Samuel D. Gruber, Ph.D

Samuel D. Gruber, Ph.D, accomplished researcher, author, curator and consultant, is the founder and managing director of Gruber Heritage Global (GHG) - a cultural resources consulting firm.  GHG includes the Jewish Heritage Research Center (JHRC), which Gruber has directed since 1995.  Gruber Heritage Global serves as consultant and adviser to numerous organizations, institutions, private foundations, government agencies and individuals.

 

Sam was curator of the Plastics Collection at Syracuse University from 2010 through 2012.

 

Sam served for a decade as Research Director of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, for which he planned and supervised more than a dozen major countrywide cultural heritage surveys.  As founding director of the Jewish Heritage Council of the World Monuments Fund (WMF), and subsequently as consultant to WMF, Sam planned and oversaw historic preservation projects in over a dozen countries, including major documentation, planning and restoration projects. 

 

Sam has participated in numerous archaeological excavations in the United States, Israel and Italy, including supervisory work at the medieval Italian monastic site of San Vincenzo al Volturno.  He is presently an adviser to many archaeological projects in Europe and the Caribbean. As a historic preservationist, community activist and scholar Sam brings seriousness, integrity, continuity, and social responsibility to his work from which his clients benefit.

 

Sam has taught at Temple University, Cornell University and Colgate University. He is currently the Rothman Family Lecturer in Judaic Studies at Syracuse University and is also teaching at LeMoyne College.  Sam is a Rome Prize winner and Fellow of the American Academy of Rome, and he serves on boards and advisory committees of many cultural organizations in America and abroad.  He is presently President of ISJM and past president of the Preservation Association of Central New York.

 

Sam is a frequent lecturer. For more information about current engagements or to book a lecture, contact Sam directly or go to the "Lectures and Presentations" link on this page.

Gruber Heritage Global (GHG), Sam's cultural heritage consulting company, grew from his extensive work history.  GHG continues Sam's work documenting, preserving and presenting Jewish and other ethnic and religious minority cultural heritage, but also expands to include a wide range of historic preservation services for architectural and other resources, including architectural, urban, archaeological and cultural resource surveys, National Register nominations, company histories and other services.  In the summer of 2014,  GHG is partnering in a Religious Properties Survey for the City of Syracuse, following a successful Cultural Resources Survey of the city's Washington Square neighborhood in 2013.

 

The Jewish Heritage Research Center (JHRC), a program of Gruber Heritage Global, applies all of the above to problem solving in the context of Jewish history, heritage and culture. JHRC specializes in research, planning, development and presentation of Jewish Heritage projects for communities, government, business, foundations, not-for-profits and individuals.  In 2014, GHG is advising the Lost Shul Mural project in Burlington, Vermont and other preservation efforts.

 

Sam is Lecturer in Judaic Studies at Syracuse University where he  teaches courses on The Art & Architecture of the Synagogue; Art & Memory in Jewish Tradition; and Jewish Space: Architecture in a Jewish Context.  He also teaches in the Honors Program at Syracuse University and at LeMoyne College, also in Syracuse.

Historic Preservation Planning & Project Management

• Identification, documentation, preservation and management, and interpretation of heritage sites worldwide.
• Partner with communities, governments, non-governmental organizations and foundations on projects 

Development & Marketing

• Conceptualization and implementation of research, preservation, planning, educational, outreach and funding
• Best practices for programs for non-governmental organizations (including religious congregations and organizations), government agencies and foundations
• Fund raising strategies and implementation
• Public relations including conventional and new media outreach

Research & Documentation

• Short-term and long-term cultural heritage and history research and documentation projects
• Documentation of culturally diverse historic sites
• Documentation of individual sites for National Register and other designations
• Archaeological work

Conferences, Lectures, Seminars & Events

• Organization and coordination of international heritage conferences and seminars
• Organization of scholarly and popular lecture series
• Design and specialization of custom cultural heritage events

Exhibition & Heritage Tour Development

• Curatorial work for museums including traveling and special exhibitions
• Organization of specialized group trips and tours in the United States and worldwide

Urban Planning & Project Development

• Neighborhood and community-based development plans
• Urban signage and historic marker projects
• Heritage trails and tourism
• Historic site and district designation and planning

Think Tank & Writing Services 

• Project conceptualization and grant writing
• Content provider or sole author for books, reports, articles and newsletter
• Strategic planning
• Issue and action oriented briefing papers, speeches and op-ed pieces
• Expert witness on heritage-related topics

To link to these and other publications go here: http://works.bepress.com/samuel_gru ber/

Selected Protestant Historic Monuments and Sites in Bulgaria, 2013 

Jewish Historic Monuments and Sites in Bulgaria, 2011

Survey of Historic Jewish Sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina,2011

Survey of Historic Jewish Sites in Moldova, 2010

Historic Jewish Sites in Romania, 2010

Survey of Muslim Sites in Bulgaria (editor), 2009

Survey of Roma Heritage Sites in Poland(editor), 2009

Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues, and Mass Grave Sites in Ukraine, 2005

Jewish Cemeteries, Synagogues, and Monuments in Slovenia, 2006

 Sites Associated with the Lives and Deeds of Foreign-born Heroes of the American Revolution, 2002

Survey of Historic Jewish Monuments in Poland, 2nd revised edition, 1995

 Survey of Historic Jewish Monuments in the Czech Republic, 1994

Fellow, American Academy in Rome

Ph.D., Columbia University, New York City, New York, Department of Art History and Archaeology  

M.Phil., Columbia University, Department of Art History and Archaeology

M.A., Columbia University, Department of Art History and Archaeology

B.A., Princeton University, Princeton, New JerseyHonors in Medieval Studies

Certificate, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York / Rome, Italy Surveying and Measured Drawing

Ask about how GHG's services relate to your projects. Samuel Gruber's curriculum vitae, information about past projects, references, and names of associated project specialists are available upon request.