New Search
Photo Search
Audiovisual Search
Refugee case files
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- United Jewish Relief Agencies, Toronto (UJRA) series
- Refugee case files sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- ID
- Fonds 17; Series 4-11
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds
- United Jewish Relief Agencies, Toronto (UJRA) series
- Refugee case files sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 17
- Series
- 4-11
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1938-1960
- Physical Description
- 2.68 m of textual records
- Scope and Content
- This sub-series documents the relationship of the UJRA (CJC) with the refugees admitted to Canada. Often the UJRA office was a starting point for newly-arrived refugees, who would be referred to Jewish Employment Service/Jewish Vocational Services for help finding a job, to hospitals, dentists and other health care providers for medical care, to Toronto Hebrew Free Loan, and sometimes to Jewish Immigrant Aid Services for accommodations and loans. The office in Toronto worked in cooperation with local refugee committees in centres like Hamilton, London and Oshawa, which would sometimes assist with or take over cases. In most cases the form of assistance given by the UJRA was financial, with decisions taken by the UJRA Farm & Establishment Committee. They granted loans for the purchase of farms, to either individuals or in many cases, a partnership of two refugees wishing to buy jointly. Refugee farmers settled across southern Ontario, from towns in the Chatham/London area, to ones in eastern Ontario towards Kingston/Cornwall, and the southern Niagara region. The largest numbers were concentrated near Hamilton and Oshawa. The UJRA helped immigrants survey and appraise properties and offered advice and guidance on farming to those with no experience. UJRA loans were granted also for the furnishing of homes, equipping of farms with machinery and livestock, medical services, visas for family members, and short-term "maintenance" costs while new immigrants got on their feet. For "urban" refugees, UJRA arranged lodgings, helped with transportation and baggage, ensured a family had food, tickets to High Holiday services, and school for the children. In some cases UJRA was called upon as arbitrator between disputing farming partners or family members.
- Sub-series contains case files from clients of UJRA dating from 1938 to 1960. Until 1950, refugees were categorized as either "farmer" or "urban" settlers, and these designations remain written on the earlier files, while later ones are not categorized other than by name of the immigrant. Files include an identification form, either a "summary of contact" sheet with notes added over time, or a standard Loan Committee application form. Records also include correspondence.
- The files are arranged in alphabetical order by refugee surname.
- Notes
- This sub-series is composed of former RG 292, RG 293 and RG 296, three separated sets of case files. Unspecified, farmer, and urban case files were combined into this series, and case files from RG 296 were pulled from amongst the administrative files.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Related Material
- Related files regarding loans may be found in the minutes of the Loan Committee in sub-series 6 of this series (4-6).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions