Accession Number

2016-10-4

Material Format

graphic material

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 26 x 31 cm

Date

[ca. 1960]

Scope and Content

The accession consists of one black and white copy of the original YM-YWHA building, located at 15 Brunswick Avenue.

Administrative History

Marvin Chapley, the original owner of the photograph, was educated at Central Tech in Toronto. He was trained in the printing trade and owned several print shops including an original location on Adelaide, and later The Invitation House [ca. 1960s]. Marvin would often barter services with a local antique shop which is how he came to acquire this copy print photo of the YMHA on Brunswick Avenue. Having been an active member of YMHA, his ownership of this photo was a point of pride.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Architecture

Name Access

Young Men's Hebrew Association (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Civil and Human Rights Legislation sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-1

File

181

Material Format

textual record

Date

1991

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence and newspaper clippings related to a visit to Canada and speaking engagements by Holocaust denier David Irving.

Notes

Availability of other formats: Digitized material.

General: Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2013-5-5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : b&w ; 14 x 17 cm

Date

1948-1951

Scope and Content

Accession consists of four issues of the Hillelite newspaper (Hillel, University of Toronto) published between 1950 and 1951 as well as a copy photograph of five Jewish men from Toronto en route to Israel to fight in the Machal during Israel's War of Independence (June 1948). They are standing in front of a ship which sailed from New York to Le Havre. Identified in the photograph are (left to right): Bob Eisen, Dr. Isadore Weinsweig, Walter Leff, Irving Matlow, and Al G. Rosenberg.

Source

Archival Accessions

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

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Accession Number

2016-11-36

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

1 folder of textual record

Date

1967

Scope and Content

Accession consists of an unframed Certificate of Recognition presented to Irving Wintrob by Beth Tzedec Congregation for his devoted servie as an Officer of the Congregation. It is dated at Toronto, January 8th, 1967.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Sylvia Schwartz fonds

Portraits of prominent Jewish Torontonians series

Level

Item

Fonds

80

Series

1

Item

27

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Mar. 1943

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 12 x 8 cm, 13 x 10 cm.

Admin History/Bio

Irving Posluns is a member of the Posluns family. His mother was Sadie Posluns from Los Angeles. Irving married Shirley Carpman (m. Posluns). They had three children: Marie Helaine (b. 1951), Harold Lewis (b. 1952), and Randi Lynn (b. 1960).

He originally worked at the family's ladies wear factory and later in life became a commercial portrait photographer. His business, the Irving Posluns Portrait Studio, is located on Broadview Avenue in Toronto. Ryerson University's Irving A. Posluns Scholarship for portrait photography is named in his honour.

A history of the Poslaniec (Posluns) family can be found online at: http://www.posluns.com/

Scope and Content

The item is a portrait of Irving Posluns.

Subjects

Photographers

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

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Executive director series

Teacher files sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

2-4

File

157

Material Format

textual record

Date

1953-1959

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA Director prior to accessing the records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

281

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[197-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of a portrait photograph of Irving Teitel.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

133

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[195-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of a portrait photograph of Irving Kopstein.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Passenger Names

Swan, Irving (a)

Page Number

655

Date Range

June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915

Photographer

Harvey and Adena Glasner

Source

Rotenberg Ledger

Accession Number

1990-4-3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

1 m of textual records and graphic material

1 badge : felt and metal, blue, silver and white ; 10.5 x 10.5 cm

1 pin : metal, white, blue and gold ; 1 cm.

Date

[ca. 1922]-[194-]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the life and career of Allan Grossman. Also included is a Jewish Boys in Training Crest of Merit badge (ca. 1922-1924), a white felt badge with a blue Magen David in the middle and in the four corners with metal plates attached to the material, each one with a different symbol, and an Ostrovtzer Independent Mutual Benefit Society pin (ca. 1940s).

Subjects

Politicians

Name Access

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

1999-6-2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

21 photographs : b&w ; 22 x 30 cm or smaller

Date

1895-1962

Scope and Content

Accession consists of photographs documenting the life, career and activities of Sam Factor and his family. Textual material include correspondence, press clippings, and Factor's education and law school records.

Administrative History

Sam Factor (1892 -1962) was a Liberal member of parliament for Spadina, served in the armed forces in the Second World War, and was appointed a judge in the County of York.

Descriptive Notes

Idenification is provided for the photographs.

Subjects

Politicians

Name Access

Factor, Sam

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

66

Material Format

textual record

Date

1957

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of an annual 296 page Municipal Handbook containing official information relative to the administration of the City of Toronto, for citizens of Toronto and others. Book is dated May 1, 1957. It is signed by Mayor Nathan Phillips for Mrs. Edna Louise Sutherland.

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Subjects

Politicians

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Larry Becker collection

Level

File

Fonds

34

File

69

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of three items: a message from Nathan Phillips on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the founding of the Jewish community of Toronto, dated Sept 5, 1956; a list of officers belonging to the Jewish National Club; and a pamplet for the Jewish National Brotherhood with a smiliar list of names.

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2019-11-6

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

25 cm of textual records and other material

Date

[ca. 1925]-1996

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records related to the Jewish communal and public service activities of Phil Givens. Included are textual records and photographs as well as a small number of artifacts. Included are numerous speeches, municipal, provincial and federal election materials, professional records related to Givens' legal career, Jewish communal records including the Canadian Zionist Federation, the Upper Canada Lodge B'nai Brith chapter, and the Yiddish Committee, biographical materials, letters of thanks, certificates and honours, school graduation composite photographs, and photographs of various events and of the Givens and Rubins families. Artifacts include a Metropolitan Toronto Police Commissioners badge, a City of Toronto Council member pin, a Wingate Legion felt patch, and notably, a Canadian flag and an Israeli flag. The Canadian flag flew over the Canadian parliament, while the Israel flag was raised in the Knesset. Both flags were requested by Givens and were draped on his casket at his funeral. Accompanying documentation is also in the accession.

Administrative History

Philip Gerard Givens (1922-1995) was a municipal, provincial and federal politician, a judge, a police commissioner and an active Jewish communal leader. He is largely remembered as the 54th Mayor of Toronto. Phil Givens was born in Toronto on April 24th, 1922, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945 and from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949. In 1947, he married Minnie "Min" Rubin (born February 7th, 1924) and together they had two children, Eleanor and Michael. Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall; however, shortly thereafter he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951 he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a city Controller. Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962. Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the Mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against the former mayor, Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals. Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture “the Archer” for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike. Although ultimately purchased with private solicited donations, the controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. In 1967 Givens entered national politics for the second time, the first being a failed 1957 bid in Toronto’s Spadina riding, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971 he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Provincial Legislature. Again running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill and after the elimination of this riding in 1975, was re-elected in the new riding of Armourdale. In 1977 he retired from politics. He also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM. In 1977, Givens was appointed as a provincial court judge and chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retiring from public life in 1988. An ardent Zionist, Givens was also a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chairman of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985 he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation and in the 1990s was the national chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’ Committee for Yiddish. Givens was honoured by Jewish community organizations, including the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Award in 1968 and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews’ Human Relations Award in 1969. As well, in 1972, he received the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith. Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto. He died on November 30th, 1995 at the age of 73.

Descriptive Notes

Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 300 photographs, 1 pin, 1 felt patch, 1 badge, 2 flags, 1 poster, and 2 paper bags.

Subjects

Politicians

Name Access

Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

553

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[Aug.?] 1981

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of one photograph of Moshe Dayan and his wife at an unidentified event.

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Name Access

Dayan, Moshe, 1915-1981

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

569

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Nov. 1981

Physical Description

5 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of five photographs from a UJA event with Senator Jacob Javits of New York. Identified in the photos are James Kay, Peter Newman, Senator Jacob Javitz, Lionel Schipper, Ephraim Diamond, Hy Isenbaum, Myrna Isenbaum, Gay Berger, Dr. Chas Gold, Allan Offman, Adrienne Offman, and Issy Sharp.

Notes

Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Availability of other formats: Also available as digital images.

Name Access

Javits, Jacob K. (Jacob Koppel), 1904-1986

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

587

Material Format

graphic material

Date

28 Mar. 1982

Physical Description

38 photographs : b&w (38 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm

Scope and Content

File consists of thrity-eight negatives from a UJA event with Yitzhak Rabin. Identified in the negatives are Allan Offman, Adrienne Offman, Izy Stern, Gerry Halbert, Jack Gwartz, and Judy Gwartz.

Notes

Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Name Access

Gwartz, Jack

Gwartz, Judy

Halbert, Gerry

Offman, Adrienne

Offman, Allan, 1938-2017

Rabin, Yitzhak, 1922-1995

Stern, Izy

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

John J. Glass fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

109

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1914–1974

Physical Description

71 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

John Judah Glass was born in England on 31 October 1895 to Morris and Pearl Glass. In 1907, he immigrated to Toronto—two years after his father. In 1917, he graduated from the University of Toronto. During the First World War, he served overseas in the 58th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. In 1921, Glass he earned his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. That same year, he was called to the Ontario bar. Glass became a practicing barrister and solicitor and was a member of the Canadian Bar Association.

Glass went on to have a political career that spanned fifteen years. From 1928 to 1930, he served as trustee for the Toronto Board of Education. From 1931 to 1934, he represented the former Ward 4 as alderman in Toronto City Council. From 1934 to 1943, he represented the St. Andrew riding as Liberal MPP in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. In 1943, he left the world of active politics.

A significant portion of Glass' life was devoted to Jewish community work. For more than ten years, he was national president of the Canadian Federation of Polish Jews. He was also a member of Beth Tzedec Congregation's board of governors, a past president of the Toronto Zionist Council, a member of the Zionist Organization of Canada's national and regional executive, a founder of the Canadian Jewish Congress, a past president of Toronto B'nai Brith, and a founder and first president of the General Wingate Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. His affiliations included the Toronto Council of Christians and Jews, the Palestine Lodge, the Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital, the Jewish Historical Society, United Jewish Appeal, the Jewish National Fund, and State of Israel Bonds.

In addition to his involvement in various Jewish organizations, Glass was a Mason and past-president of the Scarborough Liberal Association. He died on 22 September 1973 and was survived by his wife, Anne Ethel Glass (née Horowitz), and two sons, George and Jesse.

Scope and Content

Fonds documents the life of John Judah Glass (1895-1973), including his involvement in the military, politics, and the Jewish community. The fonds is divided into three series: Artifacts, Documents, and Photographs.

Of note are those records documenting Glass' military service in the First and Second World Wars and his progression through the ranks of public service from lawyer to trustee of the Board of Education, Toronto City Council alderman, and Liberal member of the Parliament of Ontario.

Records also document Glass' participation in the unveiling of the Vimy Ridge Memorial as representative of the Government of Ontario and his role in the purchase of a historic building on Spadina Avenue for a new Zionist headquarters. (The chain of ownership of that property since 1883 is detailed in the records.)

Name Access

Glass, John Judah, 1895-1973

Subjects

Politicians

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.

Physical Condition

Some of the textual records are in poor condition and are enclosed in plastic. Panoramic photos are in fragile condition.

Creator

Glass, John Judah, 1895-1973

Places

Canada

France

Israel

United States

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring the Toronto Jewish community file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

1

Item

25

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1956

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative) ; 21 x 26 cm and 11 x 13 cm

Notes

Photograph by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Jewish National Fund

Subjects

Politicians

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

4348

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1957]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Becker, Joseph

Subjects

Politicians

Accession Number

1985-10-7

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Anti-Semitism cases sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-3

File

22

Material Format

textual record

Date

19 July 1968

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of one news clipping regarding comments made by George Ben, Liberal MPP for Humber.

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

34

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1969

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w ; 15 x 23 cm and 13 x 18 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of two photographs of the 1969 UJA Women's Campaign Mission to Ottawa.

The first photo depicts members of the campaign on the steps of at Parliament Hill. Identified in the photo are Phil Givens, Sally Libman, Annette Naiman, Frances Seligman, Mirial Small, Inez Solish, and Marvelle Koffler.

The second photo is a group photo at an event; identified in the photo are Phil Givens, MP; Mitchell Sharp; Beatrice Minden (standing); Florence Cooper; and Barney Danson, MP (sitting).

Name Access

Danson, Barney

Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Subjects

Politicians

Places

Ottawa (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Philip Givens fonds

City of Toronto Mayor series

Level

Series

Fonds

51

Series

4

Material Format

multiple media

Date

1963-1990

Physical Description

ca. 360 photographs : b&w, sepia toned, and col (99 contact sheet, 2 slides) ; 34 x 26 cm or smaller and other material

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Phil Givens’ work as Mayor of Toronto from 1963 until 1966. The bulk of the records are photographs featuring Mayor Givens at various city and community events; of note are images of Givens meeting with Robert Kennedy, Israeli President Zalmon Shazar, Sam Shopsowitz, and Pope Paul VI. Also included is general correspondence, speeches, election campaign materials, cartoons, certificates, artifacts, textual records related to the acquisition of the Henry Moore sculpture, a VHS cassette of Givens discussing the building of the New City Hall and an audiocassette documenting a council trip to Montreal in 1966. In addition, there is a small number of photographs which document events that occurred outside the dates of his time in office, but which relate to his role as mayor.

The series has been arranged into nine sub-series: 4-1. Campaign; 4-2. City of Toronto Council; 4-3. Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Council; 4-4. City of Toronto Board of Control; 4-5. Henry Moore Sculpture and artwork; 4-6. Official engagements; 4-7. Certificates and Awards; 4-8. Portraits and publicity; and 4-9. Political cartoons.

Notes

Includes 7.8 cm of textual records, 14 drawings, 1 DVD, 1 videocassette, 1 audiocassette, and 8 objects.

Photographers and photography studios are identified on the photographs.

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Protest activities sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

3-5

File

144

Item

1-2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

Aug. 1987

Physical Description

22 photographs : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm or smaller

Scope and Content

File contains photographs of Anatoly Scharansky meeting with dignitaries and speaking in Ottawa. Included is a meeting with Joe Clark, the then secretary of state for external affairs, and one with Senator David Croll.

Notes

Photographs by Ben Lechtman.

Name Access

Clark, Joe, 1939-

Croll, David, 1900-1991

Subjects

Politicians

Repro Restriction

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

Places

Ottawa (Ont.)

Source

Archival Descriptions

• 

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

4

Item

52

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[197-?]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Joe B. Salsberg was born in Lagov, Poland and emigrated to Canada in 1913 at the age of 11. His parents names were Sarah and Abraham. He initially studied to become a rabbi, but at the age of 13 was forced by economic circumstances to begin working the sweatshops. These experiences lead him to a life of activism, fighting to improve the wages and working conditions for labourers. Salsberg married Dora Wilensky.

He joined the Zionist worker's group and in 1926 the Communist Party of Canada. He worked as a Labour Zionist executive, a union organizer, Communist Party union strategist, journalist, activist and was president of Model Insurance Agency Limited. He was also a Toronto Alderman in 1938 and again in 1943 and was voted into parliament as an M.P.P. representative of the Labour Progressive Party in 1943-1955. He was actively involved in introducing the Ontario Human Rights Code in reaction to a decision to disallow Jews and blacks into certain pools as well as other anti-Semitic behavior in Ontario.

After visiting Russia on two occasions to study and discuss with Russian leaders the Jewish problems in Russia, Salsberg renounced Stalin and his own participation in Communism.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Joseph B. Salsberg taken by Al Gilbert.

Name Access

Salsberg, J. B.,1902-1998

Subjects

Politicians

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 also Joe Salsberg fonds: Accession # 1998-2-2, 1998-12-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring Nathan Silver file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

3

Item

31

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1967

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Name Access

Phillips, Nathan, 1892-1976

Subjects

Politicians

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Dorothy Dworkin fonds

Level

Item

Fonds

10

Item

31

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[194-?]

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Left to right: unidentified, Phil Givens, Dora Dworkin.

Notes

Stamp from A. Gilbert Studio on verso.

Subjects

Politicians

Repro Restriction

Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.

Accession Number

2005-4-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2022-7-6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Physical Description

ca. 8 cm of textual records

25 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

1 medal : bronze

Date

1922-1997

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records, photographs, and a bronze Shekel Medal for Israel’s twenty-fifth anniversary, most of which document Pearl Freedhoff and her Jewish communal and public service activities.

Textual records include public speeches, handwritten notes and short writing pieces, invitation and greeting cards, correspondence, materials relating to the sisterhoods of Beth Tzedec and Goel Tzedec synagogues, Pearl’s 1940 National Registration certificate, materials documenting the Ontario Bicentennial Award and dinner, and the 1981 royal tour of Canada, newspaper clippings relating to Pearl’s Jewish communal and public service activities, and an advertisement that Pearl made for Lido Spa. Also included are newsletters, magazines, and bulletins, which document Pearl’s experience in wedding consultation and her active involvement in Toronto Hadassah-WIZO and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jewish Home for the Aged; and travel itineraries and promotional materials for Israel and the Orient trips, which were issued by Toronto Hadassah-WIZO, B’nai Brith, and travel agencies they were in co-operation with. Textual records also include a small number of bulletins and magazines as well as a twenty-fifth anniversary book of Baycrest men’s service group, which document the accomplishments of Pearl’s husband, Dr. Samuel Freedhoff.

Photographs feature the Goel Tzedec Sisterhood, trips to Israel organized by Toronto Hadassah-WIZO, the wedding of Linda Greene (Lorne Greene’s daughter), and various social and political events that Pearl attended.

Accession also includes a bronze Shekel Medal for Israel’s twenty-fifth anniversary. It was presented to Pearl to commemorate her inscription as a governor of the Haifa Community College.

Custodial History

Records were in the possession of Judith Golden, Pearl's daughter, until being gifted to the Ontario Jewish Archives on 14 July 2022.

Administrative History

Pearl Freedhoff (née Narrol) (1906-1997) was born on 17 September 1906 in Toronto to Harry Narrol and Esther Narrol (née Newman). She had four siblings: Albert, Gertie, Hilda (m. Spivak), and Mendell (died as infant). Pearl married Dr. Samuel Osias Freedhoff (1903–1973) in 1927 and had two children: Stephen and Judith. Samuel was the son of Harry Freedhoff and Molli Freedhoff (née Bohnen). Pearl graduated from the University of Toronto, School of Social Work, and Samuel graduated from the School of Dentistry. Both were members of Goel Tzedec Synagogue, with Pearl serving as sisterhood president from 1949 to 1950 and Samuel as president of the men's club in 1952.

Pearl was an active member of the Jewish community and served on executives and boards in many Jewish communal organizations, including the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO Toronto Centre, the sisterhoods of Goel Tzedec and Beth Tzedec Synagogues, and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Jewish Home for the Aged. She had a political interest in the Progressive Conservative Party and was active in federal and provincial politics; she served on the boards of the Victorian Order of Nurses and Ontario Housing Commission and was included in special dinners such as dinners for the royal family. In addition, she had an outstanding reputation as a bridal and bar-mitzvah counsellor for over thirty years. In 1984, she was awarded the Ontario Bicentennial Medal in honour of her contributions to the community at large.

Pearl passed away on 18 December 1997.

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

Politicians

Name Access

Freedhoff, Pearl, 1906-1997

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

73

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[196-?]

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of photographs of Allan Grossman.

Name Access

Grossman, Allan, 1910-1991

Subjects

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Toronto Holocaust Museum series

Documentation sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

28-17

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1983

Physical Description

1 folder textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a manuscript of Irving Eisner's memoir with a rejection letter from a publisher.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

5005

Material Format

graphic material

Date

29 May 1961

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Photograph is a portrait of J. Irving Oelbaum, seated behind a desk with a cigar in his hand.

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists.

Name Access

Oelbaum, J. Irving, 1899-1966

Subjects

Portraits

Accession Number

1990-1-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Al Gilbert portraits series

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

4

Item

16

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1970]

Physical Description

1 negative : b&w ; 11 x 13 cm

Admin History/Bio

Irving Hennick was a gemologist. He was born in Poland in 1922 to Molly and William Hennick. The family emigrated to Canada shortly afterwards. Irving Hennick was married to Shirley Kirshenblatt and they had three children named Georgia, Jeffrey, and Steven. Irving was president of Marvel Jewellery Ltd. on McCaul Street in Toronto.

Irving Hennick was a member of the Mason Order, Herzl Zion, Maple Downs Golf and Country Club and Chairman of the Jewellery Division of U.J.A.

Scope and Content

Photograph of Irving Hennick.

Name Access

Hennick, Irving

Subjects

Gemologists

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 Photo # 50 for Nat Hennick

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring Philip Granovsky file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

7

Item

32

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1974

Physical Description

1 negative : col. ; 6 x 6 cm

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring Eric and Esther Exton file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

8

Item

34

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1978

Physical Description

1 negative : col. ; 6 x 6 cm

Name Access

Gilbert, Al, 1922-

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

183

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1949

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm and 9 x 12 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of a portrait photograph of Irving Oelbaum and 3 photographs of Oelbaum during a speech.

Name Access

Oelbaum, J. Irving, 1899-1966

Source

Archival Descriptions

Passenger Names

Swan, Irving inf.

Page Number

655

Date Range

June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915

Photographer

Harvey and Adena Glasner

Source

Rotenberg Ledger

Part Of

J. Irving Oelbaum fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

24

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

[189-]–1966

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records (2 vol.)

63 photographs (19 negatives)

1 artifact

Admin History/Bio

Julius Irving (J. I.) Oelbaum (1899–1966) was a dedicated community leader, whose tireless work with fraternal, educational, and philanthropic organizations included an extensive list of Toronto's prominent Jewish organizations. He was born in New York City on 11 October 1899 to Moishe Oelbaum and Miriam Oelbaum (née Jacoby). He had four brothers, Charles, Sidney, Abraham (Babe), and Cuppel (Jack). In 1906, the family moved to Toronto, where Oelbaum received his education. In 1923, he married Sadie Margulies and had two daughters, Dorothy Koven and Helen Simpson. Oelbaum was a social worker by profession, but in 1932 he went into business with his brothers and became president of the Acme Paper Products Company Limited.

J. I. Oelbaum devoted a lifetime to Jewish communal service, beginning in 1923, when he was hired as the executive director of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Toronto, a post which he retained for five years. During the same period, he was also the executive director of the Toronto Hebrew Free Loan Association and the Toronto Hebrew Free School. Oelbaum held executive lay leadership positions with numerous organizations including: District Grand Lodge No. 1, B'nai Brith, United Jewish Welfare Fund, Jewish Family Welfare Bureau, Yeshiva Torath Chaim, Zionist Organization of Canada, Canadian Jewish Congress Central Region, Joint Public Relations Committee, Jewish Immigrant Aid Society of Canada, Jewish Camp Council of Toronto, United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies, Toronto Jewish Old Folks' Home, Mount Sinai Hospital, Canadian Conference of Christians and Jews, Congregation Goel Tzedec, and the YMHA.

In 1954, Oelbaum was honoured at a Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner, which over 1,400 people attended. He also received the Queen's Coronation Medal in 1952 and the Canadian Council of Christian and Jews Human Relations Award in 1953. J. Irving Oelbaum died on 2 October 1966 after a lengthy illness.

Custodial History

The records in accession 1985-5-15 were in the possession of Oelbaum's daughters, Helen Simpson and the late Dorothy Koven, before they were donated to the Archives on 29 May 1985. The photograph from accession 2004-5-31 was donated to the OJA by Oelbaum's niece, Annette Cohen.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of records documenting J. I. Oelbaum's family and his work with Toronto Jewish organizations. The records include photographs, correspondence, event booklets and invitations, newsclippings, Oelbaum's certificate of marriage and wedding invitation, a miniature silver shovel from the turning of the sod ceremony at Baycrest Hospital, and two scrapbooks.

The photographs include portraits of Oelbaum as well as his parents, and snapshots of famous individuals attending events in Toronto, such as David Ben Gurion, Eleanor Roosevelt, Richard Nixon and Bob Hope.

Notes

A large amount of the loose newsclippings were removed from the fonds, photocopied and added to the J. I. Oelbaum clipping file.

Name Access

Oelbaum, J. Irving, 1899-1966

Subjects

Businesspeople

Immigrants--Canada

Philanthropists

Creator

Oelbaum, J. Irving, 1899-1966

Accession Number

1985-5-15

2004-5-31

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Toronto Holocaust Museum series

Special events and projects sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

28-18

File

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

1981

Physical Description

1 folder textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of flyers, correspondence, and press releases for Dr. Irving Greenberg's lecture "Presenting the Holocaust a Generation Later."

Name Access

Greenberg, Irving, 1933-

Subjects

Lectures and lecturing

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2012-1-1

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 item

Date

1945-1954

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a small silver plate trophy presented each year by the United Jewish Welfare Fund to the division with the largest percentage of new givers. It was named after J. Irving Oelbaum, who was a former president of the fund. The first recipient division in 1945 was the Women's Division, followed by the University Students Division, the Metropolitan Division, Youth Division and the Young Men's Division.

Custodial History

The custodial history of this item is unknown. It belonged to the United Jewish Welfare Fund and thus was most likely transferred to the Archives by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. It was in a box at the back of the vault and was discovered during a sweep of the vault.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Dual Allegiance series

Level

File

Fonds

2

Series

6

File

88

Material Format

textual record

Date

1977

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence chiefly between Ben Dunkelman and Irving Lazar, a literary agent, in which they discuss the possibility of turning Dunkelman's book Dual Allegiance into a television mini-series.

Physical Condition

Some records are fragile.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

1980-12-9

Material Format

textual record

Physical Description

2 vol. of textual records

Date

1960-1967

Scope and Content

Accession consists of two bound srapbooks documenting the political and communal life of Herbert Orliffe. Included are newsclippings and official invitations to ceremonies and events.

Administrative History

Herbert Orliffe (1905-1967) was a QC barrister and solicitor who owned his own practice, Herbert Orliffe QC. He specialized in labour law and was the first Chairman of the Ontario Jurisdictional Disputes Commission. He was born on May 5, 1905 to Anne and Charles Orliffe in Newcastle, England. Herbert married Ida Goren and they had four children: Annabel, Joan, Barbara and Robert. His affiliations included: Jewish Public Library, Canadian Jewish News, Jewish Welfare Fund, Board of Jewish Education, Beth Tzedec Congregation, Sunnyside Lodge IOOF, Palestine Lodge AF & AM, Toronto Board of Trade, and the Empire Club. Herbert was also the first Jewish Chairman of the Toronto Board of Education in 1952, an alderman for Ward Four in 1954, and a member of Municipality Toronto Council in 1956. He died suddently of a heart attack in 1967.

Subjects

Politicians

Scrapbooks

Name Access

Orliffe, Herbert, 1905-1967

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2018-5-11

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

moving images

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records and graphic material

1 U-matic 3/4" videocassette

Date

1939-2006

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the life of Ellen Shirley Cole (née Robins) and her husband Albert (Tubby Cole). Included are elementary and high school records belonging to Ellen and Tubby Cole, and photographs of Ellen and Tubby and their parents and children. Also included are: newsclippings and photographs of UJA events featuring Tubby Cole as Man of the Year in 1977, as UJA Chairman in 1978, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Pierre Trudeau; Ellen's community activities; actress Toby Robins (Ellen's sister), and brothers Carl and Jack Cole of Cole's bookstores. Also included are programs and invitations to UJA yearly campaign events, a speech presented by Joe Clark, M.P., to Beth Emeth Bais Yehudah Synagogue, a scrapbook of Harbord Collegiate newsclippings featuring outstanding athlete Albert Cole, a possible UJA event donor list, and a 50th birthday poem written to Ellen from her sister Toby Robins.

Administrative History

Ellen Shirley Cole (née Robins) was born in 1929 in Toronto. Ellen and her husband Albert (Tubby) Cole were active and dedicated members of the Toronto Jewish community. She was a member of Hadassah and the UJA Women's Campaign where she had the opportunity to meet with dignitaries such as Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Pierre Trudeau. Ellen was the sister of the late actress Toby Robins and sister-in-law of Carl and Jack Cole of Cole's bookstores. Ellen enjoyed her role as homemaker and was noted for being an outstanding hostess and cook. Ellen passed away March 22, 2018.

Subjects

Philanthropists

Politicians

Name Access

Cole, Ellen

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Accession Number

2020-3-4

Material Format

graphic material

moving images

object

textual record

Physical Description

ca. 300 photographs : b&w and col. (30 negatives) ; 36 x 26 cm or smaller

8 cm of textual records and other material

Date

1932-2011

Scope and Content

Accession consists of textual records, graphic materials, videocassettes, a scrapbook, and a small number of artifacts, which are related to the Givens and Rubin families and Phil Given's political, Jewish communal, and public service activities. Textual records consist of the Givens family record from Beth Tzedec Congregation; certificates (1932 and 1946); Phil’s campaign material; a birthday greeting to Phil’s mother, Mary Gevertz, from the Government of Ontario (1971); newspaper clippings documenting Phil’s music career in his early years as well as his political, Jewish communal, and public service activities (1932-2011); booklets of B’nai Brith documenting Phil Givens involvement with B’nai Brith Upper Canada Lodge (1949 and 1996); the Phil Givens Negev Dinner programme book (1968); a centennial schoolbook of Harbord Collegiate Institute which Phil Givens attended (1992); and magazines with articles related to Phil Givens’ communal and political activities (1967-1990). Textual records also include invitation and birthday cards (1968-1978), a personal letter and an appreciation message to Phil, and a bulletin of Hebrew Men of England Congregation dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rubin (1966). Graphic materials are comprised mainly of photographs ([194-?]-[199-?]), which include Phil Givens’ professional portraits; Michael Givens’ camping photographs; passport photographs of Phil, Min, and Michael Givens; photographs depicting the Givens family, various social events that Phil and Min attended, Phil’s 1968 political campaign (from the campaign scrapbook), as well as Phil and Min’s trip to Egypt, Russia, and Israel. Graphic materials also include several negatives and over 150 stereo slides featuring the Givens family and events that Phil and Min attended ([195-]1978). Accession also includes fifteen Betamax videocassettes, six passports of the Givens and Rubin families (1965-1983), a SIN card of Mary Gevertz, a scrapbook of Phil’s 1968 campaign, and two metal award and honour panels granted to Phil by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and the Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto (1969 and 1991).

Administrative History

Philip Gerard Givens (1922-1995) was a municipal, provincial and federal politician, a judge, a police commissioner and an active Jewish communal leader. He is largely remembered as the 54th Mayor of Toronto. Phil Givens was born in Toronto on April 24th, 1922, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945 and from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949. In 1947, he married Minnie "Min" Rubin (born February 7th, 1924) and together they had two children, Eleanor and Michael. Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall; however, shortly thereafter he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951 he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a city Controller. Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962. Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the Mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against the former mayor, Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals. Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture “the Archer” for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike. Although ultimately purchased with private solicited donations, the controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. In 1967 Givens entered national politics for the second time, the first being a failed 1957 bid in Toronto’s Spadina riding, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971 he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Provincial Legislature. Again running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill and after the elimination of this riding in 1975, was re-elected in the new riding of Armourdale. In 1977 he retired from politics. He also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM. In 1977, Givens was appointed as a provincial court judge and chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retiring from public life in 1988. An ardent Zionist, Givens was also a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chairman of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985 he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation and in the 1990s was the national chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’ Committee for Yiddish. Givens was honoured by Jewish community organizations, including the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Award in 1968 and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews’ Human Relations Award in 1969. As well, in 1972, he received the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith. Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto. He died on November 30th, 1995 at the age of 73.

Descriptive Notes

Physical Description Note: Apart from photographs and textual records, this accession also includes 156 stereo slides, 15 Betamax videocassettes, 1 scrapbook, 2 metal award and honour panels, 6 passports, and 1 SIN card.

The content and duration of the Betamax videocassettes need further identification.

Subjects

Families

Politicians

Name Access

Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Level

Item

Item

2967-2968

Material Format

graphic material

Date

9 Sep. 1971

Physical Description

2 photographs

Scope and Content

For identification, see accession record.

Notes

See accession record for terms of use.

Name Access

Givens, Phil

Hadassah-Wizo

Subjects

Politicians

Women

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Accession Number

1978-1-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

46

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1977

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

File consists of two photographs from a UJA meeting led by Garth Drabinsky. In the first photo, Al Waxman is visible (seated). Identified on the back of the second photo are (L to R) John Roberts, MP; Allan Offman; and Garth Drabinsky.

Notes

Photo by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Name Access

Drabinsky, Garth

Offman, Allan, 1938-2017

Roberts, John, 1933-2007

Waxman, Al

Subjects

Meetings

Politicians

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Philip Givens fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

51

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[192-]-1990

Physical Description

1.35 metres of textual records (20 vols.) and other material

Admin History/Bio

Philip (Phil) Gerald Givens, QC, (1922–1995) was a Canadian politician, judge, police commissioner, and active Jewish communal leader. He is is largely remembered as the fifty-fourth mayor of Toronto.

Phil Givens was born in Toronto, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945. In 1947, he married the former Minnie “Min” Rubin. They had two children together: Eleanor and Michael.

Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949; however, shortly thereafter, he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951, he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a controller.

Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962.

Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals.

Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor, but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture The Archer for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike, because traditional and representational public art pieces were the norm in Toronto at the time and The Archer sculpture was considered expensive, bold, and unrelatable. The controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. Ultimately, the sculpture was purchased with privately solicited donations and has become one of Toronto’s beloved and recognized landmarks.

Givens ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 and 1958 federal elections but was defeated in his bid to become member of Parliament for Spadina. In 1967, Givens entered national politics for the second time, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971, he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Again, running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill. In the 1975 provincial election, he was re-elected as a member of Provincial Parliament in the Armourdale constituency.

In 1977, Givens retired from politics and was appointed as a provincial court judge and chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retired from public life in 1988.

In addition to his political career, Givens also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM.

Givens was an ardent Zionist and a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds, and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chair of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985, he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation. In the 1990s, he served as the national chairman of the Committee for Yiddish of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Givens was the honouree of the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Dinner in 1968. He received the Human Relations Award from the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1969 and the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith in 1972.

Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto.

Custodial History

The records were in the possession of Phil Givens until they were donated to the Archives in September 1990 by his wife.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the personal, professional and communal activities of Phil Givens. The bulk of the material is graphic and most of the photographs relate to his tenure as Mayor of Toronto and to his Jewish communal work. The records also include general correspondence, speeches, campaign material, scrapbooks, cartoons, certificates and awards, biographical writings, audio and visual materials and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series representing Givens’ various roles and activities and have been described to the file level and item level when necessary. These series are: 1. Personal life; 2. City of Toronto Alderman; 3. City of Toronto Controller; 4. City of Toronto Mayor; 5. Metropolitan Toronto Police Commissioner; 6. Provincial politics; 7. National politics; 8. Legal career; 9. Jewish communal service.

Notes

Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 915 photographs, 14 drawings, 1 print, 1 presentation piece, 27 objects, 4 DVD’s, 4 videocassettes and 1 audiocassette.

Physical Extent Note: Fonds was reduced from 5.5 m of records to 2.6 m of records. Please see accession record for further details regarding the records that were culled.

General Note: Previously cited as MG6 B

Associated material note: City of Toronto Archives: “Philip Givens fonds” (fonds 1301) and Series 363, Sub-series 2 “Mayor' Office journals” (fonds 200). Library and Archives Canada: “Correspondence and subjects” series (R4942-1-1-E) in the Stuart E. Rosenberg fonds (R4942-0-X-E); Henry S. Rosenberg fonds (R3946-0-9-E); Jewish National Fund of Canada fonds (R4347-0-1-E), “Subject series: Givens, Judge Philip G. – Toronto” (R4347-7-4-E); “Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports” series (MG31-H67), Zdzislaw Przygoda fonds (R6257-0-0-E) [Sir Casimir Gzowski monument committee records –chaired by Phil Givens]; B'nai Brith Canada fonds (R6348-0-9-E); Canadian Zionist Federation fonds (R9377-0-6-E).

Name Access

Givens, Phillip, 1922-1995

Givens (nee Rubin), Min

Subjects

Law

Politicians

Related Material

See Fonds 2: Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

See Fonds 18: Gordon Mendly fonds

See Fonds 28: Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

See Fonds 37: Gilbert Studios fonds (Negev dinners series, Zionist Building series, Portraits series).

Creator

Givens, Philip, 1922-1995

Accession Number

1990-9-7

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

684

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1942

Physical Description

2 photographs : b&w (1 negative)

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of Irving Ungerman in uniform during the Second World War.

Name Access

Ungerman, Irv

Ungerman, Irving

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

World War, 1939-1945

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.)

Accession Number

1976-12-5

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Gilbert Studios fonds

Negev dinners series

Dinner honouring Philip Granovsky file

Level

Item

Fonds

37

Series

1

File

7

Item

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1974

Physical Description

1 negative : col. ; 6 x 6 cm

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.

Source

Archival Descriptions