Rae Watson and the I.L. Peretz School

Physical Description: 18 photographs : b&w ; 30 x 35 cm or smaller; 1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content: Accession consists of original and copy photographs and textual records related to Rae Watson and the I. L. Peretz School. Records related to Rae Watson include photographs of Rae with her children, a photograph of Rae at Kindervelt, Rae's Board of Education campaign card, correspondence, a Workmen's Circle Arbiter Ring membership certificate (for Morris Watson), stock certificates for the Labour Lyceum and Eldorado Camp, newspaper clippings, and a journal that she likely kept documenting a summer at Long Branch cottage (1912) and which contains loose pages of poetry. The bulk of the records are in Yiddish or Russian.; I. L. Peretz School records include three group photographs of students and teachers and one group photograph likely of the Workmen's Circle or I.L. Peretz School Executive. Identified in the Executive photograph is (front row, left to right): Morris Longbord, (?), (?), Paul Frumhartz, Borris Litman, Mrs. Seltzer, and (?). Identified in the three group photographs of students and teachers is Isaac Matenko (man standing with moustache).

Custodial History: These records were loaned to Karen Levine as part of her work with the MHSO. She discovered them recently in her basement and attempted to contact the donors to return them, but could not locate anyone. Thus, she decided to offer them to the OJA. (the Rae Watson records had been lent by her son Dave Watson).

Administrative History: Rae (Rachael) Watson was born in Russia on December 3, 1887 to Sadie (Sara) and Joseph Rivkin. Rae immigrated to Toronto around 1910 and married Morris Watson on November 19, 1912. Together they had two sons: Augustus (b. 3 Dec. 1913 - d. 7 July 1988) and David. Rae worked as a dressmaker and was a leader in Toronto's labour movement. She was also a member of the Yiddisher Arbiter Froyen Fareyn (Jewish Women's Labour League), and unsuccessfully ran for the Board of Education in Ward 5 in 1932 and 1933. Through her involvement in the Jewish Women's Labour League, she was one of the founders of Camp Kindervelt (later Camp Naivelt) in 1925. Rae passed away on December 12, 1941.

Descriptive Notes: A copy of Watson's obituary and other biographical research papers are attached to the accession record, although most details have been included in the biographical sketch.