Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Canadian Overseas Garment Commission series

Administration sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

47-7

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1940-1950

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File contains the association of clothing manufacturers membership list.

Repro Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

31

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

sound recording

Date

1919-1988

Physical Description

3.15 m of textual records

459 photographs

1 audiocasette

Admin History/Bio

The Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario (MCMAO) was formed and incorporated in 1919 under the name of the Associated Clothing Manufacturers. The Association's primary mandate was the representation of its membership in negotiations with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and later, the Toronto Joint Board of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. The MCMAO membership was comprised of the manufacturing firms of men's clothing in Toronto and Hamilton and inlcuded companies such as Tip Top Tailors, Empire Clothing and Shiffer-Hillman among others. The Association was also involved in furthering the interests of the clothing industry in Ontario and with all matters pertaining to the clothing business in which the Association's membership was interested. The MCMAO was a represented member of the Apparel Manufacturers' Associatoin of Ontario and the Apparel Manufacturers' Council of Canada. The MCMAO ceased operation around 1989.

Custodial History

There is no information on the acquisition of these records. They came into the Archives in the early 1990s but the original source from the Association is unknown. The records were stored at the OJA's offsite storage location until 2008, when they were transferred to the OJA vault for processing.

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of records documenting the Association’s role in negotiations with the employee’s union on behalf of their membership, as well as their work in lobbying senior levels of government on such matters as labour relations, tariffs and taxes, and other issues related to the production of men’s and boys’ garments. The records include legal documents; executive and committee meeting minutes; financial records; arbitration, mediation and negotiation reports and correspondence; collective agreements; labour statistics; general correspondence files; parliamentary briefs, submissions and reports; and seminar photographs. There are also files related to specific bodies that the Association collaborated or corresponded with, such as the Toronto Club of Clothing Designers. Of particular interest are the files of the Overseas Garment Workers Commission, which documents the Associations' role in helping bring over Jewish refugees and other Displaced Persons as tailors and garment workers.

The fonds has been divided into twelve series: Legal; Board of Directors meeting minutes and agendas; Executive Committee / Executive Board meeting minutes and agendas; Annual and general meeting minutes and agendas; Negotiations Committee; Finance Committee; Public Relations Committee; Labour Relations Committee; Other committee meeting minutes and agendas; General correspondence; Parliamentary briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence; and Seminars.

Name Access

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario

Subjects

Clothing trade

Access Restriction

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

Related Material

Queen’s University Archives holds records of the MCMAO dating from 1920 to 1969. These records appear to have originated from the same source and at one point the collection had been split in two. The fonds at Queen’s is complementary to the OJA’s fonds and together, the two fonds provide a complete picture of the MCMAO and its work.

Library and Archives Canada holds the records of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America fonds.

Creator

Men's Clothing Manufacturer's Association of Ontario (1919-1989)

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Other committee meeting minutes and agendas series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

9

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

1922-1939

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Other committee meeting minutes and agendas series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

9

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1943-1954, 1970

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

974

Material Format

textual record

Date

1955

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Parliamentary briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

11

File

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

1954

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Other committee meeting minutes and agendas series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

9

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1960

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

National Executive Council series

Level

Series

Fonds

38

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1933-1988

Physical Description

8 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The National Executive Council was the main governing body of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada.

Scope and Content

Series is composed of two sub-series: National Presidents and National Administration.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Central Region sous-fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

28-1

Series

7

File

192

Material Format

textual record

Date

1965

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

The file consists of correspondence and lists of members.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

4

File

224

Material Format

textual record

Date

1993-1994

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

4

File

225

Material Format

textual record

Date

1994-1995

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Parliamentary briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

11

File

10

Material Format

textual record

Date

1975-1976

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Julius P. Katz fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

55

Series

2

File

121

Material Format

textual record

Date

1942

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

This file consists of a copy of the meeting minutes of the Jewish National Fund Council, December, 1942.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

460

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1932

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 13 x 18 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of members of the National Council of Jewish Juniors taken at 44 St. George Street, Toronto.

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Juniors

Subjects

Women

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

Saint George Street (Toronto, Ont.)

Accession Number

Acquired April 7, 1975.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

463

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1932

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 22 x 17 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of some members of the National Council of Jewish Juniors. Right: Sam Sherman.

Notes

Inscription on back: "Ida Strauss, 12 Dewson Street, Toronto, Ontario, Jewish Juniors play".

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Juniors

Sherman, Sam

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

Acquired April 7, 1975.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

464

Material Format

graphic material

Responsibility

Alexandra Studio, News Photos for News Papers, Toronto, Canada

Date

1935

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 17 x 22 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of three women from the National Council of Jewish Juniors, holding a review for charity at Eaton Auditorium: On right: Gerry Bene (m. Zimmerman).

Name Access

Bene, Gerry

Eaton Auditorium

National Council of Jewish Juniors

Zimmerman, Gerry

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

Acquired April 7, 1975.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Level

Item

Item

465

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1936

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

Item is a photograph of the cast of a review by the National Council of Jewish Juniors at the Eaton Auditorium, Toronto. R. Sammy Sales.

Notes

A 4 x 5 negative is available.

Name Access

Eaton Auditorium

National Council of Jewish Juniors

Sales, Sammy

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

Acquired April 7, 1975.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1944-1952

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence with, and publications of, the National Council of Jewish Women.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

48

Material Format

textual record

Date

20 Jan. 1953-21 Dec. 1953

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

218

Material Format

textual record

Date

28 Aug. 1970-14 Oct. 1970

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

280

Material Format

textual record

Date

19 Jan. 1973-8 June 1973

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

5

File

104

Material Format

textual record

Date

1970-1971

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

The file consists of financial statements, resolutions, correspondence and memoranda, minutes of meetings and meeting attendance lists.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

4

File

437

Material Format

textual record

Date

1949-1975

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Board of Jewish Education fonds

Subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

48

Series

4

File

438

Material Format

textual record

Date

1974-1976

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Community Relations Committee series

Research Records sub-series

Advocacy, General sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

5-4-9

File

145

Material Format

textual record

Date

1974

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of a newsletter from the Council

Notes

Previously processed and cited as part of MG8 S.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

National biennial conventions and annual meetings series

Level

File

Fonds

38

Series

1

File

28

Material Format

textual record

Date

1986

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of various reports of the National Executive Council meeting, November 16-18, 1986.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

National history research and subject files series

Level

File

Fonds

38

Series

5

File

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

[1989?]-1997

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of lists of 20 national presidents and past presidents of different sections of NCJWC and photocopies of a few of them.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2018-2-7

Material Format

textual record (electronic)

Physical Description

1 file of textual records (pdf)

Date

23 Oct. 2017

Scope and Content

Accession consists of speech written and presented by Gloria Roden. She presented the early history of National Council of Jewish Women, (1897-1957) at a government of Canada ceremony in which NCJW’s Council House, formerly located at 44 St. George Street, Toronto, was designated an institution of national historic significance by Parks Canada Historic Sites and Monuments Board. The event took place at Council House, 4700 Bathurst Street on October 23, 2017.

Administrative History

Gloria Roden is a a second generation volunteer National Council of Jewish Women member.

Use Conditions

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

Subjects

Speeches, addresses, etc

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Parliamentary briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

11

File

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1969

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds

Clothing Centre series

Level

Series

Fonds

87

Series

9

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1934-1943

Physical Description

6 folders of textual records

1 architectural drawing : blueprint, ms. annotations ; 39 x 48 cm

Admin History/Bio

In the 1930s, the United Welfare Clothing Centre was established to provide clients of the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau, Jewish Big Sisters Committee, Jewish Big Brother Movement, and the JIAS Refugee Establishment Committee with clothing. The Centre’s finances and daily operations were managed by the JFWB’s Clothing Committee; however, other organizations also participated in its operation. For instance, the Rest Home Club collected, sorted and cleaned used clothing, and members of the Community Sewing Centre regularly made clothes for the Centre. The Centre was located at 55 Baldwin Street and likely stopped operating in the early 1940s due to a lack of funds and donations.

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and one architectual drawing documenting the renovation and operation of the JFWB's Clothing Centre. Included is correspondence, one blueprint, a building alteration proposal, reports, price lists, inventories, publicity articles and meeting notices, agendas and minutes.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Family Welfare Bureau fonds

Clothing Centre series

Level

File

Fonds

87

Series

9

File

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1937-1941

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of textual records documenting the JFWB's Clothing Committee. Included is correspondence, memos, lists of Committee members, and meeting notices, agendas and minutes. Also included are the minutes of a joint meeting with the Committee on Community Sewing and the JFWB's Sewing Group.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

304

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1951

Physical Description

4 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of photographs of people participating in a clothing drive.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

Publicity photographs of people and events series

Level

File

Fonds

28

Series

6

File

305

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1953

Physical Description

3 photographs : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Scope and Content

The file consists of photographs of participants in the clothing drive.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Passenger Names

Toronto, Clothing

Page Number

457

Date Range

June 6, 1911 to January 19, 1915

Photographer

Harvey and Adena Glasner

Source

Rotenberg Ledger

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Other committee meeting minutes and agendas series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

9

File

12

Material Format

textual record

Date

1958-1967, 1976

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2014-10-1

Material Format

multiple media

Physical Description

10 cm textual records

ca. 70 photographs: b&w and col. ; 10 cm x 15 cm or smaller

1 scrapbook

Date

1963-2013

Scope and Content

Accession consists of records documenting the activities of "Council '63", a branch of the Toronto Section of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC). Types of records include a photograph album, a scrapbook, correspondence, souvenirs, meeting minutes, membership lists, program materials and budgets.

Administrative History

The "Council '63" Branch of the Toronto Section of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) was formed in 1963. Currently consisting of 20 members, the group was initially spearheaded by Barbara Norwich (d. 2011), and they met regularly in homes in the Cedarvale area. The group primarily did volunteer work, although it later evolved into a study group and book club.

Subjects

Women

Nonprofit organizations

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women (Toronto, Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Other committee meeting minutes and agendas series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

9

File

18

Material Format

textual record

Date

1937

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Men's Clothing Manufacturers' Association of Ontario fonds

Parliamentary briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence series

Level

File

Fonds

31

Series

11

File

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1964

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Accession Number

2008-12-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Zionist Organization of Canada fonds

National Administrative Council and Executive Board series

Level

Series

Fonds

28

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1919-1977

Physical Description

86 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The National Administrative Council was the executive and administrative body of the Zionist Organization of Canada. From 1919 to 1921, its predecessor for the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada was known as the Executive Committee for Zionist Affairs in Canada, or the Executive Committee of the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada.

At its convention in 1921, the Zionist Organization of Canada adopted a constitution which called for the election of a National Administrative Council at each convention, to be responsible for administration of the Organization between conventions. The first meeting of the National Council took place on 7 February 1921, at the Zionist Headquarters in Montreal. The Council was composed of the Organization's executive officers, regional representatives and representatives from Hadassah-Wizo and Canadian Young Judea. An Executive Board was also formed, which included members elected at the conventions, ZOC executive officers and the immediate past-president, the chairs of National Administrative Council standing committees, representatives of Hadassah-Wizo and Young Judea, and other National Administrative Council regional representatives elected from the Council's members. The Board could also appoint additional members at its discretion to assist in its work. The Executive Board was delegated to carry out the decisions and ongoing work of the National Administrative Council and of the Organization generally.

Scope and Content

The series is organized into five sub-series, which includes: minutes of meetings of the National Administrative Council and the Executive Board and their predecessor, the Executive Committee for the Federation of Zionist Societies of Canada (1919-1970); correspondence of the Council and the ZOC Executive Vice-President (1970-1976); auditor's reports and financial statements maintained by the National Treasurer (1929-1968); records of the Council's Constitution Committee (1952-1975); and, records of the Commission of Enquiry Regarding Canadian Olim (1975-1977).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

37

Material Format

textual record

Date

1951-1953

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

78

Material Format

textual record

Date

1953-1954

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Executive Committee series

Executive director sub-series

Executive director's correspondence sub-sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

5-5-1

File

260

Material Format

textual record

Date

4 May 1972-6 Dec. 1972

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of correspondence.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Community Centre of Toronto fonds

Executive director series

Subject files sub-series

Level

File

Fonds

61

Series

1-1

File

102

Material Format

textual record

Date

1952-1953

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The National Council YM-YWHA's of Canada was an organization based in Montreal, serving the Canada wide YM-YWHA's in Glace Bay, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, St. John, Saskatoon, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor and Winnipeg.

Scope and Content

This file contains general correspondence relating to the National CounciYM-YWHA's of Canada.

Accession Number

2004-5-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Ida Lewis Siegel fonds

Level

File

Fonds

15

File

27

Material Format

textual record

Date

1968

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Scope and Content

File consists of National Council of Jewish Women of Canada Toronto Section Board Meeting minutes February 1, 1968 containing Ida Lewis Siegel's hand-written notes.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2018-2-8

Material Format

moving images (electronic)

graphic material (electronic)

Physical Description

1 video recording : (mov)

6 photographs : col. (jpg) ;

Date

23 Oct. 2017

Scope and Content

Accession consists of a video recording of a speech written and presented by Gloria Roden. She presented the early history of National Council of Jewish Women, (1897-1957) at a Government of Canada ceremony in which NCJW’s Council House, formerly located at 44 St. George Street, Toronto, was designated an institution of national historic significance by Parks Canada Historic Sites and Monuments Board. The event took place at Council House, 4700 Bathurst Street on October 23, 2017. In addition, there are several photos of Gloria Roden, along with NCJW representatives and government officials with a commemorative plaque to be installed at 44 St. George Street.

Administrative History

Gloria Roden is a a second generation volunteer council member.

Use Conditions

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

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Places

Toronto (Ont.)

Source

Archival Accessions

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

General office subject and correspondence files series

Level

File

Fonds

17

Series

2

File

272

Material Format

textual record

Date

1962

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

Access Restriction

Records in off-site storage; advance notice required to view.

Accession Number

2005-2-2

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Photographic and audiovisual collection series

Level

File

Fonds

67

Series

27

File

132

Material Format

graphic material

Date

13 Feb. 1975

Physical Description

5 photographs : b&w (5 negatives) ; 28 x 28 mm

Scope and Content

File consists of five negatives of interior shots of the Gaytown Clothing Shop.

Notes

Photos by Graphic Artists Photographers, Toronto.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Accession Number

2016-5-2

Material Format

object

Physical Description

1 artifact

Date

[193-?]

Scope and Content

Accession consists of one artifact, a wooden hanger, from B. Feldman Clothing company.

Administrative History

Ben Feldman had a boys and mens clothing and tailoring store [B. Feldman Clothing] on 519 Queen St. W as early as 1931. He and his wife Mary lived in the same building.

Source

Archival Accessions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

Level

Fonds

Fonds

38

Material Format

multiple media

Date

[190-]-2002

Physical Description

2.6 m of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (NCJWC) was the first national Jewish women's organization in Canada. The council had its beginnings among the urban elite, and played a strong role over the years in influencing public policy in such areas as relations with Israel, national unity, and the plight of world Jewry. The NCJWC is dedicated, in the spirit of Judaism, to furthering human welfare in the Jewish and general communities -- locally, nationally and internationally. It operated around three main pillars: service, education, and social action.

The National Council of Jewish Women was founded in the United States in 1893 by activist Hannah G. Solomon. In 1897, its first Canadian chapter was established in Toronto. In 1925, with seven chapters in Canada, a Canadian liaison position to the National Council of Jewish Women was created. A full-fledged “Canadian Division” of the NCJW was formed in 1934, with rules drafted at the first conference in Winnipeg three years later. Irene Samuel served as the Canadian Division’s first national president. In 1943, the division was renamed the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, and was officially incorporated in 1944, though it did not receive its letters patent until three years later. Even so, the NCJWC still retained some affiliation with the NCJW, whereby they paid per-capita dues to the Americans in return for program and administrative materials. In 1967 the NCJWC ceased these payments altogether, thereby separating from NCJW completely.

The early NCJWC focused on providing service to young girls and immigrants. They also involved themselves in contemporary politics through support for the war effort; the council donated vehicles to the Red Cross, turned Council House into a servicemen's centre, and even built several libraries at Canadian army camps. A national office opened ca. 1950 in Toronto, but until 1966 it moved to the national president's home city with every election. That year the office was permanently anchored in Toronto. In the 1950s and 1960s the council established Good Age clubs, the Irene Samuel Scholarship Fund, and developed the national Higher Horizons child-care and Newer Horizons elder-care programs. It expanded its overseas programs with support for the Israel Family Counseling Association and Ship-a-Box. The Soviet Jewry projects in the 1970s and 1980s reflected the council’s increasing emphasis on social action. Since the late 1990s, the council has focused on women's issues with efforts such as the Breast Self-Examination (BSE) program.

The NCJWC was governed by an executive council, led by a president. Vice-presidents were each responsible for one portfolio, such as membership, public affairs, etc., which were in turn made up of a number of national committees. The national executive was responsible for producing by-laws, guidelines, policies and procedures, as well as developing national service and social action programs. National also provided support and program materials to the sections, and held biennial meetings every other year from 1937 in cities across Canada. Its decentralized structure meant that while the national office remained in Toronto, officers of the executive have resided right across the country.

As of 1997, the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada was an affiliate member of the International Council of Jewish Women, a member of UNESCO Canadian Subcommission of the Status of Women, and a member of the Coalition of Jewish Women Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition for Agunot Rights. Prominent past presidents include Mrs. Harry (Irene) Samuel, Mrs. Lucille Lorie, Dr. Reva Gerstein, Mozah Zemans, Mina Hollenberg, Sophie Drache, Thelma Rolingher, Helen Marr, Bunny Gurvey, Sheila Freeman, Penny Yellen, and Gloria Strom. The council’s national office moved to Winnipeg in November, 1993. As of 2006, the council still had 5 active sections in Canada: Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.

Custodial History

NCJWC donated these records to the OJA after they had finished a historical exhibit and catalogue in 1997 called "Faith and Humanity," celebrating 100 years of NCJWC.

Scope and Content

The fonds documents NCJWC’s fundraising, social service and social action work in Toronto, in other cities across the country, and overseas. Records include conference and meeting programs, minutes, hand-written correspondence, speeches and reports, national newsletters, published histories, by-laws and policies, photographs, publicity material, historical subject files and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series: National biennial conventions and annual meetings; National Executive Council; National portfolios and committees; National program and event materials; National history research and subject files; International Council of Jewish Women; Toronto Section; Photos and audio-visual material; and National Council of Jewish Juniors, Toronto Section.

Notes

Physical description note: includes ca. 2470 photographs, 13 architectural drawings, 2 artistic drawings, 3 badges, 3 medals, 1 pin, 28 audio cassettes, and 1 videocassette.

Name Access

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Subjects

Women

Related Material

See also: photographs 3207, 3192, 4140, 4067, 4066, 4434; Accession 1977-8-7 for National Council of Jewish Women of Welland; National Council of Jewish Juniors, photographs 458, 459, 460, 463, 464, 465, 466, 468; MG2 B-1K

Arrangement

Records have been arranged by function, in accordance with information gleaned from NCJWC's organizational charts and annual reports

Creator

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada

Accession Number

2001-8-4

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds

National Council of Jewish Juniors, Toronto Section series

Level

Series

Fonds

38

Series

9

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1933-1940

Physical Description

7.5 cm of textual records

1 photograph

Admin History/Bio

The National Council of Jewish Juniors section opened in Toronto circa 1932. Members of the Junior Council conducted the Jewish Girls' Clubs as well as other study and cultural groups. Its social service activities ran parallel to those of Toronto Section of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada (referred to as Senior Council). The juniors disbanded in 1946, and integrated into the NCJWC's evening groups.

Scope and Content

Series consists of scrapbook pages and newsletters from the 1930s. The scrapbooks contain programs, news clippings, and photographs from Junior Council productions and conventions.

Source

Archival Descriptions