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
Winnie Holzman is the writer (with renowned composer/ lyricist Stephen Schwartz) of the hit musical Wicked, which has been running for over 20 years on Broadway, and has been produced all over the world. She also co-wrote both screenplays for the movie adaptations of Wicked. After graduating from Princeton University, Winnie went to New York City where […]
They Fight With Cameras screening 6:30pm Thursday, April 16th, hosted by AJHS and the Jewish Museum, at the Center for Jewish History.  A newly found cache of wartime letters unlocks a gripping first-person account of WWII through the eyes of a Jewish American soldier who held a camera, not a rifle, in history’s defining […]
Join us for a conversation with author Michael Kimmel, SUNY distinguished professor emeritus of sociology, and moderator Henry Sapoznik. Â Michael Kimmel reveals the illuminating story behind the creation of the American toy industry in his new book, PLAYMAKERS: The Jewish Entrepreneurs Who Created The Toy Industry In America. This fascinating and entertaining new book […]
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.