- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 38
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [190-]-2002
- Physical Description
- 2.6 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) was the first national Jewish women's organization in Canada. The council had its beginnings among the urban elite, and played a strong role over the years in influencing public policy in such areas as relations with Israel, national unity, and the plight of world Jewry. The NCJWC is dedicated, in the spirit of Judaism, to furthering human welfare in the Jewish and general communities -- locally, nationally and internationally. It operated around three main pillars: service, education, and social action.
- The National Council of Jewish Women was founded in the United States in 1893 by activist Hannah G. Solomon. In 1897, its first Canadian chapter was established in Toronto. In 1925, with seven chapters in Canada, a Canadian liaison position to the National Council of Jewish Women was created. A full-fledged “Canadian Division” of the NCJW was formed in 1934, with rules drafted at the first conference in Winnipeg three years later. Irene Samuel served as the Canadian Division’s first national president. In 1943, the division was renamed the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, and was officially incorporated in 1944, though it did not receive its letters patent until three years later. Even so, the NCJWC still retained some affiliation with the NCJW, whereby they paid per-capita dues to the Americans in return for program and administrative materials. In 1967 the NCJWC ceased these payments altogether, thereby separating from NCJW completely.
- The early NCJWC focused on providing service to young girls and immigrants. They also involved themselves in contemporary politics through support for the war effort; the council donated vehicles to the Red Cross, turned Council House into a servicemen's centre, and even built several libraries at Canadian army camps. A national office opened ca. 1950 in Toronto, but until 1966 it moved to the national president's home city with every election. That year the office was permanently anchored in Toronto. In the 1950s and 1960s the council established Good Age clubs, the Irene Samuel Scholarship Fund, and developed the national Higher Horizons child-care and Newer Horizons elder-care programs. It expanded its overseas programs with support for the Israel Family Counseling Association and Ship-a-Box. The Soviet Jewry projects in the 1970s and 1980s reflected the council’s increasing emphasis on social action. Since the late 1990s, the council has focused on women's issues with efforts such as the Breast Self-Examination (BSE) program.
- The NCJWC was governed by an executive council, led by a president. Vice-presidents were each responsible for one portfolio, such as membership, public affairs, etc., which were in turn made up of a number of national committees. The national executive was responsible for producing by-laws, guidelines, policies and procedures, as well as developing national service and social action programs. National also provided support and program materials to the sections, and held biennial meetings every other year from 1937 in cities across Canada. Its decentralized structure meant that while the national office remained in Toronto, officers of the executive have resided right across the country.
- As of 1997, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada was an affiliate member of the International Council of Jewish Women, a member of UNESCO Canadian Subcommission of the Status of Women, and a member of the Coalition of Jewish Women Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition for Agunot Rights. Prominent past presidents include Mrs. Harry (Irene) Samuel, Mrs. Lucille Lorie, Dr. Reva Gerstein, Mozah Zemans, Mina Hollenberg, Sophie Drache, Thelma Rolingher, Helen Marr, Bunny Gurvey, Sheila Freeman, Penny Yellen, and Gloria Strom. The council’s national office moved to Winnipeg in November, 1993. As of 2006, the council still had 5 active sections in Canada: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.
- Custodial History
- NCJWC donated these records to the OJA after they had finished a historical exhibit and catalogue in 1997 called "Faith and Humanity," celebrating 100 years of NCJWC.
- Scope and Content
- The fonds documents NCJWC’s fundraising, social service and social action work in Toronto, in other cities across the country, and overseas. Records include conference and meeting programs, minutes, hand-written correspondence, speeches and reports, national newsletters, published histories, by-laws and policies, photographs, publicity material, historical subject files and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series: National biennial conventions and annual meetings; National Executive Council; National portfolios and committees; National program and event materials; National history research and subject files; International Council of Jewish Women; Toronto Section; Photos and audio-visual material; and National Council of Jewish Juniors, Toronto Section.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes ca. 2470 photographs, 13 architectural drawings, 2 artistic drawings, 3 badges, 3 medals, 1 pin, 28 audio cassettes, and 1 videocassette.
- Name Access
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
- Subjects
- Women
- Related Material
- See also: photographs 3207, 3192, 4140, 4067, 4066, 4434; Accession 1977-8-7 for National Council of Jewish Women of Welland; National Council of Jewish Juniors, photographs 458, 459, 460, 463, 464, 465, 466, 468; MG2 B-1K
- Arrangement
- Records have been arranged by function, in accordance with information gleaned from NCJWC's organizational charts and annual reports
- Creator
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
- Accession Number
- 2001-8-4
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1932-2002
- Physical Description
- 1.56 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The first Canadian section of the National Council of Jewish Women was founded in Toronto in 1897. Toronto Section has been one of the most active sections of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada and has provided many of its leaders. This series charts the growth of Toronto Section, predominantly from the 1930s through the early 1990s.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of annual reports, bulletins and Council Communiqués, executive and board minutes, chairmen's handbooks, event and Angel's Ball programs and invitations, publicity material, scrapbooks, photographs, newsclippings, published histories, reports, anniversary booklets, architectural drawings of Council House, certificates, playscripts, audio recordings and a videocassette of the council's history.
- The series is divided into 13 sub-series: Presidents; Executive; Board of Directors; Communication porfolio; Membership portfolio; Education portfolio; Thrift shop portfolio; Ways and means portfolio; Finance portfolio; House committee; Service portfolio; Special events; and Toronto Section archival material.
- Notes
- Physical decscription note: Includes 2080 photographs, 2 artistic drawings, 13 architectural drawings, 1 object and 1 sound recording.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National Executive Council series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1933-1988
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Executive Council was the main governing body of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada.
- Scope and Content
- Series is composed of two sub-series: National Presidents and National Administration.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1937-1995
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- 2 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada conducted its activites through a number of national portfolios, each headed by a national vice-president and composed of a number of committees.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of reports, publicity, guidelines, by-laws, and other material generated by these various national committees and portfolios. It also includes fairly full sets of the national periodicals Canadian Council Women, Keeping You Posted and The New Edition.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a fact sheet giving the history of the various chapters of NCJW, a photocopy of a photo of three members and a newspaper article titled "NCJW of Canada Facing Ninth Decade of Service with 85th Anniversary Rally Day".
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [196-?]-1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photograph of members packing boxes, a pamphlet about NCJW's overseas program, a newspaper article about a family life conference in Israel, brochures and a booklet about Israel Family Counselling Services, sponsored by NCJW.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the archives to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- File
- 9
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1971-1995
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of brochures titled "Guidelines for Program and Action" for the years 1971-73, 1973-75, 1975-77, 1985-87 and 1993-95. There is also a guide for program and action, dated 1985-87, which states its principles and positions.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1940-1948
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of pamphlets from South Africa, England and Australia and a radio broadcast announcement from National Council of Jewish Women, New York.
- Name Access
- National Council of Jewish Women. New York Section
- Subjects
- Women
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1989-1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of seven copies of "The Newsletter", three published by ICJW France and four by ICJW Canada. The newsletters provide information about council activities and conferences, both local and international, and news of interest to council members.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one copy of "Women 2000", issue no. 3, a newsletter listing activities of non-governmental organizations. The reason for the publication is to promote the goals of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women. A newsletter column is devoted to International Council of Jewish Women as an organization dealing entirely or mainly with women.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one copy of "Hot Flashes", dated September 1996. It is the first issue of a six page news-sheet published by ICJW, London, England, with information about people, along with current and forthcoming events.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [195-?]-1995
- Physical Description
- 9 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two photocopies of photographs taken at the opening session of the ICJW in London, England on May 23, 1954; a photograph taken at the 11th Regional Lation American Congress; a scrapbook page of four photographs celebrating Jewish culture; a photograph of 8 pictures of activities in council homes in Paris and Athens and a portrait of a group of council members.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1988-1991
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of three books related to the Rosa and Esteban Herczeg Jerusalem seminar for Jewish education. The first is a selection of stories (November 1988), the second is titled "The Quincentenary of the Spanish Expulsion - Dispersion and Unity", (November 1991) and the third, "The Golden Age of Hebrew Poetry in Spain 950-1450", (November 1991).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 13
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1972
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a ICJW 9th Triennial Convention newsletter titled "Convention-Ear" dated May, 30, 1972; a thank you letter from the national president and convention chariman, and two photographs taken at the convention.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 14
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1987
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an ICJW 14th Triennial Convention newsletter titled "Convention-Ear"; a "Welcome to Vancouver" newsletter; a daily program book; a closing banquet program; a membership report; suggested revisions for the ICJW resolutions to be passed at the convention and other miscellaneous material.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 16
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an ICJW 15th Triennial Convention book pertaining to a convention in Jerusalem, May 19-23, 1990. The theme is "Women: Challenges and Choices Toward the 21st Century".
- Subjects
- Congresses and conventions
- Places
- Jerusalem
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 18
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1953
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of memorabilia related to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, attended by Toni Robinson as a representative of NCJW of Canada.
- Name Access
- Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1926-
- Subjects
- Heads of state
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 19
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1985-1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a history of Bunny Gurvey's term of office, her president's report to the Biennial Convention at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, June 9-13, 1985; letters and a newsclipping in the Winnipeg "Jewish Post & News".
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1987-1990
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an ICJW directory and reports from: Public Relations (chair: Ester Landa, USA), North American Committee (chair: Dorothy Reitman, Canada), Status of Women Committee (chair: Shirley Joseph, USA), Soviet Jewry Committee (chair: Jeanette Goldman, Canada) and International Committee Soviet Jewry (June Jacobs, England).
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 23
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1992-1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of several detailed mailings from Helen Marr, President, ICJW to other presidents and committee executives; minutes of a pre-convention executive committee meeting; and minutes of a post-convention executive meeting.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [1947?]-1989
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 14 photographs : b&w and col. (4 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a list of Toronto Section presidents from 1897 to 1997, 4 negatives and 14 photographs of some of these presidents, and newclippings about the Toronto Section of the NCJW.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1960-1968
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of miscellaneous correspondence, some concerning NCJW business, and others from Council members praising her for achievements, graciousness, exemplary character and kindness.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1971-1982
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : b&w and col. ; 13 x 18 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of correspondence, newclippings, a copy of Fay Mosoff's speech given when she received the NCJW Toronto Section Community Service Award, letters of appreciation for her leadership and volunteerism, and other miscellaneous information.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
