Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Warren Holtzman Records, Ms1990-049, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Warren Holtzman Records were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1990.

Processing Information

The processing, description, and arrangement of the Warren Holtzman Records commenced in November, 2022 and was completed in February, 2023.

Biographical / Historical

Born in New York City on June 21, 1931, Warren Holtzman graduated from New York University School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance in 1952, whereupon he worked for a short time in the contract division of W. & J. Sloane. After serving in the U. S. Army from 1953 to 1954, Holtzman became president of Warren Lloyd, Inc., a family business. He worked as a project manager for Serge A. Birn Co. for a short time, then became president of Warren Furniture, Inc. in 1962. He also served as president of Warren Lloyd Contract Division, Weiman Co. (1970-1981) and Vision, Inc. (1976-1981). In November, 1980, Holtzman was named director of Virginia Tech's Small Business Institute, a part-time faculty position that allowed him to continue his private business and consulting activities. Succeeding Bruce Prouty as director, Holtzman gained a reputation for his unorthodox but successful methods. Holtzman resigned in late 1983, taking effect early the following year. Following his resignation, Holtzman continued to work as a lecturer, trainer and consultant. Warren L. Holtzman died on July 10, 2012.

Created in 1972 as a partnership between the U. S. Small Business Administration and institutes of higher education, small business institutes offer practical assistance to small business owners while providing experiential learning to students. The SBI at Virginia Tech was founded in 1973. In 1984, the Virginia Tech SBI won the 1981/82 national case of the year award for its case study of Maxwell's Restaurant & Lounge. Other Virginia Tech SBI case studies during this time won district awards.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the papers of Warren Holtzman as director of the Small Business Institute (SBI) at Virginia Tech from 1980 to 1984. Included in the collection are materials (media presentations, talks, promotional materials) arising from the recruitment of potential SBI students and clients; administrative planning manuals; and tapes and scripts from the Holtzman-produced video series, "An Aid to Consulting." The bulk of the collection consists of materials from the individual class sessions: planning notes, handouts, overhead transparencies, transcripts, and audio recordings. The output of the course is represented in the collection by several reports that Holtzman submitted for consideration as the national SBI case of the year, including the 1981 national award-winning case study report for Maxwell's Restaurant & Lounge. Also contained in the collection are materials relating specifically to Holtzman's teaching and the work of the SBI. Among these are student course evaluations, award nominations, feedback letters, administrative correspondence, press releases, photographs, and newsclippings. The collection also contains materials relating to other presentations delivered by Holtzman, including an audio recording of a talk before the Virginia Tech NAACP and a workshop on political action and the local press.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by material type, then chronologically. The first part of the collection consists of preparatory materials (recruitment talks and printed materials, course manuals); materials relating to individual class sessions (handouts, overhead transparencies, transcripts, recordings); and materials arising from instruction/administration (evaluations, correspondence, press releases, photographs, newsclippings).

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Small Business Institute

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Warren Holtzman Records by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).