Although E. M. Jellinek’s educational credentials from his early years are not well documented, everyone in alcohol studies would address him as “Dr. Jellinek.” Mark Keller points out in his various publications, notes, and correspondence that Jellinek didn’t care one way or another, moreover, Bunky claimed that he had gotten tired of correcting people.
Jellinek historians agree that an “Honorary Doctorate” was awarded to E. M. Jellinek by the Medical School, University of Chile in 1956. The fact has been known, repeatedly mentioned, and cited in biographical notes, obituaries, and memorial speeches. However, the actual document was nowhere published or shared.
Eventually, the document made it to us at Rutgers a few years ago. Hidden in a drawer or on a shelf in a large envelope sandwiched between two cardboards at the University of Toronto, it’s a miracle that it resurfaced after so many decades. Thanks to our conscientious Canadian librarian colleagues, aware of my Jellinek obsession, the certificate was safely mailed to me.
The 38 centimeters by 25 centimeters yellowish sheet held the dark gray calligraphic print and borders quite well. The personal details, handwritten in ink, didn’t weather the times the same way, neither did the two signatures on the bottom (one by the Rector, which is University President in the U. S., the second is by the General Secretary), but all the text is legible. The raised stamp of the Medical School in the bottom right corner is still there to authenticate the source.
The document was written in Spanish.The text, transcribed and translated, is as follows.
El Rector de la Universidad de Chile
En virtud de la eleccion hecha por la facultad de Medicina vengo en expedir a favor del Dr. Emil (sic!) M. Jellinek el presente titulo de miembro honorario de dicha Facultad firmado de mi mano refrendado por el Secretario General de la Universidad y sellado con el sello de la misma en Santiago de Chile a veintitrés de noviembre mil noveciento cincuenta y seis.
The Rector of the University of Chile
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Medical School, I am conferring upon Dr. Emil (sic!) M. Jellinek the current title of honorary member of this School, signed by my hand, endorsed by the Secretary General of the University and sealed with the seal of the same University in Santiago on November 23 thousand nine hundred fifty-six.
—Translated by Maria Ortiz-Myers
I’m not quite sure about the exact meaning of “Honorary member” of the Medical School in a South American context in the mid 1950s. However, the document is now safely preserved, digitized, uploaded, and available in RUcore, the Rutgers University Community Repository for future scholars to interpret and discuss.