Part Of

Hoffman family fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

6

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

moving images

Date

1946-1981

Physical Description

17 cm of textual records

10 architectural drawings

ca. 9 film reels : 16 mm

Admin History/Bio

Max and Celia Hoffman were married in 1958 in Hamilton and had two sons. Max was the owner of Hamilton Plumbing and Heating Supplies. Both were active in a number of Jewish community organizations in Hamilton such as the Council of Jewish Organizations, Adas Israel synagogue and the Union of Jewish Congregations of America, Ontario Region. They were also involved in fundraising on behalf of Yeshiva University, which is located in New York City. Max Hoffman died in 1964 and Celia moved to Toronto in 1966 when she married Sol Edell.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of correspondence, ledgers, publications, home movies and architectural drawings relating to the family life, business and community activities of Max and Celia Hoffman. There are three series: Business Series, Community Activities Series and Personal Series.

Name Access

Adas Israel Congregation (Hamilton, Ont.)

Council of Jewish Organizations

Federation

Hoffman (family)

Subjects

Families

Creator

Hoffman family

Places

Hamilton (Ont.)

Accession Number

2002-12-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

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

Accession Number

2015-3-3

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

34 photographs (tiff)

Date

[between 1914 and 1916?], 1986-1998

Scope and Content

Accssion consists of photographs documenting the Levine family's immigration to Canada and activities in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Included are images of Mark and Bev during their first few years in Melford, Saskatchewan; family holiday celebrations (Hanukkah and Passover dinners); Shabbat dinners; the Edenbridge synagogue; trips to Niagara Falls; and images taken during trips Elfreda and Alec made to Canada from South Africa to visit Mark. Of note are images taken of Mark and Bev with other South African immigrants at a ski hill in Saskatchewan and at Shabbat dinners in Melford. Also included is a Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa in the early 1900s.

Photo Captions: 001: Romi’s birthday party at Green Lane school, [1993?]. 002: Isaac (Mark’s father-in-law), Mark and Romi in Toronto, [1991?] 003: Sweiden family portrait taken in South Africa, [between 1914 and 1916?]. Back row (left to right) Dora, Israel. Front row (left to right): Fanny, Becky, and Harry. 004: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. At a Shabbat dinner with six other South African doctors who were in Melford. 005: Pesach dinner in Toronto at the Levine’s, [1993?]. Man on right is Robert Kahn (pharmacist), woman is Ruth Falkstein. Man on left is Sydney Flax (optometrist). Romi is seated at table. 006: First Friday after the birth of Jade, McKee Ave., Toronto, 1998. 007: First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford. 008: Mark at a local ski hill, [1986 or 1987]. Inscription on back of photo reads “Mark in his ski-ing regalia proving he does know how to ski” 009: Mark and Bev standing on the middle of a frozen lake in Melford, Saskatchewan, [1986 or 1987] 010-011: Seder at the Silberbergs 012: Mark and Bev’s flat in Melford (bottom-right apartment), [1987?] 013-014: Group of South African doctors and their wives at a South African party at the local ski hill in Melford, [between 1986-1988]. 015: Mark in Niagara Falls, [ca. 1987]. 016: Mark and Bev at Saskatchewan hospital with newborn daughter Romi, 1987. 017: Mark, Bev, Romi, 1987. 018-023: Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 024: Jewish cemetery in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 025-026: Interior of Shul in Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, Aug. 1987. 027:First Friday night that Elfreda and Alec were in Melford to visit son and daughter-in-law, Aug. 1987. Shabbat with six other South African doctors who were in Melford.

Administrative History

Leible and Esther Sweiden moved from Lithuania to Capetown in 1890. Leible's brother, Jacob followed him to Capetown around 1902. In 1906, Jacob and his wife Fanny (nee Vickers) immigrated with a small group of other Jewish South Africans to Edenbridge, Saskatchewan. Leible remained in South Africa. Leible's son Israel married Edith (Eadie) in 1934. Israel and Edith's daughter Elfreda (b. 1936) married Alec Levine in 1958. Elfreda was a bookkeeper for various companies and Alec worked for his family's plumbing business. They had three children together: Mark (b. 1959), Carol (b. 1962), and Adrian ( b. 1966).

Mark Levine married Beverley in 1983. They immigrated to Melford, Saskatchewan in 1986. Mark did not know at the time that his great grandfather's brother had immigrated to a nearby area decades earlier and only learned of his story and the Edenbridge Jewish community soon after arriving there. Mark worked as a physician at a local hospital. Beverley had been a pharmacist in South Africa, however, her qualifications were not recognized in Canada and she focused on raising her family. Mark and Bev's daughter, Romi, was born in August 1987. After 18 months in Melford, they moved to Toronto after Mark found work as a pediatric anesiologist at Sick Kids Hospital. In 1998, thier second daughter, Jade, was born. Mark's parents, Elfreda and Alec, immigrated to Toronto in 1999. Mark and other relatives encouraged them to immigrate due to the increasingly dangerous political situation in South Africa. Mark is also an assoicate professor at the University of Toronto. Alec and Elfreda's daughter Carol lives in England and their son Adrian remains in South Africa.

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

Immigrants--Canada

South Africa--Emigration and immigration

Name Access

Levine, Mark

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

11

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1894-[192-]

Physical Description

15 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 15 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Abraham Cass (1840-1897) married Rachel Rebecca Cass (née [Cowart?]) (1837-1903). They were both born in Russia and immigrated to Canada in 1892 to join their eldest children who had already immigrated to Ontario. The children of Abraham and Rachel Rebecca Cass were: daughters: Fayge (m.Sax) (1861-1942), Hannah (m.Segel) (1863-1930), Martha (m.Soskin) (1866-1946), Dora (m.Levy) (b.1871?), Sarah (m.Levine) (1876-1978), and Annie (m.Smith) (1880- 1952); and, sons: David M. Cass (1869-1959), Bill Cass (b.1874?), and Phillip Cass.

Their son David Mitchell Cass had immigrated to Canada earlier than his parents, in 1889. His wife, Hannah (née Kleiman) (1870-1935), immigrated to Canada in 1890, and they were married in 1894. David Cass worked for Pregger's Grocery Dealer as a salesman and gave Moses Levine work-related advice in this area. David and Hannah lived, in Waubaushene and Tey Township, in Simcoe County, where they were neighbours of the Soskins and where most of their children were born. By 1911, however, they had moved back to Toronto. They had eleven children: Ethel I. (m.Gold) (1894-[1998?]), Infant Cass (unnamed, died at 7 weeks, 1895), "Abe" Abraham B. (1897-1987), Leah G. (m.Harser) (1899-1975), Sarah "Sec" Marie (m.Rogers) (1901-1932), Ely "Hilly" (b.1902), "Reuben" Garfield P. (1904-1991), Dorothy (m.Sandler) (b.1906), Anne (m.Solway) (1907-1994), Rita (m.Appleby), and Libby (m.Balick).

As a new immigrant to Canada, having emigrated from Russia in 1896, Louis Smith (1873-1945) was registered as a tailor in the 1901 federal census. He later worked as a contractor in Toronto. He was married to Annie Cass, Sarah Levine's sister, in 1901 and they lived together at 5 Edward Street, along with Rachel Rebecca Cass, with whom they cohabitated following the death of Abraham Cass.

David and Hannah's son, Abraham Cass, was married to Carrie (née Waldman) in 1922. Garfield married Dorothy (née Simon) and had two children, Donna and Danny. Anne Solway was married to a prominent Toronto violinist and music teacher, Maurice Solway (1906-2001), and they had one son, Stephen.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of members of the Cass family.

Name Access

Cass family

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

Moses Levine family series

Level

File

Fonds

25

Series

1

File

1

Material Format

object

textual record

Date

1966-1976

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains a certificate granting Sarah Levine (née Cass) life membership at the Women's Auxiliary Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care (1973); 1 small box containing plaque honouring occasion of 90th birthday (1966); a 94th birthday certificate from the Government of Ontario (1970); a 100th birthday certificate from the Government of Ontario (1976) and, three telegrams honouring the occasion of her 94th birthday (1970).

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.

Accession Number

1982-8-3

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2015-6-9

Material Format

graphic material (electronic)

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

6 photographs : b&w (jpg)

4 documents (jpg)

Date

[195-?]-1979

Scope and Content

Accession consists of six electronic copies of photographs of Irving Levine and the Levine family and electronic copies of three invitations to Irving Levine's birthday party, and one newspaper clipping. Included is Irving and Ruth's wedding portrait and wedding photo with their parents (Sept. 6, 1952), two photographs of Irving with his mother Anne at Crystal Beach, a photograph of the Irving brothers in Grimsby, and a photo of Irving with business partner Lionel Robins (ca. 1978). Identified individuals in the photographs include: Irving Levine, Lionel Robins, Harry Levine, David Levine, Anne Levine, Ruth Levine, Sam Levine, Abraham Feldman, and Jennie Feldman.

Administrative History

Irving Levine was born in 1929 to Sam and Anne Levine. He was born in Grimsby, Ontario, where his father owned a junior department store. They were members of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Hamilton. Irving moved to Toronto in 1953, he married Ruth Fern in 1952 and they had three children: Alan, born in 1953, Suzy, born in 1956 and Michael, born in 1961. He has six grandchildren. He purchased Braemar clothing store in the early 1960s, with the first location in Cloverdale Mall. He became the top vice-president of Dylex, Ltd.,one of Canada's largest retail clothing companies, and general manager of Fairweather's division. Lionel Robins became his business partner in 1964.

Use Conditions

Copyright is held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. Please contact the Archives to obtain permission prior to use.

Descriptive Notes

Further identification can be found with the accession record.

Subjects

Families

Name Access

Levine, Irving, 1929-

Places

Crystal Beach (Fort Erie, Ont.)

Grimsby (Ont.)

Hamilton (Ont.)

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

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

Dr. Isadore M. Cass fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

40

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1909-1995

Physical Description

45 cm of textual records

14 photographs : b&w (8 negatives) ; 18 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Dr. Isadore M. Cass (1916-1996), a well-known pathologist and practicing mohel--Jewish ritual circumcisor--for the Toronto Jewish community, was born and educated in Toronto, attending the University of Toronto's medical school. After serving with the army during the Second World War, Dr. Cass returned to Toronto to private practice. He began studying pathology in 1953, and performed research at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Connaught Labs and the Ontario Department of Health throughout his career. He was chief of pathology at Ajax and Pickering hospitals for twenty-three years, until his retirement in 1986.

In 1945, Dr. Cass began doing ritual circumcisions and was the first medical doctor in Toronto to do so. He performed over 40,000 circumcisions throughout Canada and the eastern United States and trained many physicians to perform them as well.

Dr. Cass was a member of the following organizations: New York Academy of Sciences; the Academy of Medicine, Toronto; the Israel Medical Association; General Wingate Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion; and many other associations and societies.

Dr. Cass studied Torah under Rabbi Jacob Gordon and was a Torah reader at Goel Tzedec Synagogue and later, Beth Tzedec. He also studied and taught Torah throughout his life, chairing the Canadian Jewish Congress' Tanach study group for many years, and leading weekly Gemara classes at Beth Tzedec. He belonged to Shaarei Shomayim and Beth Lida synagogues, as well as Lubavitch. In 1987, Dr. and Mrs. Cass were honoured as "Couple of the Year" by Machanaim, The Network of Educational Institutions in Kiryat Gat, Israel, for their great contributions to this charity over the years.

Dr. Cass was married to Miriam Cass and they had four daughters: Sharon, Hylah, Judy, and Elaine. He had four brothers: the late Rabbi Samuel Cass, Harry, Al, and Elie (who was a Reform mohel), and two sisters: Miriam Cass and Zelda Fink. He also had seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Dr. Cass died on January 24, 1996 of cancer.

Scope and Content

The fonds consists of records relating to the personal and professional life of Dr. Isadore Cass. These records include appointment books documenting circumcisions he performed, correspondence, writings, Tanach study group notes, a Machanaim invitation and programme, prayer books, certificates, memorial cards, and photographs.

Name Access

Cass, Isadore M., 1916-1996

Subjects

Physicians

Access Restriction

Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.

Physical Condition

The prayer book is in poor condition and some of the early daytimers are in fair condition.

Related Material

See also the Ontario Jewish Archives' reference news clipping file under "Cass, Dr. Isadore".

Creator

Cass, Isadore M., 1916-1996

Accession Number

1997-5-1

1997-8-2

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

Levine and Cass family fonds

Moses Levine family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[189-]-1976

Physical Description

28 photographs : b&w and sepia toned (3 negative) ; 28 x 18 cm or smaller

3 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Moses (Moishe) Joseph Levine (1864-1919) immigrated to Toronto from Minsk in 1887. He was the son of Aaron and Sarah Levine (née Snider) (1832-1915). He began working as a peddler and later became a grocer. Sarah Levine (née Cass) (1876-1978) emigrated from Russia to Montreal around 1891, with her younger brother, Phillip. She then came to Toronto and initially lived with her sister, possibly Annie Smith, on York Street. Her first employment in the city was as a dressmaker. She was the daughter of Abraham Cass (1840-1897) and Rachel Rebecca Cass (née Cowart?) (1838-1903), who both immigrated to Canada in 1892.

Moses and Sarah met in Toronto and were married in 1895. They went to Midland with Moses' brother, Michael, and opened a store there. Their first daughter, Mary Soskin (1895-1990), was born in Midland that same year. However, after a few years, Moses and Sarah decided to move back to Toronto while Michael stayed in Midland with his wife, Anne Woods, and their children.

Moses and Sarah Levine first lived on Chestnut Street, then moved to Centre Avenue, then 115 Spadina Avenue near Dundas around 1903, and finally to 224 Beverley Street near College. Moses' mother, Sarah, lived with them for thirteen years. They had six additional children: Fanny (1898-1923), Anne Thuna (1899-1964), Abe (b. 1901), Harry (b. 1903), Rita (1905-1975), and Dorothy Bliss (1909-1992).

In the 1910 Toronto City Directory, Moses is listed as a grocer at 115 Spadina Avenue at Adelaide. Once he was able to, he moved into a larger wholesale grocery at 25 Jarvis Street in Toronto and is listed there in the 1920 Toronto City Directory.

The Levine family belonged to Goel Tzedec Congregation, which was located in a small church building purchased for the synagogue on University Avenue at Elm Street. A larger building was later built on University Avenue.

Moses died in 1919 after accidentally falling down an elevator shaft at his grocery store. The family closed the business shortly thereafter and the family continued to live on Beverley Street.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs which include the immediate family members and friends of the Moses Levine family. Series also contains one file of textual records relating to Sarah Levine's 90th and 94th birthdays and life membership in the Baycrest Women's Auxiliary.

Name Access

Levine, Moses

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Michael Levine family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1892]-[191-?]

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w ; 16 x 11 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Michael Levine (1869-1918) and Anne Woods (1876-1933) immigrated to Canada in 1889 from Russia and England respectively. They were married in 1892 in Toronto. They lived at 116 Agnes Street around this time. Michael was a merchant and opened a store in Midland, where the family lived for some years, before eventually moving back to Toronto. Their children were Martha (m. Samuels) (b. 1893), Rachael “Rae” (m. Rose) (b. 1894), Aaron “Harry” (b. 1896), Fanny (m. Gunn) (b. 1897), Mary (m. Ginsberg) (b. 1899), Rebecca “Rita” (b. 1901), Moses “Morris” (b. 1904), Abe (b. 1905), and Lillian (b. 1909). In the 1901 Canada Census, a Joe Woods is also listed in Simcoe East, Midland. Joe was likely the brother of Anne Woods Levine. By 1911, the family was living in Toronto at 65 Sullivan Avenue.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of members of the Michael Levine family.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Abe Levine family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[192-]-[ca. 1940]

Physical Description

6 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 15 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Abe Levine (b. 1901) was the son of Moses and Sarah Levine. He was married to Emma Ciglen Levine (b. 1903), an actress, originally from Meaford, Ontario. Emma was born in Wellington County to Jacob and Minnie Ciglen. Abe and Emma lived in Hanover, Ontario and had a daughter in 1925 named Frances. They eventually moved to Toronto. Frances' married name was Bederman. She became a drama teacher.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of members of the Abe Levine family.

Name Access

Levine, Abe

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Abraham Levine family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1900-[193-]

Physical Description

5 photographs : b&w ; 15 x 10 cm and 14 x 10 cm and 10 x 5 cm

Admin History/Bio

Abraham [Avram?] Levine, was Moses Levine’s brother. He died young, possibly in 1908. He married Sarah Freinkelstein (d. 1948) in 1894, and they lived at 100 Elizabeth St., in Toronto. They had two sons Harry (1899-[1966?]) and Philip, both of whom worked in the building industry. Abraham worked as a dry goods merchant.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of the Abraham Levine family.

Name Access

Levine, Abraham

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Harry Levine family series

Level

Series

Fonds

25

Series

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1933]-[194-]

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Harry Levine (b. 1903) was the son of Moses and Sarah Levine. He was married, possibly in 1929, to Doris (b. 1905?) and had a son named Richard. The family lived in Massachusetts in 1930 and later moved to Los Angeles.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs of members of the Harry Levine family.

Name Access

Levine, Harry

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

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Jewish military portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

2

Item

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Feb. 1944

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 12 x 9 cm and 13 x 9 cm

Admin History/Bio

Garfield Cass was a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Naval Forces during the Second World War. He married Dorothy Willinsky, the daughter of Abraham Willinsky.

Scope and Content

The item is a portrait of Garfield Cass.

Name Access

Canada. Royal Canadian Navy

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

12

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[192-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 4 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a small photograph of David Cass taken in Toronto.

Notes

Photographer: Ewing's Sunbeam, 538 Queen St. West, Toronto.

Name Access

Cass, David

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.

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1894

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 10 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Mrs. Hannah Cass taken in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Notes

Albumen print mounted on cabinet card.

Photographer: Reger, 1106 11th St., Altoona, Pa.

Name Access

Cass, Hannah

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.

Physical Condition

The cabinet card is coming apart and the image is scratched.

Places

Altoona (Pa.).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

6

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[191-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 10 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Bill Cass in San Francisco, California taken sometime before 1920.

Notes

Photographer: Alisky, S.F.

Mounted on card frame.

Name Access

Cass, Bill

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.

Places

San Francisco (Calif.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

8

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[191-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Bill Cass taken at a studio in Tacoma, Washington.

Notes

Photographer: A. Freuck (?), Tacoma, Washington.

Name Access

Cass, Bill

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.

Places

Tacoma (Wash.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1906

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 5 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Bill Cass in San Francisco in 1906.

Notes

Mounted on card.

Name Access

Cass, Bill

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.

Physical Condition

Poor condition.

The photograph is faded and stained.

Places

San Francisco (Calif.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Levine and Cass family fonds

Cass family series

Level

Item

Fonds

25

Series

11

Item

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1914-1919]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 7 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Phillip Cass taken at a studio in Detroit.

Notes

Albumen print mounted on card.

Photographer: F. D. Brooks, Detroit.

Name Access

Cass, Phillip

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.

Places

Detroit (Mich.)

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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