Accession Number
1993-1-9
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1993-1-9
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1938-[ca.1980]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Goel Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto. Included are a script of a sisterhood play; copies of the religious-school newsletter Keren Ami; a program for Beth Tzedec's First Congregational (1955); a certificate for charter members of the North Toronto YMHA awarded to the law firm of Singer and Kert; a Young Judaea publication The Leader (1938), which includes a prize-winning address by Shelton Kert; and a menu from Old Ed's, one of Ed Mirvish's restaurants.
Administrative History
The Singer and Kert law partnership lasted from 1920-1965. Joseph Singer was a gold metalist at Osgoode Hall in 1911. He was the first Jewish Controller in Toronto, and legal adviser to the Primrose Club. At the time of his death in 1967 he had practiced law for 56 years.
Lawrence Kert helped organize the Associated Hebrew Schools and the Oakdale Golf and Country Club. He was on the board of Goel Tzedec Synagogue. When he passed away in 1976 he had been a lawyer for 56 years.
Name Access
Kert, Sheldon
Kert, Lawrence
Singer, Joseph
Goel Tzedec Synagogue
Source
Archival Accessions
Level
Item
ID
Item 841
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
841
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1935
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
This item is an original print of a parade float created by the Kirkland Lake Jewish community in honour of King George V and Queen Mary's silver jubilee. The float has a Zionist theme.
Notes
Photo by Duke Studio.
Acquired in 1976.
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Parade floats
Wedding anniversaries
Zionism
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 839
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
839
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1935
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print of several men assembled in front of a parade float constructed by the Jewish community of Kirkland Lake in honour of King George V and Queen Mary's silver jubilee. The photograph depicts the men standing in front of the float, wearing white shirts and pants and desert hats.
Notes
Photo by Duke Studio.
Acquired in 1976.
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Parade floats
Wedding anniversaries
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 840
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
840
Material Format
graphic material
Responsibility
Photograph by Duke Studio
Date
1935
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print featuring a group of Jewish community members from Kirkland Lake standing in front of a parade float created by the community in honour of a King George V and Queen Mary's silver jubilee celebration. Identified individuals include:
S. Finkleman, Bill Harold, S. Akron, M. Dubin, Sam Goldstein, Louis Black, Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Crotin, Abe Kaplan, Morris Breland, H. Garshon, Percy Waxer, Ben Steinberg, Joe Garshon, Sam Black, Max Berjansky, Elia Dubinsky, Joe Rogow, Rabbi Rabinowitz, Joe Dash, Bill Harold, David Duke, Nissel Verner, Ben Atkins, Abraham Duke.
Notes
Statement of responsibility: Photograph by Duke Studio.
General: Acquired in 1976.
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Parade floats
Wedding anniversaries
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2384
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2384
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1935
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) 13 x 18 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of a community parade in Kirkland Lake, in honour of the silver jubilee celebration of King George V and Queen Mary. The photograph depicts members of the Kirkland Lake Jewish community marching up a street. Tip Top Tailors can be seen in the background.
Notes
Photo by Duke Studio.
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Communities
Parades
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Accession Number
1980-12-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1604
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1604
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1935
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 10 x 12 cm
Scope and Content
This item is a copy print and corresponding negative of the Jewish community's parade float in honour of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of King George V and Queen Mary. The float has a Zionist theme, celebrating Palestine being under British rule. The front of the float has a sign which reads: The Jewish united community of Kirkland Lake expresses its profound joy and happiness on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. On this day of rejoicing, it pledges to continue its unstinted support and efforts on behalf of Israel.
Photo by Duke Studio
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Parade floats
Zionism
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
Accession Number
1978-12-6
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 2444
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
2444
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1937
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Photo is a group shot of campers and staff at Camp Yungvelt with posters which read: "War is murder, the promoters - murderers" and "We want our fathers with us and not in war."
Name Access
Workmen's Circle
Camp Yungvelt
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Demonstrations
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Pickering (Ont.)
Accession Number
1979-4-4
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1184
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1184
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1935
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Item is a photograph of the Workmen's Circle mandolin orchestra.
Name Access
Workmen's Circle
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Mandolin orchestras
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1977-1-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 1185
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
1185
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1936
Physical Description
2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
Scope and Content
Individuals in the photograph include Sam Shopsowitz (with accordian), Mannie Farber, Percy Lipshitz, Muni Frumhartz, [Mr. Gluskin?], and Al Rosenberg.
Name Access
Shopsowitz, Sam
Workmen's Circle
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Mandolin orchestras
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1977-1-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3961
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3961
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1936
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Notes
Photo by Simon.
For identification see accession record.
Name Access
I.L. Peretz
Workmen's Circle
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Education
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1986-4-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3963
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3963
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1938
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Notes
Photo by Schlochter.
Name Access
I.L. Peretz
Workmen's Circle
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Education
Repro Restriction
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.
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Accession Number
1986-4-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
ID
Item 3962
Source
Archival Descriptions
Level
Item
Item
3962
Material Format
graphic material
Date
1937
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Notes
For identification see accession record.
Photo by Simon.
Name Access
I.L. Peretz
Workmen's Circle
Arbeter Ring
Arbeiter Ring
Subjects
Education
Repro Restriction
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.
Accession Number
1986-4-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Isaac Matenko fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 89
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Isaac Matenko fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
89
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Date
1911-1971, predominant 1911-1935
Physical Description
6 cm of textual records
17 photographs
Admin History/Bio
Isaac Matenko (1874–1960) was a founder, teacher, and principal of the I. L. Peretz School. He worked tirelessly to preserve and promote secular Jewish culture and the Yiddish language in Toronto. He was also a prominent member of local Jewish organizations, such as the Socialist-Territorialist Club and the Yiddish Kultur Gesellshaft.
Isaac was born on 1 February 1874 in the town of Makariv, located in the Kyiv Oblast (province) of Ukraine. He married Elke Yelia Moshkevitch (1878–19 November 1953) on 4 August 1900 in Yekaterinoslav (today Dnipro). They immigrated from czarist Russia to Toronto in 1906, passing first through New York with their two children, Percy (30 June 1901–May 1987) and Theodore (1903–1906, died of measles at Ellis Island), and Yelia’s three sisters, Dvora, Bracha, and Celia, and Isaac’s younger half-brother, Paul Frumhartz. They had two more children after arriving: Abraham (14 August 1908–October 24, 1989) and Shoshana (Sue) (1911–2001). Although he had been a teacher in Russia, Isaac worked as an operator in a cloak factory in Toronto, where he was instrumental in forming the union (likely the Cloakmakers’ Union of Toronto, which later affiliated with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union).
As a child, Isaac received a traditional Jewish education. This, combined with his self-taught secular education and the teachings of Yiddish nationalist Dr. Chaim Zhitlovski, informed his future career and philosophies. He was described as an idealist by his friends, whose dedication to Yiddish culture and language motivated him to bring this knowledge to a younger generation.
On 11 July 1911, Isaac and his fellow Socialist-Territorialist members established the Toronto Yiddish National-Radical School. By 1916, it had been taken over by the Workmen’s Circle and renamed the I. L. Peretz School, after the well-known Yiddish author and playwright. The school began in a rented room at the Zionist Institute on Simcoe Street, moving to larger locations on Richmond Street West, then Beverley Street as it grew. Eventually, several more branches opened, such as the Maria Street school that Isaac was affiliated with. He taught at the school for free in the evenings after working during the day in a shop. His brother Paul was also a founding teacher at the school.
Isaac was described by family, friends, and community members as a passionate teacher with an iron will. He was well-versed in Jewish knowledge, with a desire to pass it on to a younger generation and his fellow union members. He remained involved in the school and in teaching, even after retirement. He died on 2 June 1960 at the age of eighty-six.
Custodial History
These records were donated to the OJA by Sue Levy, daughter of Isaac Matenko.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of records documenting Isaac Matenko's involvement with the Workmen's Circle and other Jewish organizations. Included are photographs, programmes, certificates, I. L. Peretz School jubilee books, a songbook, a yearbook, articles, and newsclippings.
Fonds has been arranged into one series for the Workmen's Circle. There are also two files attached to the fonds-level. The records are described at the series and file-level, with some item-level descriptions.
Name Access
Arbeiter Ring
Arbeiter Ring Schools
Arbeter Ring
Camp Yungvelt
Frumhartz, Paul
I.L. Peretz
Matenko, Isaac, 1874-1960
Matenko, Percy
National Radical School
Peretz Shule
Workman's Circle
Workmen's Circle
Subjects
Schools
Teachers
Yiddish language
Related Material
For additional Workmen's Circle records, see: accessions 1979-4-4, 1980-2-2, 1983-6-3, 1984-10-1, 1986-4-1, 1992-1-2, 1997-2-1, 1998-3-32, 2004-5-41, 2004-5-105, and fonds 30.
For additional Camp Yungvelt records, see: accessions 1979-4-4, 1986-4-1, 1991-12-4, 1993-6-6, 1999-5-1, 2004-5-37, 2005-6-4, 2006-12-3, photographs # 2964, # 4014, # 6021, MG2N1K, Benjamin Brown fonds 49, and Dorothy Dworkin Fonds 10 (item 14).
Creator
Matenko, Isaac, 1874-1960
Accession Number
1987-11-4
1991-4-2
2007-5-3
2007-6-28
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
John J. Glass fonds
Artifacts series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 109; Series 1; Item 11
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
John J. Glass fonds
Artifacts series
Level
Item
Fonds
109
Series
1
Item
11
Material Format
object
Date
1914-1968
Physical Description
1 pin ; silver : 7 cm
Scope and Content
Item is a silver pin holding four ribbons: blue; white and red; purple, yellow, blue, green, orange, and yellow; and white and blue. At the end of each ribbon is a coin approximately one-and-a-half centimetres in diameter. All have writing on one side and an image on the other. Images include a man riding a horse, a goddess with wings, King George V and Queen Mary, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Name Access
Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926-
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
George VI, King of Great Britain, 1895-1952
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Monarchy
Physical Condition
Fair. Medals are severely oxidized and tarnished, particularly near the top portion that connects to the ribbons.
Accession Number
1979-12-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
John J. Glass fonds
Artifacts series
Level
Item
ID
Fonds 109; Series 1; Item 13
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
John J. Glass fonds
Artifacts series
Level
Item
Fonds
109
Series
1
Item
13
Material Format
object
Date
[ca. 1935]
Physical Description
1 pin ; 11 cm long
Scope and Content
Item consists of three ribbons hanging from a pin with a gold or silver coin at the bottom. The coins have images on both sides. On one medal is a profile of King George V and Queen Mary. On the second medal is an image of an angel with wings; on its opposite side, there is writing that reads: The War for Civilization, 1914-1919. The third ribbon has an image of King George V on one side and a man on a horse on the other.
Name Access
George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Mary, Queen, consort of George V, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953
Subjects
Monarchy
World War, 1914-1918
Physical Condition
Fair. Ribbons are fraying slightly and have fold lines. Medals are tarnished.
Source
Archival Descriptions