Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

Collection

Fonds

34

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1882-1996

Physical Description

58 cm of textual records

11 photographs : col. and b&w ; 28 x 36 cm or smaller

4 lantern slides : col. (hand painted) ; 5 x 8 cm

Admin History/Bio

Larry Becker (1939-1998) was a collector with a focus on his native Toronto. He grew up in central Toronto, near Dundas and Ossington, where his father ran a cigar store. Around 1948, the family moved north to Vaughan. Larry attended Lakeshore Teachers' College and married fellow teacher, Rose Weber, in 1961. He taught primary school in Welland, Ontario

Larry returned to Toronto in June 1965, and began collecting for profit and posterity. That year, with the active assistance of his wife Rose, opened the first of three businesses that sold collectables. Both his father and grandfather had been small-scale collectors. From 1965 to 1996, the growing Becker family lived at 25 Lesgay Crescent in North York. In December 1996, the Beckers moved to a larger place in the Kettleby countryside, where Larry had planned to retire and work on his collection

Larry Becker died on February 20th, 1998

Scope and Content

The collection consists of items collected by Larry Becker including postcards, bulletins from Ontario Jewish organizations, sermons, periodicals, books, hand painted lantern slides documenting scenes of Jews in early Toronto, and other material relating to Ontario's Jewry

Notes

Information for biographical sketch gathered and cited from "Collecting Toronto: Through the Eyes of Larry Becker" virtual exhibit from the City of Toronto website at: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/archives/becker_collections/

The lantern slides have been rehoused and moved to the negative cabinet.

Associated material note: The City of Toronto Archives has an extensive collection in the Larry Becker fonds, Fonds 70 (see Accession file for details)

Physical Condition

The textual records are in good condition. The colour photographs are suffering from severe dark fading and have taken on a distinct red cast.

Creator

Becker, Larry (1939-1998)

Accession Number

2002-12-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1937

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of an Independent Order of Foresters dues notice issued by Financial Secretary, Henry Harris of 279 College Street, Toronto, and sent by Recording Secretary, Harry R. Lewis of 252 Augusta Avenue, Toronto to Mr. H. Sobel at 29 Draper Street, Toronto. There are two items in the file: a dues notice and a stamped addressed envelope.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1931

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a pamphlet advertising Jascha Heifetz's concert on January 15, 1931 at Massey Hall, Toronto. Concert Management is by Arthur Judson, Inc. 113W 57th Street New York City. On the back page is an advertisment for Steinway pianos.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1936

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a letter and stamped addressed envelope written in Hebrew/Yiddish to H. Sobel, Toronto, from Y. Spiegel, New York, written on November 3, 1936.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1936

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a C.O.D. receipt belonging to Harry Sobel of 29 Draper Street, Toronto from the T. Eaton Co. Limited.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

16

Material Format

textual record

Date

[19--]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a stock certificate for the Sons of Jacob Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. The certificate is for 3 shares owned by E. Becker.

Physical Condition

Document is torn.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

18

Material Format

textual record

Date

1918, 1968

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M., Mount Sinai Chapter 212 membership cards for Richard Axworthy (honourary member, life member and 50 year button), and a 'one penny" medallion, dated 1918.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

24

Material Format

textual record

Date

1925-1978

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a convocation bulletin for the Mount Sinai Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, dated Dec. 1, 1925 and a 60th anniversary convocation bulletin honouring their Welfare Committee, dated June 6, 1979. Also included is an application for exaltation.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

25

Material Format

textual record

Date

1932, 1971

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a charity receipt from the Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home from 1932, a photcopy of that same charity receipt, and a donation request from the Hebrew National Association (Folks Farein), dated 1971, with a self-addressed envelope.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

32

Material Format

textual record

Date

1936

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a three month calendar for March-May 1936 with journal entries.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

37

Material Format

textual record

Date

[ca.1930]

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of an advertisement/flyer for the Little Hungarian Restaurant -- finest kosher restaurant downtown -- located at 462 Bay Street, opposite City Hall, where a full course meal cost 25 cents.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

54

Material Format

textual record

Date

1922-1964

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of bulletins of the Mason's Palestine Lodge #559 from 1922, 1946 and 1964.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

56

Material Format

textual record

Date

1934

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a transcript of a radio show for CFRB entitled The Wages of War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

57

Material Format

textual record

Date

1930-1937

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of nine pamphlets containing various sermons delivered by Rabbi Eisendrath from the pulpit at Holy Blossom Synagogue.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

59

Material Format

textual record

Date

May 1933

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a bulleting of the Occident Roayl Arch Masons Chapter #77.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

64

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1930]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of a postcard portrait of a man wearing a tallis, produced by "European Studio", 338 Queen Street W, Toronto.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

71

Material Format

textual record

Date

1936

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a marriage certificate for Alfred Becker and Elizabeth Markowitz, dated May 24, 1936, and signed by Rabbi Samuel Sachs and two witnesses in Toronto.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish community events series

Level

Series

Fonds

37

Series

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1936-1979

Physical Description

8 negatives : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs taken by Al and/or Nathan Gilbert that document Jewish events held in the city of Toronto. The kind of events included are dedication ceremonies, groundbreaking ceremonies, city council meetings, dinners and walks.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Jewish community events series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

7

Item

7

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1936]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

The Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society was founded in 1905 to provide assistance to newly arrived immigrants and to promote a prosperous Jewish community. The Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society's Ladies Auxiliary was founded in 1922 with Mrs. Sophie Torno as the first Chairlady. The Ladies Auxiliary assisted the Society in collecting funds for various philanthropic causes. Moreover, they organized lectures and entertainment.

Scope and Content

Item is a negative of the the Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society's Ladies' Auxiliary parade. The image depicts a group of women walking down a street carrying a large banner with the inscription: "Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society Ladies Auxiliary, Friendship, Established 1921." The women have sashes with Pride of Israel across them and 15th Jubilee.

Name Access

Pride of Israel Sick Benefit Society Ladies' Auxiliary

Subjects

Parade

Societies

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions