- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 92
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1914-1993
- Physical Description
- 1.2 m of textual records (2 v.) and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg (1902-1998) was a labour leader, political activist, politician, insurance salesman, and journalist. He was also active in various Jewish organizations, including the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, and the New Fraternal Jewish Association. He is well-remembered by contemporaries, such as Sam Lipshitz, as a “champion of the people," committed to social justice, the plight of the working class, and the preservation of Jewish culture.
- J. B. was born in Lagow, Poland on November 5, 1902 to Abraham and Sarah-Gittel Salsberg. Abraham immigrated to Toronto in 1910 and J. B. followed with his mother and two younger sisters in 1913. They settled at 73 Cecil Street. Abraham and Sarah-Gittel had additional children in Canada: Nathan (b. 1915), Reuven (Bob or Robert, b. 1917), Betty, and Thelma. Abraham worked as a peddler in Toronto.
- J. B. briefly attended Landsdowne Public School, but dropped out around 1916, against his parents' wishes, and took a job in a leather goods factory to contribute to his family’s income. J. B.’s parents had hoped he would become a rabbi and, despite his full-time employment, J.B. continued to study Torah with scholars at the synagogue on Centre Avenue.
- In 1917, J. B. decided to pursue the ideas of Zionism and socialism and, abandoning his plans to become a rabbi, became involved in establishing the Young Poale Zion organization, a Labour Zionist youth group dedicated to secular aims. Around 1922, J. B. was made secretary general of the Young Poale Zion of America in New York, where he worked for one year. Shortly after returning to Toronto, he became the organizer for the Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers Union of North America in Chicago. J. B. married Dora Wilensky in 1927.
- In 1926, J. B. joined the Communist Party of Canada (CPC). He was an active member of the CPC for 30 years, serving as the head of its Trade Union Department for two decades. In 1929 he was suspended from the party for one year as a dissenter. In 1932, he became the Southern Ontario District union organizer for the Communist Workers' Unity League.
- It was as a member of the CPC that J. B. entered electoral politics. After a series of failed bids in municipal and provincial elections between 1935 and 1937, J. B. was elected alderman of Ward 4 in Toronto in 1938. He only held the position for one year. He was re-elected to this position in 1943, beating out Nathan Phillips, before being elected to the Ontario Legislature as the representative for the St. Andrew riding. J. B. sat as member of provincial parliament for the Labor-Progressive Party (the provincial wing of the CPC) for 12 years. For several years, he was the only elected Communist in North America. As MPP, he helped create legislation banning discrimination in public places and introduced a bill that would ensure fair employment practices in the province. He lost his seat to Allan Grossman in 1955 and unsuccessfully ran in the federal election later that year. Remembered by journalist Gordon Sinclair as “one of the best debaters in the house," J. B. was well-respected by members of all political parties. Out of admiration for J. B., Conservative Premier Leslie Frost named Salsberg Township in Northern Ontario in his honour.
- Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, J. B. had grown increasingly concerned about reports of Soviet antisemitism and privately urged party leaders to pursue the issue. In 1956, when Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev exposed the transgressions of Stalin’s regime, J. B. went to Moscow as part of a CPC delegation. After meeting with Khrushchev himself, it became clear to J. B. that antisemitism was indeed a problem in the USSR and that his efforts to probe the situation were being stonewalled.
- J. B. publicly expressed his concerns about Soviet antisemitism in a series of articles published in the Vochenblatt from October 25, 1956 to December 13, 1956. He finally left the Communist Party in 1957. However, he remained a member of the United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO), a Communist Jewish fraternal organization.
- Entering the business world, J. B. established the Model Insurance Agency Limited in 1957, where he served as president for several years. In 1959 J. B.’s wife, Dora, passed away. Around this time J. B. also resigned from the UJPO, along with other members who felt the organization needed to be more critical of the Soviet Union. They founded an alternative, non-Communist, left-wing Jewish organization, the New Fraternal Jewish Association, where J. B. served as president for several terms and edited its publication, Fraternally Yours.
- In his later life, J. B. was active as an executive member of organizations, such as the CJC and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was the first chairman for the CJC Ontario Region’s Soviet Jewry Committee and the Committee for Yiddish. He also began writing an award-winning weekly column for the Canadian Jewish News. J. B. was awarded the CJC’s Samuel Bronfman Medal for distinguished service, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto’s Ben Sadowski Award of Merit. A strong supporter of Israel, he was involved in the creation of two Israeli medical centres that are named in his honour. He also helped establish the J. B. and Dora Salsberg Fund and the J. B. Salsberg Fund for Yiddish at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto. J. B. passed away in 1998.
- Custodial History
- The records were donated to the OJA in a series of accessions. Material from accessions 1991-5-4 and 1992-9-4 were donated by J. B. Salsberg. The remaining material was donated by his estate after his death.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting J. B. Salsberg's personal, professional and Jewish communal activities. The bulk of the records are textual and relate to his membership in the CPC (later LPP), election campaigns, and Jewish communal work. Included is correspondence; photographs; reports; political writings; certificates; agendas; pamphlets; brochures; booklets; flyers; campaign literature; campaign notes; posters; newspaper clippings; press releases; articles; transcripts; speeches; telegrams; political platforms, briefs and submissions; statements; constitutions; resolutions; newspapers; meeting minutes; bulletins; periodicals; notebooks; notes; course guides and outlines; medallions; pins; plaques; donation receipts; event invitations and programmes; lists; blank employment applications; a school test; a study; a coin; a drawing; a sketch; an audio cassette; and a delegate card.
- Records are arranged into the following five series: 1. Personal ; 2. Labour Zionism and union activities ; 3. Political career ; and, 4. Jewish community involvement. There are also four files and one item attached directly to the fonds.
- Notes
- Physical Description Note: Includes 53 photographs, 7 medallions, 11 pins, 4 posters, 2 plaques, 1 sketch, 1 drawing, 1 audio cassette, 1 desk name plate, and 1 coin.
- Physical Extent Note: Fonds was reduced from approximately 7 metres to 1.5 metres. The culled material consisted primarily of published books, periodicals and pamphlets that had been collected by J. B. Salsberg. For further details about what was culled please view the accession records.
- Associated Material Note: Queen's University Archive also has a J. B. Salsberg fonds, 14 hours of interview tapes with J. B. Salsberg and records of the UJPO are held by the Multicultural Historical Society of Ontario (MHSO).
- Name Access
- Salsberg, J. B.,1902-1998
- Subjects
- Labor leaders
- Politicians
- Related Material
- For additional records in OJA's holdings, see: Ben Kayfetz fonds 62, series 8, file 2 ; accession 2008-11-2 ; accession 2004-1-4 ; and oral histories AC 71 and AC 226.
- Creator
- Salsberg, Joseph Baruch, 1902-1998
- Accession Number
- 1991-5-4
- 1992-9-4
- 1998-2-2
- 1998-12-5
- 2004-5-28
- 2010-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- sound recording
- Date
- 1976-1991
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 audio cassette
- Scope and Content
- File consists of oral history interviews primarily documenting J. B. Salsberg's labour Zionist and political career. Included is one transcript of P. Pomerant's interview with J. B., one audio cassette recording of an interview conducted with J. B., and transcripts of interviews conducted by Sharyn Salsberg Ezrin with the following individuals: Al Hershkovitz, Norman Penner, Harry Simon, Robert Nixon, Sam Lipshitz, and Morris Biderman. Also included is correspondence regarding Ezrin's interviews.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1939-1992, predominant 1981-1987
- Physical Description
- 3 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of J. B. Salsberg's personal and professional correspondence.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Personal series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1924-1991
- Physical Description
- 28 cm of textual records and other material
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of graphic and textual records related to J. B. Salsberg's personal life. Of note are records documenting the activities and passing of Salsberg's wife, Dora Wilensky. Included are photographs, portraits, stories, certificates, event invitations and programmes, correspondence, a graduation book, a newsletter, sympathy cards, a drawing, a sketch, and notes.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 19 photographs, 1 sketch, and 1 drawing.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Personal series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 1
- File
- 10
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1980
- Physical Description
- 1 drawing : brown and white chalk on felt ; 40 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one portrait of J. B. Salsberg.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Labour Zionism and union activities series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- object
- Date
- 1918-1981
- Physical Description
- 5 cm of textual records (1 v.) and other material
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records related to J. B. Salsberg's labour Zionism and union activities. Of note are records documenting Salsberg's early Poale Zion activities in New York. Included are photographs, correspondence, a medallion, pins, bulletins, newsletters, booklets, a book, and a pamphlet.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 11 b&w photographs (3 negatives), 3 pins, and 1 medallion.
- Subjects
- Labor Zionism
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Labour Zionism and union activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 2
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1923-1981
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 11 x 7 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Poale Zion (Workers of Zion) was a Marxist Zionist Jewish workers movement that originated in the Russian Empire around 1900. This movement spread around the world and in late 1905 the Socialist Jewish Labour Party (Poale Zion) was formed in Canada.
- In 1919, the Poale Zion Zionist labour movement split into two factions: Left Poale Zion (later Achdut Avodah Poale Zion) and Achdut Avodah (later Mapai). J. B. Salsberg affiliated with the Left Poale Zion, which was founded on the principals established by Ber Borochov and became known as the Borochov Movement. In Canada, the Borochov Movement consisted of various political, cultural and educational organizations. The political branch was the Achdut Avodah Poale Zion. It promoted Zionism and socialism both in Canada and Israel.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting J. B. Salsberg's involvement in the Achdut Avodah Poale Zion movement. Included is correspondence with the Jewish Socialist Labor Party Poale-Zion of America, Undzer Veg bulletins, Hashomer Hatzair newsletters, and a Yiddish booklet by Chaim Zhitlovsky entitled "From Assimilation to Labour Zionism" (published in New York, 1919). Also included are two photographs of J. B. Salsberg that were taken in Boston, likely at the second annual convention of the Poale-Zion of America (1923).
- 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.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- 1914-1993
- Physical Description
- 11 cm of textual records (1 v.) and other material
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement with various Jewish organizations, including: the I.L. Peretz School, the Canadian Jewish Congress, UJA Federation, the New Fraternal Jewish Association, the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and the Canadian Zionist Federation. Included are medallions, pins, a coin, a poster, certificates, photographs, meeting minutes, a test, booklets, event programmes, a transcript, bulletins, notes, newspaper clippings, articles, reports, newsletters, a brochure, and a flyer.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 17 photographs, 4 pins, 4 medallions, 1 coin, 1 poster, and 1 certificate.
- Related Material
- For other records documenting the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry see also fonds 17, series 3.
- For other NFJA records see MG 2B-1P and MG9 ("Fraternally Yours" publications).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- Item
- 2
- Material Format
- object
- Date
- [ca. 1980]
- Physical Description
- 1 medallion : bronze ; 5 cm in diam. + 1 cardboard box
- Scope and Content
- Item is a JNF Canada Park medallion.
- Notes
- Artifact number 142.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- Item
- 3
- Material Format
- object
- Date
- 1983
- Physical Description
- 1 medallion : silver ; 4 cm in diam. + 1 purple velvet case
- Admin History/Bio
- Commodore International Limited was founded in Toronto by Jack Tramiel in 1954 under the name Commodore Portable Typewriter Company.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a Commodore Computer 25th anniversary medallion. Around the edge is an inscription reading, "There will be a computer in every home, school and business years before anyone ever dreamed". On the verso is a map of the world and the inscription, "The world of Commodore".
- Notes
- Artifact number 144.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- Item
- 4
- Material Format
- object
- Date
- [198-?]
- Physical Description
- 1 pin : 2 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a pin of the Canadian flag and Israel flag crossing over one another.
- Notes
- Artifact number 155.
- Subjects
- Flags--Canada
- Flags--Israel
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1961]-1970, Nov. 1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC's Committee for Yiddish. Included are handwritten notes regarding Yiddish secular culture, a list of Yiddish resources, correspondence, and a study entitled "Jews Reporting Yiddish as Mother Tongue in 1961". Also included is a CJC certificate honouring Salsberg for his work for Yiddish that is signed by Philip Givens.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- File
- 8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1986-1991
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- In 1970 many Jewish groups in Ontario organized to help Refusniks who were being persecuted in the Soviet Union and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. In early 1971, the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, these various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Ontario.
- The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the steering committee reporting to the action committee. By 1977, the action committee and the steering committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee). J. B. Salsberg was the first SCSJ Chairman, serving in this capacity until 1976.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC's Committee for Soviet Jewry. Included are booklets, reports, agendas, correspondence, meeting minutes, conference material for the Regional Conference on Israel and Soviet Jewry, and newspaper clippings.
- Subjects
- Committees
- Jews--Soviet Union
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- File
- 10
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1971-1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement in the CJC, Ontario region. Included is correspondence, a press release, Executive Committee meeting notices and minutes, and handwritten notes taken by Salsberg during a meeting of the Executive Committee.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Joseph Baruch Salsberg fonds
- Jewish community involvement series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 92
- Series
- 4
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1985-1987
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting J.B. Salsberg's involvement with CJC (National). Included is correspondence, a president's newsletter, a press release, a National Executive meeting notice and minutes, and a list of resolutions for the 1986 CJC Plenary Assembly.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
