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Records of the Research Institute for the Study of Man's (RISM) Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Aging and Longevity Study (The Longevity Study)

Call Number

RISM.RG.15

Date

1962-1995, inclusive

Creator

Research Institute for the Study of Man

Extent

16.5 Linear Feet in 27 boxes

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged into eight series:

I. Researchers
II. Correspondence with Universities
III. Manuscripts/Publications
IV. Conferences
V. US/USSR Materials
VI. Progress Reports/Research/Funding
VII. Oversize Material
VIII. Unorganized Papers and Articles

Scope and Contents

In 1970, at the invitation of the USSR Academy of Sciences, ethnographer Dr. Sula Benet began extensive field studies in the Caucasian region of Abkhasia, Russia. Her goal was to investigate Abkhasian lifeways after fifty years of collectivization. Over the next few years, Dr. Benet's study generated numerous publications, including How to Live to be 100, considered a landmark publication on gerontological research. Following her retirement from Hunter College in 1973, Dr. Benet became a Senior Fellow of the Research Institute for the Study of Man (RISM), in New York City.

Fluent in Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian, Dr. Benet's areas of specialization included cultural anthropology among the Slavic cultures of Eastern Europe where she conducted field work from 1945-1973, sponsored by Columbia University, the Social Science Research Council, RISM, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research. Dr. Benet also conducted studies in culture and personality, as well as aging and longevity.

Based on Dr. Benet's research in Russia, Dr. Vera Rubin, director of RISM, proposed that Dr. Benet undertake a major study of the long-living people who had been her chief Abkhasian subjects. Dr. Benet's study led to the development of a US-USSR multidisciplinary research project on longevity, which involved both Soviet and American social scientists. The study was known as the Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Aging and Longevity Study.

Conditions Governing Access

Some restricted materials pertaining mainly to internal finances, administration and private information remain at the Reed Foundation and are closed to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish materials, please contact the University Archives in writing:

New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2641
Fax: (212) 995-4070
E-mail: university-archives@nyu.edu

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Separated Materials

Funding contracts have been removed from the collection and will be retained by the Research Institute for the Study of Man.

Related Materials

See also the Sula Benet Papers, RISM RG 2.

Collection processed by

University Archives Staff

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-20 17:56:29 -0400.
Language: Finding aid written in English

Revisions to this Guide

June 2017: Record edited by Rachel Searcy to reflect incorporation of 2017 accretion

Repository

New York University Archives
Research Institute for the Study of Man
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012