Deutsch, Monroe E. (Monroe Emanuel), 1879-1955

Biographical Sketch

Monroe Emanuel Deutsch, professor of classics and Vice-President and provost of the University of California, was born in 1879 of a Jewish family in San Francisco. An excellent student, he graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco, and then worked his way through the University of California, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1902 and his Master's Degree in 1903. He first taught for a year in the Mission High School in San Francisco, and later in the Berkeley High School where he remained until 1907, when he became an assistant in Greek at the University of California and worked for his doctorate. This he received in 1911. He attained full professorship in Latin in 1922.

In 1918 he became the first Dean of Summer Sessions at Los Angeles. He retained this position for three years, and, in the summer 1922, was appointed Dean of the College of Letters and Science at Berkeley by President Barrows. In 1930 he was named Vice-President and Dean of the University, serving in this capacity until his retirement in 1947.

Deutsch, active in many extra-curricular organizations, was president of the Commonwealth Club of California in 1943 and 1944, of the board of trustees of the Rosenberg Foundation, of the San Francisco International Center, of the northern California branch of the American Association for the United Nations, of the Philological Association of the Pacific Coast, of the Classical Association of the Pacific States, of the California Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, of the Berkeley Rotary Club and of the Berkeley Community Chest, and member of the national boards of the Association for the United Nations and the Conference of Christians and Jews. He was decorated Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor, Commander of the Chilean Order of Merit, and recipient of the Danish Christian X Medal. In 1929 he was awarded the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal for distinguished service to the City of Berkeley. Deutsch received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from St. Mary's College, Santa Clara College, Occidental College and Mills College.

He wrote articles dealing with the life of Julius Caesar and Suetonius, edited a collection of the writings of Benjamin Ide Wheeler, and authored "Our Legacy of Religious Freedom" and many public addresses.

From the guide to the Monroe E. Deutsch Papers, 1918-1955, (The Bancroft Library)