| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter |
| Title: | Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter Records, Series III |
| Dates: | 1946-1989 |
| Extent: | 0.60 linear feet (2 containers) |
| Abstract: | Jewish Women International (f. 1897) began in San Francisco to promote social activities among B'nai B'rith families. The first B'nai B'rith auxiliary was founded in 1909, and auxiliaries grew rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s to 178 groups and over 17,000 members reaching a peak in the 1950s with 600 chapters. In 1963 B'nai B'rith Women became an independent organization. The organization's mission has adapted to changing issues facing women, children, and families, including anti-Semitism, reproductive rights, and domestic violence. In 1995 the organization changed its name to Jewish Women International. In Cleveland, Ohio, the first chapter of B'nai B'rith Women was the Heights Chapter #119, founded in 1933, followed one month later by the Cleveland Chapter #121. During the 1930s and 1940s eleven more chapters were created, with one more in the 1950s. In addition, Cleveland chapters assisted in the organization of Women's District Grand Lodge No. 2, which included several midwestern states. The district was headed by Clevelanders Mrs. David Copland in 1936 and Lydia Woldman in 1940. In 1953, Woldman also served as president of the Women's Supreme Council, the national body which coordinated 620 chapters. Declining numbers in the 1980s caused a restructuring of the local chapters, combining twelve chapters into one new chapter, #1736, consisting of 1,500 women. The collection consists of announcements, bulletins, correspondence, budgets, flyers, invitations, lists, minutes, programs, and speeches. |
| MS Number | MS 5141 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Jewish Women International (f. 1897) began in San Francisco to promote social activities among B'nai B'rith families. The first B'nai B'rith auxiliary was founded in 1909, and auxiliaries grew rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s to 178 groups and over 17,000 members reaching a peak in the 1950s with 600 chapters. In 1963 B'nai B'rith Women became an independent organization. The organization's mission has adapted to changing issues facing women, children, and families, including anti-Semitism, reproductive rights, and domestic violence. In 1995 the organization changed its name to Jewish Women International.
In Cleveland, Ohio, the first chapter of B'nai B'rith Women was the Heights Chapter #119, founded in 1933, followed one month later by the Cleveland Chapter #121. During the 1930s and 1940s eleven more chapters were created, with one more in the 1950s. In addition, Cleveland chapters assisted in the organization of Women's District Grand Lodge No. 2, which included several midwestern states. The district was headed by Clevelanders Mrs. David Copland in 1936 and Lydia Woldman in 1940. In 1953, Woldman also served as president of the Women's Supreme Council, the national body which coordinated 620 chapters. Declining numbers in the 1980s caused a restructuring of the local chapters, combining twelve chapters into one new chapter, #1736, consisting of 1,500 women.
The Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter Records, Series III, 1946-1989, consist of announcements, bulletins, correspondence, budgets, flyers, invitations, lists, minutes, programs, and speeches.
The collection is of value to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio; the history of Jewish Women International; and the history of women's social organizations. Those studying Jewish organizations in the Cleveland area will also find this collection of interest. The bulletins detail the chapters' fundraising efforts on behalf of local causes and the members' interest in social activism. Of special note is the scrapbook describing recruitment programs undertaken in 1977-1978 to remedy declining membership prior to the chapter consolidations.
None.
Related MaterialResearchers should also consult MS 4832 Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter Records; and MS 5007 Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter Records, Series II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 5141 Jewish Women International, Cleveland Chapter Records, Series III, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gifts of Bernstein and Bernice Rothman in 2002 and 2011.
Processed by Marlene Siegal and Sean Martin in 2012.
Series I: Regions 1978-1983 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | East Central Region, Columbus Chapter, bulletins, correspondence, and reports 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Ohio River Region, correspondence regarding membership December 1978 | |||||||||
Series II: Greater Cleveland Council #594 1981-1989 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Budget 1983-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Discussion guide, "Creating Jewish Memories" program June 1989 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Flyers, events 1981-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Invitations, including B'nai B'rith Women Children's Home recognition program honoring Muriel Nathanson 1983-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Minutes, Greater Cleveland Council meetings 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Programs including 50th Anniversary, 42nd Annual Installation, and 12th annual Children's Home Event 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Speech, installation of officers 1983-1984 | |||||||||
Series III: Greater Cleveland Councils 1946-1984 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Albert Einstein Chapter #1011, bulletins 1982-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Century Chapter #806, budget 1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Century Chapter #806, bulletins 1980-1982 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Century Chapter #806, correspondence 1978-1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Century Chapter #806, roster, membership 1979-1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Cleveland Chapter #121, bulletins 1982-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Cleveland Chapter #121, scrapbook 1946-1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Euclid Chapter #336, bulletins 1983-1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Forest Hills Chapter #521, bulletins 1981-1983 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Liberty Chapter #933, bulletins 1979-1981 | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Shaker Chapter #310, bulletins 1980-1983 | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Skyline Chapter #566, bulletins 1980 | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Stephen Sherman Chapter #1087, bulletins 1980-1984 | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Stephen Sherman Chapter #1087, list, membership 1980 | |||||||||
| 2 | 6 | Stephen Sherman Chapter #1087, news calendar 1981 | |||||||||