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Leo M. Seligman Collection

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Title	Leo M. Seligman Collection
Shelf	K20
Description	Leo M. Seligman, who committed himself to helping men and women lead responsible and productive lives after prison, grew up in Germany in the early decades of the 20th Century. He was born in 1900 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany and served in the German army in World War I. In 1932, he was sent to a Nazi concentration camp – his “crime” was having been born a Jew. However, Seligman was fortunate enough to escape his brutal captors and flee to the United States in 1936. He married Esther Bass of Memphis in 1939 and became a citizen of the United States on December 24, 1940. He found a job working as a butcher and he and his wife eventually opened their own business. -- While struggling to start a grocery business in Memphis, Seligman encountered a customer who would purchase a specific amount of food once a week, spending only a very small amount of money. He asked the man about his spending and discovered that he could only spend a small amount of money at a time because he was on parole from prison and was trapped in an exploitive work environment. Seligman felt that this man was being treated unfairly and should receive a living wage for his skilled labor. He agreed to supervise the man’s parole, and through this experience, his concern for the dignity and well-being of former prisoners began to grow. -- Seligman used his own money and sought out other financial assistance and community resources to help improve the lives of parolees. He became chair of the Optimist Club Rehabilitation Committee, and through this position he worked to secure positive changes in correctional procedures, provide opportunities for employment and improve parole practices. His efforts led to him becoming nationally known as a spokesperson for former prisoners and an expert on improving penal and parole practices. -- A high point in Seligman’s life was his appearance on the TV program, This Is Your Life, in recognition for his work with prisoners and parolees. He was given a new Edsel car and received a variety of accolades, including invitations to appear at national correctional and employment conferences and letters from prominent individuals. He went on to be featured in a number of publications including the magazines Reader’s Digest and Inside Detective. He also received honors from numerous organizations including the Optimist Club, the Sertoma Club and the Daughters of the American Revolution. -- Seligman helped nearly 2,000 parolees obtain a fresh start in life. He assisted the former prisoners in obtaining employment, proper clothing and a suitable place to live. He also saw that the men had enough money until they received their first paycheck. His continued advocacy for parolees reflected his statement that, “I am my brother’s keeper.” -- The Leo M. Seligman Collection was given to the Memphis and Shelby County Room by Ernest W. Stix, Jr. and Hattie Bass in July 1998. The collection includes newspaper clippings, photographs and awards, as well as interviews with journalists who wrote about Seligman’s early life, his struggle to build a new business and his determination to help former prisoners. Also included is correspondence with law enforcement officials and representatives from employment organizations. Significant portions of the collection relate to Seligman’s appearance on This Is Your Life.
Subject	business corrections criminals employment entertainment immigrants Jews labor law enforcement parole prisons public service television volunteers
Processed by	Morris D. Klass
Contributors	Description by Gina Cordell
Donor(s)	Ernest W. Stix, Jr. and Hattie Bass
Date	2003
Materials	awards clippings correspondence interviews photographs publications
Type	Collection
Note	This record serves as a collection description. To access this manuscript collection, please visit the Memphis & Shelby County Room on the 4th Floor of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.
Size	.5 linear feet
Coverage	1930s to 1960s
Physical Location	Memphis & Shelby County Room, MPLIC
Rights	Digital Image ©2010, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. All rights reserved. While the Memphis Public Library & Information Center may house an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use. Any image from the library's collection published in any form must cite as the source: Memphis and Shelby County Room, Memphis Public Library & Information Center. For all requests, please contact the History Department at 901.415.2742 or hisref@memphistn.gov.
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