- 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 biennial conventions and annual meetings series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- 1933-1997
- Physical Description
- 30 cm of textual records
- 51 photographs : b&w and col. (28 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- 6 objects
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada held national conventions every second year starting in 1937. Annual meetings took place in between convention years.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of programs, minutes, reports, photographs, badges and medals from these biennial conventions and annual meetings. It also includes Ida Strauss’ delegate’s badge to the 1933 National Council of Jewish Women convention in St. Louis.
- 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
- 9
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1969
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : b&w and col. ; 9 x 11 cm and 9 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of 4 photographs taken at the National Council Convention in Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. in May 1969. Includes photographs taken at the UBC Faculty Club and of Florence and Ida at Butchart Gardens in Victoria.
- 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
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National Executive Council series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 2-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [193-?]-1987
- Physical Description
- 4 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of speeches, reports and correspondence generated by various presidents of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. It includes Irene Samuel's handwritten speeches and reports from the 1930s. Samuel, the first president of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, was involved in the formation of council's Canadian division.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National Executive Council series
- Administration sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 2-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1957-1988
- Physical Description
- 4 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of one-time publications and communications produced by the administrative function of the National Excecutive Council for use by executive, as well as general, members of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada. These publications document council's history, functions and goals.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1937-1995
- Physical Description
- 8 cm of textual records
- 2 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada conducted its activites through a number of national portfolios, each headed by a national vice-president and composed of a number of committees.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of reports, publicity, guidelines, by-laws, and other material generated by these various national committees and portfolios. It also includes fairly full sets of the national periodicals Canadian Council Women, Keeping You Posted and The New Edition.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National portfolios and committees series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 3
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [196-?]-1993
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a photograph of members packing boxes, a pamphlet about NCJW's overseas program, a newspaper article about a family life conference in Israel, brochures and a booklet about Israel Family Counselling Services, sponsored by NCJW.
- 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
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- National history research and subject files series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1928-1997
- Physical Description
- 23 cm of textual records
- 73 photographs (18 slides)
- Admin History/Bio
- The National Council of Jewish Women of Canada made a number of efforts over the years to compile historical and archival collections.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of news clippings, published histories, correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, listings of presidents and other materials, which were gathered as part of the effort to document the NCJW's history. Records include a clippings scrapbook and photographs of prominant president Lucille Lorie, two published national histories, and photographs from a 1947 or 1954 presidential installation. There are also subject files generated by the various sections across Canada, which include section bulletins and publications, year books, photographs and newsclippings.
- 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
- 15
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [194-]-1987
- Physical Description
- 15 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. ; 25 x 21 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of photographs of past presidents, council members and scholarship recipients, with the exception of a postcard of a man reading in a library, and a print of a collage of four photgraphs taken inside and outside a thrift shop.
- 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
- 17
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [195-?]-[198-?]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : col. ; 28 x 22 cm and 15 x 10 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two coloured photographs taken at a birthday lunch, and a photocopy of a portrait of the Council Choir of Calgary with an attached sheet identifiyng each choir member.
- 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
- 19
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1951-1988
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of three London Section bulletins; board meeting minutes; corrspondence; newsclippings; curriculum vitaes of five Council members; a Volunteer Service Awards program; London Section award certificates and other miscellaneous items.
- 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
- 20
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [195-?]-1987
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 23 photographs : b&w and col. (18 slides) ; 25 x 14 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of 18 slides and five photographs pertaining to London Section members and a newsclipping from the London Free Press.
- 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
- 21
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1928-1995
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various newsclippings; a bulletin; articles about fundraisers, Council thrift shop and programs offered; and various articles pertaining to Dorothy Reitman, past president.
- 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
- 25
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1965-1996
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 9 photographs ; b&w and col. ; 12 x 17 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various items including 9 photographs or prints of photograhs; a history of Hannah Solomon, founder of the Vancouver Section; general correspondence; a lease contract; a history of the Vancouver Section; "A Guide to Jewish Culture"; pamphlets for various programs and photocopies of newsclippings. The "not using" in the title may have referred to material not included in the Council's 100th anniversary celebrations.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1940-1996
- Physical Description
- 30 cm of textual records
- 11 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- The International Council of Jewish Women is made up of Jewish women's organizations from across the world. Founded in 1912 and revived in 1949, the ICJW's goals were to promote equal rights, women's rights, understanding, and peace throughout the world. It sought to spread knowledge about and strengthen Jewish cultural traditions, to help build Israel, and to encourage women to participate in community services. It cooperated actively as a non-governmental organization with UNESCO, and was an accredited observer at the United Nations. The National Council of Jewish Women has been a vital member of the ICJW, with a number of its members having served on the executive and as vice-presidents and presidents of the ICJW.
- In a first attempt to form an international council of Jewish women, representatives from the National Council of Jewish Women in the United States, along with similar organizations in Great Britain and Germany, met in Rome in 1912. Their efforts were aborted with the onset of World War I, but in the 1920s, Jewish women's groups reconvened and ended up holding three meetings. After a long hiatus due to the devastation of World War II and the Holocaust, the International Council of Jewish Women was officially re-born in 1949 in Paris. The ICJW has held conventions every three years since 1954, and in countries around the world, including in Toronto in 1972, and in Vancouver in 1987.
- The ICJW was organized in a committee system which communicated through a network of newsletters, mailings, and triennial meetings. Committees have included By-Laws, Community Services, Herczeg Israel Seminar, Newsletter, North American Committee, Public Relations, Resolutions, Soviet Jewry, Status of Women, and United Nations. The ICJW also held regional meetings, seminars such as the Rosa and Esteban Herczeg seminars in Jerusalem, and field trips.
- Canadian presidents of the ICJW have included Antonia S. Robinson (1957-1960), and Helen Marr (1990-1993). While serving as president, Tony Robinson represented Jewish women of Canada at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Helen Marr served as president of National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto Section from 1973 to 1976, and as president of the NCJWC from 1981 to 1985. She married Gerald Marr, and has three children. Helen served as Canada's Vice-President to the ICJW from 1986-1989, and chaired the ICJW's triennial convention in Vancouver in 1987. She also held leadership positions with the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Ben Gurion University, Canadian Jewish Congress, and the Skylight Theatre.
- Scope and Content
- Series contains records documenting the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada's involvement in the International Council of Jewish Women. It includes pamphlets and publicity material, newsletters, the 75th anniversary tribute book, by-laws and resolutions, material from conventions and other activities, correspondence, and photographs.
- A portion of the records were generated during Helen Marr's presidency of the ICJW. These records include by-laws and guidelines, committee files, and mailings.
- Notes
- The International Council of Jewish Women was variously called the World Congress of Jewish Women, the World Conference of Jewish Women, and the World Organization of Jewish Women between 1912 and 1929.
- Name Access
- Helen Marr
- World Congress of Jewish Women
- World Conference of Jewish Women
- World Organization of Jewish Women
- Subjects
- Human rights
- Women
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- International Council of Jewish Women series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 6
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [195-?]-1995
- Physical Description
- 9 photographs : b&w, sepia and col. ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two photocopies of photographs taken at the opening session of the ICJW in London, England on May 23, 1954; a photograph taken at the 11th Regional Lation American Congress; a scrapbook page of four photographs celebrating Jewish culture; a photograph of 8 pictures of activities in council homes in Paris and Athens and a portrait of a group of council members.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- 1932-2002
- Physical Description
- 1.56 m of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- The first Canadian section of the National Council of Jewish Women was founded in Toronto in 1897. Toronto Section has been one of the most active sections of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada and has provided many of its leaders. This series charts the growth of Toronto Section, predominantly from the 1930s through the early 1990s.
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of annual reports, bulletins and Council Communiqués, executive and board minutes, chairmen's handbooks, event and Angel's Ball programs and invitations, publicity material, scrapbooks, photographs, newsclippings, published histories, reports, anniversary booklets, architectural drawings of Council House, certificates, playscripts, audio recordings and a videocassette of the council's history.
- The series is divided into 13 sub-series: Presidents; Executive; Board of Directors; Communication porfolio; Membership portfolio; Education portfolio; Thrift shop portfolio; Ways and means portfolio; Finance portfolio; House committee; Service portfolio; Special events; and Toronto Section archival material.
- Notes
- Physical decscription note: Includes 2080 photographs, 2 artistic drawings, 13 architectural drawings, 1 object and 1 sound recording.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [1947?]-1989
- Physical Description
- 5 cm of textual records
- 16 photographs
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists predominantly of correspondence, photographs, lists, and newsletters which were generated by past Toronto Section presidents.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- [1947?]-1989
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 14 photographs : b&w and col. (4 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a list of Toronto Section presidents from 1897 to 1997, 4 negatives and 14 photographs of some of these presidents, and newclippings about the Toronto Section of the NCJW.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Presidents sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-1
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1960-1968
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of miscellaneous correspondence, some concerning NCJW business, and others from Council members praising her for achievements, graciousness, exemplary character and kindness.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Executive sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-2
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1932-2002
- Physical Description
- 25 cm of textual records
- 61 photographs
- Admin History/Bio
- Toronto Section's executive was composed of the president and all other elected officers, plus branch and committee chairmen. They were responsible for planning and carrying out council's programs and activities.
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of sets of Toronto Section's annual reports and exectuive meeting minutes, as well as executive and branch lists, photographs, and annual meeting programs.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- National Council of Jewish Women of Canada fonds
- Toronto Section series
- Executive sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 38
- Series
- 7-2
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1932-1984
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 11 photographs : b&w and col. ; 15 x 10 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of three invitations to annual meetings of the NCJW, Toronto Section, and photographs taken at the Fall General Meeting in September 1984.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
