Part Of

David Vanek fonds

Personal records series

Level

Series

Fonds

1

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1906-1999

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

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

Scope and Content

Series includes correspondence and documents pertaining to the Vanek family in Russia and their early years in Ontario, recent letters from a cousin concerning family genealogy, and personal letters from Vanek to his wife, as well as correspondence concerning personal and professional matters from colleagues and friends. There is also an itinerary and notes from a judges' trip to China that took place in 1983 plus several photographs of the Vanek family.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Vanek fonds

Military service records series

Level

Series

Fonds

1

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1945-1974

Physical Description

1 folder of textual records

1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm

Admin History/Bio

David Vanek served in the Canadian Intelligence Corps and Field Security in England during the Second World War.

Scope and Content

Series includes a confirmation record of David Vanek's active war service, a certificate of attendance at Oxford University Leave course, and a request for financial assistance for study in England pending repatriation to Canada.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Vanek fonds

Occupational records series

Level

Series

Fonds

1

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1946-1990

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

2 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm and 9 x 12 cm

Admin History/Bio

David Vanek attended the University of Toronto School of Law and subsequently was a lecturer in that school for one academic year. Twenty years later, he was appointed provincial court judge, criminal division, and served on the bench for twenty-one years.

Scope and Content

The material includes articles and correspondence pertaining to his education and career at the University of Toronto School of Law and his career as a provincial court judge. The address David Vanek delivered at his retirement dinner and several photographs taken during the period of his time on the bench are included.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

David Vanek fonds

Community organizations series

Level

Series

Fonds

1

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1957-1996

Physical Description

2 folders of textual records

3 photographs : b&w and col. ; 21 x 26 cm and 15 x 18 cm and 10 x 14 cm

Admin History/Bio

David Vanek was involved in a number of community organizations, several of which he helped to establish. These included Temple Sinai in the 1950s. In 1963, he ran for the Ontario Provincial Legislature but failed to win his seat. He was a founder of the Lawrence Manor Ratepayers Association and of the Credit Counselling Service of Metropolitan Toronto.

Scope and Content

The material consists of publicity brochures, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and photographs documenting Vanek's association with various organizations.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Personal series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

[192-?]-1995

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

43 photographs

2 postcards

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Ben Dunkelman’s family/private life and such hobbies as yachting and travel. Included are photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, invitations, certificates, speeches, a travel diary, a passport, and a scrapbook. The series is made up of two sub-series: 1. David and Rose Dunkelman (including biographies of those in the Dunkelman family) and 2. Theodora Dunkelman (Ben Dunkelman’s sister).

Name Access

Dunkelman, David, 1883-1978 (subject)

Dunkelman, Rose, 1889-1949 (subject)

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Zionist series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

2

Material Format

graphic material

textual record

Date

1927-1996

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records

2 photographs

4 postcards : b&w and col. ; 9 x 14 cm

Admin History/Bio

Dunkelman, like his parents, was an active Zionist throughout his life. As a young man from 1930-1931, he lived in Israel and later fought in the Arab-Israeli War. Following the war in 1948-49, he wrote articles, kept correspondence, encouraged investment, and gave speeches in support of Israel. He was also on the executive committee of Israel Speaks, an American publication, and was a member of the Zionist Organization of Canada (ZOC). In 1976, Dunkelman agreed to be the deputy president of the ZOC’s Charitable Fund.

Scope and Content

The series consists of records documenting Ben Dunkelman's Zionist activities. Included are legal papers, photographs, correspondence, articles and newspaper clippings.

Notes

Herb Mowat was a Canadian Zionist who maintained a correspondence with Dunkelman during the 1950s and 1960s. Dunkelman acquired some of his records.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Business series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

architectural drawing

Date

1898, 1941-1988

Physical Description

56 photographs and other material

Admin History/Bio

Ben Dunkelman’s involvement in business was wide-ranging. He served as president of Tip Top Tailors after his father and as president of Cloverdale Shopping Centre. Along with his wife, Yael, he also opened the Dunkelman Gallery for modern art and Dunkelman's restaurant.

Scope and Content

Series consists of photographs, correspondence, pamphlets and papers documenting Benjamin Dunkelman’s business activities. The files are organized into three sub-series: Tip-Top Tailors, Constellation Hotel, and Dunkelman Gallery.

Notes

Physical description: Includes 6 cm of textual records, 5 architectural drawings, and 1 postcard.

Subjects

Business

Physical Condition

Most photographs are warped.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Second World War series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

cartographic material

Date

1942-1995

Physical Description

6 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

During the Second World War, Dunkelman served as a major in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. After enlisting in 1940, he became a platoon commander. Dunkelman took part in the second wave of D-Day landings in 1944 and later assisted in the final Allied assault on Germany, earning the Distinguished Service Order. He left the army in 1945 after the war had ended. The Queen's Own Rifles Association and the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science organized a reception in 1976 to honour the publication of Dunkelman's autobiography, Dual Allegiance.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting Ben Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War. Included are newspaper clippings, maps, photographs, and correspondence. Some files deal with Dunkelman's experiences during the war; others relate to Dunkelman's relationship with veterans after the war and, in one case, with his memories of the war. The files cover such subjects as The Queen's Own Rifles, Veterans, the liberation of The Netherlands, Aubrey Cosens (a soldier under Dunkelman’s command who was killed in battle but later honoured with the Victoria Cross), and the prosecution of Nazi war criminals.

Notes

Physical description: Includes 85 photographs, 1 album, and 10 maps.

Name Access

Cosens, Aubrey, 1921-1945 (subject)

Subjects

Canada--Armed Forces

World War, 1939-1945

Related Material

See fonds 2, series 6 for more information on Dunkelman's involvement in the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Arab-Israeli War series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

cartographic material

Date

1943-1991

Physical Description

15 cm of textual records

28 photographs

20 maps

Admin History/Bio

Dunkelman joined the Machal (foreign fighters for Israel) in 1948 at the onset of the First Arab-Israeli War and was active in helping the fledgling Israeli Army break out of Jerusalem and find a road to Tel Aviv. The Burma Road—named after a Second World War Burma supply route—was a makeshift route from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. Israeli soldiers, including Dunkelman, drove a convoy at night along a little-used route to reconnect the two cities. Later in the war, commanding the 7th Brigade, he captured Nazareth and northern Galilee. After Dunkelman had left the Israel Defense Forces in 1949 to seek work as a businessman, he kept in contact with the armed forces of Israel through such organizations as the Jewish War Veterans of Canada, the 7th Brigade Veterans Fund, American Veterans of Israel, the Association of Jewish War Veterans, and the Mahal Association.

Scope and Content

Series consists of reports, clippings, correspondence, photographs, and maps and documents recording Ben Dunkelman's involvement in the First Arab-Israeli War. The series branches into the following topics in this order: Machal; the 7th Brigade; Operation Hiram; Operation Dekel; the Burma Road; the Israel Defence Forces; a Profile of Ben Dunkelman; and Arab-Israeli War veterans.

Subjects

Israel-Arab War, 1948-1949

Physical Condition

Some records are fragile.

Related Material

See fonds 2, series 6 for more information on the war. Dunkelman wrote an autobiography, Dual Allegiance, based on his experiences in the First Arab-Israeli War and the Second World War.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Dual Allegiance series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

cartographic material

Date

[194-?]-1997

Physical Description

30 cm of textual records and other material

Admin History/Bio

Ben Dunkelman published his memoirs with MacMillan of Canada in 1976 under the title Dual Allegiance. Although nearly thirty years had passed since his involvement in the Second World War and the First Arab-Israeli War, Dunkelman began researching his memoirs in the 1950s and an early version of the book, Israel Assignment, was finished in 1959. After further research, writing and correspondence with publishers, Dunkelman finally secured publication of the manuscript with MacMillan of Canada under the title Dual Allegiance, which was published in 1976. The response to Dual Allegiance after its publication in November came quickly. MacMillan collected many of the newspaper reviews and sent them to Dunkelman. Ben Dunkelman also wrote several different screenplays based on his autobiography. These range from plot summaries to a full-length screenplay submitted to Charles Greene which includes directions for camera shots.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence, research notes, novel notes, manuscripts, reviews, film/TV scripts, clippings and publicity material related to Ben Dunkelman’s autobiography, Dual Allegiance, which was published by MacMillan in 1976. The series contains drafts of Israel Assignment. It also contains some correspondence, both between Dunkelman and MacMillan about the book, and from readers commenting on it. The series is organized into several general areas in the following order: research, manuscripts, publicity, correspondence and Film/TV scripts.

Notes

Physical description note: Includes 30 maps, 4 photographs, and 2 albums.

Subjects

Authors

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Benjamin Dunkelman fonds

Speeches series

Level

Series

Fonds

2

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

1960-1979

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Throughout much of his adult life, Dunkelman wrote and gave speeches in support of Israel. Forums for these talks ranged from synagogues and temples to the Galt Kiwanis Club, the Hadassah-Wizo Organization of Toronto, military reunions, B'Nai Brith and the Detroit Book Fair at that city's Jewish Community Centre.

Scope and Content

Series consists of speeches delivered and written by Benjamin Dunkelman on subjects such as Canadian Jewry, Machal, Hadassah, Zionism, the Arab League and the Allon Plan. The series includes correspondence related to these speeches, along with notes and brochures.

Subjects

Speeches, addresses, etc

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

graphic material

Date

1947-1969

Physical Description

17 cm of textual records

3 photographs

7 architectural plans

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell graduated with a degree in pharmacy in 1943. After completing his military service, he opened Edell's Drug Store and began working as a pharmacist. He subsequently opened two other drug stores, Edell's Drug Store located on Spadina Avenue and Elmhurst Drugs. Although he continued to own Elmhurst Drugs until his death in 2000, he retired from pharmacy in 1962.

Scope and Content

Series consists of material relating to the establishment and operation of Sol Edell’s pharmacy from the three locations where he operated drug stores. Series consists of financial records, newspaper advertisements, ink blotters, and flyers and prescription envelopes from the 1940s and 1950s with the name and logo of Edell’s Drug Store. In addition, there is correspondence and legal documents pertaining to a planned renovation of the Queen Street Store and the expropriation of the building by the City of Toronto. Also included is a photograph of a group of Toronto pharmacists.

Name Access

Edell's Drug Store

Elmhurst Pharmacy

Elmhurst Plaza

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Elmdale Investments series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1955-[ca. 1983]

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

24 architectural drawings

Admin History/Bio

Elmdale Investments Ltd. was a corporation founded by Sol Edell in 1958. Sol Edell was the majority owner, although its shareholders also included Sol's first wife, Dolly; his second wife, Celia; and his father-in-law, Moishe Weinstock. It was through this company that Sol Edell developed the Elmhurst Plaza property and managed the plaza. The corporation was still in existence at the time of Sol Edell’s death.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence and blueprints relating to the purchase of the property in 1956 and the construction of the Elmhurst Plaza in 1957. There are contracts and financial records dealing with the maintenance and rental of the plaza. Among the tenants listed were Oshawa Food Wholesalers and Power Supermarkets. The series also contains information about the shareholders of Elmdale Investments, Sol Edell's business cards, and company stationery.

Name Access

Elmdale Investments

Elmhurst Plaza

Oshawa Food Wholesalers

Power Supermarkets

Weinstock, Moishe

Subjects

Architecture

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Deltex Draperies Ltd. and Dodd's Draperies Ltd. series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1964-1993

Physical Description

8 cm of textual records

7 architectural drawings

Admin History/Bio

In 1964, Sol Edell invested in a retail textile store, Deltex Draperies Ltd., which had been founded by a group of businessmen including his cousin, Israel Edell. In 1971, they opened a second store, Dodd's Draperies Ltd., and, in 1979, the two companies merged under the name Dodd’s Draperies Ltd. In 1987, the store closed and the building was sold. During their lengthy business association, Israel Edell supervised the day-to-day operation of the stores while Sol Edell was responsible for the overall financial management and the construction of the new premises at 1445 Bathurst Street.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence, minute books, documents of incorporation, and stock certificates relating to the establishment of both Deltex Draperies and Dodd’s Draperies and the eventual merger of the two stores. In addition, series includes minutes and financial reports dealing with the operation of both companies. Also included are correspondence and blueprints relating to the construction of the building at 1445 Bathurst Street as well as the sale of that building.

Name Access

Deltex Draperies Ltd.

Dodd's Draperies Ltd.

Edell, Israel

Subjects

Business

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

graphic material

Date

1913-1999

Physical Description

22 cm of textual records

4 architectural drawings

2 photographs

Admin History/Bio

Shomrai Shabbos is an orthodox congregation which was founded in 1896. Sol Edell’s grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb, served as rabbi of the congregation from 1900 until 1942. The synagogue was in several downtown locations until it moved to its present location on Glengrove Avenue in North York in 1966. The congregation has grown steadily over the years and now has a membership of over 350 families. Sol Edell’s family were members of the congregation when he was a child. Although he retained his membership in the congregation after his marriage, he rarely attended the services at the synagogue. However, he did continue to participate in fundraising on behalf of the synagogue.

Custodial History

The earlier records were collected by Sol's grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb, or his father, Paul Edell. After their deaths, Sol maintained his membership in the congregation and continued to receive material from the synagogue.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the establishment, construction, membership and activities of the Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue. Included is correspondence, speeches, technical drawings, financial records, ledgers, a tribute book, legal records, flyers, bulletins, marriage certificate receipts, certificates, invitations, a photograph, and stationary.

Name Access

Felder, Gedalia, Rabbi

Yosef, Weinreb, Rabbi

Subjects

Architecture

Synagogues

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Solomon Edell fonds

Aliyah series

Level

Series

Fonds

4

Series

8

Material Format

textual record

architectural drawing

Date

1978-2008

Physical Description

17 cm of textual records

102 architectural drawings

Admin History/Bio

Sol Edell had always been an active Zionist and in 1979 his son, Simcha, immigrated to Isreal. Following his son's aliyah, he became the founding chairman of the Aliyah Support Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto and an active member of the local chapter of the Parents of North American Israelis. These two organizations respectively provide support for Torontonians and North Americans who have immigrated to Israel. This support includes facilitating the immigration process, providing financial assistance and maintaining contacts between the immigrants and the Toronto Jewish community. He was also involved with a group of Mizrachi members who wanted to build a housing project in Israel. Simcha Edell was an active member of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel which is an Israeli based organization that assists immigrants from North America. Sol Edell served as a liaison between this organization and the Toronto Jewish community. In addition, Simcha Edell, with his father’s assistance, published a directory of former Torontonians living in Israel, the Directory of Toronto Olim.

Scope and Content

The series consists of material relating to the assistance provided by the Toronto Jewish community to Torontonians who had immigrated to Israel. Included are records documenting the Aliyah Support Committee of the Toronto Jewish Congress, the Parents of North American Israelis, and the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel. Records include correspondence, meeting notices, agendas and minutes, reports, publications, newspaper clippings, and Olim directories. Also included are architectural drawings of a housing project in Israel.

Name Access

Aliyah Support Committee, Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto

Parents of North American Israelis

Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel

Simcha Edell

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Paul Edell fonds

Business records series

Level

Series

Fonds

5

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

[191-]-[194-]

Physical Description

8 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence and a ledger book relating to Paul Edell's business, Royal Printing. The ledger covers the years 1925 to 1932 and contains a list of customers and details about their printing jobs. Also included is Royal Printing stationery as well as samples of stationery that he printed for his customers.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Paul Edell fonds

Community activities series

Level

Series

Fonds

5

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1919-1978

Physical Description

5 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence and a certificate relating to some of Paul Edell’s community activities including Shomrai Shabbos and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Hoffman family fonds

Business series

Level

Series

Fonds

6

Series

1

Material Format

architectural drawing

textual record

Date

1950-1976

Physical Description

2 cm of textual records

1 architectural drawing

Admin History/Bio

Max Hoffman was the owner of Hamilton Heating and Plumbing and part owner of M. and S. Real Estate Holdings. His partner in the latter company, Sol Hoffman, was also the executor of Max Hoffman's estate. Celia Hoffman was a member of a women's investment club, Iona Share.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence and cheques relating to Max Hoffman's business Hamilton Heating and Plumbing. Also included are a ledger and the financial statements of the Estate of Max Hoffman and M. and S. Real Estate Holding. In addition, there are legal documents and a newspaper clipping about an investment club, Iona Share.

Name Access

Hoffman, Sol

Hamilton Heating and Plumbing

Iona Share Investment Club

M. and S. Hoffman Real Estate Holdings

Subjects

Business

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Hoffman family fonds

Community Activities series

Level

Series

Fonds

6

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1957-1969

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

Max and Celia Hoffman were involved in many community activities including the synagogue and Jewish education. They raised funds on behalf of the community and also made financial contributions to a variety of Jewish organizations.

Scope and Content

Series consists of correspondence, financial reports and programme books relating to educational, religious and fraternal organizations and institutions in Hamilton. Series also contains material from local events such as the dedication of Adas Israel synagogue and regional events such as the convention of the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Ontario Region. In addition, there are correspondence and a certificate from Yeshiva University in regards to a scholarship established by Max and Celia Hoffman. Other material includes a calendar published by the Hamilton chapter of B’Nai Brith and the Hamilton District Jewish Community Telephone Directory.

Name Access

B'nai B'rith

Canadian Jewish Congress

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Ontario Region

Central Fund for Traditional Institutions

Hamilton Talmud Torah

National Society for Hebrew Day Schools

Hamilton District Jewish Community Telephone Directory

Subjects

Education

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Board of directors and executive committee minutes series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1925-1984

Physical Description

33 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of agendas and minutes of meetings, predominantly those of the Toronto (Central Region) executive committee and board of directors. Other committees represented include the General Membership, Management, Nominations, Arrangements, Personnel, and Case committees. The series also contains some reports on specific topics presented at Executive meetings, and a small amount of correspondence. The series includes a gap for the years 1932-1933, which appear to be missing.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a A1.

Arrangement

The records are arranged chronologically.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Annual meeting proceedings series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1926, 1940-1984

Physical Description

17 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of records pertaining to the JIAS Toronto annual meetings in 1926, and 1940 through 1984. Missing are meetings for 1944-1949, 1951, 1952, 1954-1959, and 1979. The records include agendas, proceedings, addresses of the president and executive director, secretary’s reports, financial reports, invitations, programmes, member and committee lists, and correspondence. There is often also a short biography of the guest speaker. The speeches of the various executive members give an overview of the issues of concern in a particular period.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a C.

Arrangement

The records are arranged chronologically

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Reports series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1926-1956

Physical Description

18 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of official (published) and unofficial reports the Toronto JIAS office produced between 1926 and 1952. Several different kinds of reports were produced over time: executive secretary reports were those presented to the Toronto JIAS executive at its monthly meetings. These are detailed reports that record the number of clients and describe the services offered by the Toronto office: information bureau, legal aid, location of relatives overseas, reception of newly-arrived immigrants, employment, detention work, United States visas, remittances, refugees and fundraising efforts. Unique cases are often described in detail. Executive secretary reports may correspond to extant executive meeting minutes in Series 1.

The reports after 1935 are more concise “Monthly Reports” and “Reports of Activities” that the regional offices were required to submit to the National Office. These record statistics for meeting immigrant trains, the legal aid department, international services, remittances, information bureau, correspondence department, parcels, naturalization, translations, visits, U.S. visas, deportation, immigrants arrived, and the employment bureau. The Monthly Report was a form shared by the Montreal, Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver offices, though the reports in this series have only the Toronto numbers filled in.

Social Services reports from the 1950s give departmental statistics not included in the general JIAS monthly reports, including the total expenditure, the number of new applicants, the number assisted, the cases carried over from the previous month and to the next month, the total caseload and the number of cases closed.

In addition the series contains some year-in-review reports from the annual meetings of the executive and membership, and annual reports which include meeting proceedings. As well there is a small number of monthly cash statements.

Notes

This series is an amalgam of series formerly known as MG2 I1a B and MG2 I1a D.

Access Restriction

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

Arrangement

Series has been compiled and arranged chronologically by the archivist.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Legal series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1937-1989

Physical Description

12 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of JIAS Toronto Office legal records including various drafts of the JIAS Constitution, letters patent, wills, bank documents, contracts, leases, mortgages, and clients' sworn declarations. Bank documents include contracts and resolutions that name the Toronto Dominion Bank as the banker of JIAS, appoint signing privileges to executive members, and authorize borrowing and pledging documents. Wills are those naming JIAS as a beneficiary, whereas mortgages relate to property for which JIAS held a mortgage. Leases relate to the premises occupied by JIAS. The files are arranged by category of document.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a E.

Access Restriction

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Administration series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

5

Material Format

textual record

Date

1927-1988

Physical Description

2.6 m of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of records created and maintained by JIAS Toronto in the course of carrying out its core functions and operational activities. The records give evidence of the operation of JIAS programs and services, its relations with other JIAS offices and other immigrant organizations, and with immigrants themselves. The records include correspondence, immigrant lists, memoranda, case sheets, statistics logs, reports, identification documents, and subject files. The series is arranged into three sub-series: Programs and services, Correspondence, and Subject files.

Access Restriction

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

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

Arrangement

This series was created by the archivist from records originally part of series MG2 I1a K2 "Immigration Files - Administration, Projects." In the JIAS office, files were maintained in a central registry system of random numerical classification (these original numbers remain on the files). Some files were formerly a part of a series (MG2 I1a F) called "Executive Director's reference files," and have been re-assigned here to the appropriate sub-series.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

JIAS committees series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

6

Material Format

textual record

Date

1927, 1936-1981

Physical Description

43 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of the records of internal JIAS Toronto committees. The records include minutes, correspondence, reports, memoranda, and immigrant lists. JIAS's committee work gives evidence of the breadth of its mandate in representing and serving Jewish immigrants. Committees represented include the Applications Committee, Management Committee, Arrangements Committee, Case Committee, Educational Committee, Reclaims Committee, Council of Organizations, Study Committee on JIAS Services, Co-ordinating Committee on Immigrant Services, Farm and Establishment Committee, Manny Kraicer Scholarship Committee, and Program Development Committee. A block of "Local Committee" files pertains to JIAS's annual regional conferences, and includes minutes, agendas and correspondence, of the Board of Directors, Nominations Committee, Arrangements Committee, and Case Committee. The block of files titled simply “Committee minutes” contains assorted minutes of general membership meetings, special (ad hoc) meetings, officers' meetings, and meetings of the Management Committee, the Council of Organizations, the Building Committee, the Ladies' Auxiliary, the Membership Committee, the Nominations and Arrangements Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Housing Committee, the Planning Committee, the Publicity Committee, the Committee on the JIAS 30th Anniversary, the Editorial Committee, and the Reclaims Committee.

The series is arranged in alphabetical-chronological order with the successive yearly files of committees' records maintained consecutively.

Access Restriction

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

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

Arrangement

This series was created by the archivist from records originally part of series MG2 I1a K2 "Immigration Files - Administration, Projects." In the JIAS office, files were maintained in a central registry system of random numbers (these original numbers remain on the files).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

External committees series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

Date

1939-1982, predominant 1960-1982

Physical Description

66 cm of textual records

1 audio reel (ca. 1 hr.) : 1/4 in.

Scope and Content

Series consists of the records JIAS maintained of external committees with which it was involved. Most of these records were collected by Louis Poch, who was executive director of JIAS Toronto from 1955-1980 and represented JIAS on many local and regional committees. The records include minutes, correspondence, reports, speeches, agendas, and studies. Committees represented include the Refugee Committee of the United Jewish Relief Agencies (UJRA) and the National Inter-faith Co-operative Committee. A block of files on the United Jewish Welfare Fund pertains mainly to its Social Planning Committee and includes memoranda, agendas, notices, reports, and meeting minutes of the Committee on Scholarships-in-Aid, ad-hoc meetings on youth, the Commission on Aging, and Agency Executives. The Canadian Jewish Congress files consist of minutes from the Canadian Jewish Loan Cassa, United Jewish Relief Agencies Committee, Joint Community Relations Committee, School Committee, and Orthodox Division. Records in this block include minutes, correspondence from Congress to member organizations, and chairman’s newsletters (from Sydney Harris). The "Loans to Immigrants" files contain lists, correspondence, spreadsheets, and minutes of United Jewish Relief Agencies’ Collections Committee, Loan Cassa, and Toronto G’Milath Chasodim Association.

Access Restriction

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

Arrangement

This series was created by the archivist from records originally part of series MG2 I1a K2 "Immigration Files - Administration, Projects." In the JIAS office, files were maintained in a central registry system of random numerical classification (these original numbers remain on the files).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Financial series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

8

Material Format

textual record

Date

1949-1980

Physical Description

45 cm textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of monthly (cumulative) audited financial reports summarizing JIAS Toronto’s assets, liabilities, deficits, receipts, and disbursements. The reports cover the years between 1950 and 1980. After 1972 they become more detailed, with main headings broken down into sub-categories detailing figures for such areas as revenue receipts, support from the general public, relief costs and special projects. A number of files contain details of salaries and departmental expenses, with a small amount of correspondence and decisions taken at meetings relating to salaries. Series also contains files on the National Budgeting Committee (Conference) of Canadian Jewry, an overseeing body established in 1974 that brought together eleven leading federations and the United Israel Appeal to coordinate and manage the allocation of funds. The NBC files in this series contain minutes of the Study Committee on Immigrant Aid, statistical reports on JIAS expenditures, and correspondence.

Arrangement

The records have been weeded of duplicates, and repeating years combined into single folders. The audit reports formerly constituted the series known as MG2 I1a G. The National Budgeting Committee files were originally part of the series known as MG2 I1a K2, "Immigration Files - Administration, Projects." In the JIAS office, these files were maintained in a central registry system of random numerical classification.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Arrivals series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

9

Material Format

textual record

Date

1949-1986

Physical Description

76 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series contains records of immigrant arrivals in Canada from 1949 through 1986. The "sailings" files are basically passenger lists from Atlantic voyages between 1949 and 1953 that brought immigrants to Canada. These lists are marked, showing which immigrants were sponsored by JIAS. Not all of the immigrants were Jews. Information included indicates the ship name; date and place of departure; date and place of arrival; names of passengers; their children and ages; sponsors and their address. Some lists include age, sex, occupation and destination information for sponsor or immigrant. The later "record of arrivals" files (1959 to 1986) contain lists, letters, telegrams and memoranda, as well as "agency notification cards" that list the immigrant arriving, citizenship and destination (sponsor) in Canada, and number of dependents. The series is arranged in chronological order.

Access Restriction

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

Physical Condition

Records are foxed, some have rust or water stains.

Arrangement

Series has been arranged by the archivist in a combination of two previous series. The original "Sailings" series (MG2 I1a I) was arranged in two separate groups, the first of sailings for which JIAS had an official number (these numbers are still on the folders), and the second of those without a number. These two groups have been integrated into a single chronological series. The Record of Arrivals files were formerly part of the MG2 I1a K2 series, "Immigrant Files - Administration, Projects."

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Immigration case files series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

10

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1930-1979

Physical Description

18.3 m of textual records and graphic material

Scope and Content

This series consists of the case files created by JIAS for immigrants or potential immigrants, individuals or families, who wished to enter Canada directly or to pass through Canada in order to settle in the United States.

The files include correspondence with Canadian immigrant agencies and governmental departments, correspondence with other worldwide immigrant agencies, case reports and related biographical information. Some files also contain photographs.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a K1

The photographs contained in this series are interspersed with the textual records. They are generally passport photographs or similar headshots used for identification purposes.

Access Restriction

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

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

Arrangement

The title of each file is either the name of the prospective immigrant or the name of their sponsor in Canada. JIAS had originally arranged these files chronologically based upon the date a case was first opened by the office, such as the date of their first interview with a prospective immigrant, or the date they first corresponded with an international agency.

A suffix following the file number (eg. A, B) indicates a separate file opened for the individual, rather than the same file divided into two folders. For example, an individual may have immigrated to Canada and then sponsored a family member, in which case JIAS would have created two separate files.

The national office in Montreal often had first contact with the prospective immigrants to Canada, and/or the international agencies representing them. They would have kept their own case file and forwarded any documents to the appropriate regional offices. Thus, many of the case files have two numbers: one for the Toronto office and one for the Montreal office. The Archives has retained both numbers if they exist, with Montreal numbers appearing in parenthesis.

Accession Number

1983-8-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Social service assistance case files series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

11

Material Format

textual record

Date

1950-1982

Physical Description

7.2 m of textual records

Scope and Content

This series consists of case files created by JIAS for those immigrants who required ongoing assistance after their arrival in Toronto. The files consist of correspondence with other Jewish social service organizations, case reports detailing financial loans, job prospects, employment and housing reports and other situational information.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a J1

Access Restriction

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

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

Arrangement

The title of each file is either the name of the prospective immigrant or the name of their sponsor in Canada. JIAS had originally arranged these files chronologically based upon the date a case was first opened by the office, such as the date of their first interview with a prospective immigrant, or the date they first corresponded with an international agency.

A suffix following the file number (eg. A, B) indicates a separate file opened for the individual, rather than the same file divided into two folders. For example, an individual may have immigrated to Canada and then sponsored a family member, in which case JIAS would have created two separate files. Some appear with the prefix A, meaning assistance, and others with S.S., meaning social service.

Accession Number

1983-8-1

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

Miscellaneous series

Level

Series

Fonds

9

Series

13

Material Format

textual record

Date

1935-[ca. 1983]

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

Custodial History

This series’ original provenance is difficult to pinpoint, but the files before 1937 are likely to have belonged to Maurice A. Solkin when he was Executive Secretary of the Toronto office in the 1930s. Since the original series included correspondence addressed to Solkin’s successors, it is possible that Solkin’s files were inherited by them, used and/or added to: by Mandel Kraicer in the 1940s, Dan Drutz in the 1950s and Louis Poch in the 1960s and 1970s.

Scope and Content

Series consists of subject files relating to a variety of JIAS functions and relations with other organizations, along with reports and published documents, dating from 1935 to the early 1960s.

Access Restriction

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

Arrangement

Series has been created and arranged by the archivist in chronological order. It was formerly a part of a series (MG2 I1a F) called “Executive Director’s reference files” which was a mixture of administrative records, correspondence, subject files, legal documents, and miscellaneous files that have now been separated into different series.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

JIAS National Office sous-fonds

National Executive meeting minutes series

Level

Series

Fonds

9-1

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1943-1965, 1980

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of meeting minutes of the JIAS National Executive from 1943-1950 and 1961-1965 and the National Offiers for 1980. Years 1945 and 1948 are missing. Not all meetings are represented. The meetings alternated between Montreal, at the JIAS Headquarters on Esplanade Avenue, and various locations in Toronto, including the 455 Spadina office.

The minutes document the business of the executive during these periods, and several include memoranda and reports. Some minutes include regional reports with activity statistics. The 1940s records reflect JIAS’s growth within Canada, in particular the establishment of the Winnipeg office. The later years evidence JIAS’s increasingly international scope and involvement with projects around the world.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a A2.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

JIAS National Office sous-fonds

National annual meeting proceedings series

Level

Series

Fonds

9-1

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

Date

1926, 1940-1944

Physical Description

10 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of records pertaining to JIAS national annual meetings of the executive and members at large. The years covered are 1926 and 1940-1944, excepting 1943. The records include agendas, addresses of the president and executive director, secretary’s reports, financial reports, member and committee lists, and some correspondence. The speeches of the various executive members give an overview of the issues of concern in a particular period. The series is arranged chronologically.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

JIAS National Office sous-fonds

National annual reports series

Level

Series

Fonds

9-1

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1929-1964

Physical Description

5 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of bound reports of proceedings of annual meetings from 1929 to 1942, as well as annual meeting programmes with statistics from 1957 to 1964. Years 1933 and 1936-1938 are missing. The records consist of executive member lists, presidential addresses, treasurer’s reports, executive secretary’s reports, lists of subscriptions; and reports of activities. The series is arranged chronologically.

Notes

This series was formerly known as MG2 I1a B.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Toronto fonds

JIAS National Office sous-fonds

Publications series

Level

Series

Fonds

9-1

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1956-1982

Physical Description

32 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of JIAS National publications 'JIAS News' and 'JIAS Information Bulletin.' The former was a newspaper-format quarterly publication distributed to paying subscribers. The Bulletin was an internal newsletter with no set publication schedule, distributed by National Executive Director Joseph Kage to the JIAS Board of Directors. The series also contains correspondence, clippings and a small number of newsletters from other organizations.

Access Restriction

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

Related Material

Other copies of JIAS News and JIAS Bulletin which may not be duplicated here can be found in the following unprocessed records:

1991-10-5 (1987, 1991)

Shelf 94, box V (1987-1995)

Shelf 95-7, box IX (1978-1979, 1984)

47-6-1 (1972-1983)

Shelf 93-7, box X (1983-1984)

Arrangement

This series was created by the archivist from records originally part of series MG2 I1a K2 "Immigration Files - Administration, Projects." In the JIAS office, files were maintained in a central registry system of random numbers (these original numbers remain on the files).

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Board of Directors and Executive Committee series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

Date

1955-1983, 1997

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Included are meeting minutes, correspondence, speeches and reports.

Subjects

Boards of directors

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

2

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1955-2007

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

1 photograph

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the annual general meetings of Baycrest Centre and its annual reports. Included are reports, invitations, a brochure, a photograph, and a meeting agenda.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Committees and meetings series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

Date

1953-1985

Physical Description

3 cm of textual records

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the various committees and ad hoc meetings of Baycrest Centre as well as its participation on joint committees with other agencies. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, reports, correspondence and lists.

Subjects

Committees

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Women's Auxiliary series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1953-2009

Physical Description

1.2 m of textual records

960 photographs

2 coins

Admin History/Bio

The Women's Auxiliary (WA) of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care was established in 1955 as a fundraising arm of the Baycrest Centre as well as a provider of services to the residents and patients. It represented the amalgamation of the two women’s auxiliaries that had previously operated at the Jewish Old Folks’ Home (Baycrest’s predecessor) – The Ladies Executive and the Young Ladies Auxiliary. Dora Till served as the founding President and was succeeded by Lillian Soles in 1959.

The WA’s initial activities included running the volunteer service, the Beauty Salon, the Tuck Shop, religious and festival programming, communicating information about Baycrest to the community, and managing the memorial books and card services. These activities soon expanded to include recreational programming for residents, such as outings, an annual fashion show, and Mazel Tov nights, running Baycrest’s Day Care program, and managing the library, Gift Shop, and Snack Bar. Originally, the WA raised funds through membership fees, the sale of happiness and condolence cards, and memorial inscriptions. In 1959 the WA began organizing an annual Theatre Night fundraising event, which was supplanted by an annual Auxilorama in 1968. During the 1960s members of the WA served in Baycrest’s Women’s Corp to help raise money for the Building Expansion Fund. In 1971, the WA established a junior auxiliary called the Capricorn Group.

Today the WA continues to run many of its programs and services and to fundraise through annual events and campaigns such as, a Gala evening, a spring sale (or Bargain Bonanza), Games Girls Play (an evening of board games and arts and crafts activities), and a Women of Baycrest campaign (to support research into women’s brain health and aging). In 2000, the Women’s Auxiliary Winter Garden opened in the Apotex Centre, which was sponsored by the WA.

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the formation, governance, and activities of the Women's Auxiliary of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas, and minutes, reports, speeches, correspondence, lists, invitations, financial records, theatrical scripts, a scrapbook, photographs, newspaper clippings, programmes, brochures, booklets, a survey, statistics, flyers, a certificate, memos, newsletters, questionnaires, and coins.

Series is arranged into the following sub-series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual meetings; 3. Committees and meetings; 4. Capricorn Group; 4. Festival Committee; 5. Programs and services; 6. Volunteer program; 7. Fundraising; 8. Membership; 9. Publications and publicity; 10. Finance; 11. Administrative functions; and, 12. Events. Records are described to the file level with some item level description.

Name Access

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Women's Auxiliary

Related Material

For additional records related to the Women's Auxiliary, see the Dora Till fonds 52, series 2.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Men's Service Group series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

5

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1957-2005

Physical Description

82 cm of textual records

6 photographs

2 posters

Admin History/Bio

The Men’s Service Group (MSG) of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care was established in 1956 to assist Baycrest with both its fundraising and public relations activities. It also supplied volunteers to help run programs and services for Baycrest’s residents and patients, and acted as a training ground for future lay leaders of Baycrest. Herbert J. Weiss served as the founding president and was succeeded by Charles A. Grosberg in 1960.

The MSG’s activities included driving residents to events, organizing special outings to the theatre, concerts, or sporting events, planning a monthly Sunday Brunch for residents and patients, assisting with recreational programming at Baycrest, and meeting with organizations across Ontario, such as synagogues and service clubs, to disseminate information about Baycrest. The MSG also planned an annual Family Carnival and picnic for residents and their families and organized a variety of fundraising projects, such as its annual Honour Roll publication, an annual Fun Run (now known as the Baycrest Challenge), a letter and greeting card service, garage sales, and the sale of Yarmulkes made by residents. Today the MSG continues to plan and run many of its early projects and services.

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual and graphic material documenting the formation, governance, and activities of the Men's Service Group. Included are meeting notices, agendas, and minutes, reports, speeches, invitations, programs, correspondence, press releases, newspaper clippings, brochures, publications, financial records, newsletters, flyers, cards, certificates, photographs, posters, and cards.

Series is arranged into the following nine sub-series: 1. Board of Directors and Executive Committee; 2. Annual and general meetings; 3. Committees; 4. Fundraising; 5. Membership; 6. Public relations and publicity; 7. Honour Roll; 8. Programs and events; and, 9. Administrative functions.

Name Access

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Men's Service Group

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Jewish Old Folks' Home series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

6

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1917-[ca. 1950]

Physical Description

16 photographs and other material

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the activities of the Jewish Old Folks' Home. Included are photographs, annual calendars, a badge, coins, a land deed, and a donation receipt.

Notes

Includes 3 folders of textual records, 1 badge, and 2 coins.

Name Access

Jewish Old Folks Home (Toronto, Ont.)

Related Material

For additional photographs of the Jewish Old Folks' Home see Fonds 61, series 6.

For minutes of the Jewish Old Folks' Home Committee (1934-1935) see Fonds 62, series 3, file 3.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Programs and services series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

7

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1955-2002

Physical Description

14 cm of textual records

15 photographs

1 pin

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the programs and services of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Included are meeting notices, agendas and minutes, general brochures and booklets, manuals, reports, schedules, calendars, newsletters, invitations, correspondence, flyers, a speech, a theatrical script, programs, lists, photographs, a pin, and newspaper clippings.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Religious services series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

8

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1959-1996

Physical Description

3 folders of textual records

45 photographs

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the Baycrest Centre's religious services. Included are meeting minutes, a report, bulletins, a service schedule, and photographs.

Subjects

Religion

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Fundraising series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

9

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1952-2001

Physical Description

7 cm of textual records

2 photographs

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the Baycrest Centre's fundraising activities. Included are meeting minutes, reports, booklets, newsletters, bulletins, brochures, a speech, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and lists. Of note is a grant application from 1952 for funding to build the Jewish Home for the Aged and Baycrest Hospital.

Subjects

Fund raising

Related Material

See Fonds 67, series 5-3 for records documenting the relationship between the Jewish Home for the Aged and the United Jewish Welfare Fund with respect to fundraising in the 1950s.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Publications and publicity series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

10

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1957-2011

Physical Description

35 cm of textual records

1 postcard

Scope and Content

Series consists of textual records and graphic material documenting the Baycrest Centre's various publications and publicity activities. Included is a meeting notice and minutes, a memo, a postcard, articles, a news release, brochures, newsletters, magazines, and bulletins.

Series is arranged into four sub-series: 1. Baycrest News ; 2. Baycrest Bulletins; 3. Baycrest Breakthroughs; and, 4. Attach Your Name to Baycrest.

Related Material

See the Baycrest Centre's website for electronic copies of current issues of Baycrest's publications, including: Baycrest Matters newsletters, the Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre newsletters, and Baycrest Bulletins. A link to the website is here: http://www.baycrest.org/publications-18.php

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care fonds

Events series

Level

Series

Fonds

14

Series

11

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

object

Date

1952-2000

Physical Description

44 photographs (35 contact sheet) and other material

Scope and Content

Series consists of records documenting the Baycrest Centre's various events. Included are invitations, programmes, correspondence, a meeting notice and minutes, event souvenirs, and photographs.

Notes

Physical description note: includes 3 cm of textual records, 1 key chain, and 1 pen.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee meeting agendas, minutes, reports and correspondence series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

1

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

text

Date

1942-1998

Physical Description

ca. 3.3 metres of textual records

14 photographs

1 book

Scope and Content

Series consists of the correspondence, minutes, agendas, and reports of a wide variety of committees of the Canadian Jewish Congress. The bulk of the material relates to the CJC National and Ontario region executive committees, officers' committees, and plenary arrangements committees. Additional records relate to committees concerned with such topics as, small Jewish communities, culture, Holocaust remembrance, student campus services, education, finance and fundraising, kashruth, and Israel.

Notes

Files created by the United Jewish Relief Agencies have been removed and may now be found within Fonds 17, Series 4.

Files created by the Committee for Soviet Jewry have been removed and may now be found within Fonds 17, Series 3

Files created by the Joint Community Relations Committee have been removed and may now be found within fonds 17, Series 5.

Access Restriction

Partially closed. Some records are closed for conservation reasons.

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

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

Committee for Soviet Jewry series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

3

Material Format

textual record

graphic material

Date

1967-1992

Physical Description

4.5 m of textual records

1822 photographs : b&w ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

The earliest impetus for the creation of a Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) committee to focus on the issue of Soviet Jews was in response to the infamous “Leningrad trials” of thirty-one dissident Soviet Jews in the winter of 1970. Concurrently, the Soviet government began to systematically persecute almost all Jews who applied for permission to emigrate. The issuing of exit visas was refused (the genesis of the term “refusenik”), usually on exaggerated claims of national security, after which the applicants were often dismissed from their jobs, recalled to military service, or similarly persecuted by state authorities. Those who publicly protested such treatment were subsequently arrested, detained for long periods, or tried as examples to others and sent to Siberian labour camps.

When information about the plight of Soviet Jews reached Canada, Toronto’s Jews responded immediately and decisively. Synagogue congregations, student groups, women’s organizations, professional organizations and community groups all established independent committees to aid Soviet Jews directly and to pressure local, national and international governments to address Soviet antisemitism. Very quickly these committees began organizing mass rallies, letter writing campaigns, petitions, targeted protests and direct aid involving large numbers of people and considerable fundraising efforts. From 1971 to the late 1980s the cause of Soviet Jewry remained, along with support for The State of Israel, the most significant issue to the Jewish community.

The Action Committee for Soviet Jewry (ACSJ) was formed by the (then) Central Region of the CJC in early 1971 in order to coordinate the activities of, and provide stable funding and administrative support for, the various ad hoc committees and action groups that had sprung up across Toronto and the rest of Ontario. Organizations coordinated by the Action Committee included university student groups, the Group of 35, Women for Soviet Jewry (WSJ), B’nai B’rith, and the Canadian Zionist Federation (CZF). The ACSJ originally reported to the CJC’s Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry (SCSJ), but by the mid-1970s the reporting of the two committees was reversed, with the Steering Committee reporting to the Action Committee. By 1977, the Action Committee and the Steering Committee were merged into the newly-renamed CJC Ontario Region’s Committee for Soviet Jewry (occasionally referred to as the Toronto Committee).

The first Chairman of the SCSJ was the prominent Toronto politician and activist Joseph B. Salsberg. Later chairs, including Sam Filer, Phyllis Sugar, Reg Adelman, author Jeanette Goldman, Joyce Eklove, and Judge Ted Matlow were also involved with affiliated local groups whose activities were coordinated by the SCSJ. Sam Filer, its first permanent Secretary, became in 1976 its second Chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Toronto Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and was an original co-founder of Lawyers and Jurists for Soviet Jewry. Similarly, Phyllis Sugar was a Co-chair of the ACSJ with Reg Adelman in the early to mid-1970s, while simultaneously serving as the Chair of WSJ. Genya Intrator, the first Chair of WSJ in the early 1970s, later served as first Chair of the Canadian Committee for Soviet Jewry. Despite having its first meeting in Winnipeg, the Canadian Committee had most of its leadership and activities in Toronto. Toronto residents Sydney Harris (later Judge Harris), David Satok, Genya Intrator and David Sadowski all chaired this committee as it developed a national agenda through contacts with affiliated organizations across the country, while coordinating internationally with groups such as the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews based in New York.

Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the restrictions regarding exit visas for refusniks were removed and increasingly Russian Jews began to immigrate to Israel, the United States and Canada. A large percentage of the latter settled in Toronto. By 1991, in response to the changes in Russia and the former Soviet republics, the CJC’s local and national Soviet Jewry Committees were wound up and their leadership began to focus on new issues, such as the integration of Soviet Jewish immigrants into Canada and the continuing struggle to fight antisemitism in the successor states of the former Soviet Union. To this end, the CJC formed a Political Liaison Committee in the early 1990s. Internationally, however, many Russian Jewish advocacy groups continued to operate on the foundation of activism and community organization established during the decades of solidarity built around the Soviet Jewry cause.

Custodial History

The records in this series were accumulated and maintained in the offices of the CJC under the jurisdiction of Samuel Resnick, in his role as the Director of the Community Action for Israel Committee, and as the main CJC staff employee for overseeing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry and Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry, which eventually coalesced as simply the Committee for Soviet Jewry circa 1977. By 1980, Resnick’s title was Director of the Committee for Soviet Jewry, Central Region, making him the primary full-time staffer of the CJC involved in the Soviet Jewry cause.

Scope and Content

Series consists of extensive planning, administrative and operational records including meeting minutes, correspondence, budgets and membership lists. Records pertaining to activities include numerous event and protest photographs, articles, petitions, posters and other press materials. Records related to the gathering of information regarding Soviet Jewry include transcripts of telegrams and telephone conversations, background fact sheets and many individual case files.

This series has been arranged into six sub-series. Sub-series 1 consists of Ontario Region committee meeting agendas and minutes. Sub-series 2 consists of the correspondence files documenting various activities of that committee. Sub-series 3 consists of the agendas, minutes and general correspondence of the National Committee for Soviet Jewry. Sub-series 4 consists of records documenting affiliated Jewish organizations that collaborated with the CJC in protesting the persecution of Soviet Jews. Sub-series 5 consists of records documenting the various protest activities such as lobbying, letter writing, public rallies, marches and demonstrations. Sub-series 6 , Rufusnik Cases, consists of 3 sub-sub-series, containing individual case files, large published lists, and reference publications about Soviet Jews who were refused permission to emigrate (refusniks).

Notes

Physical extent note: although over 28 m of Soviet Jewry records were originally transferred to the OJA, more than 23 m of those records have been culled due to their origin (non-Canadian sources), format (outside periodicals and publications), because they were merely externally-created reference materials, or because they were part of the very large volumes of duplicates that made up the majority of the box contents. Records documenting the activities of other CJC Committees have also been removed for future processing within more appropriately-titled series within Fonds 17.

Subjects

Committees

Jews--Soviet Union

Arrangement

Because the Soviet Jewry records donated by the Canadian Jewish Congress had not been maintained in a discernable original order, they had to be reorganized into their current arrangement by the processing archivist.

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region fonds

United Jewish Relief Agencies, Toronto (UJRA) series

Level

Series

Fonds

17

Series

4

Material Format

textual record

Date

1938-1974

Physical Description

6 m of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The United Jewish Refugee and War Relief Agencies (UJR&WRA) was formed on October 26, 1939 with the assistance of Samuel Bronfman. It was spurred by the persecution of Jews in Europe. In 1938 Canadian Jewish Congress had formed the Canadian Coordinating Committee for Refugees. This committee was extended in 1939 to form the UJR&WRA, joining with the Canadian Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT Federation), the Federation of Polish Jews, the Jewish Peoples’ Relief Committee, and the Joint Distribution Committee. The UJR&WRA facilitated the entry into Canada of as many refugees as possible and provided assistance to those admitted. After the war came a massive effort to assist the millions of Displaced Persons in Europe, as the UJR&WRA provided food, medical care and rehabilitation services and assisted people emigrating to Israel and Canada. Following the war, the name of the organization was changed to the United Jewish Relief Agencies (UJRA).

The UJRA operated as “an arm of Congress,” sharing a President and Director, submitting its budget to Congress’s Executive Committee, yet remaining an autonomous arms-length agency since its function was to oversee organizations rather than carry out the actual work, as other Congress committees did. Its role in the 1940s and 1950s was to coordinate the myriad agencies in Ontario involved in immigrant assistance, including the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society, Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish Child and Family Service, Mothers and Babes Rest Home, Young Men’s Hebrew Association, and United Restitution Organization. Though many of its committees were temporary in nature, others, such as the Loan Committee (whose cases were later taken over by the Toronto Jewish Free Loan Cassa), evolved into bodies that became independent of Congress but continued to carry out their functions.

In 1967 the UJRA was incorporated with recognized status as a charitable organization whose main purpose was relief of poverty. By this time the organization's aid activities in Israel were extensive, including support for homes for the aged, technical and vocational training for newcomers, and hospitals. In Canada, UJRA continued to provide assistance to new immigrants, including the continuing loan program. A national Board of Directors worked in tandem with a committee of Canadians in Israel to manage, control and supervise the UJRA's activities and projects.

Scope and Content

Series consists of administrative and committee records of the United Jewish Relief Agencies in Toronto, spanning the years 1938 through 1974. Records include minutes, correspondence, reports, case files, agendas, notices of meetings, subject files, lists, and administrative forms. The series is arranged into 12 sub-series: 1-CJC Committee for Refugees (the precursor to UJRA); 2-Executive Committee; 3-Administrative and subject files; 4-Administrative committees; 5-Housing Committee; 6-Loan Committee; 7-European Youth Scholarship Committee; 8-Collections Committee; 9-Committee on Deportations; 10-Restitution Claims Committee; 11-Refugee case files; and 12-Immigration and Location Service case files.

Access Restriction

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

Arrangement

The series has been re-arranged by the archivist from former Record Groups 201, 286, 292, 293, 294, 295 and 296.

Source

Archival Descriptions