Accession Number
1979-9-16
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
1979-9-16
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
1975
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records relating to a "Teach-In on Israel" held at the university on 22 January 1975. There is also an announcement of a meeting of the Revolutionary Marxist Group at York.
MG_RG
MG2 P1d
Subjects
Education
Children
Politics and government
Name Access
Jewish Student Federation (York University)
Source
Archival Accessions
Part Of
David Pinkus fonds
Level
Fonds
ID
Fonds 138
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
David Pinkus fonds
Level
Fonds
Fonds
138
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
graphic material (electronic)
architectural drawing
philatelic record
sound recording
cartographic material
object
Date
1854-2021
Physical Description
ca. 2.4 m of textual records
ca. 600 photographs : b&w and col. (ca. 90 negatives); 30 x 35 cm or smaller
other material
Admin History/Bio
David Pinkus (1924-2021) was born on May 11, 1924, at the Toronto General Hospital to Isadore Pinkus (1887-1947) and Molly (Mollie) Pinkus (née Parelstein) (1892-1990). Isadore was born in Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire; Molly was born in Podolia Gubernia of the Russian Empire and later moved to Ukraine with her family. Isadore and Molly met and married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1910 and moved to Toronto in 1911. The Pinkus family settled in Kensington Market in around 1914 and was one of the first Jewish settlers to the Kensington neighbourhood. David spent his entire life living in the Kensington Market area. He lived on 83 Huron Street until 1927 when the Pinkus family moved to 34 Nassau Street, which has been the house of the Pinkus family ever since. David had two siblings: brother Max and sister Goldie.
In his childhood, David attended the Brunswick Talmud Torah daily and learned Hebrew. He had his bar mitzvah at the Kiever Shul. David attended William Houston School until 1930 and Ryerson Public School until grade eight. Later, he attended Harbord School for high school and was also involved with sports at Harbord Collegiate and YMHA. In 1947, David obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. After graduation, he worked at Goodyear for one year and returned to the University of Toronto as an instructor of engineering drawing and machine design. Later, he worked at various places such as Canadian Industries Limited in Maitland, Toronto Iron Works, and Avro Aircraft Limited.
David’s father, Isadore, was one of the founders of the Kiever Synagogue. David’s involvement with the Kiever Synagogue started in 1947, following Isadore’s death. David served as president and held positions on the executive of the Kiever Shul and played a principal role in the restoration of the shul. He also served on Toronto’s Board of Health as well as the boards of the Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, and St. Christopher House. In addition, David was an active community leader and local historian. He did genealogical research for many Toronto Jewish families. David had been recognized by the National Jewish Federation of North America as a Jewish community hero in 2011. He passed away on May 6, 2021.
Custodial History
Records received after the death of David Pinkus through Joseph Solomon, the executor of David Pinkus’ estate. Records have been selected by archivists following a site visit at David’s home at 34 Nassau Street, Toronto.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of textual records, graphic material, sound recordings, architectural drawings, artifacts, and a small number of philatelic records, most of which document David Pinkus’ career and personal life, the Pinkus family, the Kiever Shul, the Kiever Cemetery, as well as Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Mount Sinai Memorial Park) and the Dawes Road Cemeteries (Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees), of which the Kiever Congregation is a member organization. Also included are documents and photographs of other individuals and families, which David collected for his genealogical research, and those that are pertaining to Kensington Market and other congregations and cemeteries.
Textual records include correspondence; scrapbooks; education records; identification documents; research notes and clippings relating to David’s genealogical research; documents pertaining to his Kensington Market activism and community work; files on David’s engineering career and his role as president of the Kiever Shul; and files documenting the Pinkus family members, such as funeral documents, notebooks, family correspondence, voters’ lists, and records relating to Pinkus Fruit Co. and 34 Nassau Street. Also included are records documenting the Kiever Shul, which include meeting minutes, ledger books, financial documents, legal documents, membership lists and application forms, address books, high holiday service cards, and historic papers dating from the 1920s and 1930s. Textual records documenting the Kiever Cemetery, Mount Sinai Memorial Park, and the Dawes Road Cemeteries are mainly comprised of cemetery maps, burial plot cards, burial record books, by-laws and regulations, and meeting minutes. Also present are records pertaining to other congregations and cemeteries, such as constitution books, brochures, booklets, and copies of legal documents.
Photographs mainly feature David Pinkus and the Kiever Cemetery, with a small number featuring the Pinkus family members, the Junction Synagogue (Congregation Knesseth Israel), the Great Choral Synagogue of Kyiv, and those that David collected for his genealogical research.
Architectural drawings of this fonds include the restoration and renovation plan for the Kiever Shul and the alteration plan for Mount Sinai Cemetery Administration Building.
Also present are sound recordings, including cassettes and microcassettes of David Pinkus; and artifacts, including felt patches, pin back buttons, medals, Toronto foot-pedlar registration badges, and a wooden gavel of the Kiever Shul.
Fonds has been arranged into the following series: David Pinkus’ personal records; Kensington Market; David Pinkus’ genealogical research; the Pinkus family; the Kiever Shul; the Kiever Cemetery; Mount Sinai Memorial Park; the Dawes Road Cemeteries; and other associations, congregations, and cemeteries.
Notes
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Also included are 22 architectural drawings, 7 maps, 4 audio cassettes, 2 microcassettes, 1 optical disc, 8 drawings, 2 prints, 1 photo collage, 34 pinback buttons, 15 Toronto padler-on-foot registration badges, 8 felt patches, 3 medals, 3 brooches, 1 wooden gavel, 2 tax tokens, 2 postage stamps, 1 sales tax stamp, and 9 revenue stamps.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Books that were initially included in this fonds have been removed and incorporated into the OJA’s library collection. These books are: Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan with an introduction by Rick Salutin, Toronto No Mean City by Eric Arthur revised by Stephen A. Otto, Canadian Jewish Directory edited by Edmond Y. Lipsitz, The Toronto Jewish Directory, and The Canada Year Book 1905 (second series).
HISTORY/BIO NOTE: Information is sourced from OH 413 and the content of the fonds.
Name Access
Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Toronto, Ont.)
Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto, Ont.)
Dawes Road Cemetery (Toronto, Ont.)
Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees (Toronto, Ont.)
Subjects
Families
Synagogues
Genealogy
Cemeteries
Access Restriction
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
Repro Restriction
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Related Material
See accessions 2004-1-5, 2004-1-6, 2004-2-1, 2008-11-9, 2016-3-48, and 2021-10-1 for additional information on the Kiever Shul; and OH 413 for more information on David Pinkus and the Pinkus family.
Arrangement
Records came into the OJA with no discernible order. Arrangement has been imposed by the archivist.
Creator
Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
2021-7-3
Source
Archival Descriptions
Accession Number
2015-9-23
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2015-9-23
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
[194-]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a bound document entitled 'This Is Our Faith'. The subtitle is 'The Religion of the Jews' and it appears to have been presented at a seminar of religions, under the auspices of Community Programs Branch, Department of Education, Province of Ontario.
Custodial History
There is no information on the acquisition of this material.
Subjects
Religion
Politics and government
Name Access
Cohen, Julius
Places
Toronto, Ont.
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-6-12
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2016-6-12
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
Physical Description
ca. 60 cm of textual records
11 photographs (3 negatives) : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
Date
1976-[ca. 1990]
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual and graphic records that trace Natan Sharansky's history as a prisoner of political conscience; the broader Refusenik issue; and the community advocacy efforts of Debby and Stan Solomon from 1976 and into the late 1980s at the local, national and international scales. Included are memos and newsletters from the Committee for Soviet Jewry (Ontario Region and national-level); background information as well as petition templates, speeches and planning documentation produced by the Committee to Release Anatoly Sharansky and the Beth Tikvah Synagogue in conjunction with community organizations, including the CJC and its Soviet Jewry social action committees, to support on-going advocacy efforts; correspondence with Canadian and American political representatives at the provincial/state and national levels; white papers/grey literature from non-governmental organizations about the persecution of the Soviet Jewry; planning documentation from the First Annual Sharansky Lectureship on Human Rights in 1980; correspondence, articles and ephemera associated with the granting of Sharansky's honourary law doctorate from York University in 1982; 1985 Freedom Rally/Weekend in Ottawa planning documentation and correspondence; 1987 National Conference on the Soviet Jewry and Mobilization for Freedom planning documentation; 1987 Community Rally at Massey Hall promotional materials; and promotional materials from Sharansky's autobiographical "Fear No Evil" 1988 book launch. Graphic material includes photographs of Sharansky's release during the February 11, 1986 American-Soviet prisoner exchange on the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin.
Identified in the photographs are: Debby Solomon; Stan Solomon; Natan Sharansky; Avital Sharansky; U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt;
Custodial History
Material was collected and/or created by Debby Solomon, Natan Sharansky's cousin. Debby donated it to the OJA.
Administrative History
Debby Solomon is the cousin of Anatoly (Natan) Sharansky, the Soviet born Israeli politician, human activist and author who spent nine years in Soviet prisons. Debby's father Boris Landis (born 1900) and Sharansky's father were first cousins.Their grandfathers were brothers. Debby's father immigrated 1929 to Toronto from Russia as his older brothers were already in Toronto. Debby and her husband Stan Solomon got involved in the community's activism efforts to free Sharansky and other Refuseniks.They were worked for many years on these efforts by planning programs through their synagogue Beth Tikvah and with Sam Filer, a lawyer and volunteer at the CJC who was also a member of Beth Tikvah.
Subjects
Antisemitism
Politics and government
Human rights
Demonstrations
Synagogues
Committees
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2017-2-12
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2017-2-12
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
45 cm of textual records and other material
230 photographs : sepia and b&w ; 23 x 30 cm and smaller
8 sound recordings (50 wav files; 1 microcassette)
1 artifact
Date
1937-2004
Scope and Content
Accession consists of textual records, photographs and audio recordings documenting the lives of Dick Steele, his wife Esther, and friend Bill Walsh. The materials are mostly correspondences between Dick and Esther during his internment at the Don Jail and Ontario Reformatory in Guelph, and from Dick and Bill's military service overseas during the Second World War. They also include correspondences between Esther and Bill, Bill and Anne Walsh, "Jack" and Esther, and other family and friends. Some of the letters show evidence of being censored. There are news clippings in English and Yiddish about the family from various newspapers including the Canadian Tribune (a Communist Party paper). There is a letter Esther wrote to campaign for Dick's release from internment, part of women's activism in this period. There is also a photocopy of a memoir written by Moses Kosowatsky and Moses Wolofsky "From the Land of Despair to the Land of Promise" ca. 1930s.
The photographs include Dick and Bill in the army during the Second World War, a signed picture of Tim Buck addressed to Esther and the twins and a photo of Dick delivering a speech related to the Steel Workers. Also included is a recording of edited sound clips of Bill and Esther talking about Dick, Esther speaking about the letters, (how she received letters and flowers from Dick after he had already been killed), Bill reading a letter Dick wrote to Esther that he left with friends in England to send her in the case that he was killed (which he was), recordings of "Bill Walsh Oral history" Vols.1 and 2 compiled by Leib Wolofsky's (Bill's nephew), and 5 audio recordings by Adrianna Steele-Card with her grandparents Bill and Esther. There is also a microcassette labelled "Joe Levitt."
The accession also includes the stripe of a German corporal that Bill captured as a prisoner, peace stamps and an early copy of Cy Gonick's A Very Red Life: The Story of Bill Walsh, edited by Bill.
Administrative History
Richard "Dick" Kennilworth Steele is the name adopted by Moses Kosowatsky. He was born in 1909 in Montreal to Samuel Kosowatsky and Fanny Held. He lived in a laneway off Clark Street, below Sherbrooke, where his father collected and recycled bottles. He grew up with his siblings, Joseph, Mortimer, Matthew, Gertrude, and Edward.
Bill Walsh (birth name Moishe Wolofsky) was born in 1910, to Sarah and Herschel Wolofsky, the editor of the Keneder Adler (Montreal's prominent Yiddish newspaper). He attended Baron Byng and then Commercial High School, where he met Dick Steele. Bill recalled that Dick denounced militarism in the school when a teacher tried to recruit students to be cadets.
Bill moved to New York City in 1927. His brother, who was living there, helped him get a job as a messenger on Wall Street. He also worked in the drug department at Macy's while attending courses at Columbia University in the evening. Dick worked on a ship for a year and then joined Bill in New York City in 1928. Dick worked at a chemical plant called Linde Air Products while also studying in the evenings at Columbia University.
In 1931, Dick and Bill boarded a ship together in New York bound for Copenhagen. Together, they travelled across Europe, witnessed a Nazi demonstration in Breslau, Germany, and found work in Minsk and Moscow, Russia. This trip inspired them to become Communists. In 1933, Bill's father was on a Canadian trade mission to Poland, which he left to "rescue" his son from the Bolsheviks. Bill agreed to return to Canada after being advised to do so by the Comintern. He then changed his name to Bill Walsh to protect his family.
In 1934, Bill moved to Toronto. He worked as the educational director for the Industrial Union of Needle Trade Workers and the Communist Party, where he met Esther Slominsky/Silver, the organization's office manager. Dick joined Bill in Toronto soon after. Bill introduced Dick and Esther, who then married. In 1940, Esther gave birth to twin sons, Michael and John Steele. Esther was born in Toronto in 1914 to Joseph Slominsky and Fanny (Blackersany?). Her siblings were Bella, Eileen, Morris, and step-sister Eva. Her father, Joseph, was a cloak maker and Esther also worked in the garment industry. Her mother Fanny passed away in 1920 at the age of twenty-six from tuberculosis.
Dick was a metal worker and became a union organizer in the east end of Toronto. He was the head organizer of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee of Canada (SWOC) until 1940, when he was dismissed for being a Communist. Bill helped organize Kitchener's rubber workers into an industrial union and was also an organizer for the United Auto Workers of Windsor, Ontario.
Jack Steele, an alias for Dick's brother Mortimer, fought with the Mackenzie-Papineau Brigade in the Spanish Civil War. Jack Steele was recalled to Canada in October 1937 to rally support for the efforts in Spain, returned to the front in June 1938, and was killed in action in August. Some of Dick's letters to his wife, Esther, are signed "Salud, Jack" and were likely written in 1940 when the Communist Party (CP) was banned by the Canadian government under the War Measures Act.
In November 1941, after Mackenzie King's call for enlistment, Dick wrote to the Department of Justice to ask permission to join the army. He never received a reply. On 1 April 1942, Dick's home was raided and he was interned at the Don Jail until September 1942, when he was moved to the Ontario Reformatory in Guelph. Esther wrote a letter to the minister of justice, Louis St. Laurent, to appeal on his behalf.
Major public campaigning by Communists and the wartime alliance with the USSR after 1941 shifted public opinion toward the CP, and the Canadian government slowly began releasing internees in January 1942. Dick was released in October 1942 and enlisted at the end of the month. Dick died on 17 August 1944 in Normandy, France. He was a tank driver in the Canadian Army.
Bill was similarly arrested in 1941, spending time in jail and then an internment camp with other members of the CP. He joined the Canadian Army in 1943 and fought in Holland and Belgium. Bill was first married to Anne Weir who died of a brain hemorrhage in 1943, just before he enlisted. The family believes this may have been due to drinking unpasteurized milk. Encouraged by Dick Steele to take care of his family should he pass in the war, Bill married Esther Steele in 1946. They had a daughter named Sheri and were members of the United Jewish People's Order. For twenty years, Walsh worked for the Hamilton region of the United Electrical Workers (UE). Bill remained a member of the CP until 1967, when we was expelled for criticizing another union leader. He died in 2004. Esther passed away in 2010 at age ninety-six.
Use Conditions
Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
Descriptive Notes
RELATED MATERIAL NOTE: Library and Archives Canada has the William Walsh fonds and MG 28, ser. I 268, USWA, vol.4, SWOC Correspondence, has various letters from Dick Steele ca. 1938. Museum of Jewish Montreal has an oral history with Leila Mustachi (daughter of Max Wolofsky, Bill's brother) where she speaks about Bill, Dick and Esther. USE CONDITION NOTES: For "Bill Walsh Oral history" Vols.1 and 2, some contributors stipulate that recordings are restricted to personal use only and must not be used for any commercial purpose.
Subjects
World War, 1939-1945
Politics and government
Labour and unions
Name Access
Steele, Michael
Steele, Dick
Walsh, Bill
Walsh, Esther Steele
Places
England
Fort William (Ont.)
Germany
Guelph (Ont.)
Hamilton (Ont.)
Montréal (Québec)
Netherlands
Oshawa (Ont.)
Ottawa (Ont.)
Thunder Bay (Ont.)
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-3-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-3-1
Material Format
graphic material
textual record
object
Physical Description
26 cm of textual records
ca. 300 photographs : b&w and col. ; 35 x 28 cm or smaller
2 objects
Date
1912-2009
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Glen Eker's family, particularly the Hurowitz/Horwitz and Strachman/Strathman family lines.
Included are: ca. 300 photographs, mostly of friends and family, but also including numerous photographs of Banff, Alberta; certificates issued to members of the Horwitz family; family trees; letters from Elizabeth Gordon to Glen containing family history; a Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society member badge; a kiddush cup commemorating Pride of Israel's golden jubilee; print and microform copies of Glen's Jews Resident in ... series of indexes; medical records; a glass measuring cup with the logo of Bayview Pharmacy; and other assorted material.
Photo Caption (001): Joseph Horwitz and Rebecca Strachman, [ca. 1920]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Photo Caption (058): [Alice Moon?], 1944. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Photo Caption (189):Wanda Louise Gordon, 2 May 1942. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Photo Caption (190): [Unknown girl, 194-?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Photo Caption (199): Rosh Hashanah card featuring portrait of Joseph Horwitz, [ca. 1920]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Photo Caption (200): Irving Howard, [19--]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2018-3-1.
Administrative History
Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
Descriptive Notes
Associated materials: Other accessions donated by Glen Eker include 2018-4-1, 2018-4-2, 2018-4-16, and 2018-5-1.
Subjects
Genealogy
Rosh ha-Shanah cards
Vacations
Name Access
Eker (family)
Eker, Glen
Horwitz (family)
Hurowitz (family)
Strachman (family)
Strathman (family)
Places
Banff (Alta.)
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-3-2
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-3-2
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
10 cm of textual and graphic material (2 vol.)
Date
1976-1993
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a scrapbook documenting the Yedidot Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women and a photo album documenting programming of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Canada (Toronto). The Scrapbook includes photographs, invitations and notes, programmes and other related ephemera. The album includes photographs documenting the Summer Seminar on Jewish Genealogy held in Toronto on June 27-30, 1993 at the Park Plaza Hotel.
Administrative History
The Yedidot Chapter was formed in 1977. Chairpersons included Marsh Cohen (1976-1977); Cheryl Sonenberg (1977-1978); Noreen Horowitz (1978-1979); Adena Glasner (1979-1980); Elaine Safer (1980-1981); Blanca Abramson (1981-1982); Pauline Gold (1982-1983); Isabel Schnapp (1983-1984); Paula Frisch (1984-1985): Ellen Lewkowicz (1985-1986).
Subjects
Genealogy
Women
Name Access
National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-4-1
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-4-1
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
ca. 40 photographs : b&w and col. ; 17 x 13 cm or smaller
1 folder of textual records
Date
1921-2017
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Glen Eker's family. Included are: ca. 40 photographs of family and friends; biographical information for Benjamin Eker, Glen's grandfather; a genealogy article by Deborah Pekilis, Glen's wife, on the Issenmans of Montreal; and a copy of Glen's grandparents' marriage certificate.
Administrative History
Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
Descriptive Notes
Associated materials: Other accessions donated by Glen Eker include 2018-3-1, 2018-4-2, 2018-4-16, and 2018-5-1.
Subjects
Families
Genealogy
Name Access
Eker (family)
Eker, Glen
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-4-16
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2018-4-16
Material Format
textual record
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
Date
[199-]-2004
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting Glen Eker's work as a genealogical researcher. Included are articles of Glen's that were published in a number of newsletters including Shaviv (the Spark), Generations, Ancestry Magazine, Family History News, Families, the Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Hamilton and Area Newsletter. The accession also includes reviews of Glen's books.
Administrative History
Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
Descriptive Notes
Associated materials: Genealogical articles can also be found in MG 9 (Shem Tov). Other accessions donated by Glen Eker include 2018-3-1, 2018-4-1, 2018-4-2, and 2018-5-1.
Subjects
Genealogy
Name Access
Eker (family)
Eker, Glen
Places
Canada
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-12-3
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2019-12-3
Material Format
textual record
graphic material
Physical Description
ca. 33 cm of textual records and other material
Date
1913-2014
Scope and Content
Accession consists of material documenting the maternal (Cohn) and paternal (Levy) branches of the donor's family. Included are cards, certificates, death certificates, degrees, diplomas, family trees, letters, an oral history transcript, passports, photographs, reference materials, telegrams, and other records.
Individuals documented in the records include: Al Berns, Etta Cohn, Judah Cohn, Natalie Cohn, Stanley Cohn, Sylvia Cohn, Al Cole, Myer Drazin, Manny Godfrey, Bert Gold, Dan Gold, Jonah Gold, Yenta Kohl, Ann Levy, Corinne Levy, Edgar Levy, Lois Levy, Nancy Levy, Joan Lipton, Joy Matsuzaki, Raymond Mock,Edythe Noss, Harvey Noss, Mark Noss, Walter Lyons, Judy Rubin, Richard Seymour, and Elaine Zimmerman.
Caption (030): Edgar Levy shortly after arrival in Canada, [ca. 1921]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2019-12-3.
Administrative History
The Noss family traces its origins to Russia/Ukraine. The patriarch, Avraham Noss, died after contracting typhus after being badly beaten in a pogrom. His wife, Toiba, died of either cholera, typhus, or influenza (accounts vary). They left behind four children: Raisa, Meyer, Joseph, and Moshe. The extended family took care of the four orphans but did not have enough food to feed them, so the three youngest were put in a Jewish orphanage. The eldest, Raisa, was too old but came every day to visit her brothers. One day, she arrived only to be told, "The missionaries took them away." The entire orphanage was brought to Canada. A Mr. Hershman from Toronto was involved as was a congregation of Christadelphians from Hamilton including a Mr. Farrar who owned a good-quality clothing store.
Raisa remained in Russia, where she received an education from the Communist Party and became an engineer. Meyer kept in touch with his sister for as long as possible, but the two eventually lost touch.
The Drazin family took in Meyer, the eldest brother, although the family never adopted him. Despite this, he changed his name to Drazin. Joseph ("Joe") was adopted but was returned to Children's Aid, where he went from foster home to foster home. He eventually took back the Noss family name. As for Moshe, he was adopted by Moses Levy and Marietta Steinert. Moshe's new parents changed his name to Edgar Steinert Levy. Edgar Levy is thus the same individual as Moshe Noss. Marietta was well-known in the Hamilton community, and a chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women was named after her.
Use Conditions
Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
Descriptive Notes
Accompanying material: After donating the records in her possession, the donor emailed the archivist a document titled "Noss Family Story," which the archivist used to compose the biographical sketch. The document has been saved with other supporting documentation.
Subjects
Families
Genealogy
Name Access
Cohn (family)
Levy, Corinne,1917-1978
Levy, Edgar, 1915-1980
Levy (family)
Levy, Marietta Steinbert, 1858-1928
Noss (family)
Places
Canada
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2020-1-6
Source
Archival Accessions
Accession Number
2020-1-6
Material Format
multiple media
Physical Description
1 folder of textual records
2 pins
1 ring
1 optical disc
28 photographs : b&w and col. (1 contact sheet) ; 15 x 10 cm or smaller
Date
1925, 1950-1998
Scope and Content
Accession consists of a binder of notes related to the Goldenberg Scroll, created by Sara Edell Shafler Kelman. The scroll was the project of Dr. Henry Goldenberg who captured the genealogical history of his patients with Galician roots on the paper that lined the exam table in his office. The notes are primarily anecdotes about Dr. Goldenberg rather than his patients. Also included is a photograph of Dr. Goldenberg, as well photographs of his wife and daughter Helen and Ricki with Sara Edell, and a photograph of a 25th wedding anniversary celebration for Avromtche Kurtz and Yente Goldenberg Kurtz.
This accession also includes clippings and photographs related to Ben Kayfetz including one of him with Meyer Sharzer and Danny Drutz; a Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society ring and pin owned by Harry Arnoff; a Sunnyside Lodge 449 pin owned by Harry Arnoff; as well as a recording of an interview with Barry Little.
Custodial History
The material in this accession was created and/or compiled by Sara Edell Shafler Kelman. It was later given to Bill Gladstone, who in turn donated the material to OJA. Many of the records are annotated, though it is not always clear whether the annotations were made by Kelman or Gladstone.
Subjects
Genealogy
Places
Toronto (Ont.)
Source
Archival Accessions
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory
Date
1931
Publisher
International Advertising Agency
Format
Directory
Subject
City Directories
Genealogy
Language
English
Source
1931 Toronto Jewish Directory