Carrie Grossman

Scope and Content: Accession consists of photographs documenting the activities of Motel Bergstein and Borris Litman. Included are images documenting Hat Cap and Milinery workers banquets, conventions and Executive members, as well as images documenting Camp Yungvelt and the Workmen's Circle 35th anniversary. Motel Bergstein is identified in the photos.

Custodial History: The photographs were in the possession of Carrie Grossman, the daughter of Motel Bergstein and step-daughter of Borris Litman.

Administrative History: Motel Bergstein was born in 1898 in Buckawchevitz, Galicia. He came to Toronto in 1920 or 1921 and initially worked as an operator in a hat factory. He met and married Rita Katz in 1922. Motel was a member of the communist party and in the early 1930s he replaced JB Salsberg as the union organizer for the Hat, Cap and Millinery Workers Union. He was eventually excommunicated from the communist party for refusing to call a strike after the party's headquarters ordered him to. After his excommunication, he became an active member of the Workmen's Circle. Around 1937 or 1938, Motel began selling life insurance as a sub-agent for his uncle, Max Bergstein. Motel passed away on December 25, 1941.

Use Conditions: Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.