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Samuel Godfrey
- Accession Number
- 1982-8-9
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1982-8-9
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 2 microfilm reels
- Date
- 1943-1972
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of two microfilm reels, one negative and one positive, of a scrapbook compiled by Sara Godfrey of Toronto, the wife of Samuel Godfrey. The documents in the scrapbook include newspaper clippings, photographs, invitations and event programmes. These include a booklet for the building campaign for the new Jewish Community Centre at Bloor and Spadina; a programme from the official opening of the Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital in 1954; a "Y-Time" newsletter of the YM-YWHA of Toronto from 1972; and UJWF annual reports. Other organizations documented include YM-YWHA, including the "Northern Y"; Mount Sinai Hospital; Deborah chapter of Hadassah; and Community Chest of Greater Toronto. Most of the records relate to Samual Godfrey, O.B.E. A smaller number are written by or are about Dr. I. Pollock, and there are some clippings related to the social and cultural activities of Sara Godfrey, for example with Hadassah and the Women's Auxiliary of Mount Sinai Hospital.
- Administrative History
- Samuel Godfrey was a successful businessman and an active leader in Toronto's Jewish community in the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Russian Poland in 1899 to Solomon and Minnie (Fleishman) Godfrey, he came to Toronto as a baby. His first job was as a newsboy. In 1922, he established a company that became one of Canada's largest waste and wool merchants: S. Godfrey, Ltd. As well, he was president of several other companies. In 1925, Godfrey married Sara E. Levi and the couple had three daughters, Sheila, Judith and Margaret. Sheila married Dr. Ira Pollock, son of Clara Teich Pollock and Maurice Aaron Pollock.
- Samuel Godfrey was involved with numerous entities during a time of expansion for the Jewish community. He was a founding co-chairman of the United Jewish Welfare Fund in 1938; president of the United Jewish Appeal in 1941; president of the Community Chest of Greater Toronto; co-chair of the building committee for the new Jewish Community Centre at Bloor and Spadina; and he was involved in fundraising for the construction of the new Mount Sinai Hospital.
- Godfrey was nominated to run for the federal Liberal party in the October 1955 by-election, but lost to the Conservative Party. He was invested in the Office of the British Empire in 1948 and he and his wife established the Samuel Godfrey Scholarship at the University of Toronto's medical school. Samuel Godfrey died in 1956.
- Descriptive Notes
- Microfilmed in 1982.
- RELATED MATERIAL NOTE: For further detailed information about the United Jewish Welfare Fund see Fonds 67, records of the UJWF.
- Subjects
- Philanthropy and fundraising
- Name Access
- Godfrey, Samuel
- Godfrey, Sara
- United Jewish Welfare Fund (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions