Bard Graduate Center is devoted to the study of decorative arts, design history, and material culture through research, advanced degrees, exhibitions, publications, and events.

Bard Graduate Center advances the study of decorative arts, design history, and material culture through its object-centered approach to teaching, research, exhibitions, publications, and events.

At BGC, we study the human past and present through their material expressions. We focus on objects and other material forms—from those valued for their aesthetic elements to the ordinary things used in everyday life.

Our accomplished interdisciplinary faculty inspires and prepares students in our MA and PhD programs for successful careers in academia, museums, and the private sector. We bring equal intellectual rigor to our acclaimed exhibitions, award-winning catalogues and scholarly publications, and innovative public programs, and we view all of these integrated elements as vital to our curriculum.

BGC’s campus comprises a state-of-the-art academic programs building at 38 West 86th Street, a gallery at 18 West 86th Street, and a residence hall at 410 West 58th Street. A new collection study center will open at 8 West 86th Street in 2026.

Founded by Dr. Susan Weber in 1993, Bard Graduate Center has become the preeminent institute for academic research and exhibition of decorative arts, design history, and material culture. BGC is an accredited unit of Bard College and a member of the Association of Research Institutes in Art History (ARIAH).

To submit your remembrance in honor of David Jaffee, please email hollis.barnhart@bgc.bard.edu.

David Jaffee was my colleague at CUNY where he taught until 2008. Although representing different disciplines, I was always impressed with his thoughtfulness, kindness and breadth of research interests. A major intellect, he remained committed to teaching and efforts to engage students at all levels. In short, David was a ‘mensch’ —hard to believe that his life was unfairly cut short.

Joyce Gelb, Professor Emerita of Political Science at City College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York

As a returning student at City College, Professor Jaffee was a wonderful mentor. He seemed to take a genuine interest in my work, and graciously guided me through a senior thesis project that allowed me to indulge some of my more esoteric interests while providing me with my first real experience with archival research. Later, he was instrumental in exposing me to the (then) brave new world of digital humanities. More than that, he opened my eyes to the world of historical scholarship, and was more responsible than anyone for setting me on the path to a PhD, which I recently completed. I owe him a deep debt of gratitude, and my sincere condolences go out to his loved ones and colleagues.

Sean Griffin, PhD, The Graduate Center, CUNY

I was shocked to learn that David Jaffee passed away. As one of his old doctoral students from the CUNY days, I owe him everything I have in life. If ever a man were decent, brilliant, genuinely friendly, self-effacing, and committed to student excellence, it was David.

Laura M. Chmielewski, PhD, Associate Professor of History, Purchase College, State University of New York

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