The mission of the Jeffer Museum at Arkansas Northeastern College is to preserve, interpret, and present folk art, posters, and related visual culture in support of education, scholarship, and public engagement. The Museum’s core collections, generously donated by Dr. Edward and Ulrike Jeffer, form the foundation of this mission. Through its collections and exhibitions, the Jeffer Museum advances the academic mission of Arkansas Northeastern College while fostering an understanding of artistic expression, cultural history, and social context at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
Contact Information
Dr. Jillian Hartley, Curator
Collections
Africa
About the Jeffers
The Jeffer Museum: A Gift for the Future
The Jeffer Museum is built upon the simple, enduring belief that learning about the world begins with understanding the people, cultures, and traditions that connect us. Every object in the collection tells a story about the community from which it came while also reflecting the lives of the two people who spent more than fifty years traveling, collecting, and preserving these remarkable pieces.
Dr. Edward Jeffer and his wife, Ulrike Jeffer, have visited more than 200 countries, assembling a collection that celebrates the creativity, history, and everyday lives of people around the globe. Their gift to the museum reflects a lifelong commitment to education, cultural understanding, and the preservation of humanity's stories for future generations.
A Legacy of Family and Perseverance
Tiger and Levine in Manila, Arkansas
Edward Jeffer's family history traces back to Arkansas through his grandfather, Nathan Tiger, whose family established numerous successful businesses throughout the state in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Enterprises such as Tiger Emporium, Tiger Brothers, and Levine, Tiger & Erlichman became well-known commercial establishments in communities including Conway, Manila, and Luxora. The family's wholesale operations supplied dozens of stores across Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
As later generations moved north, the family expanded into manufacturing. Nathan Tiger often remarked with pride that his factories produced the underwear and long-sleeved officer shirts worn by many members of the United States Army during the First World War. The family's story reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrant families who helped shape both Arkansas and the nation.
Dr. Edward Jeffer's Grandparents, Nathan and Diana Tiger
Ulrike Jeffer: A Life of Compassion and Joy
Ulrike (Seufert) Jeffer was born in November 1945, in Ústí nad Labem, then part of Czechoslovakia, during the final months of the Second World War. Her earliest years were marked by extraordinary hardship. Her father disappeared while serving on the Eastern Front, and she and her mother became refugees in postwar Europe. Their journey took them by train into Poland and then on foot through forests before they eventually reached Erfurt in the Soviet occupation zone. With assistance from friends and relatives, they ultimately found safety in Franconia within the American zone of Germany.
Despite these difficult beginnings, Ulli built a distinguished career devoted to helping others. Her mother, who later served as a Rektorin (school principal) in Germany, instilled in her the importance of education, perseverance, and service. After completing her education at Fulvia Olympia Morata Gymnasium in Schweinfurt, Ulli studied physical therapy at the University of Würzburg. A gifted athlete, she earned numerous swimming medals during her youth and received local recognition for both athletic competition and theatrical performances.
Specializing in pediatric and infant physical therapy, Ulli worked with internationally recognized pediatric neurologist Dr. Václav Vojta. Her research helped introduce his innovative therapeutic methods to a broader professional audience through publication in a medical journal. Throughout her career, she remained dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children through her work as a pediatric physical therapist, combining clinical expertise with compassion to enhance the lives of countless young patients and their families.
Dr. Edward Jeffer: Medicine, Military Service, and Scholarship
Edward Kenneth Jeffer was born in Brooklyn, New York, in March 1940, the oldest of six children. Achievement and public service were deeply rooted in his family. His father, Norman Jeffer, graduated from Brooklyn Law School and established one of New York City's largest Jewish funeral businesses. A remarkable athlete, Norman had previously earned statewide recognition in football and golf, eventually playing professional football for both the Frankford Yellow Jackets and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Edward's mother, Rosalind, graduated from New York University at just sixteen years of age and became one of the first women to qualify as a Certified Public Accountant. She also competed on NYU's women's varsity tennis team, reflecting the family's strong commitment to both education and achievement.
Edward excelled academically, athletically, and artistically throughout his education. Graduating second in his class from Poly Prep Country Day School, he received numerous honors, including the Mayflower American History Prize, the Colgate Cup recognizing excellence in both academics and athletics, the Drama Award, and an English medal. He earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, and lacrosse and received all-city athletic recognition in both football and lacrosse.
After attending Columbia University, Edward completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA, graduating summa cum laude and earning election to Phi Beta Kappa. He continued his education at the University of Southern California School of Medicine before completing surgical training, a year of general medical practice in Watts, California, and a psychiatric residency at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute and Letterman Army Hospital.
Board-certified in psychiatry, Dr. Jeffer eventually became a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Drafted during the Vietnam War, he remained in the United States Army for twenty-seven years, ultimately retiring with the rank of Brigadier General.
Beyond medicine and military service, Dr. Jeffer has pursued a wide range of scholarly and creative interests. He has authored numerous professional journal articles, published three books, written plays and screenplays, and witnessed one of his plays receive a favorable review from the Los Angeles Times. Two of his screenplays were optioned by film studios, and a television pilot was held for consideration by renowned television writer and producer Rod Serling.
A Lifetime of Collecting the World's Stories
Ed and Ulli mee the Dalai Lama
Together, Edward and Ulrike Jeffer transformed a shared love of travel into a lifelong effort to preserve the artistic and cultural traditions of communities around the world. Over more than five decades, they carefully assembled collections of folk art, textiles, masks, musical instruments, religious objects, posters, photographs, and everyday cultural artifacts representing hundreds of cultures across every inhabited continent.
For Dr. Jeffer, collecting began at the age of twelve with postcards, eventually growing into one of the nation's significant postcard collections. That collection has since been entrusted to the State University of New York (SUNY). The Jeffers have also donated materials to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History documenting the history of entrepreneur Earl "Madman" Muntz and the development of the four-track cassette.
A Gift for Future Generations
The Jeffer Museum at Arkansas Northeastern College represents far more than an extraordinary collection of artifacts. It reflects a lifetime dedicated to curiosity, learning, and appreciation for the richness of human culture.
By donating these collections, Edward and Ulrike Jeffer hope to inspire future generations to explore the world with open minds, respect diverse traditions, and recognize the shared humanity that connects people across cultures and continents.
As visitors explore the museum, they are invited to experience the world through the Jeffers' eyes—not simply as travelers, but as lifelong students of humanity who believed that preserving the stories of others is one of the greatest gifts we can leave for the future.
Ed and Ulli in Uzbekistan
Thank you for consideration.
5101 U.S. Highway 61 • Wilson, Arkansas 72395 • 870-655-0200