Dr. Meyer Delott Garber

Dr. Meyer Delott Garber (1908-1991) was for several decades one of Hartford's leaders in promoting interracial and intercultural understanding. Through both his professional and civic activities, Garber worked tirelessly for the reduction of "intergroup tensions" both locally and nationally.

Garber received a B.A. from Stanford University, a B.E. from Teachers' College of Connecticut, an M.A. from the University of Connecticut, and his PhD from Yale.

Garber spent much of his career as Principal of Burr Junior High School in Hartford and as Professor of Education at Central Connecticut State College. He also held positions as Visiting Professor of Education at both Trinity College and Hillyer College, which became part of the University of Hartford.

At Hillyer, he was Director of an annual summer workshop for teachers on Intergroup Education. The workshops pioneered educational concepts that would later be known as “diversity” and “multi-culturalism.” The teachers attending these workshops developed curricula for their own classes. The teachers attending these workshops developed curricula for their own classes.

In addition to his secular teaching interests, Garber was Director of Beth Israel's Religious School for many years. He was particularly involved in the teaching of religious or spiritual values in the public schools.

Garber was well known in the community for his extensive civic activities. His interest in intergroup dynamics led, for example, to his efforts to create a Human Relations Commission for the City of Hartford. He was concerned the plight of Soviet Jewry and incorporated this interest into other activities, as well. The following is a list of some of his other civic activities:

Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford Community Relations Committee, Chairman National Community Relations Advisory Council (NCRAC), national board member National Conference of Christians and Jews Jewish Community Center of Greater Hartford, President Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, President West Hartford Seniors Job Bank, executive officer Jewish Family Service, executive officer National Association of Temple Educators, Eastern Region executive committee member Greater Hartford Committee on Discrimination in Housing, temporary steering committee member Hartford County Retired Teachers Association, Vice President Hartford Rotary Club, Chairman Hartford Neighborhood Centers, board member Midrasha, board member

One part of this collection is comprised of newspaper clippings related to Garber's activities, and the other part consists of the lengthy reports on Hillyer College's Workshop for Intergroup Education.