November , Neil (Neilson November ), Class of 1948
Dates
- Existence: 1924 - 2018
Biography
Neilson Jay “Neil” November ’48 (1924-2018) was born in Brooklyn, NY. His father, Israel, ran Friedman-Marks Clothing Co. Neil later worked there following his graduation from college. Mr. November started his freshman year at Washington and Lee in 1941. He left the college to serve in World War Two. During the war, November served in the Navy. He returned to Washington and Lee following the war and graduated in 1948. While at the university he met his future wife Sarah Belle Slusky. She was a student at Randolph-Macon’s Women’s College. They first met at a Zeta Beta Tau event. Zeta Beta Tau was one of the two Jewish fraternities on Washington and Lee’s campus when November was a student. As a student, November worked as Zeta Beta Tau's national cartoonist. He drew cartoons for their quarterly magazines as well as for promotional materials. Following graduation, November to Richmond. There, he worked for his father’s clothing company until 1968. November utilized his wealth to work on philanthropic endeavors. The project he felt most passionate about was the Barksdale Theater in Richmond. The building was later renamed in his and his wife’s honor. Other philanthropic works included the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Virginia Aviation Museum. Mr. November passed on March 6, 2018.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Neil November collection
This collection holds documents related to Mr. November’s time at Washington and Lee associated with the fraternity he belonged to: the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau. He was the cartoonist for the national Zeta Beta Tau organization from 1948 to 1950, while also drawing cartoons for local publications in Rockbridge County and for fraternal events. Included are sketches, finished products, and correspondence about his work as a cartoonist and official Zeta Beta Tau publication.