friend. He is an engineer and works around bridges all of the time, and lives in New Jersey. when he opened the package he was very excited...like a kid in a candy store!

The Prologue tells about Lienhard Bergel, who left Germany in 1931 to teach at the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College). Bergel discovered that the head of the German Department and others were Nazi supporters who spread pro-Nazi propaganda (p.1). After Bergel refused to join them he was fired for "incompetence". The President and Trustees of Rutgers colluded in this decision. In 1940 this Department Head, Friedrich j. Hauptmann fled to Europe and became part of the Nazi propaganda machine (p.2). When this affair was reopened in 1985 after 50 years, the President of Rutgers refused to correct this injustice. So a committee was formed to investigate and report their findings (p.6).

Chapter 2 tells of the political organization at Rutgers (p.8). There was little self-governance, it was like a petty kingdom. It gives the background of Hauptmann and Bergel: little in common but their nationality (p.12). The rise of Hitler gained attention in American and controversy (pp.14-15). Bergel, a Social Democrat, opposed defenders of Hitlerism; this led to enmity with Hauptmann. Professor Albert Holzmann, head of the Rutgers German Department, was the main supporter of Nazi Germany (p.17). A change in rules provided the objective criteria for subjective judgment (pp.18-19). The effects of the Great Depression was the reduction in students and government aid, and a surplus of teachers (fewer students). Bergel had the least service, and there were other factors (p.26). But Bergel believed that political bias was the sole explanation (p.30). "Diversity" (?) was practiced at Rutgers and elsewhere (p.35).

Chapter 5 explains how student activists created "The Crisis" by drawing attention to Bergel's dismissal to the general public. The ACLU investigated (p.51). Student Alan Silver contacted Frederick Woltman of the "New York World Telegram". An academic conflict had created a political problem. Chapter 6 tells of the hearings that allowed each side to state their views. Hauptmann did not believe in "freedom to differ" (p.61). Students testified for Bergel, and for Hauptmann. Hauptmann compared Nazi anti-Semitism to US exclusion of Japanese (p.65). Bergel admitted he did not attend routine meetings (p.69), and his demeanor displeased the trustees (p.70). The report of the trustees blamed Bergel (pp.73-74).

The criticisms of the trustees seem justified historically. But Bergel's supporters and allies didn't protest much (p.78). Chapter 7 has "The Aftermath". After Hauptmann disappeared in 1940, the College leaders kept it covered up (Chapter 8). Hauptmann returned to Germany by 1941 and worked for the Nazis in Slovakia. The war's end found him arrested in August 194, but later released and never prosecuted (p.106). Hauptmann died in 1978 (Chapter 9).

The `Epilogue' tells of the Interim Report that was publicized by the New Brunswick "Home News". Rutgers protected its prior decision, however it turned out. The authors compare the treatment of this story by journalists and by historians (p.112). But journalists have to produce a product every day for paying customers, historian are kept writers who do not face the same pressures. Neither Rutgers nor Bergel were totally in the right. But Clothier and Corwin weren't forthright and open (p.117).

I read this book for a class in American folklore at George Mason University. Chaseworld is beautifully written, and deftly paints a bucolic scene of fox hunting in New Jersey's Pine Barrens. The foxes are chased, but not caught, as both the men and hounds only want to have fun chasing the foxes. If you are interested in quaint American traditions that are disappearing as you are reading this, then this book is well worth your time. This book is so well written and researched that it would be an excellent guide for those who are conducting and documenting their own folklife research. The Chaseworld has a sense of community that portrays the best of America.

I found this book to be extremely helpful in learning the "nitty-gritty" about the various communities in Northern New Jersey which my wife and I were looking to move. For each town, the book lists out a brief history of the town, the quality of its schools, average income per household, ethnicity proportions and average property taxes (very important!). It saved a lot of time and energy to have one source for all my questions.

I am looking forward to obtaining a more recent edition for my personal library.

Before Christie Todd Whitman became head of the Environtmental Protection Agency during President George W. Bush's first term, Christie Todd Whitman was New Jersey's first female governor. This book actually is quite intriguing at times about her privileged life. She was born into wealth and privilege but prefers the farming life in the country to the city. She hates wearing dresses and skirts and would rather wear jeans and t-shirts. She is quite appealing because she lacks that pretension. She loves farm animals and grew up in West New Jersey in the privileged, wealthy and prominent areas. Before she got into politics, she was a mother and wife dedicated to her husband and kids. I feel bad that I didn't vote for her second term but she won anyway. I regret that what came after her was the unbearable, scarred McGreevey years. The author writes about Whitman and humanizes her character. Years later after September 11, 2001, Whitman faced an uphill battle being blamed for the illnesses and sickness from the first responders. Some questioned Bush's appointment but she does a farming background and natural love for the rural country. I felt bad for her because it was really New York City's Mayor Rudolph Giuliani that should have been under the heat of the congressional panel. While Christie is no longer active in politics, she is trying to save the party of self-destruction. One of the reasons that I voted democratic was because the Republican is too far right-wing and conservative. I like Christie and I wish her well in the future.

Cockpit of the Revolution is a well researched book on New Jersey during the American Revolution. It covers the major events and politics affecting NJ throught the war, and gives references so you can investigate the data more thoroughly.

I picked this book up a few years ago from the author at a fire instructor class. I gave it a read and it was a pretty good book. I liked it because it was all true stories from NJ firefighters, mostly from northern NJ since the author is a Kearny firefighter. I guess firefighters from other areas would like it too. Id's say pick up a used copy here if you can since it seems to be out of print now. Some of the Emergency Services book stores still carry it I think.

This is a very nice little book, and I found it to be surprisingly readable. The book is nicely written. Standard ML is used to illustrate the technique of compiling a functional language using continuations as the primary intermediate representation. Lack of familiarity with ML is not particularly burdensome. I would like to have seen more discussion of other languages, though (Scheme?).

The text is very interesting and informative. The only thing that I would add is more victorian homes from Cape May. This makes a nice coffee table book.

Read this book in junior high. This history is fairly accurate and it's worth reading.