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Louise Rotman [graphic material] – 1927,1937.

Accession Number: 2021-12-5

Source: Archival Accessions

Accession Number: 2021-12-5

Material Format: graphic material

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 70 cm; 1 photograph : b&w ; 37 x 58 cm

Date: 1927,1937

Scope and Content: Accession consists of two photographs documenting the 1927 B'nai Brith Grand Lodge No. 1 convention and the 1927 sixth national convention of the Federation of Young Judaea of Canada, which was held in Toronto.; The B'nai Brith Grand Lodge No 1 Convention took place on 23 May 1937 at the Hotel Statler. Identified in the photograph is Dr. Nicholas Sole and Bertha Minden Sole, the parents of Louise Sole Rotman. The photograph is by Famous Studio, photographer Bob Hauser.; Sole Family history book entitled "Sole Family Legacy Book." The book was created by the donor's daughter, Tami Martino (née Rotman), and is compiled from the collections of all the families across Canada and the United States. We all share a common ancestry, descended from Joseph Nuszen and Regina (Berman Sole), who came to Canada from Hungary. It covers 150 years of our collective history down Joseph Nuszen Sole's line, 6 generations, and every family member is represented to the publishing date (2009). Additional information is provided for 55 family members down the maternal (Regina Berman's) line. Her father was a Rabbi, and most of that side did not get out of Hungary and they perished in the Holocaust, their names are all provided. For those of us whose descendants came to Canada, we have families involved in numerous professions and contributing to the vibrant Jewish life in Canada in many ways.

Administrative History: Louise Rotman (née Sole) was born in 1942 in Hamilton, Ontario. She is the daughter of Dr. Nicholas Sole (1901–1971), who emigrated from Kisvárda, Hungary in 1927, and Bertha Minden (née Sole, 1909–1994), who emigrated from Zhytomyr, Russia with her family in 1911. Her brother was Dr. Mickey Sole (1938–2018). From the age of a teenager, she was involved as a volunteer for Jewish organizations and assisting as a fundraiser for the United Jewish Appeal. She was a treasurer of the Temple Youth Group and a secretary of the Senior Youth Council. Later, as an adult, she was treasurer of the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre, chair of the Camp Committee, treasurer of the UJA Federation, president of B'nai B'rith Women Hamilton chapter, president of the Deborah Sisterhood of Temple Anshe Sholom, and the first female president of the oldest Reform synagogue in Canada: Temple Anshe Sholom. She continued to watch over the temple's finances for twenty-one years. Louise graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor of science degree and married Laurence Rotman (1937–2021). She had a short teaching career at Westdale Secondary School before the birth of her children: Tami Martino (née Rotman), Mark Rotman, and Rachelle McGurrin (née Rotman). She has six grandchildren. She was a stay-at-home mom for thirteen years, and later returned to McMaster University, where she received a master of business administration degree and designation as a chartered accountant from the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. She specialized in taxation (mainly in corporate tax planning) and US and Canadian personal tax for a forty-year career, twenty-four of which were spent at MacGillivray Partners in Hamilton. During this period, she assisted the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, marking their uniform final exam, and the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants, marking the provincial tax exams. She retired from public practice in 2007. After retirement, Louise maininted her involvement in the Hamilton Jewish community as captain for the United Jewish Appeal and a permanent board member of Temple Anshe Sholom.; Laurence Rotman was born in 1937 in Toronto, Ontario. He was the son of Hyman Rotman and Adele Rotman (née Kaplan). His sister was Marcia Levy (née Rotman). As a youth, he was president of AZA, a youth-led fraternity for Jewish teenagers and the male wing of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. He was also involved in Young Judaea. In addition, Laurence was involved in the Gamma lota Beta Fraternity in high school and was frosh president at Waterloo Lutheran. In later years, he played major roles in the Jewish community. Some of the highlights were that he was president of B'nai B'rith Hamilton and a past recipient honoree of the State of Israel Bonds. When he and Louise co-chaired the State of Israel bond dinner in 1971, they raised $167,000, which (adjusted for inflation) is equivalent to $1.2 million in 2021. He also led a very eclectic business career. A mainstay business was always Reco Distributors and Mfg. Ltd. He also worked on the board of directors for Creative Arts, as Heart Fund publicity chair, and he was director of sales and marketing for the public company Lawn-A-Mat Chemical and Equipment. He was also a co-owner of Feathers Restaurant, a dinner-and-dancing club in Hamilton, which he described as one of his favourite businesses to run. He was a life master in bridge.

Use Conditions: 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.

Subjects: Congresses and conventions

Name Access: B'nai B'rith. New York Lodge No. 1 (New York, N.Y.); Federation of Young Judaea of Canada

Places: New York (N.Y.).; Toronto (Ont.)

Source: Archival Accessions

Third Conference of Jewish Marxist Youth of US and Canada, Toronto [graphic material] – 1929.

Part Of: Harry Simon fonds

Level: Item

ID: Fonds 23; Item 1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Harry Simon fonds

Level: Item

Fonds: 23

Item: 1

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1929

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 10 x 12 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a copy photograph and corresponding negative of attendees at the third conference of Jewish Marxist youth of the United States and Canada, held in Toronto. Pictured in the second row on the far right is Harry Simon.

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Portraits, Group; 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.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Mendel Granatstein’s home, 1919-1999

Address: 42 St George Street

Source: Landmarks

In 1919, Mr. Mendel Granatstein commissioned Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell to design a three storey Classical Georgian style house located at 42 St. George Street. The house contained a unique feature -- a retractable roof used on Sukkoth. In 1947, the house was acquired by the University of Toronto and was used for a variety of purposes until it was demolished in 1999. The Bahen Centre for Information Technology now stands in its place.

Address: 42 St George Street

Time Period: 1919-1999

Scope Note: In 1919, Mr. Mendel Granatstein commissioned Benjamin Brown and Robert McConnell to design a three storey Classical Georgian style house located at 42 St. George Street. The house contained a unique feature -- a retractable roof used on Sukkoth. In 1947, the house was acquired by the University of Toronto and was used for a variety of purposes until it was demolished in 1999. The Bahen Centre for Information Technology now stands in its place.

History: Mr. Mendel Granatstein was a member of one of the early Jewish families of Toronto. In 1895, he founded M. Granatstein and Sons, Ltd., a junk dealing company, and by the early 20th century, he had become one of the most prosperous Jews in Toronto. Mr. Granatstein was also a community leader, having a hand in the foundation of Beth Jacob Synagogue.

Category: Architecture; Residences

Source: Landmarks

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First Conference of Theatre managers, Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Albertonia Hotel [graphic material] – July 9, 1924.

Level: Item

ID: Item 1880

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 1880

Material Format: graphic material

Date: July 9, 1924

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 30 x 85 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a panoramic photograph of individuals in front of the Albertonia Hotel in Mississauga. Present are Arthur Cohen and N.L. Nathanson.

Name Access: Nathanson, N.L.; Cohen, Arthur; Famous Players; Famous Players Canadian Corporation

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Motion picture theaters; Portraits, Group

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: Mississauga (Ont.)

Accession Number: 1980-1-11

Source: Archival Descriptions

Famous Players Canadian Corporation, eastern managers convention [graphic material] – August 1926.

Level: Item

ID: Item 1881

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 1881

Material Format: graphic material

Date: August 1926

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 25 x 87 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a panoramic photograph of individuals standing outside at a convention for Eastern Managers of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. Convention was held August 24-25, 1926.

Name Access: Famous Players; Famous Players Canadian Corporation

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Motion picture theaters; Portraits, Group

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.

Creator: Panoramic Camera Company

Accession Number: 1980-1-11

Source: Archival Descriptions

Jewish National Workers Alliance, 6th Convention [graphic material] – [1920?].

Level: Item

ID: Item 2472

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 2472

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [1920?]

Physical Description: 2 photographs : (1 negative)

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of members of the Jewish National Workers Alliance of America. The are posed in front of a building draped in Yiddish banners. The location of the convention is uncertain.

Notes: Part of the Seymour and Abi Shatz Collection.

Name Access: Jewish National Workers Alliance

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Labor unions

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: 1980-12-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

6th Poalei Zion Youth Convention, Toronto [graphic material] – 1927.

Level: Item

ID: Item 6034

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 6034

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1927

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w, sepia toned

Scope and Content: Item is a black-and-white photograph taken at the 6th Poalei Zion Youth Convention in Toronto. Pictured is a group of approximately fifty people, men and women, posed in front of a building. There is a Yiddish-language banner in the background welcoming delegates.; The following individuals—delegates?—have been identified in the photograph: Dr. Sam Hurwich, M. Kramer, Sam Heller, Sarah Heller (née Nimon), Albert Edelstein, M. Kurtzman, Chana Meltzer, Nachman Lovinsky, Esther Kramer, Avrum Green, Esther Grant, I.S. Weinrot, Dave Gold, and Florence Manson.; The photograph was probably in front of 24 Cecil Street.

Notes: Attributions and conjectures: Photographed by Modern Studios.; General: For identification, see accession record.

Name Access: Poalei Zion

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Portraits, Group; 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: Cecil Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number: 1992-2-8

Source: Archival Descriptions

7th Convention, Jewish National Workers' Alliance, Toronto [graphic material] – 14 May 1921.

Level: Item

ID: Item 513

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 513

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 14 May 1921

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 19 x 76 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a photograph of the 7th convention of the Jewish National Workers' Alliance in Toronto.

Notes: Writing on the verso says: Donated in memory of Sholom Katz (July 5, 1893-April 5, 1975), born in Poland, came to Canada in 1910, by his wife Rochel.; Negative is missing (Oct. 2, 2013)

Name Access: Jewish National Workers' Alliance

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Portraits, Group

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: Acquired June 22, 1975.

Source: Archival Descriptions

Ontario Section of the Canadian Labour Party's Sixth Annual Convention, Toronto [graphic material] – 1925.

Level: Item

ID: Item 4768

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 4768

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1925

Physical Description: 1 photograph

Scope and Content: Includes: Mr. Lipshitz; Mr. Schniffer; Mr. Gordon; Louis Koldofsky; Sam Carson.

Notes: See accession record.

Subjects: Congresses and conventions

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: 1987-1-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

William Shankman Orchestra at the Grand Theatre in Birmingham, England [graphic material] – [1925 or 1926].

Level: Item

ID: Item 4294

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 4294

Material Format: graphic material

Date: [1925 or 1926]

Physical Description: 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Scope and Content: Identified third from left: William Shankman.

Notes: Photo by Midland Press Agency, 520 Suffolk St., Birmingham.

Subjects: Orchestra; Theaters

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: Birmingham (England)

Accession Number: 1987-9-5

Source: Archival Descriptions

Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) [architectural drawing, textual record] – 1913-1959.

Part Of: Harold S. Kaplan fonds; Architectural projects series; Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Level: Sub-series

ID: Fonds 27; Series 1-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Harold S. Kaplan fonds; Architectural projects series; Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series

Level: Sub-series

Fonds: 27

Series: 1-1

Material Format: architectural drawing; textual record

Date: 1913-1959

Physical Description: 57 drawings : pencil on tracing paper, blueprints and other reproductions ; 72 x 114 cm or smaller; 1 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio: Built in 1913, Loew's Yonge Street Theatre and Winter Garden Theatre complex was the flagship of Marcus Loew's Canadian theatre chain. The theatres were designed by Thomas Lamb as a "double-decker" theatre, with the Winter Garden located seven-stories above the street-level Yonge Street Theatre. This was the only double-decker theatre built in Canada and one of less than a dozen built internationally. The design was considered economical in that it provided a greater amount of seating on a given piece of real estate while allowing the theatre operator to present the same daily show in two theatres. The shows included both vaudeville acts and silent movies.; In 1928, there was a major fire on the site and the Winter Garden Theatre was closed due to the decline in popularity of vaudeville. By 1930, the Yonge Street Theatre was solely a movie theatre, equipped for sound movies. Over the years it gradually fell into disrepair, but continued as a movie theatre until 1981. It was renamed the Elgin Theatre in 1978.; In 1981, the Elgin and Winter Garden were purchased by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, and in 1987 the foundation began a two and half year, $30 million restoration of the theatres. The theatres re-opened in Dec. 1989 exclusively for theatrical productions.

Scope and Content: Sub-series consists of seating plans, blueprints of structural details, and floor plans, sections and elevations for successive alterations (to the entrance, lobby, basement, etc.) of the theatre. The sub-series includes a copy of a city building permit dating from 1934 for renovations carried out by Loew's Theatres Engineering Division. Some of the blueprints date from the original construction of the theatre in 1913.; The sub-series is organized into 9 sub-sub-series, corresponding to project dates of 1913, 1919, 1934, 1939, 1949 (two projects), 1952, 1957 and 1959. The earliest materials, such as those from 1913 and 1919, were not created by Kaplan & Sprachman, but were no doubt used as reference materials for their work at the theatre.; Please note that the blueprints of structural details such as columns and roof reinforcing beams may apply to the theatre complex as a whole, including the Winter Garden Theatre.

Notes: Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.

Name Access: Lamb, Thomas; Elgin Theatre (Toronto); Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto)

Subjects: Theaters

Physical Condition: Some drawings are torn & damaged.; Some are discoloured or damaged by deteriorating pressure-sensitive tape.

Places: Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number: 2003-6-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) [architectural drawing, graphic material] – 1919-1968.

Part Of: Harold S. Kaplan fonds; Architectural projects series; Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Level: Sub-series

ID: Fonds 27; Series 1-2

Source: Archival Descriptions

Part Of: Harold S. Kaplan fonds; Architectural projects series; Loew's Uptown Theatre (Toronto) sub-series

Level: Sub-series

Fonds: 27

Series: 1-2

Material Format: architectural drawing; graphic material

Date: 1919-1968

Physical Description: 132 architectural drawings : pencil (some on tracing paper, some hand col. using pencil crayon), blueprints and other reproductions ; 76 x 106 cm or smaller; 5 photographs : b&w ; 44 x 55 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio: One of sixteen theatres in Canada designed by the well-known architect Thomas W. Lamb, the Uptown Theatre opened in 1920 as a movie and vaudeville theatre of almost 3000 seats, and was later the first theatre in Toronto equipped for sound movies. In 1960 the Uptown's main auditorium was destroyed by a major fire. Kaplan & Sprachman participated in the theatre's subsequent renovation.; In 1969 the Uptown was split into a five screen theatre through conversion of the theatre's balcony, backstage and basement areas. The Uptown was closed and demolished in late 2003 following the 28th Annual Toronto International Film Festival after the cinema operator, Famous Players, decided to close it and other theatres rather than comply with an Ontario Human Rights Commission order to make the theatres fully wheelchair-accessible.

Scope and Content: Sub-series consists of seating plans, blueprints of structural details, floor plans, sections and elevations for successive alterations (to the entrance, lobby, escalator, etc.) of the theatre, as well as several photographs of the Uptown's entrance and auditorium. The sub-series includes a number of hand-coloured drawings of the main auditorium dating from 1962, with paint and fabric samples attached, apparently associated with the re-building of the auditorium following the fire of 1960. The sub-series also includes a set of photo-reproductions of Thomas Lamb's original 1919 plans for the theatre, acquired by Kaplan & Sprachman in 1960.; The sub-series is arranged in 9 sub-sub-series corresponding to project dates of 1919, 1936, 1945, 1949, 1960, 1962, and 1968. The final sub-sub-series relates to work done by Kaplan after the dissolution of Kaplan & Sprachman.; In several cases, a sub-sub-series includes drawings and plans from earlier projects, used as reference materials for the current project.

Name Access: Lamb, Thos. W. (Thomas White), 1871-1942; Uptown Theatre (Toronto, Ont.)

Subjects: Theaters

Physical Condition: Some drawings torn or water-damaged. Some are discoloured or damaged by deteriorating pressure-sensitive tape.

Places: Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number: 2003-6-1

Source: Archival Descriptions

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Twenty-first Zionist convention in Winnipeg [graphic material] – 1927.

Level: Item

ID: Item 2350

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 2350

Material Format: graphic material

Date: 1927

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 95 cm

Scope and Content: Item is a panoramic photograph of individuals standing outside of the Zionist Convention at Winnipeg. The convention, which was organized by the Zionist Convention Committee, was held from 10–12 July 1927.

Subjects: Congresses and conventions; Zionism

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: Winnipeg (Man.)

Source: Archival Descriptions

Canadian Young Judaea national convention (Hamilton) [graphic material] – June 1929.

Level: Item

ID: Item 3869

Source: Archival Descriptions

Level: Item

Item: 3869

Material Format: graphic material

Date: June 1929

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w sepia toned ; 17 x 40 cm

Scope and Content: This item is a photograph of a group of delegates to the Young Judaea national convention in Hamilton, Ontario. Included are A. M. Klein, Lionel Gelber and possibly John Devor.

Subjects: Congresses and conventions

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: Hamilton (Ont.)

Accession Number: 1984-1-8

Source: Archival Descriptions