A Rosenberg by Any Other Name

A Rosenberg by Any Other Name was published by NYU Press in 2018 as a scholarly examination of the history of name changing among American Jews in the twentieth century. Kirsten Fermaglich, an associate professor of history and Jewish studies at Michigan State University, draws upon a massive archive of records from the American Jewish Committee to illustrate how common name changes were during this era. Her research highlights how such decisions were often driven by professional discrimination, the desire for assimilation, and the broader social pressures of the post-war United States.

The book’s design and narrative approach aim to bridge the gap between academic history and accessible social commentary. By focusing on the personal stories of individuals who opted to alter their names, Fermaglich explores the tension between identity and the practical realities of a society defined by ethnic hierarchies. Upon its release, the work was well received within historical circles for its exhaustive research and its nuanced exploration of the bureaucratic and cultural mechanisms that governed American identity throughout the mid-century period.