Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

22

Material Format

object

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 pin : copper ; 4 cm long

Scope and Content

Item is a copper pin with the following inscription:

2DBQ

CANADA.

Physical Condition

Fair.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

10

Material Format

object

Date

1930

Physical Description

1 coin : copper ; 3.5 cm in diam.

Admin History/Bio

The coin was a welcome coin for the Shriners 1930 convention in Toronto.

Scope and Content

Item is a copper coin. On one side, there are flags behind a maple leaf with writing around the border. In the centre of the maple there is writing that reads:

PEACE

JUNE 1930.

Around the border the writing reads: 36th IMPERIAL COUNCIL SESSION [?]WN-OVV.

On the other side of the coin, there are two people shaking hands. The writing around the border reads: CONVENTION TORONTO 1930 WELCOME.

Name Access

Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America

Subjects

Congresses and conventions

Fraternal organizations

Physical Condition

Poor. The writing on the coin is hard to read due to dirt. Oxidization.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

2

Material Format

object

Date

1932

Physical Description

1 pin : gold

Scope and Content

Item is a gold alderman pin for the year 1932. The words Canadian National Exhibition are on the top and bottom of the pin; the name John J. Glass is engraved on the back.

Name Access

Canadian National Exhibition

Subjects

City council members

Physical Condition

Pin is in good condition but is missing the red ribbon. The red of the maple leaves are turning green in the corners.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

3

Material Format

object

Date

1933

Physical Description

1 pin : gold

Scope and Content

Item is a gold alderman pin for the year 1933. The words Canadian National Exhibition are on the top and bottom of the pin; the name John J. Glass is engraved on the back.

Name Access

Canadian National Exhibition

Subjects

City council members

Physical Condition

Pin is in good condition but is missing the red ribbon. The red of the maple leaves are turning green in the corners.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

4

Material Format

object

Date

1934

Physical Description

1 pin : gold

Scope and Content

Item is a gold alderman pin for the year 1934. The words Canadian National Exhibition are on the top and bottom of the pin; the name John J. Glass is engraved on the back.

Name Access

Canadian National Exhibition

Subjects

City council members

Physical Condition

Pin is in good condition but is missing the red ribbon. The red of the maple leaves are turning green in the corners.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds

Political Career series

Level

File

Fonds

92

Series

3

File

3

Material Format

object

Date

1935

Physical Description

1 pin : 3 cm in diam.

Scope and Content

File consists of one campaign pin documenting J.B. Salsberg's failed bid in the Spadina Riding during the 1935 federal election. Writing on the pin states, "Make the Rich Pay / Elect J.B. Salsberg / Spadina Riding".

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2007-6-7

Material Format

object

Physical Description

17 pins

Date

[19--]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of 17 pins, 9 of which have been identified. The pins that have been identified are as follows; four Order of Foresters pins, two Order of the Moose pins, a Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society pin, a Canadian Medical Association/Ontario Medical Association pin and a Zion Magen David pin.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1982-7-6

Material Format

object

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 poster

3 cm of textual records

Artifacts

Date

1928-[ca. 1944]

Scope and Content

This accession includes a Standard Theatre poster for the play Sheindele from Slabodke, staring Mischa and Lucy German (1928). This production was also known as Papirosn-makherin (Cigarette Maker) and Reizele from Slabodke and was staged in 1927 in the Hopkinson Theatre then in Philadelphia with Clara Young, Lucy German, and Vera Rosanka.

Also included are pages from a scrapbook with Jewish Standard editorial writings from the 1930s by Hye Bossin. Topics include life on Spadina Avenue and in Kensinton Market, Yiddish entertainers, Emma Goldman's visit to Toronto, Caplan's Cafe, athletes, and the Toronto Islands. As well, there is a metal plate for F. B. Harris, circa 1944, with an inscription on it in memory of Sgt. F. B. Harris who "died in his country's service 6 June, 1944."

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other formats: The Standard Theatre poster and Emma Goldman interview are available as digital files.

Subjects

Newspapers

Theatrical posters, Yiddish

Name Access

Bossin, Hye

Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940

Harris, Fred. B.

Standard Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2007-9-4

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

object

Physical Description

10 photographs : b&w

10 cm of textual records

1 doll

2 pins

Date

1925-1985

Scope and Content

This accession consists of material relating to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) and the Jewish community in Toronto. They include published material from the ILGWU, Yiddish songbooks and benchers, Yiddish booklets distributed by various Toronto Jewish organizations such as the Poalei Zion and the Farband, a pin from Baycrest given to Jennie Magerman on completing 14, 000 hours of volunteer service, a pin from the Kieltzer Sick Benefit Society given to Abe Magerman in 1913, and several photographs of Abe Magerman participating in union activities. There is also a Miss Union Made plastic doll dating from circa 1950, which is wearing pink dress and sash and is enclosed in a plastic cover.

Custodial History

This material was originally in the possession of Abe and Jennie Magerman. It was later in the possession of his son, Alfred, until being donated to the OJA by Alfred's wife Barbara in September 2007.

Administrative History

Abe Magerman was the assistant manager for the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union for many years. He was married to Jennie (nee Shefsky) Magerman and had two children, Esther and Alfred. Jennie (nee Shefsky) Magerman was the daughter of Myer and Toba Rayzel (nee Nusynovitch) Shefsky.

Descriptive Notes

Magerman, Abe

Farband Labour Zionist Alliance

International Ladies Garment Workers Union

Poalei Zion

Toronto Labour Lyceum Association Limited

Arbeiter Ring

Israel Histadrut

Baycrest

Kieltzer Sick Benefit Society

Subjects

Communities

Labor unions

Name Access

International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Maurice Berg fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

41

Item

1

Material Format

object

Date

1954

Physical Description

1 trophy : silver and brass, mounted on black plastic ; 15 x 15 cm circumference

Admin History/Bio

Ajalon Lodge was originally established in 1927 as a Young Judaea Club. In September 1935, it officially became a lodge of the Zionist Order Habonim. The lodge was very involved in raising money for Israel (mostly through the UJA), promoting Zionism, and recruiting new members for the Zionist Organization of Canada. Many members fought in the Second World War. The wives of some of the members formed the Ajalon Ladies Auxiliary in 1944. Maurice Berg became a member of Ajalon Lodge in January 1933.

Scope and Content

Item is an Ajalon Lodge award given to Maurice Berg in 1954. The award consists of a silver cup with two handles mounted on a black plastic stand. A gold plaque is mounted on the stand with a description of the award which reads: "Ajalon Award 25th Anniversary 1954 Maurice Berg."

Notes

Artifact #291.

Subjects

Awards

Physical Condition

In poor condition.

Tarnished and scratched.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ajalon Lodge fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

72

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1929-1986

Physical Description

ca. 1.25 metres of textual records

ca. 15 scrapbooks

ca. 20 objects

Admin History/Bio

The Ajalon Lodge was first organized on 10 March 1929 as the Ajalon Club of Young Judaea. The founding members were Abe Bohnen, Hyman Cohen, Isaac Gringorten, George (Hamell) Himmelstein and Lou Hochman. The group met at the Zionist Institute at 206 Beverley Street in Toronto. The name was selected by Abe Bohnen and Mark Zimmerman, the Young Judaea supervisor, from a map of Palestine which hung in the Young Judaea library.

The first leader of the club was Morris Kertzer followed by Al Zimmerman. In 1930 the lodge began to record its activities in scrapbooks, which it later named the Ajalon Archives. The archivists over the years included Max Schwadron, Ben Marks, Myer Bromberg, and Willie Zimmerman.

The club was actively involved in Young Judaea literary, social, and fundraising activities. In 1935, the club graduated from the Young Judaea movement and become a lodge of the Zionist Order Habonim. By 1939 however, the Ajalon, Balfour, Bialik, and Jaffa lodges merged into the Toronto Habonim Lodge due the waning membership as many men went off to war. After the war, the four lodges returned to their original state. In 1940, the lodge acquired club rooms on the third floor of the Zionist Building and in 1944 several wives of lodge members organized the Ajalon Ladies Auxiliary. By 1953, Habonim became the Zionist Men’s Association of Canada, an affiliate organization of the Zionist Organization of Canada and by the 1960s, Ajalon Lodge became directly affiliated with ZOC. Over the course of its existence membership in the lodge has been between 40 and 90 members.

Ajalon Lodge participated in many fundraising campaigns for Jewish organizations in Toronto, such as the Jewish National Fund and the United Palestine Appeal. Many of its members also served on the board of directors for organizations such as the Toronto Zionist Council and Young Judaea. The lodge was involved in several fundraising initiatives, including the establishment of a kindergarten in Ashkelon, Israel in 1972. In later years the Ajalon Lodge was affiliated with the Zionist Organization of Canada.

Custodial History

The records were in the custody of both Willie Zimmerman and Meyer Bromberg before they were donated to the Archives in 1984, 1988, and 1994.

Scope and Content

This fonds primarily consists of the records collected and created by the Ajalon Archives Committee, under the direction of Max Schwadron, Ben Marks, Myer Bromberg, and Willie Zimmerman. The archives are organized into scrapbooks by year and relate first to activities of Ajalon Club as a chapter of Young Judaea and then to Ajalon Lodge as a chapter of the Zionist Order Habonim. Later scrapbooks represent the lodge’s activities as part of the broader Zionist network affiliated with the Zionist Organization of Canada. The scrapbooks consist of photographs, event invitations, pamphlets and flyers, correspondence, editorial writings, newsletters, newsclippings, meeting minutes, activity reports, and ephemera. They begin in 1929 and run to 1983.

Also included in the fonds are the meeting minutes, financial reports and general correspondence files of the lodge, as well as several artifacts collected by Meyer Bromberg while he was the acting archivist.

Name Access

Ajalon Lodge (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Zionism

Physical Condition

Some of the early scrapbooks are in poor condition. The pages are brittle and are crumbling along the edges. As well, the scrapbooks require tissue-paper linings between the pages to separate the various media contained within and to prevent any further degredation, particularly of the photographs. Many of the photos in the later scrapbooks require rehousing in acid-free melanex.

Related Material

Related material can be found in the Zionist Organization of Canada fonds 28, the Meyer Bromberg fonds, the Maurice Berg fonds and the Willie Zimmerman fonds 41.

Creator

Ajalon Lodge (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1984-11-2

1988-6-5

1994-10-3

2005-4-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2008-7-10

Material Format

object

Physical Description

3 artifacts

Date

1915-1940

Scope and Content

Accession consists of several artifacts. The main item is a Singer sewing machine which was manufactured in 1915. It was used by the donor's father, Isaac Edelstein, when he worked as a tailor for Tip Top Tailors during the 1920s. He scratched his name and the date, 1923, into the machine. The other two items are sewing shears that were used by Isaac Edelstein and his wife Ida. She also worked in the garment industry at that time.

Custodial History

In 2003 the donor, Albert Edelstein, received a call from an individual who found the sewing machine in his father's basement after he passed away. He saw that it was inscribed with the name I. Edelstein and tried to locate a family member by calling individuals with that surname in the city telephone book.

Use Conditions

Must credit Isaac Edelstein when displaying objects.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2012-7-24

Material Format

textual record

object

graphic material

Physical Description

12 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1942-2005, predominant 1942-1955

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the activities of Albert Edelstein and his family. The bulk of the records document Albert's involvement in the Habonim-Dror labour Zionist youth movement. Included are Habonim concert programmes, correspondence, notes, flyers, and newsletters as well as notes and correspondence documenting the activities and operation of Camp Kvutza. Also included are photographs, invitations and guest lists to the Habonim reunion in Toronto (1983), a CD containing information related to the 75th anniversary of the Habonim movement, and a newspaper clipping, notes, and a badge related to Camp Gesher. Accession also contains a brochure, a broadside, and event programme books of the Jewish Farband Folk Schools, and a Bureau of Jewish Education brochure. In addition, there are I.L.G.W.U. membership dues cards belonging to Ida Edelstein, issues of the Labour Zionist publications Farband Chaver (1943) and Insight (1984), and fundraising material related to the Israel Histadrut Campaign. There are also programmes, flyers and brochures of various Jewish organizations including, Hadassah, UJWF, United Jewish People's Order, YM-YWHA, Hashomer Hatzair, and the State of Israel Bonds. Finally accession consists of Second World War Victory Bonds receipt and brochure, a Monteith Inn (Shopsowitz) dance dinner menu, and a Zionist Youth Committee of Toronto flyer for a march in support of the Jews suffering through the Holocaust in Europe.

Custodial History

Material was in the possession of Albert Edelstein until its donation in 2012.

Use Conditions

Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes 87 photographs (17 negatives), 1 badge, and 1 CD.

Language note: records are in English and Yiddish.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds

Political Career series

Level

Item

Fonds

92

Series

3

Item

1

Material Format

object

Date

1938

Physical Description

1 pin : metal and ribbon, red and gold ; 9 cm in length

Scope and Content

Item is an Alderman CNE pin.

Notes

artifact number 149

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

2

Material Format

object

Date

[between 1912 and 1932]

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2007-7-1

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

object

Physical Description

20 photographs : b&w

2 folders of textual records

2 badges

Date

1943-1945

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual and graphic materials documenting Alex Pancer's military career during the Second World War, both in Canada and overseas. The images depict Pancer in military dress, portraits of his Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Mobile Field Photographic Section and fellow servicemen, German soldiers, photo images created by Pancer as keepsakes or postcards, and a few reconnaissance photographs. The textual documents include postcards, an RCAF newspaper, Pancer's autograph book and loose sheets containing the names and contact information of fellow servicemen, RCAF correspondence including Pancer's record of birth, last will and testament, life insurance documentation and certificate of education, train berthing and identity cards, a meal ticket, and Pancer's discharge papers. The accession also includes two sew-on jacket badges.

Custodial History

The records were in the custody of Alex Pancer's son, Jeff, until they were donated to the Archives on 2007-07-09.

Administrative History

Alex Pancer (1923-2001) was born in Toronto in 1923. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce in 1942 at the age of 19 and joined the photo reconnaissance unit. He saw combat in France, Germany and Holland. He married Bella Pancer in 1959, and had two sons, Jeff (b. 1960) and Daryl (b. 1963).

Descriptive Notes

Availability of other materials: Digitized material.

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

World War, 1939-1945

Name Access

Pancer, Alex, 1923-2001

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2021-4-3

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

object

philatelic record

Physical Description

3153 photographs : b&w and col. (3133 negatives) ; 41 x 51 cm or smaller

13 sheets of postage stamps

1 folder of textual records

2 presentation pieces : 23 x 34 x 2 cm

Date

[1945?]-2006

Scope and Content

Accession consists of Negev Dinner negatives for the years of 1969, 1975-1977, and 1979-2006. Also included are several presentation pieces comprised of portraits that Gilbert took for presidents and prime ministers of Israel and Israeli Prime Ministerial postage stamps produced from those portraits. Some of the presentation pieces are accompanied by thank-you letters address to Gilbert and signatures of Gilbert and presidents and prime ministers of Israel being featured. Accession also includes six portraits featuring Robert Sterling, Elliotte Friedman’s grandmother, [Sydney Sugarman?], and one unidentified person; two unidentified group photographs; one unidentified wedding photograph; and one photograph depicting Al Gilbert at an event. Also included is an oversized group photograph of Greenfild’s Jewish Radio Hour of CKOC featuring Max Mandel and his colleagues.

Negev Dinner honourees include Mark Levy and Harry Gorman (1969); Rabbi Gunther Plaut (1975); James Kay (1976); Premier Bill Davis (1977); Murray Koffler (1979); Rose Wolfe (1980); Theodore Richmond (1981); Arnold Epstein and Madeline Epstein (1982); Kurt Rothschild and Edith Rothschild (1983); Abe Posluns (1984); Donald Carr and Judy Feld Carr (1985); Dr. Gerald Halbert (1986); Edwin Goodman (1987); Douglas Bassett (1988); Max Sharp and Isadore Sharp (1989); Bernard Weinstein (1990); Harry Gorman (1991); Albert Mandel, Nathan Hurwich, and Lewis Moses (1992); George Cohen (1993); Joey Tanenbaum (1994); Leslie Dan (1995); Henry Newton Rowell “Hal” Jackman (1996); Edward Bronfman (1997); Allan Silber (1998); Dr. Anne Golden (1999); Avie Bennett (2000); Alex Grossman (2001); Toby Feldberg and Saul Feldberg (2002); Eli Rubinstein and Renée Rubinstein (2003); Ronald Appleby (2004); Joseph Lebovic and Wolf Lebovic (2005); Ed and Fran Sonshine (2006).

Presidents and prime ministers of Israel being featured include Levi Eshkol, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Shimon Peres, and Chaim Herzog.

Custodial History

Accession donated by Nina Gilbert, Al Gilbert's daughter, on behalf of the Estate of Al Gilbert.

Administrative History

Nachman (Nathan) Gittelmacher was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1898 to Shloima and Mattie Gittelmacher. Suffering terribly during the pogroms of 1918 and 1920, he fled from place to place and then emigrated to Canada in 1921. Trained as a photographer in Europe, he opened his own photography studio in Toronto in 1922, called Elite Studios. First located at 513 Queen Street West, he soon moved to 615 Queen Street West. Nathan serviced a largely Jewish clientele, photographing weddings, bar mitzvahs, and Jewish community events. Nathan was married to Nina Sokoloff and had three sons and a daughter: Louis (Lou), Albert (Al), Jack, and Ruth. During the early 1940s, the family legally changed their name from Gittelmacher to Gilbert and subsequently altered the name of the business to Gilbert Studios. When Nathan moved to the United States, Al, who had been working there since a young age, took over the business. It thrived under his management. To accommodate his growing clientele, he moved the studio to Eglinton Avenue and later to 170 Davenport Road, where it is situated today. Al made a name for himself as a portrait photographer, using natural light in innovative ways to create more natural looking portraits. Al’s primary work involved producing portraits of families, weddings, bar mitzvahs, special events, and dinners. Most of his early clients were from the Jewish community. He was also paid to produce portraits for local entrepreneurs. Moreover, his multi-year contract with the city gave him sole responsibility of producing portraits for the mayors and council members. He later branched out beyond the Jewish community and began to produce images for businessmen and leaders from the Italian community in Toronto. In addition to the paid contracts involving local personalities and groups, Al Gilbert has also produced many artistic portraits of local, national, and international celebrities, artists, and leaders, such as Wayne and Shuster, Howie Mandel, Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Robertson Davies, several Canadian prime ministers, Prince Charles, and the last Pope. He also produced portraits for all of the Israeli prime ministers, which were made into postage stamps by the Israeli government. Gilbert’s work, therefore, captures a huge range of individuals from the ordinary brides to extraordinary world leaders. Throughout his career, Al has won many professional awards and accolades from his peers. He is the three-time recipient of the prestigious Photographer of the Year award of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). He has been named Fellow of the photographic societies in Canada, Britain, and the United States. In 1990, he was awarded the Order of Canada. In January 2007, the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is the highest honour that PPA can bestow on a person for their body of work and influence on professional photography.

Use Conditions

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Subjects

Photographers

Name Access

Gilbert, Al, 1922-2019

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1992-12-6

Material Format

graphic material

object

Physical Description

6 photographs : b&w (3 negatives) ; 20 x 25 cm

Artifacts

Date

1929-1991

Scope and Content

Accession consists of several artifacts including: Life member for Baycrest plaque awarded to Allan Grossman, 1981; American Israel Numismatic Association plaque awarded to Allan Grossman, November 1972; Minister of Revenue framed golden seal, ca. 1970s; Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada Award of Service plaque presented to Allan Grossman; Quinte Regional Detention Center plaque presented to Allan Grossman, 1971; B'nai Brith Convention guest badge, 1-4 June 1969; Grey Cup badge,1980; Jigsaw puzzles from the Allan Grossman Campaign; Federal-Provincial Conference of First Ministers delegate badge, 15-17 November 1991; Yellow and blue Davis sign; Yellow and blue Davis hats; Yellow and blue Davis jackets; plaque commemorating the new bridge in Toronto opened December 23, 1953; plaque commemorating 1956 visit with the Pope, 25 April 1956; Framed certificate given to Allan Grossman on his 70th Birthday from the Premier of Ontario, 4 March 1974; Harold King Farm plaque given to Allan Grossman; shovel from the Ground Breaking ceremony of the new Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 30 June 1983; B'nai Brith Distinguished Citizen Award plaque given to Allan Grossman, 3 March 1974; Small plaque from Premier William Davis honouring Allan Grossman, 1972; Memorial Groves plaque.

Photographs include a collage of portraits of members (including Allan Grossman) of the Toronto Boy Municipal Council 1929, and a photo of William McIntyre, acting clerk of the Executive Council, administering the oath of office to Allan Grossman, Minister Without Portfolio, at the Ontario Parliament on November 21, 1960. Also picured are Leslie Frost and Keiller McKay. A third photograph was taken at a visit in 1965 to the Ontario Legislature with ohn Robarts, Premier of Ontario, and Menachem Begin of Israel.

Name Access

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1990-4-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

1 m of textual records and graphic material

1 badge : felt and metal, blue, silver and white ; 10.5 x 10.5 cm

1 pin : metal, white, blue and gold ; 1 cm.

Date

[ca. 1922]-[194-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the life and career of Allan Grossman. Also included is a Jewish Boys in Training Crest of Merit badge (ca. 1922-1924), a white felt badge with a blue Magen David in the middle and in the four corners with metal plates attached to the material, each one with a different symbol, and an Ostrovtzer Independent Mutual Benefit Society pin (ca. 1940s).

Subjects

Politicians

Name Access

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2022-6-3

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 knapsack : canvas, leather and metal ; 48 x 48 x 5 cm

Date

1944

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a knapsack worn by Ibolya (Ibi) Grossman when she, her mother, and her son, Andy Reti, were deported to the Budapest ghetto. Ibi used the knapsack to carry some food and provisions for her baby son. Andy Reti later used it in 1956 and for camping trips in Canada - all special journeys for him.

Custodial History

Object was donated by Andy Reti, Ibi's son.

Administrative History

Ibolya (Ibi) Grossman was born on 11 December 1916 in Pécs, Hungary, to Ignacz Szalai and Laura Fisher. Around 1931, she joined the Zionist movement in Hungary; there, she met Zoltan (Zolti) Rechnitzer, who she would later marry. In 1933, she moved to Budapest, where her older sister lived; for several months, she worked at a thread factory. The Rechnitzer family moved to Budapest in 1936, and she married Zolti in September 1939. She became pregnant in 1941, and a son Andras (Andy) was born in July 1942. In November 1942, Zolti reported for duty as a labourer in the Hungarian army, as was required for all Jewish males between the ages of 18 and 50. In May 1944, Zolti was taken to a labour camp; Ibi never saw him again. In the meantime, she was confined to a Jewish ghetto in Budapest. In July 1944, her parents and two half-sisters were taken to Auschwitz. In 1945, Grossman was liberated from the ghetto by the invading Russian army. In 1949, she attempted to escape from Hungary. She was betrayed, arrested and jailed. Her second attempt succeeded, and she came to Canada with her son in 1956, first to Winnipeg, and then to Toronto. In 1958, she married Emil Grossman. She passed away on 11 March 2005 in Toronto.

Subjects

Holocaust survivors

Jewish ghettos

Refugees

Name Access

Grossman, Ibolya (Ibi), 1916-2005

Reti, Andy, 1942-

Places

Budapest (Hungary)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2004-5-85

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 passport case

Date

[ca. 1910]-1942

Scope and Content

This accession consists of the Canadian naturalization papers and passports (Russian) of Morris and Mary Rose and a record relating to Gurofsky's Steamship Agency.The passports are housed in a cloth protective case provided by the steamship company F.Missler of Bremen, Germany.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2010-10-2

Material Format

object

Physical Description

2 tallisot

Date

[ca. 1945]

Scope and Content

This accession consists of 2 Tallisot previously owned by the Machzikei B'nai Israel Synaogogue, formerly located at 279 Dovercourt Rd. at Dundas St. West. Each tallis bears a stamp from the synagogue.

Custodial History

The tallisot were used by Ann's [father-in-law?], Nathan Sharpe, who was a founding member of the synagogue.

Administrative History

The Machzikei B'nai Israel Synagogue was first located in a store on Ossington Avenue in the early 1930s. In 1933 they purchased and incorporated a cemetery located on McCowan Road at Eglinton Avenue. In 1935, the congregation moved into the basement of 279 Dovercourt Road and gradually renovated the rest of the building to completion by 1950. In the 1970s, the synaoguge had 93 member families, but dwindling membership in the 1980s forced the Synagogue to close and merge with Shaarei Shomayim.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-6-6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

2 pins

Date

[194-]-1990

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a group photograph of the members of the Independent Women's Society, a membership list for the Borochov chapter of Na'amat, two Pioneer Women pins, and a grade 3 report card for Stanley Wilder from Shirley Street Public School. Identified in the photograph is Bella Wilder (bottom row, right); Rose Silver (middle row, first on left); Fanny Goldbach (middle row, second from left); Elsie Sautzman (middle row, seventh from left); Molly Guzy (back row, seventh from left).

Administrative History

Bella (nee Goldbach) Wilder (1910-2002) was born on May 12, 1910 in Opatow, Poland to Chaim Shlomo Goldbach and Shifra Frimeth Schatz Goldbach. Bella's older brothers, Victor, Jack and Hymie began immigrating to Toronto in the 1920s and had saved enough money by 1936 to bring Bella and her mother to Toronto. After arriving in Toronto, Bella found work sewing in a factory.

Bella married Max Wilder (1909-1999) on September 29, 1939. Max worked at Superior Men's Tailoring where he sewed zippers into men's pants. They had two children together: Ann (born 5 April 1940, married Norman Sharpe) and Stan (born 21 Jan. 1945, died June 1974). Max passed away in 1999 and Bella passed away in 2002.

Bella was a member of the Independent Women's Society, which was a group of Polish women who were wives of members of the Farband. They eventually became the Borochov chapter of the Pioneer Women, later Na'amat.

Use Conditions

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.

Descriptive Notes

USE CONDITIONS NOTE: Membership list is closed. Report card is open.

Name Access

Wilder, Bella, 1910-2002

Wilder, Max, 1909-1999

Wilder, Stanley, 1945-1974

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Toronto Holocaust Museum series

Education sub-series

Students sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

28-12-1

File

3

Material Format

textual record

object

graphic material

Parallel Title

Physical description note: includes 1 button: metal ; 65 mm in diam.

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

61 photographs: b&w ; 12 x 17 cm or smaller and other material

Scope and Content

File consists of a button, photographs, correspondence, schedules and press releases for the student seminar day at OISE. Those identified in the photographs are: Howard Chandler, Jerry Kapelus and [Ava?] Moynihan.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1984-7-4

Material Format

object

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

Artifacts

30 cm of textual records

photographs

Date

1939-1975

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records, graphic materials, and an artifact pertaining to Sophie and Archie Bennett. The textual records are made up of newspaper clippings, books, visitor log, correspondence, and event programmes. The graphic material relates to photographs of Archie Bennett and photograph postcards. Of note is a selection of postcards sent to Sophie Bennett by Ethel Ostry on 5 June 1945 from Germany. There is a scrapbook and other commemorative items and letters addressed to Sophie Bennett honouring her work as national president of ORT in 1965 as well as celebrating her 70th birthday. The artifact is a ceremonial key for the Jewish Public Library from 8 April 1951 given to Archie Bennett as he was president of the library at the time of its opening in 1951. Other subject matter related to this accession are as follows: Canadian Jewish Congress, ORT, United Jewish Appeal, Zion Benevolent Association, Hadassah-WIZO, United Jewish Welfare Fund, and the Zionist Organization of Canada.

Administrative History

Archie (A.B.) Bennett and Sophie Bennett (born 1895) were members of the Toronto Jewish community. Archie Bennett was pesident of the Jewish Public Library in Toronto at the time of the opening of the library's building at 22 Glen Park Ave in 1951. Archie Bennett was also involved with the Jewish Standard. Sophie Bennett was the national president of ORT (1959-1964) and was honoured at a testimonial dinner in 1965 for her contributions.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Item

Fonds

109

Series

1

Item

29

Material Format

object

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 medal : bronze ; 2 cm in diam.

Scope and Content

Item is a bronze, circular medal with a blue, white, and red border. There is bronze writing along the border. There is a blue, red, and white shield in the middle.

Physical Condition

Good.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2010-11-3

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

object

Physical Description

8 photographs : b&w ; 17 x 12 cm or smaller and other material

Date

[ca. 1940] - 1945

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting Aron Racko's experience serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Included are photographs of Aron with bandages and cast after his propellor accident and others taken while he was stationed in British Columbia. Also included is one military general service pin and two military volunteer service medals. Finally, accession includes one letter from a Jewish Chaplain, Isaac Rose, to Aron's mother and photocopies of Aron's discharge papers.

Administrative History

Aron Sidney Racko was born in Ontario in 1922 and grew up in Toronto. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in December 1939 as an airplane mechanic. In 1942 he was wounded in a possible antisemitic incident after someone turned on the propellar in an airplane he was servicing in Trenton, ON. As a result, Aron never went overseas.

After the war, Aron initially worked as a taxi cab driver, but soon took up construction work building houses and later entered the real estate industry as a broker. He was a member of the Forest Hill Lions Club. Racko passed away in May 2010.

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.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes 1 folder of textual records, 2 medals, and 1 pin.

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Part Of

Thelma Harris Rose Family fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Series

Fonds

115

Series

11

Material Format

object

Date

[ca. 1885]-[ca. 1930]

Physical Description

12 artifacts

Scope and Content

Series consists of twelve artifacts related to the Rothbart Drug Store and the Harris and Geldzaeler families.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Artifacts series

Level

Series

Fonds

109

Series

1

Material Format

object

Date

1914–1968

Physical Description

32 objects

Scope and Content

Series comprises thirty-two artifacts that belonged to John J. Glass. Included are military medals and medallions, commemorative coins, and other objects such as an alderman pin.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

13

Material Format

object

Date

[ca. 1950]

Physical Description

1 item

Subjects

Business

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

15

Material Format

object

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

B'nai Brith Lodge No. 1154 fonds

Level

File

Fonds

91

File

2

Material Format

object

Date

[ca. 1965]

Physical Description

2 banners : 161 x 98 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

File consists of one felt lodge banner that is attached to a wooden pole and one banner of the Association of the Well-being of Israeli Soldiers (Aguda L'man Hachayal) that has an accompanying metal stand.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Philip Givens fonds

Jewish communal series

Keren Hayesod sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

51

Series

9-4

File

2

Material Format

object

Date

1970

Physical Description

1 coin : brass ; 5 cm in diam.

Admin History/Bio

Keren Hayesod is the central fundraising organization for the State of Israel. It operates in Canada under the name United Israel Appeal.

Scope and Content

File consists of one brass coin given to Givens' as a memento of his visit to Israel as part of the Keren Hayesod Toronto Top Leadership Study Mission in 1970. The coin has a raised emblem on one side and an engraving of Jerusalem on the other side.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2009-6-7

Material Format

architectural drawing (electronic)

Physical Description

5 architectural drawings (pdf)

Date

[1992?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of five PDF files of architectural drawings for the Bathurst Jewish Community Centre. Three files show the floorplans for the three floors of the centre, and two files show the renovations to the building.

Custodial History

The original plans are in the possession of Makrimichalos Cugini Architects.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

14

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1917-2011

Physical Description

2.82 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

As early as 1916 the Ezras Noshem Society (a mutual benefit society for Jewish women) started to raise funds to purchase and renovate what would become The Toronto Jewish Old Folks' Home (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care’s forerunner) after its members recognized the need for a home in Toronto where the Jewish elderly could receive kosher meals and communicate with staff in their own language. Property at 31 Cecil Street was purchased in 1917 and sometime between September 1918 and January 1920 the Home officially opened there. The Home was run by a small staff and the women of Ezras Noshem who volunteered their time to make beds, cook kosher meals, do laundry and sponsor fundraising events. By 1938 the Home had expanded into its neighboring houses at 29, 33, and 35 Cecil Street and was caring for 115 residents. It provided residents with synagogue services, a hospital ward and social activities. At this time the Home also became a member of the United Jewish Welfare Fund.

In 1946, the need for a larger and more modern building prompted a fundraising campaign, which was headed by Abe Posluns, to purchase and build a new facility. In December 1954, the new building opened at 3650 Bathurst Street and consisted of two new institutions: The Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital. This location continued to expand over the years, including a new building for residents in 1968, an apartment building for seniors called the Baycrest Terrace in 1976, and a community centre known as The Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre in 1977. These additions enabled Baycrest to expand its programs to include a day care program, recreational programs, and a Sheltered Workshop which was run in cooperation with the Jewish Vocational Service and provided residents with employment. In 1986 a new Baycrest Hospital was erected, and in 1989, the Rotman Research Institute, which is also affiliated with the University of Toronto, opened to create a research facility where top researchers could study and find new treatment methods for the elderly.

In recent years, Baycrest’s services and programs have continued to expand. In 2000, the Apotex Centre, the Jewish Home for the Aged and the Louis and Leah Posluns Centre for Stroke and Cognition opened to help residents with progressive dementia caused by vascular disorders. In 2001 a condominium building opened at 2 Neptune Drive for seniors, and in 2003 the Sam and Ida Ross Memory Clinic was established to provide out-patient services for seniors with memory disorders. Baycrest Centre also provides numerous cultural and religious programs for the inhabitants and the greater community, including a heritage museum, art exhibits and a Holocaust program.

Custodial History

Records were donated to the OJA in a series of accessions from a variety of sources, including the Baycrest Women's Auxiliary and the Multicultural Historical Society of Ontario.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the history, governance, and activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, reports, speeches, photographs, artifacts, constitutions, publications, press releases, financial records, event invitations, programs, a scrapbook, a poster, lists, theatrical scripts, newspaper clippings, brochures and booklets, flyers, a land deed, certificates, schedules, annual calendars, cards, questionnaires, and lists.

Fonds is arranged into eleven series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports; 3. Committees and meetings; 4. Women's Auxiliary; 5. Men's Service Group; 6. Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home; 7. Programs and services; 8. Religious services; 9. Fundraising; 10. Publications and publicity; and, 11. Events. Records are described to the file level with some item level descriptions.

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 1102 photographs, 4 coins, 2 posters, 1 badge, 1 pin, 1 key chain, 1 postcard, and 1 pen.

Associated material note: related material at Library and Archives Canada includes a small Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds, and the Eric Exton fonds. For architectural records see the Irving D. Boigon fonds 243 at the City of Toronto Archives (Boigon was an architect who designed many of Baycrest's buildings between the 1970s and 1990s). Contact Baycrest Centre's Heritage Museum for committee records from the 1930s, and consult Baycrest's website to access electronic copies of current issues of Baycrest's publications.

Name Access

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Baycrest Hospital

Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Hospitals

Old age homes

Related Material

See Gordon Mendly Fonds 18, series 3-4; Jewish Vocational Services of Toronto fonds 75; United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds 67; accession # 2009-6-2; Dora Till Fonds 52; J. Irving Oelbaum Fonds 24; Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds 61, series 1-1; Gilbert Studios fonds 37; Ben Kayfetz fonds 62, series 3, file 3; JFWB fonds 87, series 6, files 5 and 6; JIAS fonds 9, series 7, file 1; Harold S. Kaplan fonds 27, series 1-4, and Morris Norman fonds 22.

Creator

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 1917-

Accession Number

1982-11-1

1983-11-2

1988-2-7

1979-9-17

1979-9-23

1987-9-7

2004-5-50

MG 2 O 1A

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dora Till fonds

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary series

Level

Series

Fonds

52

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1951-1986

Physical Description

62 cm of textual records

10 photographs

2 objects

Admin History/Bio

The Women's Auxiliary of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care was established in 1955 as a fund-raising arm of the Baycrest Centre as well as a provider of services to the residents and patients. Some of its activities included running the volunteer service, the beauty salon, the gift shop, theatre nights, religious and festival programming and fundraising projects.

Dora Till was the founding president of the Women's Auxiliary from 1955 to 1959. She remained active on the Executive Committee well into the 1980s. Dora was honoured several times by the Women's Auxiliary, including at a tribute dinner in 1983 and in 1984 when an entire floor of Baycrest was named in her honour.

Scope and Content

This series consists of records documenting the activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Women's Auxiliary. The records include minutes, reports, speeches, correspondence, financial records, invitations, brochures and pamphlets, photographs and artifacts.

The records have been arranged into six sub-series: Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Sub-Committees, Finance and Accounting, Programming and Services, Events, and Press and Publicity.The records have been described to the file level and a selection of photographs have been scanned and described at the item level.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

17

Material Format

object

Date

1912

Physical Description

1 item

Subjects

Hockey

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2004-3-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

ca. 3 cm of textual records and other material

7 photographs b&w and col ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Date

1900-1979

Scope and Content

This accession consists of material documenting the donor's grandparents Dora and Bernard Coffler. It includes portraits of her grandparents and an exterior photograph of the Coffler Bedding Co., activities and fiftieth wedding celebration. This accession also includes: documents such as their passports, wedding certificate and identification cards; correspondence from David Croll; press clippings relating to their wedding and anniversary; an Ezras Noshem Society pin (1927); an Adath Israel Congregation Golden Jubilee Book and key chain (1952); and a Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary 25th Anniversary Year Book.

Administrative History

Bernard and Dora Coffler arrived in Canada from Roumania in 1900 and 1901 respectively. They met in 1902 and married on 21 May 1904 in Toronto. They reportedly were the first couple to be married on a Sunday in Toronto. They had three children: Myer (1905), Goldie (1910), and Sam (1914).

The Coffler's opened up a business called Coffler Bedding Co., which was located at 391 Parliament Street.

Dora Coffler was very active in two organizations, the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) as well as the Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary called the Ezras Noshem Society.

Bernard and Dora Coffler passed away in 1960 and 1971 respectively.

Descriptive Notes

Physical description note: includes 7 photographs, 1 key chain, 1 pin and 1 coin.

Subjects

Weddings

Storefronts

Name Access

Coffler Bedding Co.

Adath Israel Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto, Ont.)

Croll, David, 1900-1991

Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2009-11-2

Material Format

textual record

object

Physical Description

1 artifact

3 posters ; 68 x 45 cm or smaller

Date

1950-1999

Scope and Content

Accession consists of an Ashkenaz Festival of New Yiddish Culture poster (1999), a Drildzer Young Men's Mutual Benefit Society & Congregation poster (1986), a Sense of Spadina walking tour tenth-anniversary poster, and a delegate ribbon for the Jewish Labor Committee National Conference held 1–3 December 1950.

Subjects

Posters

Name Access

Katz, Bernard

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 

Accession Number

2009-6-5

Material Format

graphic material

sound recording

moving images

textual record

object

Physical Description

187 photographs : b&w and col. ; 24 x 20 cm or smaller

20 audiocassettes

10 videocassettes

1 folder of textual records

1 object

Date

[193-]-2006

Scope and Content

Accession consists predominantly of records collected by Bess Shockett in her work with UJA Federation's Committee for Yiddish and Friends of Yiddish. The accession also contains some personal family records. The photographs document programmes of the Committee for Yiddish in the late 1980s and 1990s, including an outdoor Yiddish concert, several International Conferences of Yiddish Clubs (1995, 1998, 1999), Sunday morning Yiddish classes, and a 1993 Hanukah concert. There are also three photographs of the New Fraternal Jewish Association and its celebration of J. B. Salsberg's eightieth birthday in 1980. The videocassettes contain recordings of other events including a storytelling workshop, Purim Mystery Night, a farewell for Miriam Waddington and several Sof Vokh (weekend retreat) programmes of 1993.

The twenty cassette tapes feature panel discussions, lectures and interviews, including "Yiddish education," "Yiddish and the Media," "Yiddish and the Younger Generation," "Yiddish and the Performing Arts," and "Yiddish Language and Translation." There are several interviews with Yiddish poet Avrom Sutzkever, as well as two Toronto Yiddish concerts. Other tapes contain radio interviews with [Aaron?] Lansky; "Chava Rosenfarb--Book Fair", 1988; "Plenary reports and presentations"; and an episode of the program The Forward Hour on Peretz Miransky, an influential Polish writer in the inter-war years.

Personal records in the accession consist of family snapshots dating from the 1930s and 1940s. These were taken in Israel and include images of farming, landscapes, travel, a canal, groups of people, city buildings, and processions. These photos all have Yiddish writing on the back. There is one formal portrait, ca. 1890s, of an elderly Jewish man. As well, there is a folder of original and photocopied poetry (in Yiddish) written by a Jack Shockett.

Accession also includes a Yiddish typewriter, in case, that Bess used in the late 1960s/early 1970s when the Committee for Yiddish was under Congress.

Custodial History

Records were entrusted to the estate of Bess Shockett after her death, and given to her Committee for Yiddish colleague Ethel Cooper, who brought them to the archives.

Administrative History

Bess Shockett was born in the Ukraine in 1919. Her father, Solomon Maltin, was the mayor of the town and helped establish a number of Jewish community institutions. He and his wife had two sons along with Bess: Sam and Ben. In 1925, the family moved to Montreal. As an adolescent, Bess became very active in the Jewish community and joined the United Jewish People's Order. She helped organize a union for workers in the knitting industry and later did the same for fur workers. She also travelled to Winnipeg to organize a laundry workers union. She met her husband, Barry Shockett, in Toronto and they married in 1952 and had three children: Michael, Elka and Eric. Bess eventually became very active in the Toronto Jewish community, particularly in regards to supporting and launching several innovative Yiddish programs. She staffed the office of CJC's Committee for Yiddish in its early years, and was Director from 1974 to 1989. She helped found the Friends of Yiddish in 1985 and served as executive vice-president until her death on August 27, 2007.

Descriptive Notes

There is little written material; what there is (captions and poetry) is mostly in Yiddish; some captions are in English.

Subjects

Committees

Yiddish language

Name Access

Committee for Yiddish (Toronto, Ont.)

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2023-11-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

18 cm of textual records

11 photographs : col ; 10 x 15 cm or smaller

91 slides : col ; 35 mm

54 negatives : col. ; 35 mm

Date

1922-1994

Scope and Content

Accession contains material related to the Beta Sigma Rho Fraternity, Eta Chapter at the University of Toronto. Included in the material is a 1922 constitution and ritual book, pledge and introduction manuals, rushing guidelines, records of initiation and interviews with pledges, programmes and invitations to annual balls, dinner dances, conventions and reunions, revenue reports, invoices and receipts, legal documents relating to the house sale and dissolution of the chapter, meeting minutes, membership lists, ETA and Grand Chapter newsletters, newspaper clippings, personal correspondence and memorabilia, photographs and slides, songbooks and correspondence. Also included is material relating to the Beta Sigma Rho Grand Chapter, New York, New York. The included object is a wooden case with a glass door, presumably used to hold information or announcements.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of several individuals in the following order: Barney Dales, Marvin Pearl, Ed Bogolmy, Richard Stein.

Administrative History

The Beta Sigma Rho fraternity was founded in 1910 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by four Jewish veterinary students who were unable to obtain membership in existing fraternities because of their religion. Originally named Beta Samach, the purpose of the fraternity was to promote fraternal spirit and good fellowship among its members, to diffuse a liberal culture, to advance scholarship, and to further equity in college affairs. Although not formally stated in its constitution, the fraternity also served a social function allowing its members to develop friendships and to take part in social events, such as dances.

The fraternity began to expand nationally in 1914, and in 1920 the fraternity’s name was changed to Beta Sigma Rho. The fraternity expanded into Ontario in 1930 with the Eta Chapter at the University of Toronto. In 1944 a second Canadian chapter was opened at the University of Western Ontario, known as the Iota Chapter.

Membership in Beta Sigma Rho began to decline in the late 1960s, and in 1972 its national office merged with the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity for financial assistance. The chapter at Pennsylvania State University chose not to take part in the merger and became an independent fraternity under the new name Beta Sigma Beta.

Subjects

Greek letter societies

Name Access

Beta Sigma Rho Fraternity (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-5-7

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

1 object

1 folder of textual records

Date

[197-?]-2017

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting the Beth Torah Congregation in Toronto. Included are a stole (sash) from the synagogue choir and the summer 2017 issue of the Jewish Review, which features a profile of Yossi Sapirman, the senior rabbi of Beth Torah.

Subjects

Choirs (Music)

Rabbis

Synagogues

Name Access

Beth Torah Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Sapirman, Yossi

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-5-2

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 artifact

Date

[193-?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one artifact, a wooden hanger, from B. Feldman Clothing company.

Administrative History

Ben Feldman had a boys and mens clothing and tailoring store [B. Feldman Clothing] on 519 Queen St. W as early as 1931. He and his wife Mary lived in the same building.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-7-3

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 silver plate

Date

1926

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one silver plate given to Mr. and Mrs. Arnoff from the Pride of Israel Ladies' Auxiliary in 1926.

Subjects

Societies

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

23

Material Format

object

Date

1958

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Morris Norman collection

Level

Item

Fonds

22

Item

24

Material Format

object

Date

[nd]

Physical Description

1 item

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2010-8-1

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 window : glass, wood ; 66 x 66 cm

Date

[1955?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one stained glass synagogue window. The wooden-framed window features a blue Star of David on a yellow background. The window was likely created when the building was extensively renovated in 1955. It is possible, however, that it was created for the 1924 building and was retained after the 1955 renovations.

Custodial History

Sidney Holtzkener, the donor's husband, was a house chairman and volunteered to take the window. The window was displayed in the donor's home until the couple moved in 2009.

Administrative History

The London Jewish community had a single congregation until disagreements led to Moses Leff organizing an alternative minyan. This became Congregation B'nai Moses Ben Judah, named after Moses Pollock. Their first synagogue building, a remodelled wooden church, opened in 1907. This building was supplanted by a new and enlarged structure in 1924. The building was renovated and enlarged again in 1955, but did retain some elements of the old structure. In 1966 B'nai Moses Ben Judah almagamated with B'nai Israel, and consequently Congregation Or Shalom was created. The B'nai Israel building was chosen to house the new congregation and the the B'nai Moses building was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese. Accordingly, its stained glass windows were removed. Edward's Glass Company Limited held on to the windows and later contacted the Holtzkeners to give them one. The Holtzkeners were members of B'nai Moses and later Congregation Or Sholom from at least 1944 until they moved to Toronto in 2009.

Descriptive Notes

Related material note: see MG 3 B-7 for further Congregation Or Shalom records

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1987-5-1

Material Format

object

Physical Description

Artifacts

Date

1949–1981

Scope and Content

Plaque given to Bobbie Rosenfeld from City of Toronto. -- 16 January 1951. -- 1 plaque : metal, book shape, mounted on lucite, col. ; 32 X 38 cm Plaque is in fair condition. Current location: PacArt, Box 19.

Plaque given to Bobbie Rosenfeld by The Canadian Press. -- 1950. -- 1 plaque : metal, golden, mounted on wood ; 28 x 38 cm. -- An image of Rosenfeld appears on the metal Plaque is in fair condition. Current location: PacArt, Box 19.

Medallion given to Bobbie Rosenfeld by the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. -- 1981. -- 1 medallion : bronze , in wooden case ; 10 cm in diam. -- A bronze circular medallion with an engraved arm holding a torch in front of the Star of David. The wooden box has a small plaque mounted on the inside. Medallion is in good condition. Current location: PacArt, Box 19.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Cowan family fonds

Level

File

Fonds

102

File

10

Material Format

textual record

object

Date

1968-1976

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 crest ; 18 x 16 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of addresses delivered by Saul Cown at graduation ceremonies at Bathurst Heights Secondary School and Sir Sanford Fleming Seconary School, a Participation Diploma from Yorkdale Secondary School granted to Saul Cowan in 1976, and a felt crest from Bathurst Heights Secondary School.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2006-4-5

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 arm band : linen and cotton ; 10 x 20 cm

Date

[between 1922 to 1945]

Scope and Content

The item is a Nazi Youth armband that was likely worn by a member of the older youth group, who were 15 to 18 years of age. The item is constructed of red linen with a white and black cotton insert running across it in the shape of a stripe and swastika.

Custodial History

The item belonged to the Allard family. It was found in Holland by Brenda Allard's father, Alexander Malin, who served with the Canadian forces during the Second World War. He was with the Royal Canadian Medical Corps and won many medals for his valour. The item was given to Hesh Troper to pass on to us.

Administrative History

The Hitler Youth or Jugend was formed in 1922 as the Jungsturm Adolf Hitler. They were disbanded in 1923 and re-established in 1926. By 1933, the movement developed to include both girls and boys ranging in age from 10 to 18 years of age. The movement served as a training ground for future aryan supermen and women, teaching them to be future soldiers for the Third Reich. By 1939, the Hitler Youth became mandatory for all children in Germany within the designated age range. As a result, every German youngster was forced to purchase a uniform and serve in the youth movement regardless of their parents' wishes.

The members of the movement wore paramilitary uniforms similar to those of the Nazi party. The uniforms included badges, accessories and knives. The uniforms varied between the girls and the boys and the younger and older groups.

Source

Archival Accessions