American Jewish Historical Society
Avital Sharansky
2013 Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award

Honoring Avital Sharansky
Tuesday, May 28, 2013

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New Finding Aids for the American Jewish Historical Society

What is a Finding Aid?

A finding aid is the fruit of an archivist’s painstaking work of culling, sorting, ordering and describing a collection of historical records. Like a book jacket it summarizes the importance of a collection (Scope Note) and like an index it lists the specific contents (Box lists). The finding aid places the materials in historical context by providing information about the author or institution (History/Bio note) that created the collection. It presents all the information the user needs to provide access to the processed materials.

We think finding aids are wonderful research tools and we are proud to let you know when we create new ones. Below are a few of our newest finding aids, many from collections newly opened to researchers.


Institutional Collections — New York, NY

Please click on collection title to view the finding aid.

I-3: Mexican Inquisition Collection, undated, 1572-1914 [Posted 2013-01-16]

The Mexican Inquisition collection contains twenty-four processos (transcripts of trials) of individuals accused of Judaizing. The Mexican Inquisition tried accused Crypto-Jews, Jews who converted to Christianity but were believed to secretly practice Judaism. Eight of the processos are originals; sixteen are typed transcriptions from the Inquisition Records of the Archivo General de la Naciâon (Mexico). Three of the transcriptions are also translated into English (including two trials of the same individual). The trials range in date from 1572 to 1768.

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I-8: Training Bureau for Jewish Communal Service (New York, N.Y.) Records, undated, 1941-1956, 1961 [Posted 2013-02-28]

The Training Bureau for Jewish Communal Service trained graduate social workers for positions in Jewish welfare agencies from 1947-1951. The collection includes correspondence, reports, minutes, and publicity files on the organization. It also includes materials on the course including curricula, syllabi, lecture outlines, student records (some restricted), and evaluation materials.

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I-347: Jewish Defense League Records, undated, 1969-1974, 1985-1986 [Posted 2013-01-15]

The collection contains the records of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a militant Zionist organization with a stated goal to protect Jews from all forms of antisemitism. The materials document the origins of the JDL, the organization's mission statement and recruitment strategies and account for its most definitive actions. The collection also reflects the League's turbulent relationship with, and its criticism of the mainstream Jewish agencies, as well as examples of criticism of the League's controversial methods from various sources. The collection prominently covers the JDL's role as a pioneer of the American Soviet Jewry movement. Materials on the 1971 World Conference of Jewish Communities are also included. The documents include the Articles of the Organization, correspondence and press releases, membership and recruitment materials, newsletters, newspaper clippings and ephemera.

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I-535: National Committee for Labor Israel Records; 1931-2006 [Posted 2012-12-27]

The National Committee for Labor Israel (NCLI) was an American fundraising organization closely associated with Israel's federation of labor and trade unions (Histadrut). NCLI provided financial support for the Histadrut's educational, health, and social programs in Israel through national and regional solicitation campaigns. Major donors included Labor Zionist organizations, American labor unions, and other Jewish community associations. Financial problems eventually led to the dissolution of NCLI, and the bulk of this collection documents its final decades of operation. A large portion of the records pertain to development projects in Israel during the 1960s -1970s.

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I-540: Washington Committee for Soviet Jewry Records (Formerly Papers of Carolyn W. Sanger, *P-870), undated, 1962, 1965-2001 (bulk 1970-1990) [Posted 2012-12-20]

The collection contains records of the Washington Committee for Soviet Jewry, a grassroots volunteer membership organization that was founded in 1968 and existed until 2001. The organization was renamed the Greater Washington Committee for Post-Soviet Jewry after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Committee worked to raise awareness of the plight of Soviet Jewry in the United States and supported Jewish communities on the U.S.S.R. territories, during the rule of the Soviet regime and after its collapse. The records cover the period from the mid-1960s through 2001, and the bulk of the collection is dated 1970s-1980s. The documents include correspondence, memoranda, publications, news clippings, photographs, slides, ephemera, audio and video recordings and 3-D objects. Originally the collection was titled Papers of Carolyn W. Sanger, *P-870 by the name of the Committee's last president.

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I-541: Der Fuehrer's Face Musical Score 1942 [Posted 2013-01-16]

This item is the musical score for the song "der Fuehrer's Face" used in the Walt Disney Donald Duck World War II propaganda film of the same name.

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I-542: Trees and Life for Vietnam Records; undated, 1971-1973; 1990 [Posted 2013-02-07]

This collection is comprised of photographs, one bank book, pamphlets, clippings and personal correspondence regarding the organization, Trees for Vietnam (later named Trees and Life for Vietnam). Trees and Life for Vietnam's goals came out of the Jewish Campaign for the People's Peace Treaty, which sought to establish a treaty of peace between the United States and North Vietnam from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.

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I-544: Central Committee Knesseth Israel Charity of Rabbi Maier Baal Haness Donation Records; undated, 1924-1950 [Posted 2013-04-24]

This collection is comprised of correspondence and financial documents from and to the Central Committee Knesseth Israel Charity of Rabbi Maier Baal Haness from 1924 through 1950. The charity was a Jewish charity formed in 1924 in both Israel and the state of New York with the purpose of collecting contributions to help the state of Israel and American Jews. The collection contains charity donation records from 1924 through 1950.

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I-543: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Soviet Jewry Collection; undated, 1965, 1967, 1970-1971, 1977-1978, 1981 [Posted 2013-02-28]

The collection reflects the involvement in the American Soviet Jewry movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America. The materials include pamphlets, newsletters, reports, play scripts, poetry, correspondence and photographs.

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I-547: Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans Records, undated, 1949-1952, 1961, 1974-1985 [Posted 2013-4-11]

The Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans (JFSGNO) was a social service agency created in 1948 to establish and preserve the self-sufficiency of Jewish families. The collection focuses on the JFSGNO's work to resettle Jews from the Soviet Union during the 1970s and 1980s, often in cooperation with similar agencies, such as Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), United Service for New American, and United Jewish Fund. Also included are lists of the Displaced Persons who arrived from Eastern and Western Europe by ships to the port of New Orleans in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and materials on resettling of refugees from Southeast Asia in the 1970s-1980s. The documents include ship manifests, memos, agendas, correspondence, clippings, policy statements and procedures, statistics, congressional reports, programs and budgets.

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Personal Collections — New York, NY

Please click on collection title to view the finding aid.

P-1: Moses Family of New York Papers, undated, 1767-1941, 1971 [Posted 2013-05-13]

This collection contains personal, business, and genealogical materials about the Moses family of New York. Isaac Moses (1742-1818) was a prominent New York businessman and American patriot who helped fund and supply the US forces during the Revolution. His descendants continued to be prominent Jewish businessmen in New York, traveled internationally, and served in the Union Army in the Civil War. The collection contains business and personal correspondence, journals, clippings, and genealogical information.

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P-960: Estelle Newman Papers, 1983, 2004, 2006 [Posted 2013-03-13]

The collection contains papers of the American Soviet Jewry movement activist Estelle Newman. The materials focus on the trip to the USSR taken by Newman, her husband, and their teenage daughter in 1983, during which they met with and delivered material aid to many Soviet Jewish Refusenik families in Moscow, Leningrad, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Siberia. The collection features hundreds of photographs taken during the trip including pictures of Refuseniks in their homes, scenes of Jewish life in the communities visited, and street scenes in the Soviet Republics. A detailed trip report and news clippings related to the Refuseniks visited by the Newmans are also included.

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P-961: Carol S. Kekst Papers, undated, 1975, 1977-1982 [Posted 2013-03-13]

The collection contains papers of the American Soviet Jewry movement activist, Carol Schapiro Kekst. The materials focus on the activities of the Committee of Concerned Scientists, Inc. (of which Kekst was a vice-chair) in order to protect the Soviet Jewish Refusenik scientists from state persecution and discrimination, and to defend their right to emigrate.

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P-962: Reeve Robert Brenner (Rabbi) Papers; undated, 1968, 1988-2007 [Posted 2013-04-24]

This collection is comprised of periodicals, correspondence, and literature pertaining to the life of Rabbi Reeve Robert Brenner from 1968-2007. Rabbi Brenner is a noted scholar and the inventor of a basketball inspired game called Bankshot.

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P-965: Linda Rutta Papers, undated, 1975-1976 [Posted 2013-04-08]

The collection contains papers of the American Soviet Jewry movement activist Linda Rutta. The materials focus on her activism as an undergraduate student at City College of New York, and her relations with the family of the Soviet Jewish Refusenik, Victor Ozar. The collection includes materials from the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ), such as a Soviet Jewry fact sheet, college campus action outline, and correspondence with SSSJ regarding Soviet Jewish Prisoners of Conscience. Also included is Rutta's correspondence with the Ozar family.

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P-966: Charles King Emma Papers; undated 1941-2012, bulk 1943-1945 [Posted 2013-05-13]

This collection is comprised of armed forces material, correspondence, and other material concerned with Charles King Emma?s time in the U.S Army from 1943 through 1946.

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P-967: Rachel Braun Papers, 1979 [Posted 2013-04-22]

The collection contains papers of the American Soviet Jewry movement activist Rachel Braun. The materials focus on the tour of the Soviet Union she took in 1979, under the guise of a tourist, with the intention to secretly meet Soviet Jews, deliver messages and material aid for the Refuseniks and Soviet Jewish Prisoners of Conscience, and to collect information on their circumstances. The materials include diaries, photos and clippings.

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P-968: Jack Forgash Papers; undated, 1973-1979, 2004 [Posted 2013-04-24]

The collection contains papers of Jack Forgash, an activist in the American Soviet Jewry movement. Forgash held leadership positions in the Brooklyn Coalition for Soviet Jewry and the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry during the 1970s, and co-chaired the Jackson for President Committee during the presidential campaign of Senator Henry M. Jackson in 1976. The materials include correspondence, memoranda, photographs, brochures and news clippings.

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P-969: Michael Greene Papers; undated, 1989, 2001, 2008 [Posted 2013-05-13]

The collection contains papers of the former President of the Long Island Chapter Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Michael Greene. Greene wrote music and lyrics that were performed or played back at events dedicated to Soviet Jewry in the Long Island area and were delivered to Refuseniks in the Soviet Union by members of the Long Island Committee for Soviet Jewry. The materials include correspondence, a book of poems and stories, sheet music, a CD, an audiocassette, and a tzedakah box.

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P-970: Judith A. Manelis Papers; 1986-1990 [Posted 2013-05-13]

The collection contains the papers of Judith A. Manelis, the Executive Director of the Communications Department of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York. The papers pertain to the UJA-Federation Campaign for Soviet Jewish Emigres. The materials include ads, mailings, news releases, position papers, stationery, a button, and a poster.

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Institutional and Personal Collections — Boston, MA

Please click on collection title to view the finding aid.

I-96: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Boston, Massachusetts, Records, undated, 1886-1977 (Bulk dates 1938-1954) [Posted 2013-01-16]

The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) was founded in New York City in the 1880s by the Russian Jewish community of New York in response to the influx of Russian Jewish immigrants fleeing the pograms in the Pale of Settlement in Russia and Eastern Europe. In 1889, a shelter which was used to house many of the immigrants adopted the name ?Hebrew Sheltering House Association.? This organization merged with HIAS in 1909 and by 1914, had branches operating in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The Boston office of HIAS was chartered in 1904 under the leadership of Harris Poorvu, Hyman Pill, Abraham Alpert, Meyer Bloomfield, Max Wyzanski and Samuel L. Bailen. Harris and operated autonomously from the national office in New York, even after their merger in 1916. HIAS ensured that Jewish immigrants had access to holiday and religious services and kosher food; provided shelter and social services; and assisted immigrants with finding employment and schools, often on short notice. This collection contains the individual case files of immigrants who received assistance from the Boston office of HIAS, ship manifests, tracer correspondence, scrapbooks, passenger lists and photographs. Some later individual case files remain restricted (those dated after 1960) and researchers will require permission from the archivist of AJHS New England Archives in order to view them.

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P-394: Morrison Family and Jacob Levin, Collection, undated, 1887-1989 [Posted 2012-10-22]

The Morrison family originated in Poland but lived in the Boston area. Morris Morrison immigrated to the United States in 1889, and eventually established his own insurance firm. He married Etta Levin (daughter of Jacob Levin) and was briefly involved in politics at the beginning of the 20th century. His brother, Ralph, was a shochet in Boston. Etta and Morris had three sons, but only two, Robert and Sidney, are represented in this collection. This collection includes memoirs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and naturalization certificates.

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P-691: George and Sadie Kramer, Papers, undated, 1900-1964 [Posted 2012-10-22]

George and Sadie Kramer were active and dedicated members of the Zionist movement. Much of their work was done within their home community in Malden, Massachusetts. In Malden they addressed issues facing the Jewish community both locally and globally, including advocacy for Palestine to become the Jewish homeland, organizing community events, and working with the United Jewish Appeal. George and Sadie were also involved in Malden's Masonic Lodges, George as a Grand Noble and Sadie as a lifetime member of the Germania chapter. Both were honored by the Jewish National Fund, as well as others, for their many years of dedication to the Jewish community.

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P-944: Henry Wise, Papers, 1941-2010 [Posted 2012-10-22]

Henry Wise was a Boston-area lawyer whose practice focused mainly on housing, fishing, and labor, three areas in which he crafted important local legislation. In 1942 he wrote to the Institute of Jewish Affairs, a research branch created by the American and World Jewish Congresses, inquiring after membership. The Institute of Jewish Affairs was made up primarily of scholars, who took a scientific approach towards researching Jewish life from the previous 25 years. They hoped to better understand the current situation for Jews by looking at how the events in Nazi Europe were able to occur, as well as create policies that would protect Jews in a post-war environment. When Wise became a member of the Board of Trustees for the Institute he received a number of materials pertaining to its activities.

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P-948: Friedman Family Papers, 1844-1944 [Posted 2012-11-07]

Aaron Friedman was a rabbi, shochet, and author. He was a shochet in Stavisk, Poland, Bernkastel-on-the-Moselle, Germany, and New York City, and author of a defense of the practice of Shechita entitled, ?Tuv Ta'am? in 1874. This collection also contains information on his son, Abraham Friedman and his grandson, Nathan Friedman. This collection consists of correspondence, business documents, family photographs, personal effects, genealogical information, and publications.

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P-963: Arthur Green (1941-) Papers; undated, 1965, 1978-2003 [Posted 2013-04-24]

Professor Arthur Green is a Reconstructionist rabbi, author, and teacher. He is the former president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) and currently is dean of the Hebrew College Rabbinical School. The collection contains personal and professional correspondence, articles, and manuscripts. Some student work and correspondence is included but is currently restricted.

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I-285: West End House (Boston, Mass.), Records, 1909, 1981 [Posted 2012-10-22]

The West End House is a Boys and Girls Club that was established in 1906 by a group of thirty-five boys who were the children of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Their aim was to provide a place where they could meet and work to improve their lives through mental, physical, and moral advancement. The club began in 1903, but was officially established in 1906 following aid received from the Jewish Federation, as well as James and Helen Storrow. From the 1940s-1971 the West End House under went numerous changes that included a more broad and diverse membership, change in location, and becoming part of the Boys and Girls Club. In 1971, it moved to Allston-Brighton where it continues to serve urban and immigrant youth.

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I-313: Chelsea-Revere Hebrew School Records; undated, 1939 - 1981 [Posted 2013-04-24]

The Chelsea-Revere School was established by Monas Berlin in 1896 and served the Chelsea, Massachusetts Jewish community until 1979. The collection contains the records of the institution and its activities including meeting minutes, financial records, correspondence, personnel manifests, memos, publications, memorial documents, and school function notices, as well as press materials in the form of newspaper clippings.

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For a complete Boston finding aid listing, please visit: http://ajhsboston.org/collections/.

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This section was last updated on May 8, 2013
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2008 Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary Edition

2008 Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary Edition

This collectible set of all 50 brand new, first time issued cards, commemorating the career of Hank Greenberg on the 75th anniversary of his rookie year, includes 11 cards with some rarely seen photographs of Greenberg, with card backs written by Pulitzer-Prize winner and Greenberg biographer, Ira Berkow.


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