Front exterior view of the Jewish Sheltering Home, also known as the Oak Park Home. Founded as a safe harbor for Jewish children unable to live with their families, the Minneapolis Jewish community paid for the structure and all of the care offered by staff. Children at the home attended nearby public schools and the Talmud Torah. Most stays at the Home were of relatively short duration.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of Julian Freeman standing behind a podium and giving a speech for United Jewish Appeal. The United Jewish Appeal was founded in 1934 to help provide financial and political relief to Jews in Europe. It unified fundraising efforts for European relief for an increasingly diverse American Jewish community. In 1947, U. J. A. shifted its focus from collecting funds for refugees to providing support for the proposed independent state of Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Kokie Goldenberg standing at a podium and addressing attendants of a rally for the U. J. F. C.The United Jewish Fund and Council was founded in 1935 as the fundraising arm of the St. Paul Jewish community.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In 1949, the national United Jewish Appeal sent a train to different parts of the country, appealing for donations for the young state of Israel. The two final cars of the train contained exhibits on Israeli agriculture and business and room for meeting and socializing. The train was staffed by Israelis who spoke good English. Children, members of organizations and clubs and the Jewish community at large were invited to visit the exhibits, listen to speakers, and donate money to support Israel and especially displaced persons arriving from North Africa and Europe for re-settlement.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In 1949, the United Jewish Appeal sent a train to different parts of the country, appealing for donations to the young state of Israel. The two final cars of the train contained exhibits on Israeli agriculture and business and room for meeting and socializing. The train was staffed by Israelis who spoke good English. Children; members of organizations and clubs; and the Jewish community at large were invited to visit the exhibits, listen to speakers, and donate money to support Israel and especially displaced persons arriving from North Africa and Europe for re-settlement.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Adath Jeshurun Young People's League posing for a cast photo of their production, "Headin' South." Youth organizations in synagogues offered opportunities for socializing and other types of group activities. Adath Jeshurun's youth group organized theatricals and model Seders.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of the Emanuel Cohen Center. The Center's primary role was to provide the North Side Jewish youth with an alternative to being on the street. The E. C. C. had a pool and a gymnasium, and sponsored sports teams for both young men and women. It also housed a dental clinic, well-baby and children's clinic for young mothers. The building still stands on Elwood Avenue in Minneapolis, across from the former Jewish Sheltering Home building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing the front exterior of the Neighborhood House, which was the first settlement house in St. Paul serving the Jewish community. It was founded in 1897 by the women of Temple Mt. Zion as a place for newly arrived Eastern European immigrants to receive social and medical services.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In addition to activities for children, the St. Paul JCC undertook programming for the increasing number of seniors at the end of the war. These seniors are part of the Golden Circle Group, which provided a place for older adults to socialize and learn together.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph showing members of the Workmen's Circle outdoors. Yiddish-speaking Socialists in Minneapolis and St. Paul established a vibrant network of cultural, educational, political and fraternal networks and organizations. Workman's Circles provided medical and insurance benefits to its members. In addition, circles organized Yiddish libraries, theatrical events, Yiddish language classes and lectures. Circles were secular rather than religion-oriented.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The photograph depicts sewing instruction for young girls and women that Hadassah sponsored. Items sewed in-home were sent to Palestine. Pictured (left to right): Florence Kunin, Jacqueline Kunin, Myra Joy Golden, Betty Golden.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Hey and Vav Club sit at two long tables which are set with coffee cups and saucers. A social club for members of the Jewish community in Duluth. Because Jews were excluded from gentile clubs, the community formed its own, which helped forge social and business connections among members. Membership in clubs also enforced an American, rather than an exclusively ethnic identity. Several years after its founding, the Hay Vav club Americanized it's name to the Covenant Club.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Girls, some holding dolls or teddy bears, in this group photograph of the Girl's Club at Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House was founded by the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society. Neighborhood House was founded primarily to provide recreational, educational and social activities to residents of the West Side neighborhood. It maintained an active recreational program for girls in the neighborhood, teaching sewing, cooking and other domestic arts.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a woman using a measuring tape to measure the length of a skirt on Ida Blehart. Neighborhood House was founded by the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society. Neighborhood House was founded primarily to provide recreational, educational and social activities to residents of the West Side neighborhood. It maintained an active recreational program for girls in the neighborhood, teaching sewing, cooking and other domestic arts.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This photo features, from left to right: Mrs. Hy Berkman, Mrs. Joseph Stern and Wendy Heller gathering sheets and clothing to be sent to clinics and schools in Palestine. Founded in 1912, Hadassah is the second-oldest independent Jewish women's organization in the United States. Hadassah draws on both the ideology of Zionism and on women's sense of social responsibility to elicit support for Israel, youth activities and educational services. National programs that were implemented in Minnesota included "linen showers" for medical units, money collections for school lunch programs in Palestine, and providing Jewish-German children foster-homes in Palestine during WWII.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Jewish Mothers Club was organized through the Central Community Center in St. Paul. It provided an opportunity for Jewish women, many of them immigrants, to socialize together.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This photo may reflect a gathering of boys from several different groups, suggested by the different numbers on the sleeves of several of the scouts. Many of the troops that Jewish boys and girls belonged to were synagogue-sponsored. That allowed for the adaptation of scouting themes and activities to incorporate Jewish values.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Poale Zion was a Zionist-Socialist-Laborite group founded in Russia. The St. Paul chapter in the picture is promoting "Tag Day" a fundraising activity supporting Jewish emigration to Palestine. A close look at the photo shows coin collection cans, called "pushkes" and paper tags with Mogen Davids (Star of Davids) in several of the young women's hands.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of members of the Workmen's Circle, which was created in the late 1800s by Jewish immigrants as a mutual aid society. The Circle was secular, practical and leftist, and many members were involved in support for Palestine.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of the Modern Woodsmen Association Hall at Underwood, Minnesota. Note: The Modern Woodmen of America is a fraternal benefit society founded in 1883.
Visit of Noweigan Crown Prince and Princess in May of 1939, parade with motorcade. The Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha visit St. Olaf College.
Exterior view of the Northfield Fire Department with firefighters and a fire truck. At left is chief Ross Phillips with his daughter, Margaret Phillips Starks, 2.5 years old.
The Roseau Fire burned the downtown buildings up to Mike Holm's barber shop. Holm's barber shop was saved by pouring water on blankets and wet sawdust.
Front row, left to right: Samuel Larson, Gara [?] Klopp Olson, Lilly Lehman, Marie Qualley, Sena Larson Back row, left to right: Laura Gilbert, Louis Larson, Sophie Dock, William Larson
A group photo includes friends and family celebrating Mr. And Mrs. A.J. Bohleen's silver wedding anniversary in Storden, Minnesota, 1908. Eva Turner and A. J. Bohleen were married in Moorhead August 9, 1883.
The Vasa Orphans' Home was founded by Eric Norelius in 1865 and operated by the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Lutheran Church from 1876 onward. The postcard picture was taken on Decoration Day, 1907, and shows the children playing on the grounds, enjoying their holiday.
A bride and groom are standing on the lawn with a crowd of wedding guests. The New London Cornet Band is at the right, a tent has been erected behind the house.
Interior of the Minneapolis Young Men's Christian Association Central Branch, located at 10th Street and Mary Place, showing members dining in the restaurant and a woman working behind the counter. Gas lights and home cooked meals for 25 cents were features of the Y. M. C. A.'s restaurant in the Mary Place building, 1890s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Kautz Family YMCA Archives