| Born: | 08-01-1911 |
| Faculty: | Philosophical School |
| Category: | Expelled student |
Josef MEISELS, born on August 1st, 1911 in Tarnopol, Galicia/Austro-Hungarian Empire [later Poland, today: Tarnopil|Тернопіль/Ukraine] (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Vienna/Austria, citizenship 1938: Austria), son of Etka Meisels (old-age pensioner), lived in Vienna's 2nd district, Schiffamtsgasse 6, was enrolled finally in the fall term 1937/38 at the Philosophical School in the 3rd year of his studies and took courses in History, German and English language and literature Studies.
After the "Anschluss" in March 1938, he tried to continue his studies in the spring term of 1938 for at least two more months under the 2% numerus clausus for Jewish students, but was rejected and forced to discontinue his studies and leave the University of Vienna for racist reasons.
He had to flee Vienna, but before leaving on November 22nd, 1938, he married Dr. Magdalena Weingeist (1914–1985) at the registry office Vienna-Leopoldstadt, who was still able to complete her German language and literature Studies at the University of Vienna on October 31st, 1938, within the framework of a degrading "Nichtarierpromotion". After her marriage she was able to flee to relatives in Stockholm/Sweden, while Josef Meisels was able to emigrate to the USA in time. Via Rotterdam/Netherlands he arrived with the SS Volendam in New York City, NY, on February 22nd, 1940, and applied for U.S. citizenship on May 14th, 1940 which he received five years later. At that time he stated "none (teacher)" as his profession. Later, his wife also came to the U.S. from Stockholm to join him in Lincoln, Nebraska, and they had two daughters – Linda Brion-Meisels (1945) and Ellen Meisels (1948).
Joseph F. Meisels was able to return to study in the U.S., changed his major to social work. He studied in Nebraska, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota, earned a "Ph.D." in Social Work. He lived with his family for many years in Kansas City, MO/USA, where his wife worked as a teacher and reference librarian and he worked as a social worker and administrator in the Jewish Federation. Together they were also intensively involved in the areas of social justice and civil rights as well as in the Kansas City art scene.
In 1968, the family moved to Boston, MA/USA, where his wife Magdalena taught German at Boston University and he taught social work. In 1969, he became Dean of the Boston University School of Social Work, which he remained until his retirement in 1976. He served on the boards of directors of Boston Children's Services and the National Association of Social Workers, and the Dean Joseph F. Meisels Prize at the Boston University School of Social Work is named for him.
Joseph F. Meisels died on May 1st, 2001 in Newton MA/USA and is buried at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, MA/USA.
He is commemorated at the University of Vienna in the "Memorial Book for the Victims of National Socialism at the University of Vienna in 1938" (2009) and at the "Memorial to the History Students and Teachers of the University of Vienna Expelled under National Socialism | When Names Shine" (2022).
Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1937–1938; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 437; POSCH/FUCHS 2022, 127–128; Obituary in Boston Globe, May 5th, 2001; www.ancestry.de.
Herbert Posch
