We’re delighted to kick off a series close to our hearts: the story of Molly Picon, for decades a household name in Yiddish theater and vaudeville, then a Broadway star, performer with the USO and radio personality–not to mention Yente the Matchmaker in Fiddler in the Roof. Some called her "the Jewish Charlie Chaplin"; others, “the Jewish Helen Hayes.” We think she stands grandly on her own. Former…
Photo of the day: The American Jewish Congress takes a chartered bus from New York to Washington for the March on Washington, 1963. From American Jewish Historical Society. View the planning pamphlet for Jewish participation in the march here.
Before photography became widespread, paper silhouettes were an affordable alternative to painted portraits. The name itself is derived from 18th century French financial minister Etienne de Silhouette, whose penny-pinching policies made him infamous and his name associated with frugality. Silhouettes were the cheapest way to record a loved one’s likeness. They immortalized spouses, children, friends and even pets. These creations could be hung in lockets or put in…
Celebrating Archivesby Susan Woodland, Senior Archivist, American Jewish Historical Society October is Archives Month, and the archives community in metropolitan New York celebrated the week of October 7th with an extensive list of repository tours, programs, exhibits, a symposium on Disaster Recovery inspired by last fall’s superstorm Sandy, and an award ceremony. See the website of the Archivists Roundtable of Metropolitan New York (ART)…
Hanukah party, 1952. Text on back of photograph – “Chanukah party held for Jewish servicemen from the Fleet and the Naval Base. Refreshments and Chanukah cheer provided by the Temple Beth El Sisterhood under auspices of the Armed Services Committee, Jewish Welfare Board. Chaplain Garson Goodman, United States Navy, Atlantic Fleet Jewish chaplain.” National Jewish Welfare Board Records. American Jewish Historical Society. For more,…
Postcard. Soldiers celebrating Hanukah at Little White House, Camp Gordon, GA, circa 1917. American Jewish Historical Society. For more, visit the Center for Jewish History’s Flickr photostream.Click here to connect with the Center for Jewish History on Facebook.
Happy Digital Archives Day!by Christine McEvilly, Digital Archivist and Librarian, American Jewish Historical Society But what in the world is the Day of Digital Archives? Once a year, those of us who work with digital collections in archives, museums, and libraries like to share just what our jobs are all about and help people understand what we do. We have all sorts of titles,…
American Jewish Congress member holds sign at Montgomery March, 1965. Photograph, American Jewish Historical Society, 1965. Source.by Anna Khomina, Research and Special Projects Intern, Center for Jewish History In 1918, the American Jewish Congress was established by several prominent Jewish leaders, including rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Hadassah founder Henrietta Szold, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, in order to ease and prevent Jewish suffering…
Molly Picon by Anna Khomina, Research and Special Projects Intern, Center for Jewish History In 1903, at five years old, Molly Picon (1898-1992) was on her way to a Philadelphia theater for a contest. On the trolley car, a drunken passenger challenged her to perform her act on the spot, and she complied, adding on an imitation of the drunk at the end, to…
Yiddish Theaterby Anna Khomina, Research and Special Projects Intern, Center for Jewish History The tradition of Yiddish theater in America began in the 1880s and flourished into the 1920s, as Jewish immigrants streaming in from Eastern Europe yearned for a taste of the old country as well as a mode of entertainment and a gathering space that distracted them from the bustle and drudgery…