- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 4
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-2010
- Physical Description
- 3.1 metres of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Sol Edell (1919-2000) was a prominant member of the Toronto Jewish community who initially pursued a career as a pharmacist and was later founder and president of the property development company, Elmdale Investments. He held positions as board member or chair in a wide variety of religious, educational and social service organizations and institutions both in Canada and Israel. In Toronto, these included: Clanton Park Synagogue, Adas Israel Synagogue, Jones Avenue Cemetery, Canadian Jewish Congress and the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto (formerly Toronto Jewish Congress, and now the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto).
- Edell was born in Toronto on 5 March 1919, the son of Pesach and Molly Edell. He attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the Toronto College of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, in 1943 while on leave of absence from the army. He was enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War and served in the signal corps.
- After he completed his army service, he opened Edell’s Drug Store at 1978 Queen Street in Etobicoke in 1948, the first shomer Shabbat drug store in the city. He operated a second store at 494 Spadina Avenue in the late 1940s. In 1955 the Queen Street location was expropriated by the City of Toronto. Subsequently, Edell founded Elmdale Investments, the company which built and managed the Elmhurst Plaza in Etobicoke. He reopened the drug store, which was renamed Elmhurst Drugs in the plaza. He also invested in two retail textile stores, Deltex Drapery and Dodd’s Drapery which had been founded by group of businessmen including his cousin Israel Edell.
- In 1952 he married Dolly Weinstock, the daughter of Moishe and Sylvia Weinstock. They lived in the newly developed suburb of North York with their four children: Ethel, Simcha, Malka and Joseph. After 10 years of marriage, Dolly died and in 1966, he married Celia Rogen Hoffman.
- Sol Edell was a founding member and first president of the Clanton Park Congregation. He was actively involved in the construction of the synagogue and its development. He continued to be affiliated with Shomrai Shabbos where his grandfather Rabbi Yosef Weinreb had been the rabbi. He was also involved with Adas Israel, the synagogue in Hamilton where his wife Celia had been an active member.
- He was chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario Region -- Toronto Jewish Congress Archives Committee, which subsequently became the Ontario Jewish Archives. During his tenure, the archives was responsible for the reconstruction of the Kiever Synagogue which had been built in the early 1900s but had fallen into a state of disrepair by the 1960s.
- Sol Edell was also involved in a number of Zionist organizations. He was the founding chair of the Aliyah Support Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto, whose mandate was to assist Torontonians who had moved to Israel and ease their transition into Israeli society. He was also an active member of the Mizrachi organization and its affiliated institutions. Another one of Sol Edell’s interests was ensuring the preservation of local cemeteries. He was president of the Jones Avenue Cemetery and on the board of Pardes Shalom and the Bathurst Lawn Cemetery, Clanton Park section.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting Sol Edell's business activities, community involvement and personal life. Included is correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, financial records, legal records, publications, audio-visual material, invitations, newspaper clippings, artifacts, lists, reports, speeches, and architectural drawings.
- The fonds is organized into the following eleven series: Personal; Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy; Elmdale Investments; Deltex Drapery and Dodd's Drapery; Adas Israel Synagogue; Clanton Park Synagogue; Shomrai Shabbos; Aliyah; Cemetery and funeral home; Historical materials; and, Activities and organizations.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 739 photographs, 232 architectural drawings, 11 audio cassettes, 9 audio reels, 13 film reels, 7 videocassettes, 4 slides, 1 plaque, 4 badges, and 1 key.
- Name Access
- Edell Solomon, 1919-2000
- Clanton Park Synagogue (Toronto, Ont.)
- Edell, Dolly
- Edell, Celia
- Edell's Drug Store
- Elmhurst Pharmacy
- Jones Avenue Cemetery
- Canadian Jewish Congress/ Toronto Jewish Congress Archives
- Aliyah Support Committee
- Subjects
- Business
- Pharmacists
- Access Restriction
- Partially closed. Researchers must receive permission from the OJA director prior to accessing some of the records.
- Physical Condition
- The bulk of the architectural drawings are currently being stored rolled up. They should be flattened and encapsulated in melinex.
- Film and sound reels should be digitized.
- Related Material
- See fonds #5 for material related to Paul Edell.
- See accession #2012-10/9 for material related to the Edell family.
- Creator
- Edell, Solomon, 1919-2000
- Accession Number
- 2002-12-2
- 2008-8-29
- 2011-5-4
- 2012-10-9
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-2000
- Physical Description
- 49 cm of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Sol Edell, the son of Paul and Mollie Edell, was one of five siblings. He and Dolly Weinstock, the daughter of Moishe and Sylvia Weinstock, had two daughters and two sons and lived in Toronto. After Dolly died in 1961, he married Celia (née Rogen) Hoffman, a widow, in 1966. He became the stepfather to the two sons of Max and Celia Hoffman who had been residents of Hamilton. Some members of the family remained in Toronto while others moved to other parts of Canada, the United States and Israel. Sol Edell was actively involved in or provided financial support to many educational, professional and religious organizations.
- Scope and Content
- Series includes correspondence, invitations, publications, photographs, family films and a sound recording. The series is made up of seven sub-series: Associations, Charities, Community Activities, Education and Extra-Curricular Activities, Life Cycle and Family Events, Religious, and Residence.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 12 photographs, 7 film reels, 1 audio reel, 1 plaque, 4 badges, and 47 architectural drawings.
- Name Access
- Hoffman, Max
- Hoffman, Celia
- Rho Pi Phi
- Harbord Collegiate
- Subjects
- Education
- Greek letter societies
- Physical Condition
- Film and sound reels should be digitized.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Education and extracurricular activities sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-4
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- object
- Date
- 1921-1999
- Physical Description
- 4 folders of textual records
- 1 photograph
- 4 badges
- Admin History/Bio
- Sol Edell attended Harbord Collegiate and was an honours student winning awards in several extra curricular activities. His children and grandchildren also excelled scholastically while attending a variety various Jewish parochial schools in Toronto such as the Associated Hebrew Day Schools, Eitz Chaim, Netivot Hatorah and Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Or Chaim Ulpanat Orot.
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of material relating to the educational and recreational activities of the Edell family. There are newspaper clippings relating to Sol Edell’s participation in the Harbord Collegiate’s First Aid team and a University of Toronto graduation photograph. Sub-series includes correspondence, notices and booklets from his sisters’ and children’s elementary, high school and university graduation commencement exercises. In addition, sub-series consists of correspondence with the Associated Hebrew Day Schools relating to a scholarship awarded in memory of Sol Edell's grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Weinreb.
- Name Access
- Harbord Collegiate
- First Aid team
- Rabbi Yosef Weinreb Scholarship
- University of Toronto
- Subjects
- Education
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Education and extracurricular activities sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-4
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- object
- Date
- 1936-[ca. 1946], 1980
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 4 badges : felt, col. ; 17 x 11 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of records documenting Sol and Sara Edell's high school education. Included are newspaper clippings regarding Sol Edell's membership on Harbord Collegiate's First Aid Team, Sol Edell's diploma, various Harbord Collegiate badges likely belonging to Sol and Sara Edell, and a Harbord Review yearbook documenting Sara Edell's time at the school. File also consists of correspondence regarding contributions to Harbord Collegiate as an alumni.
- Physical Condition
- Sol Edell's diploma is rolled and should be flattened. The cover of the issue of Harbord Review has torn apart from the rest of the book.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Education and extracurricular activities sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-4
- File
- 3
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 1943
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 15 cm mounted on board 36 x 26 cm
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of Sol Edell's university degree and graduation portrait from the Toronto College of Pharmacy.
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is in the public domain and permission for use is not required. Please credit the Ontario Jewish Archives as the source of the photograph.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Life cycle and family events sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-5
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-2000
- Physical Description
- 37 cm of textual records and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Sol Edell had a large family and a large circle of friends and aquaintenances. Consequently, he was invited to many circumcisions, weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs. He also set up several memorial funds in memory of his sister and wives.There are also documents in this sub-series that relate to family members.
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of correspondence, receipts, diplomas, photographs and films documenting various family celebrations, vacations and home life. There is a selection of invitations, cards and benchers sent by the Edell, Weinstock and Hoffman families as well as ones that they received from family and friends. In addition, there are newspaper clippings and notices of the deaths of Edell family members and friends as well as correspondence and receipts relating to memorial funds set up in their memory. The sub-series also contains films of family and friends taken at home, on vacation and at family celebrations.
- Notes
- Physical description note: includes 10 photographs, 7 film reels, and 1 audio reel.
- Name Access
- Hoffman family
- Weinstock family
- Edell, Dolly
- Edell, Celia
- Subjects
- Families
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Life cycle and family events sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-5
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1900]-[ca. 1960]
- Physical Description
- 5 photographs : b&w ; 19 x 24 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of family photographs. Included is a portrait of Rabbi Joseph Weinreb (ca. 1900), the first Eastern European Rabbi in Toronto and head of the Galacian community in Toronto, a portrait of Mrs. Weinberg (1921), and a photograph of Sol Edell's girlfriend, Lillian Hollinger at Niagara Falls (1948). Also included is a photograph of Sol's parents and Dolly Edell at an unidentified event, and of Sol's cousin, David Yaffe (third from the left), being honoured with colleagues upon retiring as a tailor from the ladies garment industry.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Life cycle and family events sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-5
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [ca. 1910]-[ca. 1950]
- Physical Description
- 7 photographs : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- File consists of unidentified photographs. Included is a graduation portrait of Melvin from Trinity College, an image of a couple in Atlantic City, two boys dressed in Russian costumes, Second World War soldiers boarding a St. Clair Streetcar in Toronto, a woman standing with her two sons, a portrait of a woman with the name Willy Lobel written on the bottom, and a shot of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip receiving flowers from a girl at a train station. These photographs may document the Edell, Weinstock, Hoffman, or Rogan families.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Life cycle and family events sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-5
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1942-1961
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of newspaper clippings of obituaries, death notices, and memorial service notices for Rabbi Joseph Weinreb.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Personal series
- Life cycle and family events sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 1-5
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1949-1995
- Physical Description
- 4 cm folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of benchers colleced by Sol Edell at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other events. Of note is a bencher from the dedication of the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation's dedication (1949), a bencher from Clanton Park Synagogue, and a souvenir bencher from the Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto.
- Name Access
- Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
- Shaarei Tefillah Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Synagogue dedication services
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- 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
- Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 2
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1948
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of an invoice from the Yiddisher Zhurnal relating to a New Years greeting that had been printed in the paper for Sol Edell's Drug Store.
- Subjects
- Yiddish newspapers
- 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
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 2
- File
- 2
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [between 1948 and 1955]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of advertising flyers announcing an anniversary drug sale and promotional prescription envelopes from Edell's Drug Store at 1978 Queen Street West. The name, address and phone number of the store are printed on the prescription envelopes. Also included is a blank prescription slip of Dr. I.A. Grenville, which advertises Edell's Drug Store on Queen Street.
- Name Access
- Edell's Drug Store
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 2
- File
- 4
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1947
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Admin History/Bio
- In 1947, Sol Edell opened his drug store at 1978 Queen Street in a building which he had rented from Ross Cameron.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of lease agreement between Sol Edell and Ross Cameron, the owner of the building. Also included is a description of the janitor services referred to in the lease.
- Name Access
- Edell's Drug Store
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 2
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1947-1952
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of legal documents relating to Sol Edell's purchase of the Queen Street store and adjacent property from Ross and Yvonne Cameron. Also included is Sol Edell's mortgage for the property.
- Name Access
- Edell's Drug Store
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Edell's Drug Store and Elmhurst Pharmacy series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 2
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- architectural drawing
- Date
- 1947
- Physical Description
- 3 technical drawings : blueprints ; 64 x 89 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a floor plan and glass and metal detail drawings.
- Name Access
- Edell's Drug Store
- 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
- Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 7
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1939, 1960
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of the deed and correspondence relating to the maintenance of the Shomrai Shabbos cemetery on Roselawn Avenue.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- Shomrai Shabbos Synagogue series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 7
- File
- 24
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- 1949-1960, 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of appeals for donations to Shomrai Shabbos synagogue funds including the Book Fund, the Yizkor Fund, the Building Fund and the Charity Fund as well as receipts for donations given to these funds.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Solomon Edell fonds
- General community activities series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 4
- Series
- 11
- File
- 103
- Material Format
- textual record
- Date
- [19-]
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of a booklet containing a memorial service for the departed and Mourner's Kaddish.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
