- Accession Number
- 2009-3-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-3-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 12 photographs : col. ; 12 x 10 cm
- Date
- 2002
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of images of the Ontario Jewish Archives vault, processing room, research room, and reception area taken by Ellen Scheinberg upon being hired as the OJA's new director in 2002. The photographs illustrate the state of the archives upon her arrival.
- Custodial History
- The photographs were taken by Ellen Scheinberg, director of the Ontario Jewish Archives. They were kept in her office until she transferred them to the OJA on 4 March 2009.
- Subjects
- Archives
- Nonprofit organizations
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Name
- Cyrel Troster
- Material Format
- moving images
- Interview Date
- 28 Nov. 2016
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Name
- Cyrel Troster
- Number
- OH 441
- Subject
- Arts
- Charities
- Committees
- Interview Date
- 28 Nov. 2016
- Interviewer
- Melissa Caza
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Material Format
- moving images
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Original Format
- Digital file
- Transcript
- OH 441 Part 1
0:22 Cyrel outlines her academic background and discusses her volunteer & professional positions, including Chair of the OJA, Chair of Cultural Planning & Allocation, served on the Board of the Canadian Jewish Congress & Ontario Jewish Congress and currently serves on the Board of OJA.
0:53 Cyrel discusses the history of the Ontario Jewish Archives. Cyrel. & Susan Cohen obtained federal grants to create a local initiative project with the initial focus to collect information on prominent members of the Toronto Jewish community. Cyrel identifies the organizations & individuals who assisted them initially (e.g. Toronto Jewish Historical Society,Victor Sefton) . She discusses the staff, including Steven Speisman, Bess Shockett & Ruth Ladovsky and the location in Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue.
4:53 Cyrel describes the creation of the Sense of Spadina Walking tours which were an offshoot of a living exhibit designed for the Triennial for the Canadian Jewish Congress in 1974. She discusses the contributors to the project, including Steven Speisman, Bess Shockett, Marty Mendelow, Charlie & Peggy Goldsbie and Mrs. Langner, the wife of the Rabbi from the Kiever Synagogue.
6:05 Cyrel describes the successful Sense of Spadina Walking Tours held in June 1974.
7:47 Cyrel discusses the formation of day & evening volunteer committees to help catalogue material in OJA’s new location in the basement of 150 Beverly St. She discusses some of the archival donations e.g. Sidney Harris, Ben Kayfetz.
9:12 Cyrel recalls the move to Lipa Green building in early 1980’s.
9:48 Cyrel describes the OJA office at 150 Beverly. St. She describes some of the historical documents that were discovered in the basement. She discusses the volunteers’ responsibilities.
11:27 Cyrel discusses the function of the OJA committee. She discusses Photo Committee.
13:00 Cyrel discusses early efforts to acquire material for the OJA.
15:56 Cyrel explains why an archive specific to the Ontario Jewish community was established. The effort to establish the OJA arose from a small group of researchers, including Steven Speisman, who recognized the importance of preserving ethnic Jewish history.
17:18 Cyrel explains how the material collected by OJA is unique to & valued by the Ontario Jewish community.
18:48 Cyrel discusses some of the challenges faced by OJA in the early years.
19:58 Cyrel discusses the end result of the Toronto Jewish Historical Society.
20:45 Cyrel discusses the evolvement of the Sense of Spadina Walking Tours. She explains how Ellen Scheinberg, archivist, was pivotal in the advancement of the walking tours. Spadina Walking Tours became a part of “Jane’s Walk”.
24:02 Cyrel shares an amusing story about Henry Papernick, retired lawyer & OJA volunteer.
25:35 Cyrel discusses the contributions made by Brooky Robins, assistant to Steven Speisman. She spearheaded the collection of material from northern Ontario. Also involved was Fred Schaeffer.
26:46 Cyrel discusses OJA hosting various community events to donate materials to the archives.
27:41 Cyrel explains that due to the volume of donated material, off-site storage facilities were used at Yonge & Eglinton.
28:04 Cyrel describes the changes and improvements that occurred after moving to the facilities at Lipa Green.
28:55 Cyrel discusses her responsibilities as Chair of OJA between 1983 and 1998. She mentions that she also served on the Ontario Jewish Congress, Ontario Region Executive & the Toronto Jewish Congress.
30:11 Cyrel explains that Jewish Communist papers were passed on to the collection of Multicultural History at St. Michael’s.
30:36 Cyrel discusses some of the projects and exhibits that OJA pursued.
32:05 Cyrel discusses the efforts made by Sol Edell & Marty Mendelow to fix up the Kiever synagogue in the early 1980’s.
34:25 Cyrel explains why the Kiever synagogue was chosen as a focus for an OJA project.
35:25 Cyrel discusses the special projects & direction of the OJA during the period she was Chair.
36:19 Cyrel discusses the biggest challenges faced by the OJA during her sevice as Chair.
OH 441 Part 2
00:00 Cyrel discusses the changes in leadership and operation at the OJA ca 2000. Staff included Brooky Robins, Susan Jackson and Ellen Scheinberg.
1:54 Cyrel discusses the major projects that occurred while Ellen Scheinberg was Director.
3:09 Cyrel discusses her role with the OJA while Ellen served as Director.
4:07 Cyrel discusses the challenges faced by OJA while Ellen served as Director.
5:23 Cyrel discusses the relationship between OJA and other archives and agencies.
8:00 Cyrel addresses the factors that contributed to the success of the Sense of Spadina Walking Tours.
11:13 Cyrel points that out the general groups participating in the Sense of Spadina Walking Tours tend to be Jewish but Jane’ Walk groups are varied & drawn to the neighbourhood.
11:53 Cyrel discusses why the OJA has played a major role in her life.
12:25 Cyrel shares a story from her personal life in order to illustrate the importance of preserving oral histories.
13:51 Cyrel relates a story told to her by Ben Kayfetz about the Strettiner Rebbe on Cecil Street.
OH 441 Part 3
00:00 Cyrel describes the efforts of Sol Edell, Susan Brown and Cyrel to put together an audio-visual presentation to mark the opening of the archives.
2:17 Cyrel describes a conceived project that was not realized.
- Source
- Oral Histories
- Accession Number
- 2011-6-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-6-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- ca. 25 cm of textual records
- 1 photograph
- Date
- 1980-2000, predominant 1980-1990
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of records documenting Rolf Lederer's involvement with JIAS, the Canadian Jewish Congress's Chaplaincy Services Committee, the Toronto Jewish Congress Ontario Region Archives Committee, SAJAC, and the Jewish Genealogical Society. JIAS records make up the bulk of the accession and include; statistical reports; meeting notices; agendas and minutes for various committees, such as the Executive Committee, Immigrant Case Committee, Integration Committee and the Board of Directors; newsclippings, correspondence, programmes, reports, JIAS Information bulletins, and JIAS News newsletters.
- Chaplaincy records include meeting notices, agendas and minutes, bulletins, invitations, brochures, and general correspondence. JGS records include one photograph of a plaque awarded to the agency and correspondence regarding its cemetery project. Archives Committee records include event invitations, correspondence, and documents related to the Sense of Spadina tour. Finally, accession also consists of SAJAC News publications (1989), correspondence with the Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists and a Congregation B'nai Torah dedication banquet programme (1984).
- Custodial History
- The records were in the possession of Rolf Lederer until he donated them to the OJA on June 22, 2011.
- Administrative History
- Dr. Rolf Lederer was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1934. His family immigrated to South Africa in 1936 and Rolf remained there until 1961, earning his medical degree from Cape Town University. After completing his psychiatric training in Edinburgh and Boston, Rolf settled in Toronto in 1968. There he set up private practice as a General Psychiatrist.
- After moving to Toronto, Rolf became actively involved in the Jewish community and served on a number of committees. He was on both the local and national board of directors of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) as well as a number of JIAS sub-committees, including the South African Jewish Association of Canada (SAJAC), the Local Case File Committee and the Management Committee.
- From 1985 to 1988 Rolf was chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’s (CJC) Chaplaincy Services Committee. He was also a member of other CJC committees; including, the Jewish Cultural Council and the Joint Adult Education Committee. In addition, Rolf co-founded the Jewish Genealogical Society (JGS) in 1985 and served as the society’s president from 1987 to 1991. Finally, he was an active member of B’nai Torah Congregation, serving as secretary and first vice-president in the early 1980s
- Subjects
- Immigrants--Canada
- South Africa--Emigration and immigration
- Name Access
- Lederer, Rolf, 1934-
- Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto
- Southern African Jewish Association of Canada
- Canadian Jewish Congress. Ontario Region
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-11-17
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-11-17
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1969-1999
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of correspondence to and from Stephen Speisman, former Director of the Ontario Jewish Archives. Also included is a report on the collection, conservation and utilization of the historical records of the Canadian Jewish community prepared by John Andreassen of the Records Management Company of Canada (1969), a condition report for the Knesseth Israel Synagogue (1986), an invitation to the opening of the archives in the new Lipa Green building (1984), and an invitation to the gala opening and an exhibit booklet from the Coat of Many Colours (1990).
- Name Access
- Speisman, Stephen A., 1943-2008
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-6-7
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-6-7
- Material Format
- textual record
- sound recording
- Physical Description
- 30 cm of textual records
- 6 cassette tapes
- Date
- 1973-2005
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting Cyrel Troster's involvement with various Jewish committees and organizations. Included are: transcripts of oral histories with prominent Jewish Torontonians that were conducted as part of an oral history project in 1973; correspondence between Cyrel Troster and interviewees; index cards listing the dates of the oral history interviews; promotional materials for Jewish arts festivals; public proposal document for the new Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue; and documents and records from Cyrel's involvement in various Jewish organizations. Also included are Local Initiatives Program application forms (1973), lists of presidents of various Jewish organizations, a map of the Jewish York Region (1999), issues of Exodus Magazine in both English and Russian from May 2018, and two issues of the Wilson Heights High School yearbook The Torch (1962-63).
- The six tape cassettes are as follows: Cantor Paul Kowarsky Live in Concert (no date); Highlights from the 1994 Toronto Jewish Storytelling Festival; interview with Esther Volpe (two cassette tapes); interview with Samuel Harris; and one cassette marked "Dov Noy copy of Library tape" (Dov Noy was a Jewish folklorist).
- The accession contains transcripts for the following interviewees: Mrs. Arbus, David Biderman, Benjamin Brown, Benjamin Sherman, Arthur Cohen, Mrs. Draimin, Max Federman, Morris Flicht, Joshua Gershman, Samuel Harris, Ben Heisel, Rose Heisel, Mr. Lean, Mary Levy, Harry Pullan, J. B. Salsberg, Yekil Silverman, A. S. Socol, Nathan Strauss, Esther Volpe, and Annie Zeidman.
- The accession contains records related to Cyrel's involvement in the following committees and organizations: Committee for Yiddish (1997-2004); Cultural Services and Planning Committee (1990-2005), Jewish Public Library (2005); Canadian Jewish Congress, Orthodox Division (1982-1984); Holocaust Centre (1979-2004); Limmud (2000); Ontario Jewish Archives (1973-2004); Jewish Theatre (1996-2002); Jewish Arts Council (2000-2004); Jewish Toronto Tomorrow (1994-2004); Ashkenaz (1997-2004); UJA Federation (1978, 1984, 1990-2004).
- Use Conditions
- Credit to be given to Susan Cohen and Cyrel Troster—coordinators of the Local Initiatives Project project in 1973—and to interviewer(s) and transcribers when using tapes or transcribed interviews.
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Descriptive Notes
- RELATED MATERIAL NOTE: See accession 2017-4-6 for related sound recordings. Some may be duplicates.
- Subjects
- Nonprofit organizations
- Name Access
- Committee for Yiddish (Toronto, Ont.)
- Limmud Toronto
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Troster, Cyrel
- UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2444
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2444
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1937
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Photo is a group shot of campers and staff at Camp Yungvelt with posters which read: "War is murder, the promoters - murderers" and "We want our fathers with us and not in war."
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Camp Yungvelt
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Demonstrations
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Pickering (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2443
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2443
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1960]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Director: Mrs. Diamond.
- 2nd row, rear: Norman Nelson.
- Name Access
- Nelson, Norman
- Diamond, Mrs.
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Choirs (Music)
- Jews--Music
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 1184
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 1184
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1935
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of the Workmen's Circle mandolin orchestra.
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Mandolin orchestras
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1977-1-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 1185
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 1185
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1936
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Individuals in the photograph include Sam Shopsowitz (with accordian), Mannie Farber, Percy Lipshitz, Muni Frumhartz, [Mr. Gluskin?], and Al Rosenberg.
- Name Access
- Shopsowitz, Sam
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Mandolin orchestras
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1977-1-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3664
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3664
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1910]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Left to right: Abraham Rhinewine; Mrs. Rhinewine; Max Helfand; [unknown]; [unknown]; [unknown]; [unknown]; Sheiner; Paul Frumhartz.
- Name Access
- Arbeiter Ring
- Arbeter Ring
- Workmen's Circle
- Rhinewine, Abraham
- Rhinewine, Mrs.
- Helfand, Max
- Sheiner
- Frumhartz, Paul
- 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
- 1984-10-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 4231
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4231
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1915
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- For identification, see accession record.
- Name Access
- National Radical School
- Workmen's Circle
- I.L. Peretz
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Education
- Picnics
- Children
- 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
- High Park (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 4233
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 4233
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1929
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- For identification, see accession record.
- Name Access
- Ladies' Auxiliary
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- I.L. Peretz
- Subjects
- Education
- Women
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3693
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3693
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1920]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Identified in this photograph in the second row, third from right: Abe Magerman.
- Name Access
- Magerman, Abe
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Workmen's Circle
- Subjects
- Youth
- 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
- 1983-6-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3054
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3054
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1943
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- This is a composite photograph.
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeiter Ring
- Arbeter Ring
- 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
- 1979-4-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3961
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3961
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1936
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Notes
- Photo by Simon.
- For identification see accession record.
- Name Access
- I.L. Peretz
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Education
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3963
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3963
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1938
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Notes
- Photo by Schlochter.
- Name Access
- I.L. Peretz
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Education
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1986-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 3962
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 3962
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1937
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Notes
- For identification see accession record.
- Photo by Simon.
- Name Access
- I.L. Peretz
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Education
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Accession Number
- 1986-4-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2447
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2447
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1960
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- I.L. Peretz
- Subjects
- School boards
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2446
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2446
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1960
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- I.L. Peretz
- Subjects
- Children's costumes
- Children's theater
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2448
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2448
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 2 Dec. 1965
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Head table from left to right: Mrs. M. Rosenberg; Mrs. Atkin; Joe Silver; I. Matenko; Wargan; Norman Nelson (chairman); Dr. J. Diamond (director, Bureau of Jewish Education); Mrs. Reinhartz (principal, Peretz Shul); Mrs. Dworkin; I. Immergluck; Mrs. B. Nelson.
- Name Access
- Arbeiter Ring
- Arbeter Ring
- Atkin, Mrs.
- Diamond, Dr. J.
- Dworkin, Mrs.
- I. L. Peretz
- Immergluck, I.
- Matenko, Isaac, 1874-1960
- Nelson, Mrs. B.
- Nelson, Norman
- Reinhartz, Mrs.
- Rosenberg, Mrs. M.
- Silver, Joe
- Wargan
- Workmen's Circle
- Subjects
- Students
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 2445
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 2445
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1965
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : (1 negative)
- Scope and Content
- Teacher is Mrs. Reinhartz.
- Name Access
- Workmen's Circle
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- I.L. Peretz
- Subjects
- Students
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1979-4-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Isaac Matenko fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 89
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1911-1971, predominant 1911-1935
- Physical Description
- 6 cm of textual records
- 17 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- Isaac Matenko (1874–1960) was a founder, teacher, and principal of the I. L. Peretz School. He worked tirelessly to preserve and promote secular Jewish culture and the Yiddish language in Toronto. He was also a prominent member of local Jewish organizations, such as the Socialist-Territorialist Club and the Yiddish Kultur Gesellshaft.
- Isaac was born on 1 February 1874 in the town of Makariv, located in the Kyiv Oblast (province) of Ukraine. He married Elke Yelia Moshkevitch (1878–19 November 1953) on 4 August 1900 in Yekaterinoslav (today Dnipro). They immigrated from czarist Russia to Toronto in 1906, passing first through New York with their two children, Percy (30 June 1901–May 1987) and Theodore (1903–1906, died of measles at Ellis Island), and Yelia’s three sisters, Dvora, Bracha, and Celia, and Isaac’s younger half-brother, Paul Frumhartz. They had two more children after arriving: Abraham (14 August 1908–October 24, 1989) and Shoshana (Sue) (1911–2001). Although he had been a teacher in Russia, Isaac worked as an operator in a cloak factory in Toronto, where he was instrumental in forming the union (likely the Cloakmakers’ Union of Toronto, which later affiliated with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union).
- As a child, Isaac received a traditional Jewish education. This, combined with his self-taught secular education and the teachings of Yiddish nationalist Dr. Chaim Zhitlovski, informed his future career and philosophies. He was described as an idealist by his friends, whose dedication to Yiddish culture and language motivated him to bring this knowledge to a younger generation.
- On 11 July 1911, Isaac and his fellow Socialist-Territorialist members established the Toronto Yiddish National-Radical School. By 1916, it had been taken over by the Workmen’s Circle and renamed the I. L. Peretz School, after the well-known Yiddish author and playwright. The school began in a rented room at the Zionist Institute on Simcoe Street, moving to larger locations on Richmond Street West, then Beverley Street as it grew. Eventually, several more branches opened, such as the Maria Street school that Isaac was affiliated with. He taught at the school for free in the evenings after working during the day in a shop. His brother Paul was also a founding teacher at the school.
- Isaac was described by family, friends, and community members as a passionate teacher with an iron will. He was well-versed in Jewish knowledge, with a desire to pass it on to a younger generation and his fellow union members. He remained involved in the school and in teaching, even after retirement. He died on 2 June 1960 at the age of eighty-six.
- Custodial History
- These records were donated to the OJA by Sue Levy, daughter of Isaac Matenko.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting Isaac Matenko's involvement with the Workmen's Circle and other Jewish organizations. Included are photographs, programmes, certificates, I. L. Peretz School jubilee books, a songbook, a yearbook, articles, and newsclippings.
- Fonds has been arranged into one series for the Workmen's Circle. There are also two files attached to the fonds-level. The records are described at the series and file-level, with some item-level descriptions.
- Name Access
- Arbeiter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring Schools
- Arbeter Ring
- Camp Yungvelt
- Frumhartz, Paul
- I.L. Peretz
- Matenko, Isaac, 1874-1960
- Matenko, Percy
- National Radical School
- Peretz Shule
- Workman's Circle
- Workmen's Circle
- Subjects
- Schools
- Teachers
- Yiddish language
- Related Material
- For additional Workmen's Circle records, see: accessions 1979-4-4, 1980-2-2, 1983-6-3, 1984-10-1, 1986-4-1, 1992-1-2, 1997-2-1, 1998-3-32, 2004-5-41, 2004-5-105, and fonds 30.
- For additional Camp Yungvelt records, see: accessions 1979-4-4, 1986-4-1, 1991-12-4, 1993-6-6, 1999-5-1, 2004-5-37, 2005-6-4, 2006-12-3, photographs # 2964, # 4014, # 6021, MG2N1K, Benjamin Brown fonds 49, and Dorothy Dworkin Fonds 10 (item 14).
- Creator
- Matenko, Isaac, 1874-1960
- Accession Number
- 1987-11-4
- 1991-4-2
- 2007-5-3
- 2007-6-28
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1974, 1980-1981
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of reports submitted by the Toronto Jewish Congress Archives Committee to TJC's Executive Committee. Also included is a report likely regarding the creation of an archive for the records of the Alpha Omega Fraternity and a report by Stephen Speisman regarding his position and salary.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1974-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lists of members of the Toronto Jewish Congress Archives Committee.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1979-1987
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of meeting notices.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1974-1983
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and annual budgets.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 8
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1975-[ca. 1980]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of publicity and acquisitions policies, a manuscript inventory list, a list of questions to ask small communities, a list of community institutions, and notes for the Charter of the Ontario Jewish Archives Foundation.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 34
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1977-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of reports regarding the travelling exhibit, Journey Into Our Heritage.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 35
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1979
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Wintario grant application forms for the Journey Into Our Heritage exhibit.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 36
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1977-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 37
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1978-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, financial statements, payment receipts, cost estimates, bank statements, and pages from a financial ledger.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 38
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1972-1979
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of exhibit booklets, lists of media contacts, press releases, newspaper clippings, and a newsletter.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 39
- Material Format
- textual record
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1972-1979
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 4 technical drawings : blackline prints ; 86 x 100 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lists of artifacts on loan, exhibit captions, panel lists, an audio-visual production script, and packing instructions. Also included are floor plans for the travelling exhibit space at the Victoria Provincial Archives, Toronto City Hall, and Baycrest Residence.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Physical Condition
- Architectural drawings should be placed in melinex for protection and stored flat.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 40
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1978-1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of invitations to various openings and receptions for the Journey Into Our Heritage exhibit in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 41
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1974, 1977-1978
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lists of contacts.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 42
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1977]
- Physical Description
- 8 photographs : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of photographs of the Journey Into Our Heritage exhibit, likely taken in Winnipeg.
- Notes
- Photographs are by David Portugal & Co.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Canada
- 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
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 43
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1974-1984
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1photograph : col. ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting the Ontario Jewish Archives's Sense of Spadina walking tour. Included is correspondence, brochures, news releases, flyers, instructions for guides, and a grant application to take part in Ontario's bicentennial. Also included is a photograph of the exterior of the Kiever Synagogue.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 44
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1979
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 45
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1975
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a flyer and a list of staff responsibilities for the exhibit.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 46
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1980]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of notes created by Sol Edell for a talk he delivered to the Sons of Jacob Benevolent Society on archives.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 47
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1973-1974
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of conference agendas, and an "Archives Procedural Manual" which was prepared by the Ontario Jewish Archives for the First Conference on Archives held at the Toronto Zionist Centre.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Jewish Historical Society of Toronto
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 48
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1975]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lists of an oral history handbook prepared by Stephen Speisman and lists of individuals who were likely contacted by the Ontario Jewish Archives for interviews.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 49
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1977-1981
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, a brochure, and a list of Toronto synagogues up to 1938.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 50
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1975-1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence and flyers documenting various outreach activities of the Ontario Jewish Archives. The bulk of the records are thank you letters for exhibit loans and special presentations.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Heritage series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 10
- File
- 51
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [1967?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lyrics written by Anne Kaplan for the 100th anniversary of Canada's conferderation. This document was likely collected by Sol Edell for the OJA.
- Name Access
- Ontario Jewish Archives
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 262
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 262
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1919]
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 12 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- This item is a copy photograph and corresponding negative of the Workmen's Circle Peretz Shule in Montreal. The photo features the students and teachers on the front steps of the school.
- Notes
- Acquired May 1974.
- Name Access
- Peretz Shule
- Workmen's Circle
- I.L. Peretz
- Arbeter Ring
- Arbeiter Ring
- Subjects
- Students
- Teachers
- 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
- Montréal (Québec)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions