Norman Itzkowitz (May 6, 1931 – January 20, 2019) was an American academic who was a professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He was an Ottoman historian who brought perception of psychoanalysis into Near Eastern Studies. Itzkowitz was also the Master of Wilson College at Princeton from 1975 to 1989. While doing this, he assisted the students in developing leadership skills in running the social, cultural, and academic aspects of the college's life. Out of all of his awards, his most meaningful one was the Buitoni Scholarship in 1952. This enabled him to study at the University for Foreigners Perugia, where he gained cultural and academic experience. Itzkowitz published many books and articles on The Ottoman Empire and Near Eastern studies. Much of Itzkowitz's work is collaborative, he did much of his studies with Robert Roswell Palmer, Gordon Craig, Cyril E. Black, his Ottoman history mentor Lewis V. Thomas and psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Vamık Volkan. Itzkowitz was a denier of the Armenian genocide. Itzkowitz claimed to have told an Armenian-American student and descendant of genocide survivors that his "granny's got nothing better to do but sit at home and fill you full of this stuff". Princeton Vice President & Secretary Emeritus Thomas H. Wright released a letter stating the university is opposed to anti-Armenian remarks and behavior, in response to Itzkowitz's statements.

Education

Family life

Norman Itzkowitz was born into a Jewish working-class family in New York City. His father ran a sewing machine in a factory for children's clothing. Norman was the youngest of three; he had a sister who is six years older and a brother who is three years older. Both his brother and sister have doctoral degrees. Norman married Leonore Krauss on June 13, 1954. He died at the age of 87 in January 2019.

Employment

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Articles