JHSMW Collections
Meyer Ellenstein, in the dark trunks in foreground, was Newark's first and only Jewish mayor. His term was from 1933-1941. As a young man he was an amateur boxer and is seen "sparring" with well-known boxer, Max Baer. The JHSMW has a rare collection of photographs of Ellenstein donated to its archives by Martin Kesselhaut.
Lippel school of dancing
still wanted: photographs of metrowest families
JHS SEARCHES FOR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY HISTORY
The Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey has expanded its mission to find and preserve the history of Jewish life in towns in central New Jersey with emphasis on Union and Somerset counties. This will include visits to Jewish institutions, social service agencies, synagogues, and the YM-YWHA located in Union. Private collections are also welcome.
The first successful meeting to locate Central's historic records was held at the Scotch Plains JCC. (Left to right) Ruth Brewster, who donated the private papers of her father Harry Lebau for whom the "Y" in Union is named, JHS past-President Howard Kiesel, JHS executive director, Linda Forgosh who is responsible for the Central outreach program, and Jan Kulick who donated a brief history of the first Jewish family in Warren.
A visit from Bryan Fox, executive director of the YM-YWHA of Union County, leads to a tour of the JHS archives.
JHS volunteer, Rina Eisenberg (left) shared her knowledge of Jewish life in Elizabeth with JHS archivist, Jill Hershorin.
TO THE JHS ARCHIVES
Warren Grover
The Jewish Historical Society of MetroWest is proud to add the papers of Warren Grover, board member and Past President of our Society, to its permanent collections.
The Warren Grover Collection features all research materials related to his landmark publication, Nazis in Newark .
Nazis in Newark tells the story of how Newark's Nazis unsuccessfully tried to convert the city and surrounding area's sizeable German American population to their cause. The book documents the local Jewish resistance to these efforts led by several groups, including the Minutemen, which was a group comprised of Jewish toughs and the non-sectarian anti-Nazi league which sought to weaken Nazi Germany by imposing a boycott on the sale of its goods in the Newark area.
FINDING AID
CONTAINER LIST
weequahic memoirs:
the slide program
* Older groups who may not be as mobile
This book features photographs from the Society's "Weequahic Memoirs" exhibition. Each photo has a caption and identifies individuals where possible and features a brief but thorough introduction of the history of the neighborhood.
Please contact Irene Segal at (973) 929-2703 or email: isegal@jhsmw.org
The "Y" in Elizabeth welcomed World War II servicemen and offered them hospitality, a place to gather, use of all the building's facilities, and hosted dances and entertainment, including this traveling group of young women who performed at USO gatherings. Photograph is courtesy of Ruth Brewster.
Known for her devotion to Israel and her life-long participation in fundraising for the UJA, Mathilda Brailove is seen greeting Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir. Photograph from the biographical files of the former Central Federation in Scotch Plains!
JHS Celebrates "Federation @ 90"
Curator Linda Forgosh, JHS Executive Director, in front of one of the 27 panels.
As the keepers of this community's rich and expansive history, the Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey's contribution to the year-long celebration of Greater MetroWest Federation's 90 th anniversary is a traveling exhibit that tells the stirring story of nine decades of service and commitment to people and community. It is called "Federation @ 90."
WATCH VIDEO
Great effort was taken by JHS curator, Linda Forgosh (pictured here) who relied on the resources of the JHS archives and representatives from MetroWest's beneficiary agencies, to assist her in assembling the hundreds of vintage photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, and video clips that make up "Federation @ 90." Included is an eighteen minute JHS YouTube video clip with a narration of how and where the federation began.
"Federation @ 90" will be on display at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany until November 27. The exhibit will then travel to the JCC in Scotch Plains (December 19-January 17, 2014), and then to the "Y" in Union (January 22-February 25, 2014) and the JCC of MetroWest in West Orange (March 12-April 23, 2014), affording the entire Greater MetroWest community, and beyond, the opportunity to connect to their history. The exhibit is free and open to the community during regular campus hours. To take a tour of the exhibit contact Linda Forgosh 973-929-2994 or e-mail lforgosh@jhsmw.org
Newark's History Revealed
at JHS Archives
Recently, The Jewish Historical Society hosted researchers Gail Malmgreen and Alix Ross of the Newark History Society's Archives Project . They have been searching our collections for all materials related to Newark, NJ.
Founded in 2002, the Newark History Society was created to tell the story of Newark and encourage researchers to delve into Newark's rich history through public forums, lectures, slideshows and other public programs.
One of the major projects of the Newark History Society has been its Archives Project whose goal is to identify and inventory the many sources of printed materials and documents about Newark's fascinating past. The Newark Archives Project is now undertaking a survey of relevant archival collections located in the city of Newark, in the New Jersey-New York metropolitan area, and ultimately throughout the United States. The result of the work is added to the searchable online database which gives the researcher information about primary source materials related to Newark.
The database is growing by the hundreds of entries already added to it and continues to grow. As of this date, the entries for all of the Newark-related materials found in the Jewish Historical Society's archive are close to 100. Did you know that there are documents from the Essex County Courthouse dated from 1752 found in our archive? With the help of putting our Newark-related collections on the Newark Archives Project's database, the audience is that much greater.
Our archive also holds materials from the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (1901- present) which includes the private collection of Dr. Victor Parsonnet ; Daughters of Israel Home for the Jewish Aged (1906- present); I.K.U.V. Israel Kranken Untersteutzung Verein (Israel Sick Benefits Society, 1885- 1989) and other vital Newark-based documents.
To search the collection descriptions the Project has created to date, click on http://nap.rutgers.edu
JHS Honored Kleinman
at Annual Gala
On June 27, 2013 JHS honored Max Kleinman, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ with its Lasting Impressions Award. The event was attended by 150 leaders of the community.
Click
HERE
for photos.
MAYOR CORY BOOKER
Howard Kiesel, JHS Past President
help from washington
gives history society a digital boost
Catalog records for JHSMW collections will be gradually added to the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) via the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC) program at the Library of Congress. For instructions on how to search for these records click
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The Jewish Historical Society is a recipient of a general operating support grant from the