Accession Number

2004-3-6

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Physical Description

12 drawings: blueline and pencil: 111 x 77cm or smaller

1 folder of textual material

Date

1924-1981

Scope and Content

This accession consists of the original architectural plans of the Kiever Synagogue in Kensington Market as well as plans drawn by Martin Mendelow for the Synagogue's restoration in the early 1980s. Also included is a Mendelow drawing of the Minsk Synagogue and textual materials relating to the Kiever

Custodial History

Materials were kept by Martin Mendelow

Administrative History

Martin Mendelow is a well known architect working in the Toronto area. His professional association with the Kiever Synagogue began when he was hired as architect of the Synagogue's restoration, which was completed in the early 1980s

Subjects

Architecture

Synagogues

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Menedelow, Martin

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1985-11-2

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

1 slide : col.

Date

1983

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a coloured slide of the former UJA Federation Building at 152 Beverley Street.

Subjects

Architecture

Name Access

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Places

Beverley Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2007-10-5

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Date

1977-2003

Scope and Content

Accession consists of materials documenting Congregation Iyr Hamelich, the Reform synagogue in Kingston. The records include the constitution, Sunday school minutes and policy documents, synagogue bulletins, correspondence and "Welcome to our Congregation" booklets.

Subjects

Religion

Name Access

Congregation Iyr Hamelich

Places

Kingston, Ont.

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2009-2-5

Material Format

object

textual record

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records

1 artifact

Date

1902-1981

Scope and Content

The records consist of material produced by Rabbi Saul Gringorten and his son I. M. Gringorten. They include certificates and identification for Rabbi Gringorten and his wife, along with his son I. M. Gringorten. In addition, the accession includes a great deal of correspondence in both English and Yiddish from the father and son during the 1940s, particularly during the period when the rabbi resided in the United States. Some material also documents I. M. Gringorten's involvement in the United Zionists organization during the 1940s. Finally, this accession includes a chuppah (marriage canopy) that was first used in 1910 by Saul Wolf Gringorten in Brantford, Ontario. The chuppah is made out of a tallis with embellishments sewn into the centre. The chuppah was subsequently used by various members of the Gringorten family.

Administrative History

Saul Wolf Gringorten and his wife Rachel Gringorten (nee Melnick) were born in Poland in 1876 and 1881 respectively. They moved to Canada in 1910 with their eldest child Morris. They subsequently had five more after their arrival. Their children included: Israel Morris (I. M.), Jennie, Jacob, Esther, Louis and Isaac.

Rabbi Gringorten served as spiritual leader, teacher, shochet and mohel for the Brantford Jewish community after his arrival for thirteen years. He would also be on call in northern and western Ontario where the communities were too small to support a rabbi. He then moved to Toronto during the early 1920s and became the principal of a Jewish school. The family lived at 26 Cecil Street at that time and then moved to 393 Markham Street during the late 1920s or early 1930s. He became active in the Jewish community, serving as vice-president of the Sons of Jacob, a board member of the Folks Farein and the first Trustee of the Old Folks Home.

Rabbi Gringorten and his wife moved to California during the mid-1940s in order to live in a climate that was better for their health. Rachel passed away in 1947 and the Rabbi followed in 1959.

Their oldest son, Israel Morris Gringorten, was born in Poland in 1904. He was educated in Brantford and later graduated from the University of Toronto. He served during the Second World War from 1943 until 1945. After his discharge, he spent his career working as an auto parts manufacturer with Canada Motor Products Ltd. He was an ardent Zionist who served as president of the United Zionists - Revisionists of America during the 1940s. He and his wife had four children.

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.

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

Descriptive Notes

Language: Records are in Yiddish and English.

Access restriction: One file contains medical information and is closed.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Gringorten, Saul Wolfe

Gringorten, Rachel

Gringorten, Israel Morris

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Level

Item

Item

3594

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

Item is photograph of the cake at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth David Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration was held at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Cake

Communities

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3595

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of the Beth David Congregation's rabbi speaking at the podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the synagogue and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place in the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Rabbis

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3889

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Jul. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 7 x 8 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Sadie Stren speaking at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth David Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Related Material

See photo #3584.

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3891

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 8 x 5 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Willie Siegler, president of Beth David Congregation, speaking at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Related Material

See photo #3590.

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3890

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 8 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Dr. Melvin Wise standing behind the podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth David Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3892

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 7 x 8 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Dr. Moishe Zaltz and Ron Kanter standing behind the podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth David Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3893

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 8 x 9 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Lena Rothberg and Willie Ziegler at a podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth David Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3894

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1983

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 5 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Sam Resnick of the Canadian Jewish Congress standing behind the podium at the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Beth Daivd Congregation and Brantford's Jewish community. The celebration took place at the synagogue.

Notes

Acquired in 1983.

Subjects

Anniversaries

Communities

Synagogues

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Pinkus fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

138

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

graphic material (electronic)

architectural drawing

philatelic record

sound recording

cartographic material

object

Date

1854-2021

Physical Description

ca. 2.4 m of textual records

ca. 600 photographs : b&w and col. (ca. 90 negatives); 30 x 35 cm or smaller

other material

Admin History/Bio

David Pinkus (1924-2021) was born on May 11, 1924, at the Toronto General Hospital to Isadore Pinkus (1887-1947) and Molly (Mollie) Pinkus (née Parelstein) (1892-1990). Isadore was born in Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire; Molly was born in Podolia Gubernia of the Russian Empire and later moved to Ukraine with her family. Isadore and Molly met and married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1910 and moved to Toronto in 1911. The Pinkus family settled in Kensington Market in around 1914 and was one of the first Jewish settlers to the Kensington neighbourhood. David spent his entire life living in the Kensington Market area. He lived on 83 Huron Street until 1927 when the Pinkus family moved to 34 Nassau Street, which has been the house of the Pinkus family ever since. David had two siblings: brother Max and sister Goldie.

In his childhood, David attended the Brunswick Talmud Torah daily and learned Hebrew. He had his bar mitzvah at the Kiever Shul. David attended William Houston School until 1930 and Ryerson Public School until grade eight. Later, he attended Harbord School for high school and was also involved with sports at Harbord Collegiate and YMHA. In 1947, David obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. After graduation, he worked at Goodyear for one year and returned to the University of Toronto as an instructor of engineering drawing and machine design. Later, he worked at various places such as Canadian Industries Limited in Maitland, Toronto Iron Works, and Avro Aircraft Limited.

David’s father, Isadore, was one of the founders of the Kiever Synagogue. David’s involvement with the Kiever Synagogue started in 1947, following Isadore’s death. David served as president and held positions on the executive of the Kiever Shul and played a principal role in the restoration of the shul. He also served on Toronto’s Board of Health as well as the boards of the Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, and St. Christopher House. In addition, David was an active community leader and local historian. He did genealogical research for many Toronto Jewish families. David had been recognized by the National Jewish Federation of North America as a Jewish community hero in 2011. He passed away on May 6, 2021.

Custodial History

Records received after the death of David Pinkus through Joseph Solomon, the executor of David Pinkus’ estate. Records have been selected by archivists following a site visit at David’s home at 34 Nassau Street, Toronto.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of textual records, graphic material, sound recordings, architectural drawings, artifacts, and a small number of philatelic records, most of which document David Pinkus’ career and personal life, the Pinkus family, the Kiever Shul, the Kiever Cemetery, as well as Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Mount Sinai Memorial Park) and the Dawes Road Cemeteries (Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees), of which the Kiever Congregation is a member organization. Also included are documents and photographs of other individuals and families, which David collected for his genealogical research, and those that are pertaining to Kensington Market and other congregations and cemeteries.

Textual records include correspondence; scrapbooks; education records; identification documents; research notes and clippings relating to David’s genealogical research; documents pertaining to his Kensington Market activism and community work; files on David’s engineering career and his role as president of the Kiever Shul; and files documenting the Pinkus family members, such as funeral documents, notebooks, family correspondence, voters’ lists, and records relating to Pinkus Fruit Co. and 34 Nassau Street. Also included are records documenting the Kiever Shul, which include meeting minutes, ledger books, financial documents, legal documents, membership lists and application forms, address books, high holiday service cards, and historic papers dating from the 1920s and 1930s. Textual records documenting the Kiever Cemetery, Mount Sinai Memorial Park, and the Dawes Road Cemeteries are mainly comprised of cemetery maps, burial plot cards, burial record books, by-laws and regulations, and meeting minutes. Also present are records pertaining to other congregations and cemeteries, such as constitution books, brochures, booklets, and copies of legal documents.

Photographs mainly feature David Pinkus and the Kiever Cemetery, with a small number featuring the Pinkus family members, the Junction Synagogue (Congregation Knesseth Israel), the Great Choral Synagogue of Kyiv, and those that David collected for his genealogical research.

Architectural drawings of this fonds include the restoration and renovation plan for the Kiever Shul and the alteration plan for Mount Sinai Cemetery Administration Building.

Also present are sound recordings, including cassettes and microcassettes of David Pinkus; and artifacts, including felt patches, pin back buttons, medals, Toronto foot-pedlar registration badges, and a wooden gavel of the Kiever Shul.

Fonds has been arranged into the following series: David Pinkus’ personal records; Kensington Market; David Pinkus’ genealogical research; the Pinkus family; the Kiever Shul; the Kiever Cemetery; Mount Sinai Memorial Park; the Dawes Road Cemeteries; and other associations, congregations, and cemeteries.

Notes

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Also included are 22 architectural drawings, 7 maps, 4 audio cassettes, 2 microcassettes, 1 optical disc, 8 drawings, 2 prints, 1 photo collage, 34 pinback buttons, 15 Toronto padler-on-foot registration badges, 8 felt patches, 3 medals, 3 brooches, 1 wooden gavel, 2 tax tokens, 2 postage stamps, 1 sales tax stamp, and 9 revenue stamps.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Books that were initially included in this fonds have been removed and incorporated into the OJA’s library collection. These books are: Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan with an introduction by Rick Salutin, Toronto No Mean City by Eric Arthur revised by Stephen A. Otto, Canadian Jewish Directory edited by Edmond Y. Lipsitz, The Toronto Jewish Directory, and The Canada Year Book 1905 (second series).

HISTORY/BIO NOTE: Information is sourced from OH 413 and the content of the fonds.

Name Access

Pinkus, David, 1924-2021

Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Toronto, Ont.)

Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto, Ont.)

Dawes Road Cemetery (Toronto, Ont.)

Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Families

Synagogues

Genealogy

Cemeteries

Access Restriction

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

Repro Restriction

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

Related Material

See accessions 2004-1-5, 2004-1-6, 2004-2-1, 2008-11-9, 2016-3-48, and 2021-10-1 for additional information on the Kiever Shul; and OH 413 for more information on David Pinkus and the Pinkus family.

Arrangement

Records came into the OJA with no discernible order. Arrangement has been imposed by the archivist.

Creator

Pinkus, David, 1924-2021

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

2021-7-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2011-8-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

4 photographs : b&w ; 24 x 20 cm on mat 34 x 39 cm and 21 x 20 cm

Date

1942-1993

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to the Hatikvah chapter of Toronto Hadassah. Included are speeches and a president's report as well as two photographs of the chapter's 35th anniversary. There are also two photographs of a presentation to Jack Maldaver form the B'nai Brith Lodge, Brantford. Individuals identified in the two photos include: Harry Solmon, Max Sherman, Dave Noble, Gordon Henkle, Harry Tulchinsky, Joe Poss, Itzik Sherman, Sam Sherman, Max Gazer, Lou Kwitko, Mr. Lipsy, Noach Zaltz, Harry Freedman and Louis Henkle.

Custodial History

The Hadassah records belonged to Kathryn Solmon, Arlene Gryfe's maternal aunt. She was at one point involved with Hadassah, but according to her son Kenneth Solmon, not the Hatikvah chapter and thus the reason for her possession of these records is unclear.

The two photographs of Jack Maldaver were in the possession of Dr. Cyril Gryfe. Indentification of individuals were supplied by Mr. Harvey Ross, a friend of Cyril's whose father is pictured in the photo.

Subjects

Women--Societies and clubs

Fraternal organizations

Name Access

Hadassah-WIZO Organization of Toronto

B'nai Brith Canada

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Brantford (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2013-11-2

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

6 photographs : b&w and col. ; 15 x 20 cm and 9 x 15 cm and 11 x 8 cm

1 photograph (electronic) : jpg

Date

1930-2007

Scope and Content

Accession consists of three colour photographs from the reunion of the Baldwin Club, a young men's club from the 1940s based in Kensington Market. The reunion took place in 2006 at the Steeles Deli (the time stamps on these photographs indicate 2007). The photographs feature: Pearl Godfrey with Rose Simon Zand and her husband David Zand (Rose Simon Zand grew up in the market and her family owned a grocery store); Jack Gelman (founder of the Baldwin Club. His parents owned P. Gelman Fruit and Groceries at 174 Baldwin Street). To his right is his wife. Seated are Rose Simon and Pearl Godfrey; Left to right: Solly Raykeff, Jackie Gelman, Mel Lastman.

Also included are three black and white photographs depicting 1) Three women in front of 172 Baldwin, left to right: Sandy Shabinsky, Katie Lottman Grossman, Ruth Berman; 2) Two girls in front of 172 Baldwin: left to right: Bella Tichberg (Judy Lottman Tichberg's daughter) and her cousin Henry; 3) Jake Lottman and his father Sam Lottman at 181 Baldwin shown cracking eggs for a photo taken for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Toronto.

Also included is one electronic photo of three women working at Lottman's bakery (Helen Wiseman who worked at the bakery for 50 years, Katie Lottman Grossman's mother in law Brancha Loffman, and Gertie who also worked at the bakery for many years)

There is also a small amount of textual records including two newspaper articles entitled "From Humble Beginnings in Kensington" (National Post, 2006) and "Demise of Lottman's Bakery mounred by all" (CJN, Thursday, November 29, 1984); a cookbook of recipes by Rose Simon entitled Recipes by Rose (2001); as well as five photocopies of photos of the Baldwin Street Boys (1940s).

Administrative History

Pearl Godfrey's father was Sam Lottman, owner of Lottman's Bakery which opened in the 1920s and was originally located at 172 Baldwin Street. It had a brick oven and on Friday nights women would bring their pots to keep the chollent warm for the Sabath. Sam Lottman was born in Poland and arrived in Toronto when he was 12 years old. He arrived with nothing but soon got a job as a baker. Sam's first wife Bella died in the 1920s. They had two children Judy Tichberg and Joe Lottman. There was also another daughter that died. Sam was a founder of the Hebrew Loan Society (Axia), where members donated 25 cents per week.

Pearl's mother was Emma (Birkin) Lottman. She arrived from Poland with her sister and mother in 1919 and was a wig maker. Emma Lottman mother would go with neighbours to collect household items for new immigrants. She also worked alongside Sam in the bakery. They lived on top of the bakery until Pearl was 12 years old. Emma and Sam had three children: Jake Lottman, Katie Grossman and Pearl Godfrey. Pearl went to Ryerson Public School and then to Harbord Collegiate for a year before transferring to Forest Hill.

The family lived on top of the store until 1947 when they moved to 50 Ava Road in Forest Hill. They built a new store at 191 Baldwin. It had a traveling oven which was very rare at the time, which allowed for the baked goods to move along a conveyer belt through the heat.

Jake who had built the business alongside his father moved to California. Joe Lottman took over the business when Sam retired. Joe died at the age of 60 in 1981 and his daughter Bonnie Lottman and son Terry Lottman ran the business.

The bakery closed in 1984.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Business

Name Access

Lottman, Sam

Lottman, Emma

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

2017-3-1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

cartographic material

Physical Description

ca. 12 cm of textual records and other material

Date

[1970?]-1986

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual and graphic material documenting the literary and communal activities of Louis (Lou) L. Tepperman. The bulk of the material relates to an unfinished book Louis was writing called, The Kensington Market Establishment. This material includes Louis' handwritten and typed reminiscences regarding his life growing up in Kensington Market and the people, businesses and institutions that existed in the area. Some of the places he describes include the Labor Lyceum, Victory Theatre and La Salle Theatre. Of note are hand drawn maps of Kensington Market which outline the locations of people's homes, businesses, organizations, and synagogues. The map likely corresponds to the 1940s or early 1950s.

Accession also includes material relating to the Baldwin Club, particularly the Baldwin Club reunion in 1980. Included are photographs, speeches, writings on the club's history, newspaper clippings and the reunion ad-book. Also included is a membership list for Club Baldwin Juniors and three large presentation boards displaying reproduced pages from a photograph album. These were likely reproduced for the reunion.

Accession also includes material relating to the 100th anniversary of Ryerson Public School. Material includes an article Louis wrote for the Toronto Star newspaper, correspondence, and an event invitation and programme. Also included is a file of writings relating to Louis's experiences saying kaddish for his late father at various synagogues around Toronto.

Accession also consists of material collected by Louis relating to the 1980 Kensington Roots Festival. Included is a poster, newspaper clippings, a press release, event schedule, brochures and photographs. Finally, accession consists of two photographs of the B'nai Brith Circle Lodge and a newsclipping featuring an obituary for Louis written by Shelley Tepperman.

Custodial History

Material was in possession of Lenora Winer (Louis's widow) and Shelley Tepperman (Louis' daughter).

Administrative History

Louis (Lou) L. Tepperman was a chartered accountant and was active in the B'nai Brith Circle Lodge. He was born on December 6, 1934 to Hyman and Pearl (nee Stern) Tepperman in Toronto, ON. He grew up in the Kensington Market area, attended the Ryerson Public School and was a member of Club Baldwin, which was a group of mostly Jewish youth who lived in Kensington Market and began as part of YMHA's teen program of social clubs. Around 1953, Louis moved with his family to Davenport and Christie.

Louis married Lenora (nee Lewis) in 1959. Together they had two children: Shelley and Paul. Louis was active for many years on the Executive of B'nai Brith Circle lodge and often wrote for its publication, the Oracle. He had a passion for local history and at the time of his death, was working on a book called the Kensington Market Establishment. Louis passed away in 1981.

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 ca. 50 photographs, 11 maps (pencil on paper), 1 poster, and 3 presentation pieces.

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2016-7-5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

41 photographs : b&w and col. (1625 kb jpgs) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Date

1932-2013

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the Latchman Triplets. Included are family photographs of Donald, Marvin and Victor Latchman, a family portrait taken at the wedding of Philip and Sally Latchman, class photos, summer camp photos, and images of the triplets' 75th and 80th birthdays (5 November 2013).

Identified in photographs are: Donald and Annette Latchman, Victor and Rosalie Latchman, Marvin and Shirley Latchman, Philip and Sally Latchman, Morris Latchman, Vera Latchman Berrin, Mari Latchman Lipton, Irv Lipton, and Belle Latchman.

Textual records include Beth Sholom Bulletin June-August 1997, Beth Sholom Brotherhood Ball and Installation 1971, photocopies of news paper articles about the triplets, class photos and letter regarding payment of King's Bounty.

Administrative History

Philip and Sally (Sugarman) Latchman were married in 1932. In November 1933, Sally gave birth to identical triplets Donald, Marvin and Victor. In celebration, they were sent the King's Bounty of 3 British pounds. The boys were interviewed every year on their birthday by Toronto newspapers until they decided to stop the publicity. The family lived in the Bloor-Markham area until the boys were 11. The family then moved to Montclair Avenue where the boys attended Forest Hill Public School. They had their bar-mitzvahs at the Hebrew Men of England Synagogue. The triplets' father, Philip Latchman was a founding members of Beth Sholom Synagogue. Donald Latchman was on the board and Rosalie Latchman was active in the congregation.

Philip and his younger brother Morris Latchman started Federal Farms Limited in 1948 on 150 acres of Holland March in Brantford, Ontario. They grew vegetables: potatoes, carrots, celery and rutabegas. They also had a potato chip company Mad Hatter Snack Foods which was Kosher for Passover. Federal Farms Ltd. went public in 1961 and Loblaws bought 51% of the shares.

Donald attended Ryerson business school and founded Latchman Insurance Brokers. He married Annette Bachst, a Holocaust survivor who grew up in New York.

Marvin attended Ryerson business school then worked for Federal Farms at the Ontario Food Terminal. Later he became a real estate broker. He married Shirley Wolkofsky.

Victor worked on the family farm and at Federal Fruit Company at the Ontario Food Terminal. Victor took a business course at Shaw's Business School. In 1966 he bought Taylors shoes, a business at 2934 Dundas Street. West started in 1920 by Sid Taylor. Victor helped start the Junction Business Improvement Association and was twice pesident of Junction Gardens BIA. He retired in 2009. Victor and Rosalie Greenspan (d. 2014) were married at Beth Sholom in 1958 by Rabbi David Monson. Their children are Howard, and Faith and Mitchell Sherman. Their grand-children are Matthew, Jennifer and Russell Sherman. Victor and Rosalie were honoured at Beth Sholom Synagogue on 26 October 2013 for their 55th wedding anniversary.

In 2012 at age 78, the triplets believed themselves to be the oldest male identical triplets alive in Canada.

Use Conditions

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

Descriptive Notes

RELATED MATERIALS NOTE: Federal Farms Limited fonds at Simoce Country Archives. ASSOCIATED MATERIALS NOTE: See accession 2016-12\45 (Victor Latchman) and 2002-10\66 (Morris Latchman).

Subjects

Agriculture

Families

Name Access

Latchman, Donald

Latchman, Marvin

Latchman, Victor

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

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Accession Number

2018-12-6

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Physical Description

19 cm of graphic material and textual records

Date

1931-1999

Scope and Content

Accession consists of material documenting Brown family. Included are: business records, clippings, correspondence, eulogies, notes, an issue of the LIFE Institute's L.i.f.e.lines newsletter, photographs, résumés and cover letters, school records, and vital statistics. A significant amount of the material documents the donor's father, Jack Brown, a community leader in Brantford, Ontario, and friend of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Of note are autographed pictures of Former Prime Ministers Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Jean Chrétien.

Administrative History

The son of Rose and William Brown, Jack Irving Brown was born in Toronto on January 4, 1926. His family moved to Brantford, Ontario when he was a boy. Upon graduating from high school, Jack went to work at his father's retail store. When he eventually bought the store, he renamed it Brown's of Brantford. In addition to running his business, Jack held leadership positions with the Beth David Congregation, Brant Liberal Association, and the Rotary Club of Brantford. Upon moving to Toronto, he became president of the LIFE Institute at Ryerson University.

Jack and Joy Brown (née Greenberg) had four children: Andrew, Marlene (1952-2007), Holli (b. 1954), and Harriette (b. 1958). Later in life, Jack and Joy separated. For the final years of his life, Jack's companion was Rheta Rhosen. Jack died on September 23, 1999.

Subjects

Businesspeople

Families

Stores, Retail

Name Access

Brown (family)

Brown, Andrew, 1950-

Brown, Harriette, 1958-

Brown, Jack, 1926-1999

Brown, Rose

Brown, William

Chrétien, Jean, 1934-

Katzman, Marlene, 1952-2007

Trudeau, Pierre Elliott, 1919-2000

Verkade, Holli, 1954-

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2019-5-10

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 cm of textual records

Date

1945-[1990]

Scope and Content

Accession record consists of business cards from several Gwartzman family owned business first established on Baldwin Street by Moshe Aaron Gwartzman and his wife Bella (née Weinstock) as M. A. Gwartzman Silks and Wollens. In addition, there is a 1945 change of address card indicating that the business moved from 421 Spadina Avenue to 448 Spadina Avenue along with business cards from the 448 Spadina location for Gwartzman's Drapery Bargain Centre, Gwartzman's Canvas, Art and Graphic Supplies, and Masters, Fine Art and Stationary Products.

Subjects

Stores, Retail

Places

Spadina Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

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• 
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Accession Number

2019-6-4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1926-1990

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs of Esther and Jack Gelman, as well as of a sports team at the YMHA and the "Afro Communitee Negro Fliers" sports team. In addition, two copies of Yiddish dictionary books written by Jack Gelman and one copy of a book about Kensington Market by Jean Cochrane. Also included are two pieces of poetry by Jack Gelman, one about Toronto (1974) and one about Terry Fox (1981).

Accession also consists of a number of original and photocopied newspaper clippings regarding the history of Kensington Market in Toronto (ca. 1988-2010). In addition, two booklets of self-guided tours and the history of Kensington Market are included in accession.

Custodial History

Donated by Esther Gelman. Clippings about the history of Kensington Market are from the collection of husband Jack Gelman.

Administrative History

Jack Gelman was born in Toronto, ON on October 28, 1929. Jack's parents emigrated to Canada from Eastern Europe in 1926. In the 1930s, the Gelman family lived at 105 Denison Street in Toronto, south of Dundas and near Spadina. His father, Philip Gelman, owned a horse and wagon that would stable at Sarah Kegerman's house, 26 Nassau St. Philip operated a vegetable stall at 206 Baldwin St. weekly from Thursday to Saturday. Jack attended Ryerson Public School in Alexander Park, and would often fight back at his peers that would beat and bully him for being Jewish.

Esther Gelman (nee Davidson) was born August 18, 1934. In 1950 she worked at Homebread, and had her Sweet Sixteen party at Club Elgamour on Bloor Street. In 1951, after meeting at the YM-YWHA, Jack Gelman and Esther Davidson married.

In 1953, Jack became a truck driver for Canadian Paper and Specialties. Esther and Jack's son Alan was born in 1953. The family lived above Jack's parents' shop on Baldwin Street. The couple had three other children: Sharon, Glenn (b. 1960), and Mandy. The children attended Camp Northland and Camp B'nai Brith.

In 1959, the family moved from Baldwin Street to Bathurst Manor (235 Pannahill Road), as a group of Esther's friends had moved to the neighbourhood. Son Alan had his bar mitzvah at Beth Emeth Bais Yehudah in 1966.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Yiddish language

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)--Tours

Sports

Places

Bathurst Manor (Toronto, Ont.)

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

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• 

Level

Item

Item

4235

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Duncan McLaren

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Copy photograph of Congregation Anshei Minsk, St. Andrews Street, Toronto, August 1985. Notice on door indicates that the High Holiday services conducted by the well-known cantor Rubien Schwebel.

Name Access

Anshei Minsk Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)

Schwebel, Rubien

Subjects

Architecture

Cantors (Judaism)

Synagogues

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Saint Andrew Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4236

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Duncan McLaren

Date

1985

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Copy photograph of Baum's Fruit Market on Kensington Avenue, Toronto, August 1985.

Name Access

Baum's Fruit Market

Subjects

Markets

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Kensington Avenue (Toronto, Ont.)

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Sadie Stren fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

78

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

graphic material (electronic)

Date

[189-]-1997

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

176 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

2 photographs (jpg) : b&w

Admin History/Bio

Sadie Stren (1915-2014) was born on April 19, 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. Her father and mother had come from a small town in Russia. Samuel Goldberg, her father, arrived to stay with family in Brantford, Ontario in 1910 and began working as a peddler. He moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1912 where he worked for the Ford Motor Company and later owned a confectionary store. Emma, Sadie’s mother, came from Russia to reunite with Samuel after he began living in Detroit and the couple married and started a family there.

Sadie grew up in a predominately Jewish neighbourhood in Detroit with her parents and her sister Sarah. She graduated from what is now Wayne State University and worked as a social studies teacher in Detroit for approximately 10 years, until she married at age 31. Sadie first met her husband, Maurice "Maurie" Strenkovsky (1910-1995), while visiting relatives in Brantford. By the time the two had met, Maurie was going by the last name Stren, although it is not certain when he began to do so. He served in the Second World War and corresponded with Sadie during their courtship. The two married in 1947, five years after meeting. The couple initially lived in Detroit, where their son David was born on August 28, 1948, but soon moved to Brantford, where Sadie gave birth to a daughter, Patti, on August 8, 1949. Maurie became a manufacturer of surgical dressing and continued in this profession until his retirement.

When Sadie first moved to Brantford, she joined several Jewish women’s organizations, including Hadassah. She continued to be actively involved in both Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations for the remainder of her life. She ran and taught the Beth David Sunday school in Brantford for many years, and in 1976, was honoured for her work as Sunday school supervisor by the Beth David Sisterhood. During her time in Brantford, Sadie served on the board of directors for eight different organizations, and was the president of four. She was a member of the board of directors for the Family Service Bureau and was elected president in 1966. She was also a past president of the University Women’s Club and a former board member of the YM-YWCA. Her husband was quite active in the community as well. Maurie Stren’s commitments included serving as president of B’nai B’rith Brantford from 1965-1966 and as District Governor of the Lions Club from 1963-64, among other things.

Upon moving to Toronto, Sadie became a member of the Baycrest Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital and the Aphasia Institute.

Sadie was an amateur historian who served as the Brantford Jewish community's archivist and historian for a number of years. She had been collecting sources of Brantford Jewish history in her home since at least the 1970s in order to assemble the history of Brantford's community. Sadie was also an author who wrote about the history of the Brantford community, spoke at conferences, and was a contributor to the Canadian Jewish Historical Society Journal in 1981. She passed away on December 9, 2014.

Custodial History

The records were donated by Sadie Stren in five different transfers from 1976-2006. The first accession was received as a part of the small communities project in 1976 and included only photographs. Subsequent accessions included photographs and textual documents relating to both Sadie’s family and the Brantford community. Sadie is an author and she acquired some of the materials when researching the history of the Brantford community.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of material created and collected by Sadie Stren related to the Brantford Jewish community, as both a member of the community and an author researching its history. Among the records are newspaper and article clippings, correspondence, research notes, records of the Brantford Hebrew Association, miscellaneous printed and published material, Hadassah minutes, records related to Congregation Beth David and its Hebrew school and photographs.

The Brantford Hebrew Association records include 3 ledger books which span the years between 1909 to 1952, legal documents for the Association including the original letters patent incorporating the Brantford Hebrew Association in 1911.

Notes

Some of the photographs are modern copies of older photographs.

Some early accessions contained photocopies of orginal documents that were eventually donated in later transfers. These photocopies were culled.

Many photographs were described at the item level at the time they were accessioned, but there are quite a few photographs in the fonds which have not yet been described in detail.

Name Access

Stren, Sadie, 1915-2014

Subjects

Immigrants--Canada

Volunteers

Related Material

For additional material related to the Brantford Jewish community see also accession #1978-11-4, accession #2009-2-5, oral history #AC91, and accession #2004-5-71.

Creator

Stren, Sadie, 1915-

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1976-6-9

1977-5-6

1978-11-3

2005-11-10

2006-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ladovsky family fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

83

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Date

[ca. 1890]-2012

Physical Description

3.5 cm of textual records

185 photographs : b&w and col. and sepia toned ( 10 negatives, 4 slides, 3 contact prints) ; 26 x 20 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Aaron Ladovsky (1888-1960) was born in 1888 in Kielce, Poland. He immigrated to Toronto in 1906 at the age of 18. Soon after arriving, Aaron Ladovsky worked to help form a Jewish bakers’ union to advocate for collective rights among Jewish Bakers. In 1911 he married Sarah Eichler who was from his home town of Kielce, Poland. In 1912 he opened the United Bakers Dairy Restaurant at Dundas and Bay Streets (known then as Agnes and Terauley Streets respectively) in the heart of the Ward. That same year, the couple had twin sons, Herman and Samuel, who were born on September 23, 1912.

Only a short time later, in 1920, Aaron moved the location of his restaurant to 338 Spadina Avenue, just north of Dundas. He and his family lived in an apartment upstairs. Herman and Samuel attended Hester How Elementary School until 1919, Lord Lansdowne Public School once the family moved to Spadina, and later Central Commerce. The twins worked in the family business in the 1920s delivering fresh breads and buns by horse cart.

Aaron Ladovsky was involved in a number of community organizations. He was instrumental in founding the Kieltzer Society of Toronto in 1913, a community based immigrant-aid association extending aid to Kielcers in Poland and around the world. Ladovsky remained an active member of the organization until his death on April 5, 1960. His restaurant provided a welcome gathering place for the Jewish community, serving traditional dishes and maintaining a friendly open-door policy. Aaron Ladovsky was known for his generosity and claimed that no one, whether they had money or not, left his restaurant hungry. The United Bakers' menu was mainly based on Sarah’s original recipes, and continues to be so to this day.

During the Second World War, Herman served overseas as an electrician in the Canadian army show with comics Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. After returning from the war, he married Dora Macklin in 1947, a registered nurse from Regina. He also began to take over management of the family business. Later, his son Philip and daughter Ruth would follow in his footsteps, helping to run the restaurant with him and later taking over managment. United Bakers remained on Spadina Avenue for 66 years, until 1986 when it moved to its current location at 506 Lawrence Avenue West, off of Bathurst Street. Herman was an active fixture in restaurant until his death on January 6, 2002. He also supported and was involved in the work of the Ontario Jewish Archives over the years. Today, Philip and Ruth carry on the family tradition of running United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. In May 2012 the restaurant celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Custodial History

The records were donated in multiple small accessions by Herman Ladovsky from 1977 until 2004.

It appears as though previous archivists integrated some materials into a manuscript group relating to Aaron Ladovsky and then later deconstructed a portion of this group into original accessions. Also, a number of periodicals and textual materials from these accessions were integrated into various other manuscript groups and remain there.

One item, a Lord Lansdowne School anniversary booklet which contains a photocopy of Herman's student record, remained in the Aaron Ladovsky manuscript group. This item could not be identified as part of a previous accession, but has been integrated into the fonds as it appears to have been donated by Herman.

Photo #3050 was not associated with an accession number, but documents United Bakers Dairy Restaurant and was likely donated by Herman Ladovsky.

Recent accruals have been donated by Ruth Ladovsky.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of records documenting the Ladovsky family in Kielce, Poland and Toronto. It is primarily made up of photographs of Ladovsky family members in Kielce and Toronto, and of various organizations that Aaron and Herman were involved in. There are also a few textual records that document the Ladovsky family and their involvement in the Kieltzer Society.

Notes

Newspaper clippings were photocopied and placed in the Aaron Ladovsky vertical file.

Many photographs were originally cited with diifferent numbers. These numbers are mentioned below photo descriptions.

Name Access

Kieltzer Sick Benefit Society (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)

Ladovsky, Aaron, 1888-1960 (creator)

Ladovsky (family)

Ladovsky, Herman, 1912-2002 (creator)

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant (subject)

Related Material

Se MG 2B-1R

See vertical file on Aaron Ladovsky

Arrangement

Records have been organized by media and chronology due to low volume and disparate subject matter. Textual records have been arranged in 17 files. Photographs have been arranged chronologically and are largely described at the item level.

Places

Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1977-7-5

1978-12-7

1981-1-2

1983-11-6

1988-4-12

1993-10-1

1994-1-3

1999-11-4

2000-4-4

2004-5-21

2004-5-82

2008-4-9

MG 6 E6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Congregation Beth David fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

88

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[ca. 1916]-1996, predominant 1940-1996

Physical Description

38 cm of textual records (9v.) and other material

Admin History/Bio

The Brantford Hebrew Association, Congregation Beth David’s precursor, was founded in 1907 when Rabbi Backer officiated Brantford’s first public Jewish religious service in an upper hall on George Street. Services had previously taken place in the homes of Jewish families, who had begun settling in the area around the turn of the century. By 1911, services had moved to the old Conservative Hall at Dalhousie and King Street. In 1915, the congregation purchased a building at 33 Palace Street and remodeled it into a synagogue. This building was also used as a community centre and for the Congregation’s Hebrew school.

On October 13th, 1911 the congregation was incorporated, and the following year it purchased land for a cemetery in the northeast corner of Mount Hope Cemetery. Due to increasing membership, a new synagogue was built at 50 Waterloo Street in 1948. In January 1950, the congregation changed its name to Beth David in honour of member David Axler, who died during the Second World War while training as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The congregation was at its peak in the 1960s with 150 member families. However, membership drastically fell after the children of this generation moved to larger cities and their parents followed after retirement. By 1999, only 28 families remained as members and services were reduced to being held on the High Holidays and special occasions, such as, b'nai mitzvah. Dwindling resources and membership forced the congregation to close around 2001. Throughout its existence, over 30 rabbis served the congregation, including Rabbi Saul Wolfe Gringorten (ca. 1910-1923). Its cemetery continues to be looked after by Allan Norris, a past president of the congregation.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the acitivities, religious programs and services, membership, and finances of Congregation Beth David, as well as the recognition and honours awarded by and to Brantford's Jewish community. Included are meeting minutes, photographs, plaques, a key, a marriage register, general ledgers, ledgers and lists of membership dues and receipts, audited financial statements, budgets, correspondece, bulletins, office stationary, newsclippings, certificates, library book cards, bookplates, rabbi contracts, and surveys.

Fonds has been arranged into the following six series: 1. Meetings ; 2. Religious programs and services; 3. Finances & accounting ; 4. Administrative functions ; 5. Bulletins ; and, 6. Events.

Notes

Includes 10 microfiches of textual records, 5 architectural drawings, 11 photographs (4 negatives), 3 plaques, 1 mounted letter and 1 key.

Fonds was reduced from ca. 1 metre to ca. 45 cm. See accession 2001-10-3 for further information about the culled material.

Name Access

Congregation Beth David (Brantford, Ont.)

Subjects

Architecture

Communities

Synagogues

Physical Condition

The binding on some of the general ledgers is fragile and coming apart. They have been stored flat to reduce any strain.

The architectural drawings have some tears and should be flattened.

Related Material

Please see the Sadie Stren fonds 78 for other records documenting Brantford's Jewish community and the Beth David Congregation, including the synagogue's original letters of incorporation.

For other photographs documenting Congregation Beth David, see: accesssion 1976-6-5 (photo # 1133); accession 1976-6-6 (photos # 1138, 1137, 1136); accession 1976-6-13; accession 1986-2-2 (photos #3593-3595, 3856, 3889-3894), photo #918; and, photo #578.

For records related to Beth David's namesake, David Axler, and photographs of its cemetery, please see accession #2004-5-71.

For records of Rabbi Gringorten, see accession #2009-2-5 and 2008-11-3

For additional records related to Brantford families and other Jewish organizations, such as the Hadassah chapter and B'nai Brith lodge, please see accession #2001-10-3; MG 2J29a, #2009-7-1, 1978-11-4, 1977-8-16, 1992-8-3, 1980-1-14, 1978-1-2, 2008-7-1, photo# 109, photo# 755, and photo #758.

Arrangement

Fonds is arranged to the file-level, but only described to the series-level. Three file-level descriptions exist for files attached directly to the fonds. Photographs with existing item-level descriptions were also attached to the fonds.

Creator

Congregation Beth David (Brantford, Ont.)

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

2001-10-3

1978-11-4

1981-12-2 / MG3 B16

1976-6-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3895

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Leonard Wise of Brantford, Ontario, with Marci Gilbert of the Canadian Jewish Congress, at a picnic organized by the CJC for members of the small Jewish communities of Ontario. There is also an unidentified man in the photo.

Subjects

Communities

Picnics

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3896

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of Rabbi Moshe Yeres at a picnic organized by the Canadian Jewish Congress for members of the small Jewish communities of Ontario. He is standing with an unidentified man, woman and child.

Name Access

Yeres, Moshe

Subjects

Communities

Picnics

Rabbis

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

3897

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1982

Physical Description

1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm

Scope and Content

This item is a photograph of a sing-along at a picnic organized by the Canadian Jewish Congress for members of the small Jewish communities of Ontario. The photo depicts a group of people seated in a semi-circle around a guitarist.

Notes

This photo is similar to photo #3900.

Subjects

Communities

Picnics

Places

Brantford (Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions