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Cohen family
- Accession Number
- 2019-11-9
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2019-11-9
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- 1922–1953
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Cohen family. Included are an agreement between Moses Nepomjesze and J. L. Shekter dated 18 April 1922 regarding the bringing of three individuals–Hannah Nepomjesze and, A. Yudel Nepomjesze, and Raphuel Nepomjesze–to Toronto on or before 20 July 1922; an unsigned document in which Goldie Sherman appoints Moses Nepomjesze (Cohen) as her attorney; an agreement made in duplicate on 17 July 1922 between Morris Cohen and Jas. L. Shekter; landing cards for Chana Niepomieszcze (the donor's grandmother) and Rafael Niepomieszcze (the donor's father) stamped 14 September 1922; a receipt of payment for $6 dated 29 December 1931 and issued to Morris Cohen; an undated application for vise [sic] form with Chana's signature in Yiddish; a youth aliyah certificate of honour issued to Mrs. M. Cohen in May 1942; a sworn oath dated 9 June `1953 by Benjamin Sherman saying he knew Morris Cohen as Moshe Gersch Nepomyashtski Berkovitch when he resided in Uman in Kiev, Russia; a sworn oath by Asher Olshinetsky saying he has known Morris for forty-two years; and the second page of a document signed by Goldie Herman and Jas L. Shekter.
- Custodial History
- Records were discovered in the house the donor's uncle, Harold Cohen, after he passed away.
- Administrative History
- Originally from Russia, Morris Cohen came to Canada in 1911. His wife, Chana, and son, Ralph (1911–2000), stayed behind until such time as Morris was able to bring them over. In 1922, Chana and Ralph made the trip to join Morris in Canada. Chana's visa application from that year gives her age as thirty-one and her son's age as nine. The same visa indicates that Morris was living at 537 Cannon Street in Hamilton, Ontario and that he was working as a merchant/tailor. Once in Canada, Morris and Chana had one more child, Harold. At some point, Morris, Chana, and their family relocated to 350 Euclid Avenue.
- A note on names: Several of the individuals documented in the records changed their names. According to one record signed by an acquaintance of Morris' from Russia, Morris was originally named Moshe Gersch Nepomyashtski Berkovitch and changed his name Morris Cohen shortly after coming to Canada. In other records, the same individual is referred to as Moses Nepomjesze (Cohen). According to his granddaughter, Carol, Morris was told he could not keep his name and was given the surname Cohen–this despite the fact Morris was not a kohen. After arriving in Canada, Chana adopted her husband's new surname: a certificate issued to the former is made out to "Mrs. M. Cohen." In writing the above account, the archivist has used the names by which the individuals were best known.
- Use Conditions
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: Also available as PDF files.
- Subjects
- Families
- Immigrants--Canada
- Name Access
- Cohen (family)
- Places
- Ontario
- Russia
- Source
- Archival Accessions