- Part Of
- Edelstein family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 111
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- text
- Date
- 1890-2005
- Physical Description
- 2 m of textual records
- 30 photographs
- 4 posters
- 2 artifacts
- 12 books
- 1 CD
- Admin History/Bio
- Isaac Edelstein (1889-Dec. 1954) was born to Ronya Edelstein (née Silver) ([18--?]-June 1921) and Abraham Edelstein (1846-[19--?]). The family moved to Canada in 1913, arriving in Quebec before settling in Toronto. Isaac, the eldest, had five siblings: Archibald, Bessy, Lilian, Goldie, and Harry. Isaac married Ida (Hebrew name: Chaya) (1898-1978), who immigrated to Canada from Gomel district in Homiel Province, Belarus.
- Isaac was a tailor and Ida was a dressmaker. Isaac and Ida had two children: Rony (nickname Renne) Rabassa (b. 4 Jan. 1931) and Albert (nickname Abi) Edelstein (26 Sept. 1925-1 May 2021).
- After meeting through shared involvement in Habonim, Albert married Ruth (née Blumenstein) (15 Sept. 1928-30 Mar. 2023) on 2 Jan. 1949. They had 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
- Albert received vocational training as a watchmaker at Central Technical School, and spent the majority of his career as a retailer, operating a jewelry store with his wife Ruth. He was the president of the District Jewelers Association (1983-1984) and the chairman of the Queen Broadview Business Improvement Area in the 1990s. Ruth and Albert's children were educated in the Jewish day school system. Ruth was involved in the National Council of Jewish Women.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the personal lives of members of the Edelstein family and their communal affiliations.
- Name Access
- Edelstein (family)
- Subjects
- Families
- Creator
- Albert Edelstein
- Accession Number
- 2000-1-1
- 2000-2-2
- 2000-3-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Cowan family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 102
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1902-2002
- Physical Description
- 90 cm of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Saul Cowan (1910-2002) was the seventh of nine children born to Zvi Hirsh (Harris) Cohen (1872-1954) and Chana Leah (Annie) (née Gollom) Cohen (1873-1960). His siblings were Woolf Cowan (Colvin) (1896-1987), Kate Cowan (b.1898) (m. Wener), Jack Cowan (1900-1992), Rivka (Reva) Cowan (1902-ca.2002) (m. Lieberman), Moe Cowan (b.1904), Jeanne Cowan (b.1906) (m. Kallman), Norman Cowan (b. 1909) and Miriam Cowan (b. 1919) (m. Rose).
- The Cowan family immigrated to Toronto from England with their six oldest children circa 1908. Harris worked as a tailor in England and as an operator in men's clothing factory Tip Top Tailors in Toronto.
- Saul graduated from the University of Toronto in 1931 in honours philosophy.
- In 1932, Cowan married Lillian Rosenthal (1910-1978), the daughter of Morris (1883-1967) and Nessie (Celia) (née Soren) Rosenthal (1881-1969). Together, they had two children, Michael (b. 1939) and Trudy (b. 1941). The Rosenthal family ran a boarding house on Hanlan's Point and had a place at Belle Ewart. In 1945, Morris and Celia purchased Wapaska Lodge on Muskoka Bay just outside Gravenhurst and ran it as a family resort from 1948-1965.
- Lillian, who was a public school teacher, passed away in 1978 and the following year Saul married Libbie Aiken (d. 2006). Libbie had been the head physiotherapist at the Toronto General Hospital during the late 1940s.
- Saul pursued a career with the North York Board of Education serving as both trustee and chairman from 1958 to 1976. He was also very involved with the Jewish community and the growing North York community. He was also involved with organizations such as B'nai Brith, Canadian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (CPPNW), and the North York Social Planning Committee. He was a founder of the York Finch General Hospital.
- Trudy studied physical and occupational therapy at the University of Toronto but changed career direction when she moved to Calgary in 1969 and became involved in historical organizations such as the Glenbow Museum, the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, and the Lougheed House Conservation Society. She married Leonid Luker (b. 1937) in 1982.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the Cowan (Cohen) family and their connected branches including the Rosenthal, Soren, Gollom, Aiken, and Altshuller families. The records originated from Saul Cowan, his first and second wives, Lillian Rosenthal and Libbie Aiken, and his daughter, Trudy Cowan Luker. Records include photographs of family members at graduations, weddings, school, religious events, camping activities, and milestone celebrations. Textual records include traditional and email correspondence, marriage certificates, passports, immigration documents, family histories, theatre and concert programmes, and newspaper clippings. Many of the records document Saul Cowan's personal and professional activities. The majority of the material relates to the Cowan and Rosenthal families.
- Notes
- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Includes 386 photographs, 2 audiotapes, and 6 objects.
- Four books from the collection have been removed and integrated into the OJA's library holdings. These include titles Have I Ever lied To You Before? by Jerry Goodis, My Outlook by Jack Cowan, When Partners Become Parents by Carolyn Pape Cowan and Philip A. Cowan, and Front Page Challenge: History of a Television Legend by Alex Barris.
- Name Access
- Cowan (family)
- Subjects
- Families
- Accession Number
- 2008-6-11
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Scheuer family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 47
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- [187-]-1959
- Physical Description
- 6 folders of textual records
- 2 window plates : brass
- 58 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- The Scheuer family dates back to at least the eighteenth century in Germany to Moise Scheuer (1765-1846) and Esther Ackerman (1770-1847). Their son, Isaac Scheuer (1809-1889), married Hannchen (Johanna) Strauss (1815-1878) in 1843. Isaac and Johanna had six children: Gabriel (1844-1922), Camilla (1845-1916), Edmund (1847-1943), Emma (1853-1916), Ida (1855-1902), and Benno (Benjamin) (1857-1921).
- While Gabriel, Emma, and Ida remained in Europe, Camilla, Edmund, and Benno immigrated to Canada in the late nineteenth century. Camilla came to Hamilton, Ontario after her marriage in 1866 to Herman Levy, co-founder of the Levy Brothers jewellery business. Edmund became a partner in the business when he first immigrated to Canada in 1871, and lived with Camilla and Herman. Camilla became the acknowledged leader of Jewish women in Hamilton. She served in organizations such as the Deborah Ladies' Aid Society, which eventually became an auxiliary of Temple Anshe Sholom, Canada's oldest Reform congregation, often referred to as the Hughson Street Temple. Edmund established the first Sabbath School in Ontario at Anshe Sholom in 1872 and served as president from 1873 to 1886.
- After he was established in Hamilton, Edmund returned to Europe in 1873 to marry Oda Strauss (1854-1913) at Forbach, Lorraine, and then brought her back to Canada with him. The couple moved to Toronto in 1886, where he established a wholesale jewellery business on Yonge Street called Scheuer's under his company Edmund Scheuer Limited. Scheuer's was one of the oldest jewellery firms in Toronto and the oldest established wholesale diamond importer in Canada. Edmund's brother, Benno, also worked for the business as the accountant and then secretary-treasurer. Benno was married to Gatella Strauss (1859-1903) and they had three children: Eddie Jr. (1884-1967), Rhoda (1886-1963) and Isadore (1887-1969). Eddie Jr. and Isadore also worked for their uncle's business. Eddie Jr. started as a clerk and then became vice-president, while Isadore started out as a travelling salesman and jeweller. When their uncle retired in 1922, Eddie Jr. took over as president and his brother Isadore became vice-president of Scheuer's.
- In addition to his jewellery business, Edmund Scheuer also taught and supervised the religious school at Holy Blossom Synagogue. He went on to serve in every official capacity at Holy Blossom, including vice-chairman and treasurer of the building committee for the Bond Street building. He also founded The Jewish Free School at 206 Beverley Street for Jewish girls and wrote his own textbook for the school, the first Jewish religious school book printed in Toronto. In 1892, he founded the first Jewish benevolent society in Toronto and was later president of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. In 1927, the Beverley Street building, which housed Federation offices, was dedicated in his honour and named the "Scheuer House".
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the Scheuer family in Germany, Hamilton, and Toronto. The fonds is made up primarily of photographs of Scheuer family members and friends. It also includes some textual records, including correspondence, marriage certificates, a Toronto Jewish Free School text book, and Holy Blossom Temple Bulletins. Also included are two brass "Scheuer's" window plates which were likely from Edmund Scheuer's jewellery business of the same name.
- Notes
- Associated Material Note: See the CJC National Archives collection for Edmund Scheuer at: http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=archives&Type=1&Language=EN&Rec=253
- Name Access
- Scheuer (family)
- Subjects
- Families
- Related Material
- See OJA vertical file cabinet for "Scheuer, Edmund" and "Levy, Camilla"
- See MG3 A1 Holy Blossom
- See MG2 G1C - Edumund Scheuer's Zionist Free School
- Saarbrücken City Archives - May have records pertaining to Edmund's brother Gabriel Scheuer (1844-1922) who remained in Germany.
- Arrangement
- The textual records have been arranged in chronological order into five files. The objects have been described as one file. The fifty-eight photographs have been described as two files and thirty-nine items arranged chronologically
- Accession Number
- 1989-4-2
- 2004-7-1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Frankel and Draper family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 104
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1895-2009
- Physical Description
- 21 cm of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Gottschall Frankel (1832–1918) and his wife Mina Meyer (1841–1921) were born in Biblis (Hessen) and Aschaffenburg, Germany, respectively. Gottschall died in Biblis and is buried in Alsbach, Germany. Mina passed away in Toronto and is interred in the old Holy Blossom Cemetery.
- Leo Frankel (1864–1933) was one of nine children born in Biblis, Germany, to Gottschall and Mina. His siblings were Salmon (1874–1906), Benno (d. 1921), Ike (d. 1950), Louis (1879–1952), Maurice (1865–1935), Sigmund (1866–1936), Ida (1870–1952) (m. Levy) and Herman (1871–1939). Three of the siblings are buried in Montreal, and the rest are buried in Toronto.
- Leo immigrated to Canada in 1881 at the age of seventeen. In 1886, he established Frankel Brothers (scrap metal and processing) in association with his brothers. The siblings were eventually succeeded by several sons of the original partners. The company subsequently became Frankel Steel Ltd. and Steel Structures Corporation.
- Leo married Helena "Lena" Mayer of Florsheim, Germany, on 2 July 1890 in New York City. They had three sons: Egmont Leo (1891–1964), Carl Milford (1894–1984), and Roy Hecker (1896–1983). The family lived at 504 Jarvis Street, the former Goodman residence in Toronto, from 1908.
- Carl married Dorothy Jacobs (1903–1987), who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents were Bernard Jacobs of Texas and Henrietta Altheimer of Arkansas. Carl and Dorothy had two daughters: Nancy Jean Frankel (b. 1928) and Carol Nina Frankel (1930–1999).
- Carl was a prominent member of the Toronto Jewish community, active in Holy Blossom Temple, several Masonic lodges, and was a founder of the North Toronto YM-YWHA.
- His daughter Nancy attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute and was confirmed at Holy Blossom Temple. She married Darrell (Drapkin) Draper (1922–1992) of Fort William/Port Arthur in 1949. Darrell had studied at the University of Toronto and became a lawyer and judge. The couple's three children are Dr. Paula Jean Draper (b. 1953), a historian; Phillip Jacobs (b. 1954), a real estate lawyer; and Kenneth Lewis (b. 1957). Collectively, the siblings have six children and several grandchildren. Nancy Draper has been a longtime volunteer at the Ontario Jewish Archives.
- Nancy's sister Carol married Mandel Sprachman (1925–2002), the son of a renowned architect Abraham Sprachman of the firm Kaplan and Sprachman. Mandel followed his father into the profession, specializing in cinemas and theatres, including the award-winning restoration of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres (1985–1989).
- The Frankel family genealogy is wide in scope, extending from Germany and England to the United States and Canada. One notable ancestor with German lineage is Israel Beer Josephat, who changed his name to Paul Julius Reuter and founded the Reuters News Agency.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the Frankel and Draper (Drapkin) families and their connected branches, such as the Jacobs (English in origin), Josephat, Meyer, and Altheimer (all German in origin) families. Records include: photographs of the exterior and interior of the Frankel home at 504 Jarvis Street, Toronto; formal individual and group photographs taken in Toronto and other cities of family members at various gatherings and of Nancy Frankel's confirmation class at Holy Blossom; pictures of Darrell Drapkin (later Draper) and his Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity brothers at the University of Toronto; group photographs of members of the Palestine Lodge of Masons, of which Carl and his brother Egmont were members; and a variety of candid shots in many locations including outside the Frankel family home in Biblis, Germany.
- Textual records include: essays and programs concerning Holy Blossom, publications from Camp Wabi-Kon and Jarvis Collegiate yearbooks, and material from the Ulyssean Society at Hart House, the Oakdale Golf and Country Club, and the Carmel Chapter of Hadassah documenting Nancy's involvement with these organizations.
- Objects include a souvenir matchbook from the wedding of Darrell Draper and Nancy Frankel and a membership coin and badge in a leather case documenting Carl Frankel's involvement with Masonic lodges.
- Notes
- Physical description note: Includes 250 photographs, 3 objects,1 CD, and 1 video cassette.
- Name Access
- Draper (family)
- Draper, Nancy (1928-)
- Frankel (family)
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Levine and Cass family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 25
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- [188-]-1973
- Physical Description
- 188 photographs : b&w, some sepia toned ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- 3 cm of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- Aaron and Sarah (née Snider) Levine (1832-1915) were from Minsk. Sarah immigrated to Toronto with her children in 1887. In 1892, Abraham (1940-1897) and Rachel Cass (1838-1903) came to Toronto with their younger chilldren, following their elder children who had immigrated before them.
- The Levine children consisted of the following individuals: Annie (m. Salamansky) (1861-1931); Moses (Moishe) Joseph (1864-1919); Michael (1869-1918); Abraham; Sam; and Rebecca (m. Samuels) (b. 1875).
- The Cass children consisted of: Fayge (m. Sax) (1861-1942); Anna (Hannah) (m. Segel) (1863-1930); Martha (m. Soskin) (1866-1946); Dave Cass (1869-1959); Dora (m. Levy) (b.1870); Sarah (m. Levine) (1876-1978); Annie (m. Smith) (1880-1952); Bill Cass; and Phillip Cass.
- Sarah Snider Levine lived with her son, Moses, and daughter-in-law Sarah for thirteen years. The couple first lived on Chestnut Street and then moved to Centre Avenue. They later relocated to Spadina Avenue near Dundas around 1903, and finally, moved to 224 Beverley Street near College.
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of family photographs that document the Cass and Levine families of Toronto. The records were donated by Mary Soskin, who was the daugher of Moses and Sarah (née Cass) Levine. The records document the donor's matriarchal and patriarchal families. In turn, the records also include photographs of her own family, as well as families related to her or her parents through marriage, such as: the Salamansky (Salem), Thuna, Bliss, Samuels, Soskin, Cass, Segel, Sax, Weiner, Levy, and Rosenbes families. The photographs date from the late nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century. The fonds also contains one file of textual records
- The fonds has been arranged into 18 series by family, as well as one series for photographs that cannot be linked to an individual family and another for images that could not be identified. The series consist of the following: Series 1, Moses Levine family; Series 2, Michael Levine family; Series 3, Abraham Levine family; Series 4, Abe Levine family; Series 5, Harry Levine family; Series 6, Salamansky (Salem) family; Series 7, Thuna family; Series 8, Bliss family; Series 9, Samuels family; Series 10, Soskin family; Series 11, Cass family; Series 12, Segel family; Series 13, Sax family; Series 14, Weiner family; Series 15, Levy family; Series 16, Rosenbes family; Series 17, Miscellaneous family members; Series 18, Unidentified photographs.
- The items have been arranged chronologically within each series.
- Name Access
- Cass (family)
- Levine (family)
- Subjects
- Families
- Related Material
- 1982-8-3
- AC 1: Soskin, Mary (Levine)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Hoffman family fonds
- Personal series
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 6
- Series
- 3
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1981
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- Meyer Hoffman was born in Poland in 1894, immigrated to Israel in 1933 and died in 1979. He was both a writer and a teacher.
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a tribute book in memory of Meyer Hoffman and includes a family history, Meyer Hoffman's writings and tributes from family and friends.
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Jewish Family and Child fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 79
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1933-2011
- Physical Description
- ca. 4.8 m of texutal records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Jewish Family & Child was established in 1943 from the amalgamation of a variety of different social agencies formed as early as 1868. These included the Ladies Benevolent Fund, the Free Burial Society, Jewish Family Welfare Bureau, Jewish Children’s Bureau, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the Ladies Maternal Aid Society. Much of its funding and support after its inception came from the United Jewish Welfare Fund.
- The first executive director of the agency was Dora Wilensky. She was a trained social worker who served for twenty-eight years, until her untimely death from cancer in 1959. Jerome Diamond took over in 1960 and Gordon Wolfe succeeded him in 1981. Ron Levin briefly replaced Wolfe after his retirement in 2003, and was succeeded in 2006 by Dr. Richard Cummings who then retired in 2015. As of 2017, Brian Prousky is the organization’s current executive director.
- During the early years, fees were established, but the agency never refused to assist clients because of their inability to pay. JF&CS became one of the first agencies to rely on trained social workers. It was also the first social agency in Canada to become unionized.
- Over the years the agency’s role has changed and it has expanded significantly, in terms of its staff and services. After the Second World War it played a pivotal role supporting the Holocaust orphans who came to Canada as refugees, particularly in the area of locating foster parents for these children. By 1957, the agency hired its first counsellor and became a member of the United Community Fund of Greater Toronto. The year 1968 marked the start of JF&CS’ new program involving the use of a mobile treatment centre to reach out to Jewish street kids and in 1974 they established the Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre.
- In 1981, JF&CS was mandated by the Province of Ontario as a Jewish children’s aid society responsible for the care and protection of all Jewish youth in the GTA. In 1983 they established the Just-A-Second Shop at 3101 Bathurst Street, which took in used goods from the community to pass on to needy families. Two years later they established the Henry G. Goodman Home for developmentally challenged children on Wilmington Avenue. The following year marked the opening of the Elm Ridge Group Living Residence for elderly people. In 1988, they opened a special shelter for abused women and children, and in 1994, they introduced their Homework Club for kids.
- The current mission of Jewish Family & Child is to support the healthy development of individuals, children, families, and communities through prevention, protection, counselling, education, and advocacy services, within the context of Jewish values. Their services include counselling, rehabilitation and support, foster care, family services, and community services. These services are offered in a host of different languages including Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, French, and English.
- JF&CS is an independent organization that receives its funding from a variety of different sources such as UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, United Way Toronto and York Region, the Government of Ontario, and individual donations.
- As of 2017, JF&CS has nearly 130 staff providing more than thirty community services with a budget of almost $20 million. Their main office is located in the Lipa Green Centre for Community Services at 4600 Bathurst Street. They also maintain offices and run services out of their downtown branch at 35 Madison Avenue, their York Region branch inside UJA’s 1 Open Door at the Lebovic JCC, and their Jerome D. Diamond Adolescent Centre in midtown Toronto.
- Name Access
- Jewish Family and Child
- Wilensky, Dora, 1902-1959
- Wolfe, Gordon
- Diamond, Jerome D.
- Subjects
- Charities
- Children
- Families
- Nonprofit organizations
- Access Restriction
- Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing the records.
- Related Material
- See also: Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds (fonds 86); Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds (fonds 87); Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds (fonds 66); and, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds (fonds 67).
- Creator
- Jewish Family and Child (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-101
- 2004-1-8
- 2002-10-38
- 2006-6-7 (Shelf 03-6,Orphan index cards)
- 2009-12-9
- 2010-4-1 (Shelf 34-1)
- 2010-10-5
- 2015-8/11
- 2015-9/1
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 87
- Material Format
- textual record
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1928-1943
- Physical Description
- 67 cm of textual records
- 1 architectural drawing
- Admin History/Bio
- Sometime around 1919, the Family Welfare Committee was set up within the newly created Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto (FJPT) to perform social welfare work with Jewish families. Around 1931, the Committee was reorganized as an independent member agency of the FJPT and renamed the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau (JFWB). At the same time, Dora Wilensky (1902-1959), a professionally-trained social worker, was hired as the agency’s executive director. Throughout its existence, most of its funding came from the FJPT (later the United Jewish Welfare Fund).
- Located at 179 Beverley Street, the JFWB’s core activities included: relief provision; helping families meet basic needs, such as medical care, heating and clothing; housekeeping assistance; counseling; and case work. The JFWB’s major concerns shifted over time from a rise of immigration and desertion cases in the 1920s to the dramatic increase of wife abuse, suicide, and unemployment cases during the Great Depression of the 1930s. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the JFWB sought ways of assisting soldiers and their families, such as, investigating special government grants to soldiers.
- In an attempt to meet community needs, the JFWB initiated various programs, such as a Homemaking Club to teach women house management skills, and a Clothing Centre to provide families with inexpensive household goods. It also partnered with other local Jewish organizations in the early 1940s in the Liaison Project for troubled Jewish youth. In the 1930s, the Jewish Employment Service and Hebrew Free Burial Society became departments of the JFWB and, in 1941, the JFWB began guaranteeing loans for clients through the Hebrew Free Loan Association. In the same year, the Jewish Big Sister Committee became affiliated with the agency and the Jewish Big Brother Movement followed soon after.
- In 1936, the JFWB became one of the first unionized social agencies in Canada when it formed the Staff Association with the Jewish Child Welfare Association (JCWA), another member of the FJPT. Although the JFWB’s focus was work with families and the JCWA’s focus was work with children, both agencies found it necessary at times to work with both children and families. In order to prevent service duplication and reduce confusion over casework responsibility, the Joint Application Bureau was set up within the FJPT to review all case work applications and determine the appropriate agency to provide assistance. However, a merger between the agencies was still believed necessary to improve service to the community and ease confusion. Discussions regarding the co-ordination of services between the JCWA and the JFWB began as early as 1935 and in February 1943, the JCWA and JFWB merged to form the Jewish Family and Child Services (JF & CS).
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of textual records and one architectural drawing documenting the programs, operation, finances, and special studies of the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau as well as its relationships with other organizations. Included are reports, meeting notices, agendas and minutes, correspondence, memos, budgets, statistics, theatrical scripts, newsclippings, and one architectural blueprint. A number of the records relate to special short-lived committees and projects that the JFWB participated in with other agencies, such as the Jewish Big Sister Committee, Jewish Big Brother Committee, Jewish Child Welfare Association, the Jewish Community Centre Association, the Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association, and the Jewish Old Folks' Home.
- Records have been arranged into the following 19 series: 1. Board of Directors; 2. Executive Director; 3. Jewish Federation Communal Council; 4. United Jewish Welfare Fund Men's and Women's Service Council; 5. Case Committe; 6. Joint Meetings and Committees; 7. Joint Application Bureau; 8. Homemaking Club; 9. Clothing Centre; 10. Liaison Project; 11. Operational statistics; 12. Finance and accounting; 13. Human Resources; 14. Special projects and studies; 15. Publicity; 16. Liaison with other social welfare organizations; 17. Canadian Association of Social Workers; 18. Welfare Council of Toronto; and, 19. Conferences.
- Notes
- Associated material note: for related records held at the City of Toronto Archives, see also: Welfare Council of Toronto records in the University Settlement House fonds (fonds 1024, series 658); and, Department of Public Welfare records in the Former City of Toronto fonds (fonds 200).
- Name Access
- Jewish Family Welfare Bureau
- Jewish Community Centre Association
- Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Athletic Association (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)
- Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)
- United Jewish Welfare Fund (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)
- Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto (subject)
- Wilensky, Dora, 1902-1959
- Subjects
- Charities
- Children
- Families
- Nonprofit organizations
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director and the head of Jewish Family and Child prior to accessing some of the records.
- Related Material
- See also: Jewish Child Welfare Association fonds (fonds 86); Jewish Family and Child Services fonds (fonds 79); Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto fonds (fonds 66); and, United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds (fonds 67).
- Arrangement
- Records relating to programs, committees and liaison with other organizations that continued after the formation of JF & CS are arranged with that fonds.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Pappenheim family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 113
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1906-2005
- Physical Description
- 2.0 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Albert Pappenheim (1921-1984) was born to Jonas (1877-1941) and Irma (1881-1941) Pappenheim in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. He had three siblings, Ernst (b. 1911), Karla (m. Goldschmidt) (1912-1989), and Ruth (m. Possen) (1915-2010). From 1936-1938, Albert studied at the Jewish Teachers Seminary (ILBA) in Wurzburg, Germany, but his studies were interrupted due to Kristallnacht. Albert was sent to study at a yeshiva in England, but was declared an illegal immigrant with the start of the war and was interned and sent to Canada in 1940. He was interned at Ile aux Noix in Richelieu River in Quebec along with other yeshiva students. Upon his release from the camp, he resumed his rabbinical studies and became a prominent rabbi and community leader in Toronto. He married Rhoda Helen (née Kabatznik) Pappenheim (1925-1987) who was born to Eli and Sarah Kabatznik. Rhoda studied to be a teacher at Toronto Normal School. Albert and Rhoda had a daughter Irma. Albert's sister and brother-in-law Karla and Max Goldschmidt emigrated to Palestine. Sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Leo Possen eventually joined Albert in St. Catharines after the war.
- Albert received a BA in Oriental Languages in 1947 and MA in 1949 at the University of Toronto. He also continued his training at Yeshiva Torath Chaim Toronto under Rabbi Abraham Price and took the rabbinic exam in 1949. He led the Congregation B'nai Israel in St. Catharines, Ontario from 1948-1953. In 1953, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky to be the rabbi of Ohava Zion Congregation. While in Lexington, he was also a lecturer at the University of Kentucky in Hebrew and Biblical History. In 1956, he returned to Canada to be the rabbi of Beth David Congregation in Downsview, Toronto. Beth David amalgamated with B'nai Israel Synagogue in 1960 and with Beth Am Congregation in 1977. Albert also served on many rabbinical organizations and committees. He was the Chairman of the Education Committee for the United Synagogues of America, Ontario Region; Secretary of the Rabbinical Assembly, Central Region, Canada; and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Region. His service and contributions to the rabbinical community was recognized through an honourary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1975.
- Custodial History
- The records were donated by Irma Pappenheim, daughter of Albert and Rhoda Pappenheim in three accessions. Some of the letters created and accumulated in researching the Pappenheim family history were in the custody of her aunt Karla.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the life and activities of Rabbi Albert Pappenheim and his family, including genealogical research conducted by his daughter Irma Pappenheim. The majority of records document Albert's activities as a rabbi at B'nai Israel Congregation in St. Catharines, Ontario; Ohava Zion Congregation in Lexington, Kentucky; and Beth David B'nai Israel Beth Am Congregation in Toronto. Records include sermons and related research, newspaper clippings, newsletters, bulletins, scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and administrative records. Also included are copies and originals of family correspondence and related material chronologically documenting the Pappenheim family history from the 1930s onwards, including translations. Other records document Albert's personal life and education with some material related to his wife Rhoda and her mother Sarah Kabatznik and include posthumous tributes, letters, and clippings.
- Fonds is arranged into six series: 1. Personal, 2. Posthumous material, 3. Sermons and writings, 4. Rabbinical activities and congregational records, 5. Genealogical research 6. Scrapbooks
- Notes
- Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 250 photographs, 4 scrapbooks, 2 CDs, 3 audiocassettes, 1 audio disc and 1 USB key.
- Duplicate copies of genealogical research, sermon notes, and other publications were culled.
- Arrangement
- Original order was preserved whenever discernible with sermons and writings largely organized into subject files and genealogical research in chronological order.
- Creator
- Pappenheim (family)
- Accession Number
- 2005-10-1
- 2017-1-14
- 2017-8-12
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Ladovsky family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 83
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1890]-2012
- Physical Description
- 3.5 cm of textual records
- 185 photographs : b&w and col. and sepia toned ( 10 negatives, 4 slides, 3 contact prints) ; 26 x 20 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- Aaron Ladovsky (1888-1960) was born in 1888 in Kielce, Poland. He immigrated to Toronto in 1906 at the age of 18. Soon after arriving, Aaron Ladovsky worked to help form a Jewish bakers’ union to advocate for collective rights among Jewish Bakers. In 1911 he married Sarah Eichler who was from his home town of Kielce, Poland. In 1912 he opened the United Bakers Dairy Restaurant at Dundas and Bay Streets (known then as Agnes and Terauley Streets respectively) in the heart of the Ward. That same year, the couple had twin sons, Herman and Samuel, who were born on September 23, 1912.
- Only a short time later, in 1920, Aaron moved the location of his restaurant to 338 Spadina Avenue, just north of Dundas. He and his family lived in an apartment upstairs. Herman and Samuel attended Hester How Elementary School until 1919, Lord Lansdowne Public School once the family moved to Spadina, and later Central Commerce. The twins worked in the family business in the 1920s delivering fresh breads and buns by horse cart.
- Aaron Ladovsky was involved in a number of community organizations. He was instrumental in founding the Kieltzer Society of Toronto in 1913, a community based immigrant-aid association extending aid to Kielcers in Poland and around the world. Ladovsky remained an active member of the organization until his death on April 5, 1960. His restaurant provided a welcome gathering place for the Jewish community, serving traditional dishes and maintaining a friendly open-door policy. Aaron Ladovsky was known for his generosity and claimed that no one, whether they had money or not, left his restaurant hungry. The United Bakers' menu was mainly based on Sarah’s original recipes, and continues to be so to this day.
- During the Second World War, Herman served overseas as an electrician in the Canadian army show with comics Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster. After returning from the war, he married Dora Macklin in 1947, a registered nurse from Regina. He also began to take over management of the family business. Later, his son Philip and daughter Ruth would follow in his footsteps, helping to run the restaurant with him and later taking over managment. United Bakers remained on Spadina Avenue for 66 years, until 1986 when it moved to its current location at 506 Lawrence Avenue West, off of Bathurst Street. Herman was an active fixture in restaurant until his death on January 6, 2002. He also supported and was involved in the work of the Ontario Jewish Archives over the years. Today, Philip and Ruth carry on the family tradition of running United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. In May 2012 the restaurant celebrated its 100th anniversary.
- Custodial History
- The records were donated in multiple small accessions by Herman Ladovsky from 1977 until 2004.
- It appears as though previous archivists integrated some materials into a manuscript group relating to Aaron Ladovsky and then later deconstructed a portion of this group into original accessions. Also, a number of periodicals and textual materials from these accessions were integrated into various other manuscript groups and remain there.
- One item, a Lord Lansdowne School anniversary booklet which contains a photocopy of Herman's student record, remained in the Aaron Ladovsky manuscript group. This item could not be identified as part of a previous accession, but has been integrated into the fonds as it appears to have been donated by Herman.
- Photo #3050 was not associated with an accession number, but documents United Bakers Dairy Restaurant and was likely donated by Herman Ladovsky.
- Recent accruals have been donated by Ruth Ladovsky.
- Scope and Content
- The fonds consists of records documenting the Ladovsky family in Kielce, Poland and Toronto. It is primarily made up of photographs of Ladovsky family members in Kielce and Toronto, and of various organizations that Aaron and Herman were involved in. There are also a few textual records that document the Ladovsky family and their involvement in the Kieltzer Society.
- Notes
- Newspaper clippings were photocopied and placed in the Aaron Ladovsky vertical file.
- Many photographs were originally cited with diifferent numbers. These numbers are mentioned below photo descriptions.
- Name Access
- Kieltzer Sick Benefit Society (Toronto, Ont.) (subject)
- Ladovsky, Aaron, 1888-1960 (creator)
- Ladovsky (family)
- Ladovsky, Herman, 1912-2002 (creator)
- United Bakers Dairy Restaurant (subject)
- Related Material
- Se MG 2B-1R
- See vertical file on Aaron Ladovsky
- Arrangement
- Records have been organized by media and chronology due to low volume and disparate subject matter. Textual records have been arranged in 17 files. Photographs have been arranged chronologically and are largely described at the item level.
- Places
- Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 1977-7-5
- 1978-12-7
- 1981-1-2
- 1983-11-6
- 1988-4-12
- 1993-10-1
- 1994-1-3
- 1999-11-4
- 2000-4-4
- 2004-5-21
- 2004-5-82
- 2008-4-9
- MG 6 E6
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Farb family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 96
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1919-1944
- Physical Description
- 21 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- Nathan Farb was one of the first Jews to arrive and settle in Pontypool, which was a popular summer resort spot for vacationing Jews from the 1940s until the 1960s. The area was relatively inexpensive and had a pond as its swimming spot. Kosher meals would often be brought in for the vacationers who arrived on two trains daily from Union Station.
- Custodial History
- The original photographs were loaned to the archives for copying in 2005. They were subsequently returned to the donor.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of twenty-one copy photographs of the Farb family as well as the Bernsteins, Crystals, and other Jewish families who lived and owned resorts in the Pontypool area.
- Name Access
- Bernstein family
- Crystal family
- Farb (family)
- Subjects
- Recreation
- Creator
- Farb family (Pontypool, Ont.)
- Places
- Pontypool (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2005-8-5
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Gary family fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 97
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1947-1967
- Physical Description
- 10 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 15 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- Joseph Gary and Goldie Gary (née Lawrence) married in 1921 in Rochester, New York. Shortly thereafter they moved to Toronto. Joseph and Goldie had three children: daughters Ethel (Halter) and Shirley (Cohen) and son Leslie. In 1950, after three years of visiting the region, Joseph and Goldie purchased a home on Amelia Street in Pontypool, Ontario. As the area was a popular summer resort spot for vacationing Jews from the 1940s to the 1960s, Joseph and Goldie decided to build ten cottages on their land for rental, which they named Gary's Cottages. The cottages were sold around 1970 and are no longer in existence; however, their home is still standing.
- Custodial History
- The original photographs were loaned to the archives for copying and were subsequently returned to the donor.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of ten copy photographs documenting the Gary family and their cottages in Pontypool.
- Name Access
- Gary (family)
- Gary, Goldie
- Gary, Joseph
- Subjects
- Recreation
- Creator
- Gary family (Pontypool, Ont.)
- Places
- Pontypool (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2005-9-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Sylvia Schwartz fonds
- Family series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 80
- Series
- 5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1936-[ca.1960]
- Physical Description
- 107 photographs : b&w and col. (88 negatives) ; 18 x 12 cm or smaller
- Admin History/Bio
- Sylvia Schwartz's parents were Joseph and Gertrude Schwartz. She had three sisters; Fanny, Helen and Ruth. Fanny married Alex Solway and had two children, Carol and Herbert. Helen married Dr. Isaac Shleser, a doctor of internal medicine, and had two daughters, Jill and Jan. Sylvia was a part of a large extended family that remained close throughout her life as they shared many similar interests and a family cottage in Bobcaygeon.
- Many members of her family were and are prominent individuals of the Jewish community in Toronto. Faye Halbert was Sylvia's cousin on her mother's side whose children, Ralph and Gerald, went on to become prominent doctors and members of the Jewish community. Jack Schwartz, Sylvia's uncle, was also in the fur business and was married to Minnie Schwartz. Their daughter was Jewell, who owned an art gallery in Yorkville for many years.
- Other related families include the Haussers and the Wintrobs.
- Scope and Content
- This series consists of negatives and proofs created by Sylvia Schwartz of members of her family. Images are primarily of the Schwartz, Solway, Shlesser and Halbert families. Types of photographs include formal portraits in the studio and home and informal and candid portraits of the family at leisure and at events.
- This series has been divided into three sub-series. Sub-series 1 contains formal portraits, Sub-series 2 contains images of the family at recreation and Sub-series 3 contains images of the family at events.
- Sub-series 1 consists of negatives and proofs of formal portraits done by Sylvia of her immediate family. They were taken both in her studio and in her family home. Those done in the home date from an earlier time. Generally, they are images of the head and upper body of the sitter. Some images feature full body shots of the sitter and some interior views of the Schwartz family home. Those photographed include Gerald, Ralph and Rhoda Halbert, Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack and Jewell Schwartz, Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser, and Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Carol and Gary Solway. There are multiple portraits of Ruth Schwartz, the majority of them showcasing Sylvia's early experimentation with portraiture. There are also six self-portraits of Sylvia.
- Sub-series 2 consists of thirty-nine negatives and five prints taken by Sylvia Schwartz of the family at recreation. The majority of the images are of the family relaxing at their cottage in Bobcaygeon. There is one print of Herbert Solway reading the newspaper with his son Gary that may or may not have been taken at the cottage. Images consist of photographs of the family on the lawn, in the cottage and at the lake. There are both candid and staged photographs. Family members featured include Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack and Jewell Schwartz, Helen, Isaac, Jill and Jan Shleser, Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Carol and Gary Solway. Also pictured are members of the Hausser, Halbert and Wintrob families. Friends of the family also appear in these images, such as, Judith Wolfson, Frances and David Gruber and David Rotenberg and his brothers. Sylvia Schwartz is in some images. There is one print that is a view of the cottage from the lake.
- Sub-series 3 consists of thirty-one negatives taken by Sylvia Schwartz of family related events that she attended. These include a Pidyon Ha'Ben ceremony for Gary Solway, the first born son of Herbert, Sylvia's nephew and an opening at the Park Plaza Hotel. Images of the Pidyon Ha'Ben include Gertrude, Joseph, Ruth, Jack, Minnie and Jewell Schwartz, Helen, Jill and Jan Shleser, and Fanny, Alex, Herbert, Elaine and Carol Solway. Also included is David Rotenberg who acted as the Kohen at the ceremony. Images from the Park Plaza Hotel include views of the ballroom, the entertainers and family members. The Wintrob, Halbert and Yolles families are also present. Sylvia Schwartz is in two images.
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- David Pinkus fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 138
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- graphic material (electronic)
- architectural drawing
- philatelic record
- sound recording
- cartographic material
- object
- Date
- 1854-2021
- Physical Description
- ca. 2.4 m of textual records
- ca. 600 photographs : b&w and col. (ca. 90 negatives); 30 x 35 cm or smaller
- other material
- Admin History/Bio
- David Pinkus (1924-2021) was born on May 11, 1924, at the Toronto General Hospital to Isadore Pinkus (1887-1947) and Molly (Mollie) Pinkus (née Parelstein) (1892-1990). Isadore was born in Kiev Gubernia of the Russian Empire; Molly was born in Podolia Gubernia of the Russian Empire and later moved to Ukraine with her family. Isadore and Molly met and married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1910 and moved to Toronto in 1911. The Pinkus family settled in Kensington Market in around 1914 and was one of the first Jewish settlers to the Kensington neighbourhood. David spent his entire life living in the Kensington Market area. He lived on 83 Huron Street until 1927 when the Pinkus family moved to 34 Nassau Street, which has been the house of the Pinkus family ever since. David had two siblings: brother Max and sister Goldie.
- In his childhood, David attended the Brunswick Talmud Torah daily and learned Hebrew. He had his bar mitzvah at the Kiever Shul. David attended William Houston School until 1930 and Ryerson Public School until grade eight. Later, he attended Harbord School for high school and was also involved with sports at Harbord Collegiate and YMHA. In 1947, David obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto. After graduation, he worked at Goodyear for one year and returned to the University of Toronto as an instructor of engineering drawing and machine design. Later, he worked at various places such as Canadian Industries Limited in Maitland, Toronto Iron Works, and Avro Aircraft Limited.
- David’s father, Isadore, was one of the founders of the Kiever Synagogue. David’s involvement with the Kiever Synagogue started in 1947, following Isadore’s death. David served as president and held positions on the executive of the Kiever Shul and played a principal role in the restoration of the shul. He also served on Toronto’s Board of Health as well as the boards of the Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, and St. Christopher House. In addition, David was an active community leader and local historian. He did genealogical research for many Toronto Jewish families. David had been recognized by the National Jewish Federation of North America as a Jewish community hero in 2011. He passed away on May 6, 2021.
- Custodial History
- Records received after the death of David Pinkus through Joseph Solomon, the executor of David Pinkus’ estate. Records have been selected by archivists following a site visit at David’s home at 34 Nassau Street, Toronto.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of textual records, graphic material, sound recordings, architectural drawings, artifacts, and a small number of philatelic records, most of which document David Pinkus’ career and personal life, the Pinkus family, the Kiever Shul, the Kiever Cemetery, as well as Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Mount Sinai Memorial Park) and the Dawes Road Cemeteries (Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees), of which the Kiever Congregation is a member organization. Also included are documents and photographs of other individuals and families, which David collected for his genealogical research, and those that are pertaining to Kensington Market and other congregations and cemeteries.
- Textual records include correspondence; scrapbooks; education records; identification documents; research notes and clippings relating to David’s genealogical research; documents pertaining to his Kensington Market activism and community work; files on David’s engineering career and his role as president of the Kiever Shul; and files documenting the Pinkus family members, such as funeral documents, notebooks, family correspondence, voters’ lists, and records relating to Pinkus Fruit Co. and 34 Nassau Street. Also included are records documenting the Kiever Shul, which include meeting minutes, ledger books, financial documents, legal documents, membership lists and application forms, address books, high holiday service cards, and historic papers dating from the 1920s and 1930s. Textual records documenting the Kiever Cemetery, Mount Sinai Memorial Park, and the Dawes Road Cemeteries are mainly comprised of cemetery maps, burial plot cards, burial record books, by-laws and regulations, and meeting minutes. Also present are records pertaining to other congregations and cemeteries, such as constitution books, brochures, booklets, and copies of legal documents.
- Photographs mainly feature David Pinkus and the Kiever Cemetery, with a small number featuring the Pinkus family members, the Junction Synagogue (Congregation Knesseth Israel), the Great Choral Synagogue of Kyiv, and those that David collected for his genealogical research.
- Architectural drawings of this fonds include the restoration and renovation plan for the Kiever Shul and the alteration plan for Mount Sinai Cemetery Administration Building.
- Also present are sound recordings, including cassettes and microcassettes of David Pinkus; and artifacts, including felt patches, pin back buttons, medals, Toronto foot-pedlar registration badges, and a wooden gavel of the Kiever Shul.
- Fonds has been arranged into the following series: David Pinkus’ personal records; Kensington Market; David Pinkus’ genealogical research; the Pinkus family; the Kiever Shul; the Kiever Cemetery; Mount Sinai Memorial Park; the Dawes Road Cemeteries; and other associations, congregations, and cemeteries.
- Notes
- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION NOTE: Also included are 22 architectural drawings, 7 maps, 4 audio cassettes, 2 microcassettes, 1 optical disc, 8 drawings, 2 prints, 1 photo collage, 34 pinback buttons, 15 Toronto padler-on-foot registration badges, 8 felt patches, 3 medals, 3 brooches, 1 wooden gavel, 2 tax tokens, 2 postage stamps, 1 sales tax stamp, and 9 revenue stamps.
- SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: Books that were initially included in this fonds have been removed and incorporated into the OJA’s library collection. These books are: Spadina Avenue by Rosemary Donegan with an introduction by Rick Salutin, Toronto No Mean City by Eric Arthur revised by Stephen A. Otto, Canadian Jewish Directory edited by Edmond Y. Lipsitz, The Toronto Jewish Directory, and The Canada Year Book 1905 (second series).
- HISTORY/BIO NOTE: Information is sourced from OH 413 and the content of the fonds.
- Name Access
- Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
- Kiever Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Mount Sinai Cemetery Association (Toronto, Ont.)
- Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto, Ont.)
- Dawes Road Cemetery (Toronto, Ont.)
- Amalgamated Dawes Road Trustees (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Families
- Synagogues
- Genealogy
- Cemeteries
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright may not be held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Related Material
- See accessions 2004-1-5, 2004-1-6, 2004-2-1, 2008-11-9, 2016-3-48, and 2021-10-1 for additional information on the Kiever Shul; and OH 413 for more information on David Pinkus and the Pinkus family.
- Arrangement
- Records came into the OJA with no discernible order. Arrangement has been imposed by the archivist.
- Creator
- Pinkus, David, 1924-2021
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Kensington Market (Toronto, Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2021-7-3
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 1991-3-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1991-3-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 20 x 25 cm and 10 x 12 cm
- Date
- [ca 1921]-1978
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of one photograph and negative of (L-R) Molly, Anne, and Harold Haberman posing with their musical instruments in Toronto ca. 1921-23; a photocopy of the photo, identifying the children in the photo; and a pamphlet from Adath Israel Congregation regarding the consecration of the new cemetery, Pardes Shalom Memorial Park, 8 October 1978.
- Administrative History
- Harold Haberman was adopted by the Haberman family as a Russian war orphan when he was 11 years old in 1921 after their son Jack Haberman, a well-known Toronto saxophone player, drowned in the lagoon at Centre Island in Toronto on July 15, 1920, at 18 years old.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Haberman, Jack
- Haberman, Harold
- Haberman, Anne
- Haberman, Molly
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-2-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2009-2-5
- Material Format
- object
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 30 cm of textual records
- 1 artifact
- Date
- 1902-1981
- Scope and Content
- The records consist of material produced by Rabbi Saul Gringorten and his son I. M. Gringorten. They include certificates and identification for Rabbi Gringorten and his wife, along with his son I. M. Gringorten. In addition, the accession includes a great deal of correspondence in both English and Yiddish from the father and son during the 1940s, particularly during the period when the rabbi resided in the United States. Some material also documents I. M. Gringorten's involvement in the United Zionists organization during the 1940s. Finally, this accession includes a chuppah (marriage canopy) that was first used in 1910 by Saul Wolf Gringorten in Brantford, Ontario. The chuppah is made out of a tallis with embellishments sewn into the centre. The chuppah was subsequently used by various members of the Gringorten family.
- Administrative History
- Saul Wolf Gringorten and his wife Rachel Gringorten (nee Melnick) were born in Poland in 1876 and 1881 respectively. They moved to Canada in 1910 with their eldest child Morris. They subsequently had five more after their arrival. Their children included: Israel Morris (I. M.), Jennie, Jacob, Esther, Louis and Isaac.
- Rabbi Gringorten served as spiritual leader, teacher, shochet and mohel for the Brantford Jewish community after his arrival for thirteen years. He would also be on call in northern and western Ontario where the communities were too small to support a rabbi. He then moved to Toronto during the early 1920s and became the principal of a Jewish school. The family lived at 26 Cecil Street at that time and then moved to 393 Markham Street during the late 1920s or early 1930s. He became active in the Jewish community, serving as vice-president of the Sons of Jacob, a board member of the Folks Farein and the first Trustee of the Old Folks Home.
- Rabbi Gringorten and his wife moved to California during the mid-1940s in order to live in a climate that was better for their health. Rachel passed away in 1947 and the Rabbi followed in 1959.
- Their oldest son, Israel Morris Gringorten, was born in Poland in 1904. He was educated in Brantford and later graduated from the University of Toronto. He served during the Second World War from 1943 until 1945. After his discharge, he spent his career working as an auto parts manufacturer with Canada Motor Products Ltd. He was an ardent Zionist who served as president of the United Zionists - Revisionists of America during the 1940s. He and his wife had four children.
- Use Conditions
- 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.
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Descriptive Notes
- Language: Records are in Yiddish and English.
- Access restriction: One file contains medical information and is closed.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Gringorten, Saul Wolfe
- Gringorten, Rachel
- Gringorten, Israel Morris
- Places
- Brantford (Ont.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2010-6-14
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2010-6-14
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- textual record (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 16 photographs : b&w (jpg)
- 2 textual records (pdf)
- Date
- [ca. 1910] - [ca. 1955]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of scanned photographs and textual records that document the professional activities of members of the Natanson family and their family life. Photographs include images of the family's pickle business (ca. 1910) and store Moffat's North York Bargain House (ca. 1955), portraits of Nathan Natanson with his violin (ca. 1925) and Albert Natanson in his tap dancing outfit (ca. 1925), as well as images of Ida Natanson as a nurse (1938) and childhood photographs of Lazar and Bob. Textual records include a brochure for Nathan's dancing school and a notice announcing the employment of Albert at Helwig & Leitch, Inc.
- Administrative History
- Originally from Romania, Benjamin and Rose (nee Gratz) Natanson immigrated to Ottawa in 1902 and eventually settled in Toronto in 1905. Benjamin owned a pickle company at 3242 Dundas Street West which he operated until it was destroyed in a fire on August 13, 1930.
- Benjamin and Rose had six children together: Albert (b. 1900), Freida (b. 1902), Celia (b. 1905), Nathan (b. 1909), Ida (b. 1916) and Lazar (b. 1918). Three of their children were involved in the arts; Celia and Nathan were both musicians and Albert was a tap dancer. At 15 years of age, Nathan won a scholarship at the Institute of Musical Art (now known as the Julliard School) and moved to New York with Celia and Freida. As a child, Albert was a tapdancer in Showboat on Broadway and later operated his own dancing school in Montreal; Nat Anson's Dancing School.
- Ida became one of the first Jewish nurses in Ontario. She moved to Saskatchewan after marrying Doctor Nathan Jacks. Lazar married Muriel Weinstein (b. 1923) in 1951 and they opened a store, Moffat's North York Bargain House, at 1291 Wilson Avenue that same year. They were likely one of the first Jewish families to move to the Downsview area. Lazar and Muriel had two children: Eileen and Bob.
- 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.
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-8-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-8-5
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 8 photographs (jpg) : b&w ; 6.4 MB
- Date
- [ca. 1930]–[ca. 1950]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs of the Rogow family and business in Peterborough, Ontario. Included are images of Ralph, Sam, Mary, Itzhak Rogow, and Herbert and Stephen Shacher. There is also one image of the window display in the Rogow's ladies' wear store at the corner of Brock and George Streets.
- Custodial History
- These photographs were originally loaned to the OJA to scan and return as part of the Ontario's Small Jewish Communities exhbit. However, the copies were never accessioned at that time and thus the donor was asked to donate the copies in August, 2011.
- Administrative History
- Benjamin and Mary Rogow and had four sons–Alex, Joseph, Sam, and Ralph–as well as four daughters–Mrs. M. Levine, Mrs. Sam Davis, Mrs. Phil Moscoe, and Rose Rogow. In 1918, Benjamin Rogow established a ladies ready-to-wear store on the southeast corner of Brock and George Streets. For twenty-five years the family of four sons and four daughters lived in rooms above the store until they moved to 623 Walkerfield Avenue. Carried on by son Joseph Rogow, it was possibly one of Peterborough’s longest-running ladies’ wear store. In the early days, coats and suits were made on the premises but by the 1950s the store’s offering of suits and coats and dresses has expanded to skirts and slacks.
- On 25 April 1942, Sgt-Instructor Sam Rogow died in a plane accident near Trois Rivieres, Quebec, three months after earning his wings as a training instructor.
- Use Conditions
- None
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Rogow (family)
- Places
- Peterborough (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-9-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2011-9-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 items
- 3 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Date
- [ca. 1940]–1951
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of two photographs of Jean and Joseph Shaffer of Thunder Bay, one photograph of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Thunder Bay B'nai Brith, a last will and testament for Sam Shaffer drafted while in the military, a Magen David pin, and a veteran's unit coin worth ten cents.
- Custodial History
- The items were in the possession of Nancy Shaffer. They were donated to the Archives following the death of Sam Shaffer in August 2011.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Shaffer (family)
- Places
- Thunder Bay (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2012-6-7
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2012-6-7
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 58 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 25 cm or smaller
- Date
- [190-]-2003
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of original and photocopies of photographs related to the Lyons, Agranove, Rotenberg, Pollock families from Toronto and Hamilton. Included are family portraits, wedding portraits, the family likely at community events, and a photo of the family at Crystal Beach. There is also a photocopy of a story in the Canadian Jewish News about a Rotenberg family reunion in 2003.
- Administrative History
- William Agranove was active in Keiltzer Society and was in the furniture manufacturing business. He was also a major fundraiser for the UJA, a close friend of Sam Kronick. He is mentioned in Hesh Troper's book "None is Too Many" as helping Jews come to Toronto from Europe.
- Rotenberg Family were a large family with 10 children. Saul Rotenberg raised horses and was partners with Lyons in the furniture business that had many locations, one on Yonge Street.
- Descriptive Notes
- Donor's cousin Judy will be in touch with OJA to provide more information.
- Subjects
- Families
- Places
- Hamilton (Ont.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2012-11-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2012-11-5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- ca. 20 photographs
- 1 folder of textual records
- Date
- [190-?]-1963
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of graphic and textual material documenting Mark Hazza and his family. Included are family and individual portraits, unidentified school and sports team photographs, and a Rocky Mountain Polo Ranch greeting card. Of note are promotional sight-seeing photographs for Toronto and a photograph of Bob Hope at a Paramount Theatre event in Toronto. Also included are obituaries and other genealogical information that was collected by Nessa Herman.
- Identified in the photographs are: Mark Hazza, Mary Hazza, Phillip Hazza, John Hazza, Reuben Hazza, Racheal (nee Hazza) Harris, David Cainer, Sadie (nee Hazza) Cainer, Isadore Harris, Annie (nee Hazza) Cohen, Sam Cohen, Evelyn Cohen, Shirley Harris, Hershel Harris, Sidney Cohen, Ruth Cohen, and Theresa Harris.
- Custodial History
- Nessa Herman collected the material from various family members and donated it to the OJA.
- Administrative History
- Mark Hazza was one of the earliest Jewish immigrants to settle in Toronto. He was born in Russian Poland in 1845. To escape the draft he was smuggled into Holland and later went to England in 1866. He finally settled in Toronto around 1871. Soon after arriving in Toronto, Miriam (Marion or Mary) Barnett from Bristol, England joined him here and they were married in the small hall where Holy Blossom Synagogue's services were being conducted at the time. They settled in Yorkville and Mark ran a tailoring business in what was the north end of the city.
- Mark and Miriam had six children together: Racheal (Rae), Annie, Phillip, John (Hyman or Imy), Reuben (Rubin or Bun), and Sadie. Reuben went to to become a sports trainer, Phillip worked in the film business as a general manager for Famous Players, and John opened the Rocky Mountain Polo Pony Ranch in Alberta and was the first manager of Capitol Theatre in Calgary.
- Mark passed away in 1918.
- Use Conditions
- 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.
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-6-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-6-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- ca. 40 photographs
- 3 CDs
- Date
- 1919-2013, predominant 1919-1974
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of scanned photographs and textual records that document the Natanson family. Photographs include images of the Lazar and Muriel Natanson's wedding, family portraits, portraits inside and in front of the store, class portraits and Lazar in his military uniform, Textual records consist of the eulogies for Lazar and Muriel Natanson, and copy of a summary of the history of the Weinstein family, and scanned copies of letters from Muriel Natanson to Eileen Bellan (nee Natanson) while Eileen was at Camp B'Nai Brith. Of note is the brief description of Muriel as an eyewitness to the Christie Pitts riot in 1933. CDs consist of digital copies of the photo reproductions in this accession.
- Administrative History
- Lazar Natanson (1918-1984) was born to Benjamin and Rose (nee Gratz) Natanson. He had five siblings, Albert (b. 1900), Freida (b. 1902), Celia (b. 1905), Nathan (b. 1909) and Ida (b. 1916). Soon after the end of the Second World War Lazar took ill and went to Montreal to recover and returned to Toronto several years later.
Muriel Natanson (nee Weinstein) (1923-2013) was born in Bucharest, Romania, to Solomon (Shlomo) and Sylvia Weinstein. She had two brothers, David (1924-2010) and Albert (b.1933). Solomon was a housepainter and wallpaper hanger. Muriel left school at the age of 16 to help support her family, working at Tip Top Tailors and later Reader Mail. She went to night school to obtain her high school diploma. Muriel worked for her father when he opened a confectionary store in 1950.
Lazar married Muriel in 1951 and they opened a store, Moffat's North York Bargain House, at 1291 Wilson Avenue that same year. They later changed the store's name to Les and Muriel's. They were likely one of the first Jewish families to move to the Downsview area, and lived above the store. Lazar and Muriel had two children, Eileen and Bob. While caring for their their children Muriel worked alongside Lazar at Les and Muriel's, and when he suffered a stroke in 1968 they sold the store. Eileen Natanson married Stanley Bellan and they had two children, Chad and Renee. Bob Natanson became a stockbroker.
Lazar died in 1984 after suffering from a long-term illness. Murial passed away in 2013.
- 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
- Donor provided photo identification on the back of reproduced photos.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Natanson family
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-8-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2014-8-12
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 7 photographs : b&w and col. (tiff)
- Date
- [1970?]-2011
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs of Ben and Carrie Grossman and their family at family gatherings. Identified in the photographs are: Carrie Grossman, Ben Grossman, Jack Grossman, Warren Grossman, Rita Bergstein, Borris Litman, Ruth Malka Grossman, Miriam (Mimi) Grossman, Lillian Rose, Martha Sud, Hilda Grossman, and David Sud.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Bergstein, Rita
- Grossman, Ben
- Grossman, Carrie
- Grossman, Hilda
- Grossman, Jack
- Grossman, Miriam
- Grossman, Ruth
- Grossman, Warren
- Litman, Borris
- Rose, Lillian
- Sud, David
- Sud, Martha
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-11-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2017-11-5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 11 photographs : b&w, some sepia toned ; 13 x 18 cm or smaller
- Date
- [192-?] - [193-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of 9 photographs documenting the Horwitz family including a number of individuals presumed to be relatives living in Europe.
- Photo Caption (002): Jacob "Jack" Horwitz (left) and six other men, November 1920. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2017-11-5.
- Photo Caption (004): Eva Horwitz (centre) and two other women, Mlawa, Poland, [192-?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2017-11-5.
- Photo Caption (007): Jack Horwitz posing with book, [192-?]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2017-11-5.
- Photo Caption (009): Marian Horwitz (first row standing, right) with other students, Clinton Street Public School, Toronto, Ont. [193-]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, accession 2017-11-5.
- All other photos unidentified.
- Custodial History
- Marian Horwitz, daughter of Eva Horwitz, came into possession of the photographs subsequent to the death of her mother in 1983. Marian gifted the records to Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre on 16 November 2017.
- Administrative History
- Eva Horwitz (née Lipshitz, 1897-1983) was born in Mlawa, Poland on 20 June 1897. She married Jack Horwitz in Toronto on 30 October 1924. Thereafter, she raised three children: Gloria, Marvin, and Marian. In addition to her duties as a homemaker, Eva was an active member of the Workmen's Circle with her husband. She passed away on 17 February 1983.
- Jack Horwitz (1900-1980) was born in Polaniec, Poland on 13 December 1900. In 1920, he set sail from Antwerp and arrived in Canada. Four years later, on 30 October 1924, he married Eva Lipshitz. On 23 April 1927, he was naturalized as a British subject with his occupation listed as tailor. He passed away on 26 February 1980.
- Marian Horwitz is the daughter of Eva and Jack Horwitz. The youngest of three children, she grew up with her two siblings in Toronto and attended Clinton Street Public School. Later, she moved to New York where she attended Fordham College at Lincoln Center and held a number of jobs. Eventually, she returned to Toronto where she currently resides.
- Use Conditions
- Restricted. See administrative notes.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Clinton Street Public School (Toronto, Ont.)
- Horwitz, Eva, 1897-1983
- Horwitz family
- Horwitz, Jack, 1900-1980
- Horwitz, Marian
- Places
- Poland
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-8-13
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-8-13
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records and architectural drawings
- 1 videocassette (ca. 27 min.)
- Date
- 2006
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Eker family. Included are: a videocassette of home video footage; a memoir written by P. M. Eker, Glen Eker's father, in 2006; and architectural drawings of Eker residences at 1050 College Street in Toronto and 5034 Esplanade Avenue in Montreal.
- Administrative History
- Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
- Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
- Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
- Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
- Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Places
- College Street (Toronto, Ont.)
- Montréal (Québec)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- ca. 50 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
- Date
- [194-?]-[197-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting Glek Eker and his family. Included are approximately fifty black and white photographs of Eker as a child; Eker's uncle, Irving Howard; Eker's maternal grandparents, Joe and Rebecca Horwitz; and Eker's cousin, Wand Gordon.
- Administrative History
- Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
- Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
- Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
- Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
- Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-3
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-3
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of textual records and graphic material
- 1 photo album
- Date
- 1942-1986
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Strauss family. Included are: an invitation to a testimonial dinner in honour of Carl Strauss (1965), family photographs, interviews with Nathan Strauss (1983 and 1986), family trees, certificates for Naomi Fay Strauss, and a photo album made by Irene Strauss for her father.
- Custodial History
- Records were donated by Aviva Shiff Boedecker, the daughter of Naomi Fay Shiff (née Strauss).
- Administrative History
- Nathan Strauss was born on 8 July 1906 in Brooklyn, New York to Carl and Rose Strauss (née Rosen). In 1910, Nathan and his family immigrated to Toronto. The family lived on Benale Street for a short time before moving to Manning Avenue.
- Nathan attended Manning Avenue Public School from 1911-1918. In 1918, he began attending Parkdale Collegiate Institute. In 1921, he began his postsecondary studies at University of Toronto, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1925. From 1925-1928, he trained as a lawyer at Osgoode Hall Law School.
- Nathan began practicing law soon after graduating from Osgoode Hall. He founded a law firm and was active in the profession until his retirement in 1994.
- Nathan also volunteered in the legal field. In 1961, he was elected president of the County of York Law Association. One year later, in 1962, he became bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Sixteen years later, in 1978, he became life bencher.
- Nathan married twice. His first wife, Lena Fisher, died in 1952. His second wife was Dr. Lilly Offenbach Strauss. He had two children: Albert and Irene. Nathan died on 22 November 1999.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: JPEG and TIFF copies are available for many of the photographs.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Strauss (family)
- Places
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-4
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-10-4
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of graphic material and textual records
- Date
- [193-?]-[196-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting Glen Eker and his family. Included are photographs of Glen Eker and his parents in Banff Alberta, Glen's graduation pictures from McMaster University, and other family photographs.
- Administrative History
- Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
- Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
- Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
- Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
- Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: JPEG and TIF copies are available for 30 of the photographs.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Places
- Canada, Western
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-11-3
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-11-3
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of graphic material
- Date
- [191-?]-[197-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting Glen Eker and his family. Included are photographs of Glen Eker, his parents Paul and Dorothy Eker, his uncle Irving Howard, and his grandparents Joseph and Rebecca Horwitz.
- Administrative History
- Glen Eker was born in Toronto, Ontario to Paul Eker and Dorothy Horwitz. He grew up in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of Toronto before moving with his family to Hamilton. He received two master’s degrees (one in sociology, the other in political science) from McMaster University and a third master’s degree (in library science) from the University of Toronto.
- Glen's wife, Deborah Pekilis, was born in Montreal and lived there until her parents moved to Toronto. She was the librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society and sat on the Hamilton Historical Board. She is currently a writer.
- Glen has worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at McMaster and has taught at Ryerson University and Mohawk College. At present, he works as an estate and genealogy researcher.
- Glen has published a book on Karl Marx, five indexes of Jews in Canada, and one index of Amish and Mennonites in Canada. His genealogy articles have appeared in various magazines and his short stories and poems have appeared in print as well.
- Glen has worked on his family genealogy for a number of years. His paternal family line derives from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland while his maternal line derives from Byelorussia and Romania. He is descended from the Horwitz and Strachman families on the latter.
- Descriptive Notes
- Availability of other formats: JPEG and TIF copies are available for 22 of the photographs.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Places
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-11-12
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2018-11-12
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- ca. 7 cm of textual records and other material
- Date
- 1930-[200-?]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Wahl family. Included are: certificates, clippings, correspondence, graduation exercises, ephemera, invitations, and photographs. Individuals documented in the records include: Carole Rohold, Charis Wahl, John "Jack" Wahl (1907-1994), Michael Wahl, Pauline Wahl, Stephen Wahl, and Sydney Wahl (1913-2015).
- Administrative History
- John "Jack" Wahl was born on 29 December 1907; Sydney Wahl (née Katzman) was born on 14 August 1913. The couple had three children: Pauline Willis (née Wahl), Stephen "Steve" Wahl, and Charis Wahl. Jack was a lawyer while Sydney was a homemaker. Jack died on 22 December 1994; Sydney died on 8 August 2015.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Wahl (family)
- Places
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2019-5-6
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2019-5-6
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 20 photographs : b&w
- Date
- [19--]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs documenting the Freiman family. Pictured in the photographs are Geniek Freiman, Jack Freiman, Ruzia Freiman, Shloime Nizzenszweig, and other individuals.
- Administrative History
- Gerry Freiman was born on 20 June 1910 in Poland. Rose Freiman was born on 4 November 1914. After the Second World War, Freiman found himself at the Föhrenwald displaced persons camp in Bavaria, Germany. On 13 September 1948, Gerry, Rose, and their son Jack departed Germany on the USS General Heintzelmann for Canada.
- Upon arriving in Canada, the Freimans stayed with a family they met in Föhrenwald. (The name of the family has, unfortunately, been lost.) This family offered Gary and Rose employment in the shoe manufacturing trade. The Freimans subsequently moved to 348 Northcliffe Boulevard, where they bought a fourplex and lived in one of the units on the ground floor. Gary and Rose remained at this address until their deaths: Gerry died on 8 November 1960; Rose Freiman died on 13 June 1983.
- Jack Freiman attended Rawlinson Community School and then Vaughan Road Collegiate. He did his postsecondary studies at the University of Toronto, where he studied pre-medicine and medicine. After graduating, he went on to specialize and practice as an internist in a hospital in Brampton, Ontario. Jack died on 6 November 2016.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Freiman (family)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2019-5-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2019-5-5
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 7 cm of textual records
- 2 memorial books
- 1 photograph : col. ; 28 x 35 cm
- Date
- 1889-2018
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Rother family, in particular Dr. Irving Rother and Florence Rother (née Warshavsky). Included are legal documents, naturalization papers, vital records, correspondence, and photographs.
- The legal documents pertain to the long-time family home at 91 Inglewood Drive, Toronto. The naturalization papers and vital records document Irving's father, Morris Rother; Florence's father, Isaac Warshavsky; and Irving and Florence themselves. The correspondence concerns Irving Rother's military pension.
- The accession also includes documentings regarding Morris and Sadie Rother's estates; a photograph and class list from a 2003 reunion of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine class of 1943; a letter announcing Irving's retirement; thank-you notes from patients and colleagues; memorial books from Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel; and a family photograph taken in 1972.
- The individuals in the family photograph are (from left to right): Judy Rother, Barbara Rother, Brian Schnurr, Annalee Schnurr (née Rother), Mark Rother, Florence Rother (née Warshavsky), and Irving Rother.
- Custodial History
- Records were donated by Judy Rother following the deaths of her parents, Irving and Florence Rother,
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Rother (family)
- Rother, Florence, 1919-2016
- Rother, Irving, 1919-2018
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Level
- Item
- ID
-
Item 6694
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Level
- Item
- Item
- 6694
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [between 1930 and 1939]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Dubinski family in Kirkland Lake. From left to right: Mrs. Tillie Dubinski, Anne Dubinski, and Mr. Eli Dubinski.
- Name Access
- Dubinski
- Atkins, Joe
- Subjects
- Families
- 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.
- Creator
- Atkins, Joe
- Places
- Kirkland Lake (Ont.)
- Accession Number
- 2004-6-11
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Dr. A. I. Willinsky fonds
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 81
- Item
- 17
- Material Format
- moving images
- Date
- [ca. 1928]-[ca. 1940]
- Physical Description
- 3 film reels (ca. 1 hr., 40 min.) : b&w, si. ; 16 mm
- 1 digi-beta cassette (ca. 49 min.) : master, digital, b&w, si.
- 1 dvcam (ca. 51 min.) : master, digital, b&w, si.
- 2 DVDs (ca. 1 hr., 40 min.) : duplicate, digital, b&w, si.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a film of Dr. Willinsky's amateur home movies. Included is footage of Bernard Willinsky and Florence Samuel's wedding, Dorothy Willinsky on her graduation day, visitor's day at Camp Arowhon, trips to family cottages around Bobcaygeon and Longbranch (Kronick family cottage), picnics near Oshawa and the Bloor Viaduct on the Don River, a trip to Niagara Falls, a family Passover dinner, shots of the exterior of Dr. A.I. and Bernard Willinsky's office at 569 Spadina Crescent, and clips shot inside Dr. Willinsky's home theatre. Also included is a short film entitled, "Before and After", which Dr. Willinsky created to help the Holy Blossom Synagogue fundraise for the construction of a new building. Throughout the footage, Dr. Willinsky occassionally experiments with various camera tricks, such as, double exposure and showing scenes in reverse.
- Individuals identified in the footage include: Sadie Willinsky, Lila Willinsky, Myer Willinsky, Sarah Vise Willinsky, Bernard Willinsky, Sam Kronick, Joe Kronick, Etta Vise, Minnie Willinsky, Moses Kronick, Myra Willinsky, Jack Willinsky, Dorothy Willinsky Cass, Sylvia Schwartz, Garfield Cass, Donna Cass, Gertrude Willinsky Kronick, Faly Willinsky, Max Manson, Sigmund Samuel, Leah Samuel, Florence Samuel, Bella Dobensky, and Jack Webster (or Jacob Dobensky). Dr. A.I. Willinsky appears briefly in a few clips riding a bicycle, likely filming "Coronation Tree", and drinking wine at the family Passover dinner.
- Notes
- Previously reels # 13, 23 and 62.
- Subjects
- Families
- Physical Condition
- Reel # 13 has 1.2 % Shrinkage
- Related Material
- See Fonds 81, Item 18 for another film Willinsky created about the construction of a new building for the Holy Blossom Synagogue, entitled "The Coronation Tree".
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 2021-10-2
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-10-2
- Material Format
- textual record (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 12 textual records (pdf)
- Date
- 1977-2021
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material (chiefly genealogical research) documenting Glen Eker's family, particularly the Bishinskh line. Also included are two theses by Glen Eker—Leisure and Lifestyle in Selected Writings of Karl Marx: A Social and Theoretical History and The Early Writings of Karl Marx on the Position of Women and the Family in Bourgeois Society—and articles written by Debby Eker for the Excalibur and the Enterprise. Finally, there is an article by Paul M. Eker titled "Biblical Genealogy of Eker," which appeared in the March 1999 issue of Shem Tov.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Marx, Karl, 1818-1883
- Places
- Ontario
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-11-24
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2021-11-24
- Material Format
- graphic material (electronic)
- Physical Description
- 221 photographs (jpg)
- 1 audiovisual recording (mp4)
- Date
- 2016
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of material documenting the Eker family. Included are photographs taken in Hamilton and Toronto. Locations include the Eker home, Limeridge Mall in Hamilton, Bayfront in Hamilton, First Canada Place, the Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue. Pictured in the photographs are Debbie and Glen Eker and Glen's father.
- 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.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Eker (family)
- Eker, Glen
- Places
- Hamilton (Ont.)
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-5-11
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2016-5-11
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 2 photographs : b&w and sepia ; 114 x 25 cm and 54 x 21 cm
- Date
- 1918, 1934
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of two photographs: a panoramic of veterans and synagogue members standing in front of Goel Tzedec Synagogue, University Avenue, Toronto to mark the consecration and dedication of branch banners and flags; and a panoramic portrait featuring soldiers making up the 4th Draft of the Jewish Unit at the Imperial Recruits Depot in Halifax Nova Scotia.
- Subjects
- Canada--Armed Forces
- Synagogues
- Veterans--Canada
- Name Access
- Hoffman, Sam
- Places
- Halifax, N.S.
- Toronto, Ont.
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, Ben
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, Ben
- Page Number
- 518
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Photographer
- Harvey and Adena Glasner
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, E.
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, E.
- Page Number
- 229
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Photographer
- Harvey and Adena Glasner
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, N.
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, N.
- Page Number
- 476
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Photographer
- Harvey and Adena Glasner
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, S.
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Passenger Names
- Hoffman, S.
- Page Number
- 503
- Date Range
- June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915
- Photographer
- Harvey and Adena Glasner
- Source
- Rotenberg Ledger
- Part Of
- William Stern fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 33
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- [ca. 1913]-1984
- Physical Description
- 264 photographs (98 negatives) : b&w and col. ; 28 x 35 cm or smaller
- 2 folders of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- William (Bill) I. Stern (1921-2007) was born Izick Stern in Toronto on 24 February, 1921, to Moishe (Morris) Shternshis (ca. 1893-1976) and Fanny Rumianek (ca. 1896-1991). He was an active and respected member of both the Toronto and Hamilton Jewish communities.
- Bill began his education in Toronto at Grace Street and Givens Street elementary schools. He later attended the Central Technical Institute for chemistry. In the late 1930s, Bill left Central Tech to work for his father, but eventually returned to school until the start of the Second World War. At this time, Bill enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce and served as a Leading Aircraftsman for three years in France, Belgium and Germany. At the end of the war, he returned to Central Tech and completed his junior matriculation (grade 12) in January of 1946. In December 1946, Bill married his first wife, Toronto-born Laura Rubinstein (1923-1963). The couple had two children, Hershel (1953-) and Sheila (1957-1996).
- From 1946 to 1951, Bill studied social work at the University of Toronto through a government sponsored program for war veterans. When he graduated, he practiced social work at several community institutions such as the Children's Aid Society, the University Settlement House and St. Christopher House, in Toronto. In 1956, he was offered a position as director of activities for the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre (JCC). He remained in Hamilton at this post until 1960 and then returned to Toronto as a divisional director of the United Jewish Welfare Fund, where he initiated the fund's Social Planning Department. In 1963, upon the death of his wife Laura, Bill returned to Hamilton as the director of the JCC, and later the executive director of the Hamilton Council of Jewish Organizations (CJO), a position which he held for nine years from 1964 until 1973.
- After two years with the United Jewish Welfare Fund of Buffalo, Bill returned to Toronto in 1975 and briefly served two years as the executive director of the Canadian Zionist Federation, Central Region. He then returned to private practice, working as a community consultant and later as a job placement coach at the University of Toronto's School of Social Work.
- Bill was an active supporter of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival and the author of "You Don't Have to Be Jewish", a book on Jewish film. He held several positions with philanthropic organizations such as the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest, and the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science. He was also a volunteer at the Ontario Jewish Archives. Bill lived in Toronto with his second wife of more than thirty years, Elizabeth Uptegrove (1952-), until his passing on 18 April 2007.
- Custodial History
- Records were in the possession of Bill Stern until they were donated to the Archives.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds consists of photographs documenting the Stern and Rumianek families, individuals and organizations from the Hamilton and Toronto Jewish communities, as well as Bill Stern and his fellow servicemen during the Second World War.
- The fonds has been arranged into the following series: Family photographs; Military photographs; Hamilton Jewish community photographs; Toronto Jewish community photographs; and Camp photographs. The photographs have been described at the item level and have been arranged chronologically. The textual material consists of two files containing records related to Bill Stern's professional and philanthropic career, as well as some family invitations.
- Name Access
- Stern, William, 1921-2007
- Subjects
- Communities
- Families
- World War, 1939-1945
- Related Material
- See "Stern family" clipping file
- Creator
- Stern, William, 1921-2007
- Accession Number
- 1980-2-1
- 1981-9-4
- 1985-6-6
- 1986-1-8
- 1991-5-5
- 1991-5-6
- 1994-1-4
- 2004-5-96
- 2004-5-135
- 2004-5-141
- 2005-5-2
- 2005-5-9
- 2006-2-8
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Accession Number
- 1997-4-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1997-4-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 27 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-[ca. 1938]
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of family photos including wedding and other formal portraits, and group photos. There is an immigration passport for Mindles Plecuto (born 1883) to Canada from Romania in 1928. There are 2 additional passports (probably Romanian) for other individuals who immigrated in 1910. Both are stamped on the back page with Canada Old Age Security numbers (one in 1957). In addition there are 4 immigration documents including an Inspection Card for Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival in Canada issued to Hodess Morkewicz on August 30, 1913.
- Use Conditions
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing some of the records
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-14
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 2004-5-14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- object
- Physical Description
- 10 cm of textual records
- 1 medallion
- 2 coins
- 2 lapel pins
- 8 photographs
- Date
- 1921-1971
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of photographs and textual materials relating to the Shefsky and Magerman family; immigration and naturalization papers for Max and Toba Shefsky; photographs depicting the Toronto textile trade; Hungarian currency; school yearbooks from Harbord Collegiate, Toronto Normal School, Borochov School and Kindergarten, and Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute; newsclippings; and several Baycrest Centre lapel pins and coins. Also included is a photo of the Ray-Magerman wedding party (8 May 1948). The records origianlly belonged to Esther (Magerman) Ray.
- Custodial History
- The materials were kept by Leslie Gales, wife of Keith Ray
- Administrative History
- Abe Magerman was the assistant manager for the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union for many years. He was married to Jennie (nee Shefsky) Magerman and had two children, Esther and Alfred. Esther attended Toronto Normal School and Harbord Collegiate while both Esther and Alfred attended the Borochov School and Kindergarten.
- Jennie (nee Shefsky) Magerman was the daughter of Myer and Toba Rayzel (nee Nusynovitch) Shefsky. The Baycrest pins and coins once belonged to her.
- The donor, Keith Ray, is the son of Esther (nee Magerman) Ray and Gerald (Jerry) Ray. Gerald Ray attended Vaughan Collegiate Institute and later went on to the University of Toronto for chemical engineering
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1975-12-1
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1975-12-1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 13 photographs : b&w
- Date
- [ca. 1916]-[ca. 1960]
- Scope and Content
- This accession consists of twelve copy photographs and one original photograph of the Lofsky and Penzner families in Toronto.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Lofsky (family)
- Penzner (family)
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1976-6-13
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1976-6-13
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 22 photographs : b&w and sepia (5 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-1942
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of photographs documenting the Moldaver and Rovinsky families of Brantford, Ontario.
- Subjects
- Families
- Places
- Brantford (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1981-12-5
- Source
- Archival Accessions
- Accession Number
- 1981-12-5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Physical Description
- 1 album
- Date
- 1930
- Scope and Content
- Accession consists of one family album consisting of a family history and genealogical family tree for the Solomon Gold family (volume 21), published in Winnipeg.
- Subjects
- Families
- Name Access
- Gold, Solomon
- Places
- Winnipeg (Man.)
- Source
- Archival Accessions