Marcus, Joseph S.

Joseph Sol Marcus arrived at UMass in 1948 as an Instructor in Civil Engineering and graduate student (MS 1954), remaining there for the rest of his career. Born in Oct. 29, 1921, he was educated at Worcester Polytech (BS 1944) and after war-time service with the Navy, he joined the rapidly growing engineering program at UMass. Although chemical engineer, he took responsibility for the fluid mechanics laboratory and taught in civil and mechanical engineering, and after gaining experience through courses from the Atomic Energy Commission and a year spent at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, he introduced nuclear engineering into the curriculum. As he rose through the academic ranks, Marcus became a key figure in university administration, serving as Associate Dean of Engineering, as preceptor for Emily Dickinson House on Orchard Hill, and Special Assistant to the Chancellor for long-range planning, while serving on committees for military affairs, Engineering hopnors, transfers and admissions, discipline, and Continuing Education. Marcus died of cancer on Nov. 1, 1985. Marcus Hall was named in his honor.

The Joseph Marcus Papers document Marcus’s extensive involvement in campus affairs at UMass Amherst, with an emphasis on the period 1965-1975. A small quantity of material relating to his profession activities and academic appointments is joined by well organized files relating to his participation in committees of Engineering honors, Military Affairs (1967-1968), the Orchard Hill residential college and Emily Dickinson House (1964-1969), ROTC and AFROTC curricula, transfers and admissions, the library, Upward Bound, Discipline (1964-1971), and Continuing Education (1970-1977).

Background on Joseph Marcus

Joseph Sol Marcus arrived at UMass in 1948 as an Instructor in Civil Engineering and graduate student (MS 1954), just as the University was beginning a large scale expansion and reorganization of its engineering programs. Born in Oct. 29, 1921, Marcus received his undergraduate education in chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic College (BS 1944) before serving a three year tour in the Navy at the tail end of the Second World War.

While studying for his masters degree in civil engineering, Marcus assumed responsibility for the fluid mechanics laboratory and taught courses in both civil and mechanical engineering, foreshadowing some of the versatility he would demonstrate throughout his career. Climbing up the academic ranks over the next fifteen years, Marcus took a series of courses offered by the Atomic Energy Commission and spent a year’s leave in 1962 working as a Research Engineer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratories. With this preparation, and with his research turned toward nuclear engineering, Marcus introduced nuclear engineering into the UMass curriculum and he became the principle investigator on three major grants from the AEC and co-director of AEC-NECEP workshops on nuclear power.

Rising to become Assistant (later Associate) Dean of the School of Engineering in 1964, Marcus became an active presence in university administration, serving as preceptor for Emily Dickinson House on Orchard Hill, becoming a staunch proponent of residential college concept; Chair of the Faculty Senate; and Special Assistant to the Chancellor for long-range planning. He was also a key member of the committees for military affairs, engineering honors, transfers and admissions, discipline, and Continuing Education, among others. Always engaged with students and interested in raising the position of future engineers, he was deeply involved in educational initiatives in the Commonwealth, helping to direct two National Science Foundation Institutes for high school science teachers (1968, 1969) and serving on the accrediting boards of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (1969-1971).

In recognition of his commitment to students, Marcus was recognized with the Metawampe Award and Distinguished Teaching Award in the 1960s, and in 1984, he received the Chancellor’s Medal for “exemplary and extraordinary service.” Marcus died of cancer on Nov. 1, 1985, shortly after his retirement. Marcus Hall was named in his honor.

Contents of Collection

Inventory of Collection

Admissions and Record Board	1970		Box 1: 1
Air Force ROTC curriculum	1967-1968		Box 1: 2
Army ROTC curriculum	1967-1968		Box 1: 3
Board of Higher Education. Planning Committee of Faculty and Curriculum	1970		Box 1: 4
Board of Higher Education. Planning Committee of Faculty and Curriculum	1971		Box 1: 5
Communication Skills Committee	1972-1973		Box 1: 6
Community Outreach and Course-Related Field Work Ad Hoc Committee	1972		Box 1: 7
Continuing Education Committee: Annual Report	1972-1973		Box 1: 8
Continuing Education Committee	1972-1973		Box 1: 9
Continuing Education Committee	1972-1973		Box 1: 10
Continuing Education Committee	1973		Box 1: 11
Continuing Education Committee	1974-1975		Box 1: 12
Core Requirements Sub-Committee	1973-1974		Box 1: 13
Emily Dickinson House	1965-1965		Box 1: 14
Emily Dickinson House	1965-1965		Box 1: 15
Emily Dickinson House	1965-1966		Box 1: 16
Emily Dickinson House	1965-1966		Box 1: 17
Emily Dickinson House	1966-1967		Box 1: 18
Emily Dickinson House	1966-1967		Box 1: 19
Emily Dickinson House	1968-1969		Box 1: 20
Discipline Board	1964-1965		Box 1: 21
Discipline Board	1966-1967		Box 1: 22
Discipline Board	1967-1968		Box 1: 23
Discipline Board	1968-1969		Box 1: 24
Discipline Board	1969-1971		Box 1: 25
Honors Colloquia	1965-1968		Box 1: 26
Honors Colloquia	1966-1967		Box 1: 27
Honors Council	1961-1962		Box 2: 1
Honors Council	1963-1965		Box 2: 2
Honors Council	1967-1969		Box 2: 3
Joint Ad Hoc Study Committee	1966-1967		Box 2: 4
Library Master Plan Committee	1965		Box 2: 5
Marcus, Joseph S. Appointments, promotions, etc.	1948-1958		Box 2: 6
Military Affairs Sub-Committee	1967-1968		Box 2: 7
Military Affairs Sub-Committee	1967-1968		Box 2: 8
Orchard Hill calendars	1968		Box 2: 9
Orchard Hill Residential College	1970		Box 2: 10
Reactor analysis (notes)	1962-1963		Box 2: 11
ROTC	1966-1967		Box 2: 12
Search Committee: Director of Freshman Admissions	1977		Box 2: 13
Search Committee: Director of Placement Services	1978		Box 2: 14
Search Committee: Director of Rhetoric	1975		Box 2: 15
Search Committee: Director of Transfer Affairs	1975		Box 2: 16
Search Committee: Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance	1976-1977		Box 2: 17
Transfer Affairs Committee	1972		Box 2: 18
Transfer Affairs Compact	1971-1973		Box 2: 19
Undergraduate Library Services Subcommittee	1965-1966		Box 2: 20
UMass and Continuing Education	1966		Box 2: 21
UMass Boston Faculty Policies Committee	1964-1965		Box 2: 22
Upward Bound Academic Advisory Committee	1968-1969		Box 2: 23
WFCR: Fred and Diana Calland Case	1970		Box 2: 24