AJHS is the oldest ethnic, cultural archive in the United States.
Established in 1892, the American Jewish Historical Society provides access to more than 30 million documents and 50,000 books, photographs, art and artifacts that reflect the history of the Jewish presence in the United States from 1654 to the present.
AHJS Featured Holdings
The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a new podcast series and exhibition from the American Jewish Historical Society detailing the illustrious career of acclaimed photographer Bill Aron. Told through five eras of history, the exhibition and podcast will explore Aron’s work as well as hear from the artist himself about his experience documenting Jewish communities across the globe.
The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a new podcast series and exhibition from the American Jewish Historical Society detailing the illustrious career of acclaimed photographer Bill Aron. Told through five eras of history, the exhibition and podcast will explore Aron’s work as well as hear from the artist himself about his experience documenting Jewish communities across the globe.
The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) fosters awareness and appreciation of American Jewish heritage and serves as a center for national scholarly research. Among our archival treasures, exhibitions, and public programs is the handwritten original of Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus, which graces the Statue of Liberty. We also collect and preserve records of the nation’s leading Jewish communal organizations, and important collections in the fields of education, philanthropy, science, sports, business, and the arts.
We are located within the Center for Jewish History on West 16th street in downtown Manhattan.
Upcoming Events
The World in Front of Me: A Bill Aron Retrospective is a celebration of Jewish life in the United States and beyond, celebrating the diversity of the Jewish experience across the world. Co-curated by Bill Aron and AJHS, the home to Aron’s extensive archives, the exhibition showcases over 50 original photographs that tell the story […]
Julie Salamon, New York Times best-selling author, sits down with Broadway conductor and musical director Joshua Zecher-Ross. Currently, the music director and conductor of Operation Mincemeat, now playing at The Golden Theatre and the score supervisor for The Queen of Versailles at the St. James Theatre. Previous Broadway credits include Water for Elephants, Be More Chill, […]
Costume designer Ruth Morley was behind the iconic looks of several characters now considered legendary in cinema history. A Kindertransport child refugee from Vienna, in the 1950’s she studied under German-American painter Hans Hofmann and went on to design costumes for opera and ballet before moving into theater, film and television. Her work can be […]
Established in 1892, the mission of the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) is to foster awareness and appreciation of American Jewish heritage and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials relating to American Jewish history. At our home on West 16th Street in downtown Manhattan, AJHS illuminates American Jewish history through our many archival treasures, scholarship, exhibitions, and public programs.