The Rose and Erwin Wolfson Center for National Affairs (1986-2008) was an academic organization originally established within the Adult Division of the New School for Social Research (later, The New School) dedicated to the sponsorship of forums, seminars, and lectures on political, social, and public policy issues. The Center was inaugurated in the Fall of 1986 during the tenure of New School president Jonathan F. Fanton with a lecture entitled, “Our Legacy to the Future,” delivered by New School Graduate Faculty economics professor Robert Heilbroner. By December of the following year, John S. Major, previously a professor of East Asian history at Dartmouth College, had been appointed as the first director of the Wolfson Center. Later directors of the Center included Robert F. Borosage (1991-1992) and Sondra Farganis (1998-2008). The Center was established with a gift of $1 million from Rose F. Wolfson.

The purpose of the Center, per the New School for Social Research, was “to provide for examination and debate of issues that concern us all as citizens of a democracy by sponsoring timely lectures and short courses on current events and controversies as they are thrust into national prominence.” Several important political figures, journalists, commentators, authors, and performing artists were invited to participate in the Center’s events over the course of its history.

There is no record of any public programs having been offered by the Rose and Erwin Wolfson Center for National Affairs after 2008. According to the 2007-2008 Annual Report of The New School, a Wolfson Director of Public Policy was appointed “to develop public events focusing on key social issues of our time” within the Office of the President of The New School, so it is possible that the function of the Wolfson Center was moved into the university president’s office after 2008.

Rose F. Wolfson (born November 15, 1905, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - died February 10, 1999, New York, New York) was a member of the Council of Fellows of the New School for Social Research from 1964 to 1971 and a member of the Board of Overseers of the Center for New York City Affairs, a New School-based research center, from its inception in 1969 until 1978, when the Center became part of the Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions at the New School for Social Research. Wolfson then became a board member of the Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions until 1995, and an honorary board member of the school (renamed The Robert J. Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Professions) from 1996 until her death in 1999.

Erwin S. Wolfson (born 1902, Cincinnati, Ohio - died June 26, 1962, Purchase, New York) was a building contractor in New York City. He was chairman of the Diesel Construction Company when it began construction of the Pan Am Building (later, the MetLife Building) in 1960. Wolfson, who received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Cincinnati in 1924, was enrolled in evening classes at the New School for Social Research when he was elected to the board of trustees of the university in 1959. Wolfson was vice-chairman of the board of the New School for Social Research in the year that he died, 1962.

The Erwin S. and Rose F. Wolfson Foundation was also established in 1982 to provide scholarships to students of the New School for Social Research in all divisions.

References

“Announcement of Erwin S. Wolfson as elected member of Board of Trustees.” May 13, 1959. The New School press release collection, NS.03.01.07, box 1, folder 10, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York.

Architectural Program Report for the National Architectural Accrediting Board Volume 1, Master of Architecture Program, School of Constructed Environments, Parsons the New School of Design, The New School University, September 7, 2009.

Course Catalogs. 1919-2017. New School Course Catalog Collection, NS.05.01.01. The New School Archives Digital Collections, New York, New York.

Howe, Marvine and Frank J. Prial. “New York Day by Day: A Generation’s Legacies, A Few Opinions.” New York Times, September 20, 1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/20/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-a-generation-s-legacies-a-few-opinions.html.

“New School Annual Report 2007-2008.” March 2009. New School Annual Reports, NS.01.01.08, box n_21, folder 14, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York.

“New School Bulletin 1991 Spring Vol. 48 No. 5.” New School Course Catalog Collection, NS.05.01.01, box 7 folder 7, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York.

“New School for Social Research Annual Report 1986.” December 1986. New School Annual Reports, NS.01.01.08, box 1 folder 3, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York.

Salmans, Sandra. “Adult Education Goes to Market.” New York Times, Aug. 3, 1986, 43. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/03/education/adult-education-goes-to-market.html.

“TNS: Wolfson Center for National Affairs, 1985-1988.” New School Office of the President records, Office of the Provost sub-group, NS.01.03.04, box 4, folder 25, New School Archives and Special Collections, The New School, New York, New York.