Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

14

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1917-2011

Physical Description

2.82 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

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

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

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

Custodial History

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

Scope and Content

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

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

Notes

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

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

Name Access

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care

Baycrest Hospital

Ezras Noshem Society (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Hospitals

Old age homes

Related Material

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

Creator

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, 1917-

Accession Number

1982-11-1

1983-11-2

1988-2-7

1979-9-17

1979-9-23

1987-9-7

2004-5-50

MG 2 O 1A

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Jewish Old Folks' Home series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1917-[ca. 1950]

Physical Description

16 photographs and other material

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Jewish Old Folks' Home. Included are photographs, annual calendars, a badge, coins, a land deed, and a donation receipt.

Notes

Includes 3 folders of textual records, 1 badge, and 2 coins.

Name Access

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Related Material

For additional photographs of the Jewish Old Folks' Home see Fonds 61, series 6.

For minutes of the Jewish Old Folks' Home Committee (1934-1935) see Fonds 62, series 3, file 3.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

6037

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1950]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Item is an exterior photograph of the Jewish Old Folks' Home on Cecil St.

Notes

Same image as photo #4365 and photo #45

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Architecture

Old age homes

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1986-11-6

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1712

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

2925

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1915

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Scope and Content

Identified in this photograph at the front, from left to right are: David Brown (Superindendent of Jewish Old Folks Home); [unknown]; [unknown]; Layefsky; Jacob Zelick Rosenberg (father of Henry S. Rosenberg).

Name Access

Brown, David

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Layefsky

Mozirer Mutual Benefit Society

Rosenberg, Henry S.

Rosenberg, Jacob Zelick

Subjects

Portraits, Group

Societies

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1981-7-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

2967-2968

Material Format

graphic material

Date

9 Sep. 1971

Physical Description

2 photographs

Scope and Content

For identification, see accession record.

Notes

See accession record for terms of use.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Hadassah-Wizo

Subjects

Politicians

Women

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1978-1-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1956-1978

Physical Description

447 photographs : b&w and col. (392 negatives) ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The Negev dinners were established in 1948, coinciding with the creation of the State of Israel, as an annual fundraising dinner. The Jewish National Fund hosted these annual dinners in honour of a leading Canadian citizen, and the proceeds from the dinners were used to establish JNF projects in Israel in the name of the honouree. The JNF projects have, and continue to do so today, raised money to purchase land in Israel's Negev desert and for re-forestation efforts.

The annual dinner was dedicated to a member of the Toronto Jewish community, who had demonstrated outstanding support and commitment to the Community and to the State of Israel. In honour of this individual's contributions, the secured land in Negev was named after them. The honourary guests were presented with awards of appreciation from members of the Canadian and International Jewish community, often including delegates from Israel. The dinners were attended by prominent members of Toronto's Jewish community, including politicians, business men, and philanthropists.

Each subsequent dinner became larger and more successful in its aim to raise funds for Israel, as a result this event soon became the most significant Jewish event in Toronto. As well, it was also the largest annual kosher meal served in Toronto.

The JNF produced an annual Negev Dinner yearbook, commemorating the event, and documenting both the lives of the honouree's family and the current activities of the JNF. As well, the names of individuals who donated money for the JNF projects were recorded in the Souvenir books under patrons and sponsors of the dinners.

Scope and Content

Series consists of negatives taken by Al Gilbert documenting eight Negev Dinners hosted by the Jewish National Fund. The images depict the various activities undertaken at these dinners including: the procession and introduction of the head table guests, the presentation of awards, speeches, toasts, presentation of flowers to the honouree or the wife of the honouree, and the entertainment. The majority of the negatives are portraits taken of the guests posing with the honouree and his or her family. One dinner in this series was dedicated to the Toronto Jewish Community (1956) on the year of its centenary, while the others are in honour of one significant member of the community.

There were Negev dinners held across Canada; however, the dinners in this series were all held in Toronto and were primarily attended by members of the Toronto Jewish community. The honourees documented in this series include: 1956, Toronto Jewish Community; 1966, Bert Godfrey; 1967, Nathan Silver; 1968, Phil Givens; 1970, Leon E. Weinstein; 1973, Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker; 1974, Phil Granovsky; 1978, Eric and Esther Exton.

Notes

Selection for this series reflects the various activities of the Negev dinners, including: speeches, toasts, award presentations, dinner tables, introductions, honourees, entertainment and presentation of flowers. In addition, we selected a sample of images documenting the dinner tables and guests who were not part of the evening's programme, and therefore, would not be captured in the aforementioned criteria.

Name Access

Negev

Jewish National Fund

Godfrey, Bert

Silver, Nathan

Givens, Phil

Weinstein, Leon E.

Diefenbaker, Rt. Hon. John G.

Granovsky, Phil

Exton, Eric

Exton, Esther

Subjects

Awards

Dinners and dining

Fund raising

Arrangement

Series has been arranged into files representing each annual dinner.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1941-1978]

Physical Description

56 negatives : b&w, 1 col. ; 18 x 13 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Al Gilbert was born on November 18, 1922 in Toronto. His father Nathan Gittelmacher [Gilbert] owned a photography studio, called Elite Studios, where Al began to learn the photography trade. Al went to Central Technical High School for commercial art and started working at his father's store after he graduated at the age of 19. Al returned to school as an adult and earned his Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsmen degree from the Professional Photographers of America.

Al took over Gilbert Studios and moved to a larger location on Eglinton Street and then later to Davenport Road. Al married, and he and his wife Gail had two children named Nina and Michael.

Al began his career following in the tradition of his father photographing weddings and other significant events in the community. However, he also expanded his repertoire to include series of portraits documenting different cultural and religious groups. While still making a name for himself, Al arranged a deal with a local radio station -- CKEY -- that had a promotional programme called Club 580. The programme was designed to draw music celebrities down to an auditorium where school kids would get the chance to see them. He approached the station, asking if he could photograph these musicians, and in exchange, provide the station with picture postcards depicting the musicians. Some of the entertainers he photographed during this period included: Oscar Peterson, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. One of his most personally significant series documents all of Israel's Prime Ministers starting in 1959 with David Ben Gurion up until the late 1990s. Most recently, Al finished a series of portraits depicting prominent Italian Canadian men and women.

One of Al Gilbert's photographic influences was George Hurrell, whose portraits of Hollywood movie starts were backlit with spotlights creating a glamorous effect. In 1943, Gilbert started to introduce some of Hurrell's lighting techniques into his portraits. He was constantly changing the window displays at his store to draw attention to his latest techniques and attract a new clientele. Twenty years later, still fascinated with lighting, Al started using more window lighting and doing outdoor photography; he also perfected the technique of simulating natural light using artificial sources of light.

Al Gilbert built his reputation as a portrait photographer. Due to his innovative style and the prominence of his subjects, Al's work has received much recognition -- he has been given the Canadian Photographer of the Year in 1968, 1969, and 1973 from the Professional Photographers of Canada. He was awarded the Order of Canada and held the Confederate Medal of Canada. In addition, he was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Photographic Industry of America and the International Award from the American Society of Photographers.

Scope and Content

Series consists of portraits taken by Al Gilbert. The portraits depict prominent individuals from the Toronto Jewish community, Jewish clubs, politicians, and several well-known personalities including the comedians Wayne and Shuster.

Notes

All portraits were selected with the exception of duplicates and portraits where the issue of ownership remains unresolved because the photographer is unknown.

Name Access

Wayne & Shuster

Hurvitz, Rabbi

Hennick, Nat

Posluns

Kayfetz, Carl

Sterling, Bob

Van Der Hout, Victor

Goodman, Eddy

Greenberg, David

Kay, Jimmy

Hall, Robert

Shopsowitz, Sam

Lockshin, Lou

Topper, Harry

Drevnick,Bill

Givens, Phil

Silver, Nathan

Tanenbaum, Wayne

Orliffe, Herbert

Leslie, Dr. Harold

Herman, Woody

Waxman, Al

Wayne, Johnny

Shuster, Frank

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

38

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Ruth and Bert Godfrey being introduced at the Negev dinner held in his honour. Standing behind the couple from left to right are: Phil & Min Givens, Rabbi David Monson, Manny Rotman, 2 unidentified guests and Mr. & Mrs. Sam Shainhouse.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Godfrey, Ruth

Godfrey, Bert, 1908-2006

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Monson, David, 1917-2008

Rotman, Manny

Shainhouse, Sam

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

47

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Bert Godfrey file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

2

Item

48

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1966

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Godfrey, Bert, 1908-2006

Givens, Phil

Rosenberg, Stuart E., 1922-1990

Hayman, Mrs.

Rosenberg, Hadassah

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Allen, Wm. R.

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Leon Weinstein speaking at the Negev dinner held in honour of Phil Givens. Seated at the head table from left to right are: Min Givens, Phil Givens, Leon Weinstein (at podium), Anne Weinstein, Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg, and Hadassah Rosenberg.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Rosenberg, Rabbi Stuart

Rosenberg, Hadassah

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

Weinstein, Leon

Weinstein, Anne

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

18

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Phil Givens giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in his honour. Min Givens is sitting beside him.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

19

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Scope and Content

Photograph of Philip G. Givens giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in his honour. Min Givens is seated beside him.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

32

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allen

Jewish National Fund

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

34

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Weinstein, Leon

Exton, Eric

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

42

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Min Givens receiving flowers from Charles Kent at the Negev dinner held in her husband's, Philip Givens, honour. Philip Givens is seating in front.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Kent, Charles

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

43

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Phil Givens waving to guests at the Negev dinner held in his honour. Standing beside him to the left is Min Givens, and behind the podium is Charles Kent.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Kent, Charles

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

44

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Nat Silver giving a speech at the 1968 Negev dinner held in honour of Philip G. Givens. Nat Silver was a part of the evening's programme providing a presentation of the Jewish National Fund Foundation Projects.

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Silver, Nat

Givens, Phil

Jewish National Fund

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

45

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w

Name Access

Givens, Min

Givens, Phil

Kent, Charles

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

47

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Givens, Min

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Negev dinner honouring Phil Givens file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

4

Item

49

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1968

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 9 x 9 cm and 6 x 6 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph of Rabbi Rosenberg speaking at the Negev dinner held in honour of Phil Givens. Rabbi Rosenberg was on the programme as a guest speaker.

Name Access

Rosenberg, Rabbi Stuart

Givens, Phil

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring Leon E. Weinstein file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

5

Item

12

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1970

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 6 x 6 cm

Name Access

Gefen, Aba

Weinstein, Anne

Givens, Phil

Weinstein, Leon

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

87

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1928-1943

Physical Description

67 cm of textual records

1 architectural drawing

Admin History/Bio

Sometime around 1919, the Family Welfare Committee was set up within the newly created Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto (FJPT) to perform social welfare work with Jewish families. Around 1931, the Committee was reorganized as an independent member agency of the FJPT and renamed the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau (JFWB). At the same time, Dora Wilensky (1902-1959), a professionally-trained social worker, was hired as the agency’s executive director. Throughout its existence, most of its funding came from the FJPT (later the United Jewish Welfare Fund).

Located at 179 Beverley Street, the JFWB’s core activities included: relief provision; helping families meet basic needs, such as medical care, heating and clothing; housekeeping assistance; counseling; and case work. The JFWB’s major concerns shifted over time from a rise of immigration and desertion cases in the 1920s to the dramatic increase of wife abuse, suicide, and unemployment cases during the Great Depression of the 1930s. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the JFWB sought ways of assisting soldiers and their families, such as, investigating special government grants to soldiers.

In an attempt to meet community needs, the JFWB initiated various programs, such as a Homemaking Club to teach women house management skills, and a Clothing Centre to provide families with inexpensive household goods. It also partnered with other local Jewish organizations in the early 1940s in the Liaison Project for troubled Jewish youth. In the 1930s, the Jewish Employment Service and Hebrew Free Burial Society became departments of the JFWB and, in 1941, the JFWB began guaranteeing loans for clients through the Hebrew Free Loan Association. In the same year, the Jewish Big Sister Committee became affiliated with the agency and the Jewish Big Brother Movement followed soon after.

In 1936, the JFWB became one of the first unionized social agencies in Canada when it formed the Staff Association with the Jewish Child Welfare Association (JCWA), another member of the FJPT. Although the JFWB’s focus was work with families and the JCWA’s focus was work with children, both agencies found it necessary at times to work with both children and families. In order to prevent service duplication and reduce confusion over casework responsibility, the Joint Application Bureau was set up within the FJPT to review all case work applications and determine the appropriate agency to provide assistance. However, a merger between the agencies was still believed necessary to improve service to the community and ease confusion. Discussions regarding the co-ordination of services between the JCWA and the JFWB began as early as 1935 and in February 1943, the JCWA and JFWB merged to form the Jewish Family and Child Services (JF & CS).

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of textual records and one architectural drawing documenting the programs, operation, finances, and special studies of the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau as well as its relationships with other organizations. Included are reports, meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, memos, budgets, statistics, theatrical scripts, newsclippings, and one architectural blueprint. A number of the records relate to special short-lived committees and projects that the JFWB participated in with other agencies, such as the Jewish Big Sister Committee, Jewish Big Brother Committee, Jewish Child Welfare Association, the Jewish Community Centre Association, the Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association, and the Jewish Old Folks' Home.

Records have been arranged into the following 19 series: 1. Board of Directors; 2. Executive Director; 3. Jewish Federation Communal Council; 4. United Jewish Welfare Fund Men's and Women's Service Council; 5. Case Committe; 6. Joint Meetings and Committees; 7. Joint Application Bureau; 8. Homemaking Club; 9. Clothing Centre; 10. Liaison Project; 11. Operational statistics; 12. Finance and accounting; 13. Human Resources; 14. Special projects and studies; 15. Publicity; 16. Liaison with other social welfare organizations; 17. Canadian Association of Social Workers; 18. Welfare Council of Toronto; and, 19. Conferences.

Notes

Associated material note: for related records held at the City of Toronto Archives, see also: Welfare Council of Toronto records in the University Settlement House fonds (fonds 1024, series 658); and, Department of Public Welfare records in the Former City of Toronto fonds (fonds 200).

Name Access

Jewish Family Welfare Bureau

Jewish Community Centre Association

Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Athletic Association (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

United Jewish Welfare Fund (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)

Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto (subject)

Wilensky, Dora, 1902-1959

Subjects

Charities

Children

Families

Nonprofit organizations

Access Restriction

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and the head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing some of the records.

Related Material

See also: Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds (fonds 86); Jewish Family and Child Services fonds (fonds 79); Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds (fonds 66); and, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds (fonds 67).

Arrangement

Records relating to programs, committees and liaison with other organizations that continued after the formation of JF & CS are arranged with that fonds.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

249

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[195-]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w

Notes

Item is a publictiy poster for the Jewish Home for the Aged. The poster is in Yiddish.

Name Access

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Posters

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1713

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1714

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Women

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1715

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1716

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1717

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

1718

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1946

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Name Access

Jewish Home for the Aged (Toronto, Ont.)

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects

Old age homes

Older people

Repro Restriction

Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.

Places

Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

1979-3-8

Source

Archival Descriptions