U.S. Army shipping clerk Raul Hilberg was stationed at the former Nazi headquarters in Munich in 1945. Opening some wooden boxes one day, he discovered Hitler's private library.

Now a world-renowned Holocaust historian, Raul Hilberg will be receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the undergraduate fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16. Hilberg is best known for his book The Destruction of the European Jews, considered by historians to be one of the most comprehensive studies of the Holocaust and genocide of millions of Jews by Adolph Hitler's regime.

Hilberg was chosen to receive the award by a 15-member faculty committee, and approved by President Graham Spanier and the Penn State Board of Trustees for his contribution to society.

"Individuals who receive honorary doctorates from Penn State are among the top achievers in their respective fields. They typically achieved recognition in their areas of expertise by making contributions over a sustained period of time," said Janis Jacobs, vice-president for administration.

A professor emeritus of political science at the University of Vermont, Hilberg was appointed by former president Jimmy Carter to serve as a member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council and has been an expert witness in trials concerning the Holocaust.

"This is my fourth honorary degree, and I regard it as the one legitimate one. It is different than the others because it is not being awarded for having held a position on a committee, or knowing the chancellor. It is not a political gesture," Hilberg said in response to his nomination.

Born in Vienna to a Jewish Austrian family, Hilberg fled Europe in 1939 alone at the age of 13 to escape the Nazis. He stayed four months in Cuba before arriving as a refugee in the United States. He started college as a chemistry major, but his time in the service helped him to find his "true academic love" — political science.

The Destruction of the European Jews was refused several times by publishers before it finally went to press in 1961. In the three decades following its publication, Hilberg's book has gained him worldwide recognition.

The committee chooses its recipients for honorary doctorates by requesting nominations from students, faculty and alumni. A group of students is then appointed by President Spanier to select the best candidates and make recommendations to the president. The names are then presented to the board, who selects the six honorary degrees to be presented during that year's commencement ceremonies.

"The stature of the individuals who receive honorary degrees reflects the quality of an institution and I think we have awarded degrees to a very impressive group of people," Jacobs said.

Susan Welch, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, thinks Hilberg is a wonderful choice for the degree. She remembers how pleased she was to be able to hear and meet him last year during his most recent visit to campus when he gave a lecture series sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program.

"I can't imagine who would not be pleased at this selection. Dr. Hilberg is a distinguished scholar with a worldwide reputation," said Welch.