- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 93
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-2000, predominant 1929-1947
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- 3 albums (ca. 210 photographs)
- 2 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- Heinz Kassel (1912-2009) (later changed to Henry Cassel) was a German refugee during the Second World War who was classified as an enemy alien by the British government. He spent two years in an internment camp for prisoners of war (POWs) in Quebec. He later became a naturalized Canadian citizen and enlisted in the Canadian military.
- Heinz was born on October 25, 1912 in Aschaffenburg, Germany to Adolf and Olga Kassel. Adolf owned a successful banking business which he had inherited from his father. The family resided above the bank and lived a comfortable life during these early years. They moved to Frankfurt around 1920 after Adolf sold his business to buy a partnership in a bank there.
- Heinz’s parents had hoped that he would one day become a corporate lawyer. In 1931, in preparation for his future career, he began studying law and economics at Frankfurt University. He enjoyed his initial university years. However, after Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, he became alarmed when his non-Jewish university friends began ignoring him and when the German government passed laws forbidding Jews from practicing law in court. Determined to leave Germany and seek out a better life elsewhere, he begged his parents to immigrate with him to the United States. They refused to go, unwilling to leave behind the life they had worked so hard to build. In accordance with his parents’ wishes, Heinz relocated to nearby Italy instead of the US in 1934. He learned Italian and eventually secured a job with an engineering firm.
- Sensing that the political climate in Italy was becoming dangerous for Jewish people, Heinz applied for immigration to the US in early 1939. Eager to leave Italy, he relocated to London to await the approval of his US visa. He left just in time: Britain declared war on Germany less than a week after his arrival. His parents, in turn, managed to escape to Holland. Soon after Britain’s declaration, all immigrants from enemy countries were considered enemy aliens and suspected of being spies.
- On May 12, 1940, the British military arrested Heinz and interned him with other German immigrants and POWs. He believed his detainment was only a precautionary measure and that he would be cleared within a few days. However, the British shipped him to the Isle of Man where he remained for several months. Fearing an invasion, the British shipped 3,000 of the POWs, including Kassel, to Quebec, where he was briefly interned at a POW camp set up at the Plains of Abraham. In October 1940, he was moved with 736 other refugees to an abandoned railway yard (later known as “Camp N”) in Newington, near Sherbrooke, Quebec. While there, he confronted a great deal of antisemitism from the guards.
- While he was interned in Quebec, the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) interviewed him and other Jewish prisoners in order to lobby for their release. Realizing that the internees were not POWs, the Canadian government declared the camp a refugee camp in 1941. By October 1942, the CJC was successful in helping Heinz secure employment with Benjamin Pape & Company in Toronto.
- Heinz met Reta Freeman in Toronto and they were married in November 1944. Reta was born and raised in Toronto. After their nuptials, they were both briefly classified as enemy aliens and had to report to the RCMP on a regular basis. Shortly thereafter, Heinz enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army and was sent to basic training in Manitoba. On January 21, 1946 he was granted landed immigrant status, and in April of that year, he became a citizen.
- After the war, Heinz learned that his parents as well as other relatives had been transported to concentration camps and had not survived. He was certainly one of the few fortunate ones to leave the country, despite the circumstances of his removal. He resented being interned for so long, but did not blame the British for rounding him up with other Germans based on their initial fears regarding enemy aliens. His feelings about Canada's treatment of him during that time, however, were not as sympathetic.
- The couple lived their lives in Toronto. They first resided at 2346 Yonge Street. Heinz legally changed his name to Henry Cassel. He worked as an accountant and later was a controller for the United Jewish Welfare Fund. The couple had two children: Andrew (b. 1947) and Richard (b. 1951). Reta passed away in August 1962 and Henry later remarried Esther Cassel. He passed away at the age of 96 on February 15, 2009.
- Custodial History
- Records were created and accumulated by Henry Cassel. His sons donated them to the OJA after his death.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the life of Henry Cassel, particularly his attempt to emigrate from Europe prior to the Second World War and his internment in Canada as a German prisoner of war (POW). Included is personal correspondence between Cassel and his parents; correspondence written by Cassel to potential employers and Canadian Jewish agencies; legal documents and certificates, such as Cassel's birth certificate and passport; family photo albums documenting the family and lives of Henry Cassel and his wife Reta; Cassel's autobiography; a journal and notebook written by Cassel during his internment; and, other internment records, such as government forms and poems and songs written by internees. Also included are newspaper clippings, articles, financial statements, genealogical research, and antisemitic ephemera collected by Cassel. Of particular note are newsletters that were produced during the 1990s by ex-internees who had kept in touch over the years. Records are arranged into 16 files.
- Notes
- Textual records in the fonds were reduced from ca. 20 cm to 8 cm. Please see accession record for further details about the culled material.
- Associated material notes: for related records at other archives, please see: the UJRA case files at the National CJC Archive in Montreal and the holdings at Library and Archives Canada (such as, the Directorate of Internment Operations series in the Department of National Defense fonds R112-0-2-E)
- Name Access
- Cassel, Henry, 1912-2009
- Subjects
- Europe--Emigration and immigration
- Prisoners of war
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- See: Canadian Jewish Congress case files in RG 282 and accession #2005-10-1.
- Creator
- Cassel, Henry, 1912-2009
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two copies of Henry Cassel's unpublished autobiography, which traces his life story up until 1946. It also briefly touches on the early lives of his parents prior to his birth.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1921-2000, predominant 1935-1939
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and legal records documenting Henry Cassel's emigration from Germany and attempt to immigrate to the United States of America. Included is Henry's passport, nationality identification card, birth certificates, driving certificates, USA immigration sponsorship application, correspondence regarding his application to enter the USA, criminal background checks, a citizenship visa for Italy, and a registration card indicating Henry's place of employment. Also included are newspaper clippings that were collected by Henry regarding the Jewish community of Ferrara, Italy (a region that Henry had travelled through).
- Notes
- Photocopies of some Italian and German records with translated titles are attached to the accession record.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1940]-1947, 1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Henry Cassel's personal and legal correspondence. The bulk of the correspondence is between Henry and his parents during his internment in Canada. Also included is correspondence between Henry and his cousin just after the war in which he learns of his parents' death, and legal correspondence regarding his parents' possessions. Finally, file contains correspondence regarding Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony.
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing the records.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 9
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1969, 1996-2000
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and issues of the Ex-Internees Newsletter, which was produced by men who had been interned with Cassel in Canada.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Henry Cassel fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 93
- File
- 16
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1983-1984
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual record
- Scope and Content
- File consists of textual records collected by Henry Cassel documenting the history of his home town and its Jewish community, Aschaffenburg. Included is correspondence, newspaper clippings, a brochure and a booklet.
- Accession Number
- 2010-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- General Campaign records sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-2
- File
- 19
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1974-1990
- Physical Description
- 13 photographs : 20x25 cm and 10x15 cm, b&w and col.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of photographs of participants and invited dignitaries for formal events supporting the United Israel Appeal campaign. Images include those of Yitzak Rabin, Golda Meir, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yittzak Shamir, Henry Kissinger, and Women's Campaign Chair Julia Koschitzky.
- Name Access
- Kissinger, Henry, 1923-
- Koschitzky, Julia, 1943-
- Meir, Golda, 1898-1978
- Netanyahu, Binyamin, 1949-
- Rabin, Yitzhak, 1922-1995
- Shamir, Itzhak, 1915-2012
- Subjects
- Prime ministers
- Statesmen
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds
- Annual Campaign series
- General Campaign records sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 67
- Series
- 17-2
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1980-1990
- Physical Description
- 5 photographs : b&w and col. ; 13 x 18 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of photographs of participants in four or five Campaign events. The only person identified is Judy Engel, from the Women's Campaign.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1955-1983, 1997
- Physical Description
- 4 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Included are meeting minutes, correspondence, speeches and reports.
- Subjects
- Boards of directors
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1955-2007
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of textual records
- 1 photograph
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the annual general meetings of Baycrest Centre and its annual reports. Included are reports, invitations, a brochure, a photograph, and a meeting agenda.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Committees and meetings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1953-1985
- Physical Description
- 3 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the various committees and ad hoc meetings of Baycrest Centre as well as its participation on joint committees with other agencies. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, reports, correspondence and lists.
- Subjects
- Committees
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Committees and meetings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 3
- File
- 10
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- Feb. 1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting notices, minutes, and accompanying records documenting the planning and development of Baycrest Hospital's Social Therapy area.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Committees and meetings series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 3
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- Feb. 1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a meeting notice and accompanying report for a Convenience Services Group meeting. The report documents the planning and operation of Baycrest's Centre's convenience services (Beauty Shop, Library, Gift Shop, Banking services, Dry Cleaning, and food services).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Women's Auxiliary series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- 1953-2009
- Physical Description
- 1.2 m of textual records
- 960 photographs
- 2 coins
- Admin History/Bio
- The Women's Auxiliary (WA) of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care was established in 1955 as a fundraising arm of the Baycrest Centre as well as a provider of services to the residents and patients. It represented the amalgamation of the two women’s auxiliaries that had previously operated at the Jewish Old Folks’ Home (Baycrest’s predecessor) – The Ladies Executive and the Young Ladies Auxiliary. Dora Till served as the founding President and was succeeded by Lillian Soles in 1959.
- The WA’s initial activities included running the volunteer service, the Beauty Salon, the Tuck Shop, religious and festival programming, communicating information about Baycrest to the community, and managing the memorial books and card services. These activities soon expanded to include recreational programming for residents, such as outings, an annual fashion show, and Mazel Tov nights, running Baycrest’s Day Care program, and managing the library, Gift Shop, and Snack Bar. Originally, the WA raised funds through membership fees, the sale of happiness and condolence cards, and memorial inscriptions. In 1959 the WA began organizing an annual Theatre Night fundraising event, which was supplanted by an annual Auxilorama in 1968. During the 1960s members of the WA served in Baycrest’s Women’s Corp to help raise money for the Building Expansion Fund. In 1971, the WA established a junior auxiliary called the Capricorn Group.
- Today the WA continues to run many of its programs and services and to fundraise through annual events and campaigns such as, a Gala evening, a spring sale (or Bargain Bonanza), Games Girls Play (an evening of board games and arts and crafts activities), and a Women of Baycrest campaign (to support research into women’s brain health and aging). In 2000, the Women’s Auxiliary Winter Garden opened in the Apotex Centre, which was sponsored by the WA.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the formation, governance, and activities of the Women's Auxiliary of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas, and minutes, reports, speeches, correspondence, lists, invitations, financial records, theatrical scripts, a scrapbook, photographs, newspaper clippings, programmes, brochures, booklets, a survey, statistics, flyers, a certificate, memos, newsletters, questionnaires, and coins.
- Series is arranged into the following sub-series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual meetings; 3. Committees and meetings; 4. Capricorn Group; 4. Festival Committee; 5. Programs and services; 6. Volunteer program; 7. Fundraising; 8. Membership; 9. Publications and publicity; 10. Finance; 11. Administrative functions; and, 12. Events. Records are described to the file level with some item level description.
- Name Access
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Women's Auxiliary
- Related Material
- For additional records related to the Women's Auxiliary, see the Dora Till fonds 52, series 2.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Women's Auxiliary series
- Board of directors and executive committee sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 4-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1955-1984
- Physical Description
- 22 cm of textual records
- 1 photograph
- Admin History/Bio
- According to the Women's Auxiliary's first constitution, the board of directors had "charge of the affairs and funds of the Auxiliary." All actions of the executive committee were subject to the board's approval. Officers of the auxiliary consisted of a president, vice-presidents (up to four), recording and corresponding secretaries, a treasurer, a dues treasurer, a social secretary, and any additional officers as deemed necessary for the auxiliary to carry out its work. The president was the auxiliary's chief executive officer, appointed all chairmen (subject to the executive committee's approval), and had to be present at all auxiliary meetings. Although initially the board had between seventy-six and 120 members and met at least four times per year, these numbers were reduced by 1970 to between fifty and seventy-eight members and at least three meetings per year. Members of the board were elected at the auxiliary's annual spring meeting for a two-year term. The executive committee consisted of the elected officers and chairmen of standing committees. They met once a month, except during the months of July and August.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Women's Auxiliary board of directors and executive committee. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, reports, speeches, correspondence, slate of officers lists, meeting calendars, and meeting prayers.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Women's Auxiliary series
- Annual meetings sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 4-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1955-1981, 1999
- Physical Description
- 17 cm of textual records
- 152 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The Women's Auxiliary held an annual meeting every spring to elect officers and directors, present annual reports and review "any other business that may arise." The auxiliary held one or more additional general meetings each year, which generally took place in the fall and around the time of Hanukkah. These meetings often showcased special guest speakers and performers. They sometimes also included fashion shows or arts and crafts shows.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting the annual and general meetings of the Women's Auxiliary. Included are invitations, reports, meeting agendas and minutes, speeches, financial records, a theatrical script, guest lists, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Women's Auxiliary series
- Committees and meetings sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 4-3
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1954-1980
- Physical Description
- 3 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of textual records documenting the various committees and meetings of the Women's Auxiliary. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, constitutions and by-laws, correspondence, lists, and reports.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds
- Women's Auxiliary series
- Committees and meetings sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 14
- Series
- 4-3
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1963, 1972-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting notices and minutes for various ad hoc committees and meetings of the Women's Auxiliary, including: a special Advisory Council meeting, a special meeting against Soviet antisemitism, a Department Head meeting, a joint meeting of the Women's Auxiliary and Men's Service Group, and a Chairmen's Worskhop.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
