Part Of

William Stern fonds

Family photographs series

Level

Series

Fonds

33

Series

1

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[ca. 1913]-1976

Physical Description

84 photographs : b&w and col. (55 negatives) ; 21 x 26 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Bill Stern's father, Moishe (Morris) Shternshis (ca. 1893-1976), was born in Lagov, Poland, the son of Lebil and Rachel (Shedlovsky) Shternshis. He came to Canada in 1911, and upon his arrival, changed his surname to Stern. Bill Stern's mother, Fanny Rumianek (ca. 1896-1991), was born in Chmielnik, Poland, the daughter of Moishe Hamelech and Golda (Zimmerman) Rumianek. The family arrived in Canada in 1913. Moishe and Fanny met a few years later, and were married at the Ostrovtzer Synagogue on Cecil Street on 16 December, 1916. The couple moved to Hamilton in 1917, but later returned to Toronto.

For over forty years, Moishe worked as a milkman. Beginning in 1921, he was the first Jewish independent milkman in Toronto. It was a profitable and successful venture for the Stern family, and as a result, Moishe founded a co-operative in 1944, with six other milkmen. Named the Alliance Dairy, the business was eventually bought by Borden's Creamery in 1966, and Moishe retired as a result. Fanny volunteered much of her time to organizations such as the Jewish Old Folks Home and Sunnybrook Hospital.

The first child born to Moishe and Fanny was Max Stern (1918-1997), who eventually joined the army, married Ruth Soles, and had two daughters, Bonnie and Janie. Today, Bonnie is a well-known Canadian cook-book author. Bill was the second child, born in 1921.

In 1923, Moishe brought his younger brother, Sam Stern (1912-1939), to Canada from Lagov, Poland. Although actually his uncle, Bill was raised knowing Sam as his brother. In 1933, Sam travelled to Palestine and founded the Ginosar Kibbutz, near Tibireus. He was killed six years later while on guard duty.

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs documenting the Stern and Rumianek families. They include individual and group portraits, as well as snapshots of family events and gatherings.

The photographs have been arranged chronologically and have been described at the item level.

Accession Number

1980-2-1

1981-9-4

1986-1-8

1991-5-5

1991-5-6

2004-5-96

2004-5-135

2006-2-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

William Stern fonds

Military photographs series

Level

Series

Fonds

33

Series

2

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1942-[195-?]

Physical Description

28 photographs : b&w (6 negatives) 26 x 21 cm or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Bill Stern enlisted in the Royal Canadian Airforce at the start of the Second World War, at the age of eighteen. He set out for Enlgand via Halifax, in 1942, and saw combat in France, Belgium and Germany as a Leading Aircraftsman.

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs of Bill Stern and his fellow servicemen, taken during the Second World War. Most of the photographs were taken overseas, however there are a few of Bill, his brother Max, and his parents Moishe and Fanny Stern, which were taken in Toronto, and one of a fellow soldier taken after the war.

The photographs have been arranged chronologically and are described at the item level.

Name Access

Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force

Subjects

Portraits

Accession Number

1980-2-1

2004-5-96

2006-2-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

William Stern fonds

Hamilton Jewish community photographs series

Level

Series

Fonds

33

Series

3

Material Format

graphic material

Date

[194-]-1984

Physical Description

96 photographs : b&w and col. (10 negatives) ; 21 x 26 or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Bill Stern was the director of activities for the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre (JCC) from 1956-1960. He was the director of the JCC from 1963-1964 and then executive director of the Hamilton Council of Jewish Organizations (CJO) from 1964-1973.

He arrived in Hamilton as a graduate in social work, specializing in group work and camping activities. He played a major role in developing the Hamilton Jubilee Club, a senior day centre, kosher meals-on-wheels, an expanded camping program, and the Hamilton Council of Jewish Education. He was responsible for the separation of the JCC and the CJO, and the establishment of the CJO's successor, the Hamilton Jewish Federation.

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs of the Hamilton Jewish community, taken during Bill Stern's professional involvement with the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre and the Hamilton Council of Jewish Organizations. There are also a few images that Bill had acquired that were taken shortly before his arrival and shortly after his departure.

The images depict various Hamilton community members, as well as CJO and community centre events and meetings. They have been arranged chronologically and described at the file and item level.

Subjects

Communities

Places

Hamilton (Ont.)

Accession Number

2004-5-96

2004-5-135

2005-5-2

2006-2-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

William Stern fonds

Toronto Jewish community photographs series

Level

Series

Fonds

33

Series

4

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1930-[ca. 1984]

Physical Description

43 photographs : b&w and col. (15 negatives) ; 28 x 35 or smaller

Admin History/Bio

Bill Stern was very involved in the Toronto Jewish community. In particular, he was active with the United Jewish Welfare Fund, where he served as a divisional director, the Canadian Zionist Federation, as the executive director, the Canadian Society for the Weizmann Institute of Science, the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Jewish Film Festival and the Ontario Jewish Archives. He also assisted many organizations in a consulting capacity, following his leave from communal affairs.

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs of individuals and organizations associated with the Toronto Jewish community. Bill Stern, along with other members of his family, are featured in many of the photographs, as they were members of the various organizations.

The photographs have been arranged chronologically and described at the item level.

Accession Number

1981-9-4

1985-6-6

1991-5-5

1991-5-6

1994-1-4

2004-5-96

2005-5-9

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

William Stern fonds

Camp photographs series

Level

Series

Fonds

33

Series

5

Material Format

graphic material

Date

1940-1962

Physical Description

13 photographs : b&w (6 negatives) ; 21 x 26 or smaller

Scope and Content

This series consists of photographs of various Jewish camps in Ontario. Bill Stern either worked as a counselor at the camps, or had some affiliation through his work with the Hamilton Jewish Community Centre and the Hamilton Council of Jewish Organizations.

The photographs have been arranged chronologically and described at the item level.

Accession Number

1980-2-1

2004-5-96

2006-2-8

Source

Archival Descriptions

Part Of

United Jewish Welfare Fund fonds

Joint Committee with the Bureau of Jewish Education series

Level

Series

Fonds

67

Series

12

Material Format

textual record

Date

1957-1963

Physical Description

4 cm of textual records

Admin History/Bio

The Joint Committee with the Bureau of Jewish Education was established in order to study the relationship of the Bureau to the Welfare Fund and the relationships of both subsidized and non-subsidized schools to both organizations. Beyond establishing these precise formal relationships, its major accomplishment was to create a standard for the subsidizing of Jewish schools in Metropolitan Toronto

Scope and Content

Series consists of one sub-series: Meeting Minutes. Included within these records are correspondence and a final report of the Committee. Files are arranged chronologically within the sub-series.

Notes

Access restriction note: Records documenting the meeting minutes and activities of this committee are CLOSED until they are more than ten years old.

Source

Archival Descriptions