| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Heights Benevolent and Social Union |
| Title: | Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records, Series III |
| Dates: | 1881-2003 |
| Extent: | 1.60 linear feet (3 containers and 1 oversize volume) |
| Abstract: | The Heights Benevolent and Social Union is the oldest existing Jewish benevolent society in Cleveland, Ohio. It was organized on April 16, 1881, as the Hungarian Benevolent and Social Union and received its state charter two years later. The organization was established to aid its members in case of illness or death, to assist non-members in "unfortunate circumstances," and to cultivate friendly and social relations among its members. It was formed by twenty-four Hungarian Jews who gathered for their first meeting in the shoe store of Ben Shlesinger, the society's first president. In 1919, the Hungarian Benevolent and Social Union officially changed its name to the initials HBSU, indicating that membership was no longer based on Jewish national origin. In the late 1960s, the organization adopted the name Heights Benevolent and Social Union for publicity uses. By 1885, the organization had over 100 members and membership subsequently increased to 763 in 1916. During the early 1980s, membership was approximately 500. From its creation, the HBSU provided typical benevolent and aid society assistance, including partial payment of hospital bills, a weekly sick benefit, death benefits for members and their families, and visits to sick members. The organization has also expended a large portion of its annual budget for charitable donations both locally and in the national and international arenas. Recipients have included persecuted Romanian Jews, World War I refugees, and the Red Cross Society for needy Italians. Additionally, HBSU has donated money to or subscribed to membership in Cleveland Jewish organizations such as the Hebrew Free Loan Association, Federation of Jewish Charities, Infant Orphans Mothers Society, and the Jewish Orthodox Home for the Aged. By the early 1900s, HBSU, while still a mutual aid society, was reaching out more to the community at large and participating in more social causes. The minutes indicate a strong support for the United States in both world wars, and a growing political awareness. In 1896, a delegation from HBSU met with Governor McKinley, then a presidential candidate, at his home in Canton as part of McKinley's "Front Porch Campaign." The primary function of HBSU by the second half of the twentieth century was as a social outlet for its members. The organization sponsors picnics, dinners, balls, lectures, and other special programs. In 1953, a women's auxiliary was created. The HBSU has never had its own meeting hall, and over the years has held meetings in many locations, including the Gesangverein Hall, Knights of Pythias Temple Hall, B'nai B'rith Building, Gates of Hope Synagogue, Warrensville Center Synagogue, and Congregation B'nai Jeshurun's synagogue, among others. During the early 1980s, the HBSU officially incorporated as a fraternal organization. Two lodges were established, one in Florida comprised of Clevelanders who moved to the south, and one in Cleveland. The Cleveland lodge also serves as the Grand Lodge of the HBSU. The collection consists of booklets, bulletins, bylaws, flyers, ledger, lists, proclamations, programs and scrapbooks. |
| MS Number | MS 5115 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The HBSU is the oldest existing Jewish benevolent society in Cleveland, Ohio. It was organized on April 16, 1881, as the Hungarian Benevolent and Social Union and received its state charter two years later. The organization was established to aid its members in case of illness or death, to assist non-members in "unfortunate circumstances," and to cultivate friendly and social relations among its members. It was formed by twenty-four Hungarian Jews who gathered for their first meeting in the shoe store of Ben Shlesinger, the society's first president. In 1919, the Hungarian Benevolent and Social Union officially changed its name to the initials HBSU, indicating that membership was no longer based on Jewish national origin. In the late 1960s, the organization adopted the name Heights Benevolent and Social Union for publicity uses. By 1885, the organization had over 100 members and membership subsequently increased to 763 by 1916. During the early 1980s, membership was approximately 500.
From its creation, the HBSU provided typical benevolent and aid society assistance, including partial payment of hospital bills, a weekly sick benefit, death benefits for members and their families, and visits to sick members. the organization has also expended a large portion of its annual budget for charitable donations both locally and in the national and international arena. Recipients have included persecuted Romanian Jews, World War I refugees, and the Red Cross Society for needy Italians. Additionally, HBSU has donated money to or subscribed to membership in Cleveland Jewish organizations such as the Hebrew Free Loan Association, Federation of Jewish Charities, Infant Orphans Mothers Society, and the Jewish Orthodox Home for the Aged.
by the early 1900s, HBSU, while still a mutual aid society, was reaching out more to the community at large and participating in more social causes. The minutes indicate a strong support for the United States in both World Wars, and a growing political awareness. In 1896, a delegation from HBSU met with Governor McKinley, then a presidential candidate, at his home in Canton, Ohio, as part of McKinley's "Front Porch Campaign." The primary function of HBSU in recent years has been as a social outlet for its members. The organization sponsors picnics, dinners, balls, lectures, and other special programs. In 1953, a women's auxiliary was created.
The HBSU has never had its own meeting hall, and over the years has held meetings in many locations, including the Gesangverein Hall, Knights of Pythias Temple Hall, B'nai B'rith Building, Gates of Hope Synagogue, Warrensville Center Synagogue, and Congregation B'nai Jeshurun's synagogue, amont others.
During the 1980s, the HBSU officially incorporated as a fraternal organization. Two lodges were established, one in Florida comprised of Clevelanders who moved to the south, and one in Cleveland. The Cleveland lodge also serves as the Grand Lodge of the HBSU.
The Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records, Series III, 1881-2003 and undated, consist of booklets, bulletins, bylaws, flyers, ledger, lists, proclamations, programs and scrapbooks.
This collection is of value to those studying the development of charitable and benevolent societies in the Jewish and secular communities in Cleveland, Ohio. The collection offers a glimpse into the way such organizations adapted to the changing needs of their constituents. The membership ledger includes lists of names that could be helpful for genealogists, especially those interested in Hungarian Jewish families. In addition, the scrapbooks portray one aspect of Jewish organizational life in the mid to late twentieth century.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 3951 Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records; MS 4755 Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records, Series II; PG 286 Heights Benevolent and Social Union Photographs; and PG 583 Heights Benevolent and Social Union Photographs, Series II.
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to the photograph and print collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5115 Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records, Series III, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gifts of Hugo Howard in 2007 and 2008.
Processed by Marlene Siegal and Sean Martin in 2012.
Heights Benevolent and Social Union Records, Series III Records 1881-2003 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Booklets, history, including members enrolled and departed 1881-1925 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Bulletin 1956 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Bylaws, Florida Chapter, a chapter of the Grand Lodge in Cleveland 1995 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Flyer 1997 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Ledger, Lodge Membership (original removed to Container 3) 1881-1996 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Ledger, financial accounts (original removed as Oversize Volume 1) 1952-1972 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | List, presidents of Lodge and Auxiliary 1881-1994 undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Proclamations (originals removed to Container 3) 2003 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Programs, Cleveland Jewish Exposition "Generations" 1973 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Programs, Anniversary Banquets 1901 1931 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1981 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Programs, Women's Auxiliary 40th Anniversary Party 1993 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Scrapbook, Lodge and Auxiliary 1954-1957 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1-7 | Scrapbook, Lodge and Auxiliary 1957-1999 | |||||||||