Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Historical Note

Scope and Contents

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Series 1: Publications

Series 2: Events

Series 3: Community Service

Series 4: Jewish Community Center

Series 5: Awards

Series 6: Administration

Series 7: Newspaper Clippings

Series 8: Photographs

Series 9: Scrapbooks

Series 10: Membership

Series 11: Oversize Materials

Houston Public Library, Houston Metropolitan Research Center

National Council of Jewish Women Collection:

An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library



Descriptive Summary

CreatorNational Council of Jewish Women Greater Houston Section
TitleNational Council of Jewish Women Collection
Inclusive Date1913 to 1976
Bulk Date1945 to 1959
IdentificationRG E 23
Extent5 document boxes : 6 lin. ft.
LanguageMaterials are in English.
RepositoryHouston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

Historical Note

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) first began in 1893 as an offshoot of the Jewish Women’s Congress that was held at the Chicago World’s Fair. The organization provided camaraderie and resources to Jewish women that were not available to them at the time elsewhere. In 1896 Jeanette Miriam Goldberg was appointed Vice President for the Texas Sections of the Council. Her main priorities for women were advancement through self-education and to discourage the trend toward assimilation.

The first section of the NCJW was formed in Tyler, Texas in 1898 with a core group of seven women. The goals were formed as a response to the individualized-level of charitable care. They sought a broader approach that would address the needs of larger community.

Women’s groups such as the NCJW were subject to criticism from the more traditional rabbis who felt that these women in focusing on the needs of the community, would neglect their own families and lose their Jewish heritage. Despite this, throughout Texas several other sections were being formed. As Jeanette Miriam Goldberg worked in North and Western Texas, another women, Olga Bernstein Kohlberg set about providing volunteers to the El Paso section of the NCJW. Anna Hertzberg was organizing in El Paso and soon was appointed President of that Section. In San Antonio, the NCJW was pivotal in assisting over 184 Eastern European Jewish immigrants settling in the U.S. and finding work.

Many of the sections made progressive and daring leaps during the 20th century. The Waco section promoted birth control education in an effort that would evolve into community planned parenthood organizations. Greater access to birth control gave women more control over their lives; giving them more access to education and careers. By the 1970s only 4 sections of the NCJW remained; Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The Greater Houston section of the NCJWcontinues to thrive. Their headquarters as of 2007 are located in the Meyerland neighborhood of Southeast Houston. They are still dedicated to public service and the preservation of Jewish heritage and traditions. Far from isolating themselves, their services and advocacy extend to the diverse communities of the Greater Houston area.

Reference: Weiner, H. A. & Roseman, K. D. (2007). Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas.

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Scope and Contents

The collection is comprised of scrapbooks, correspondence, publications and photographs of of the many internal and community services and programs sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women in Houston.

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Arrangement

Each page in the scrapbooks have been encapsulated separately for preservation purposes and then placed back into the scrapbook in their original order.
Oversize materials are stored in Box 5. These materials may be part of other series, but have been removed because they require appropriate housing.
The collection is organized into 11 series.
Series 1: Publications
Series 2: Events
Series 3: Community Service
Series 4: Jewish Community Center
Series 5: Awards
Series 6: Administration
Series 7: Newspaper Clippings
Series 8: Photographs
Series 9: Scrapbooks
Series 10: Membership
Series 11: Oversize Materials

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the National Council of Jewish Women Collection must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.

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Index Terms

Subjects (Persons)
Goldberg, Jeanette Miriam
Kohlberg, Olga Bernstein
Hertzberg, Anna
Subjects
Women in community service--Texas--Houston
Jews—Texas—Houston
Subjects (Places)
Tyler (Tex.)
Subjects (Organizations)
National Council of Jewish Women (Houston, Tex)

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

National Council of Jewish Women Collection. RG E 23. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Donated by National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Houston Section President, Ann Reva Jacobsen, January 9, 1978.

Processing Information

Processed by Tammy Jordan, August 25, 2007.

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Detailed Description

 

Series 1: Publications

BoxFolder
11Council Chatter, 1966 to 1967
Newsletters, 1963 to 1965
Important Dates [Announcements], 1963 to 1965
Council House Newsletter, no date
Council Tattler, 1965
Meeting Announcements, 1963
BoxFolder
12Council Woman, 1928 to 1975
3Digest, 1975
4, 5Bulletin, 1967 to 1976

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Series 2: Events

BoxFolder
16, 7Announcements, activities descriptions, invitations, correspondence

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Series 3: Community Service

BoxFolder
18General services
9Operation (LIFT) Literacy Instruction for Texas
Events
Business operations
Budget
Volunteer schedule
Correspondence
Volunteer recruitment
Volunteers
BoxFolder
110Operation LIFT teaching materials
11Operation LIFT teaching materials
12Women in Community Service (WICS)
Brochures
Awards
Newsletters
Correspondence
Events
BoxFolder
113WICS Job Corps
Pamphlets
Correspondence
Membership
Articles
Events
BoxFolder
114Houston Jewish Home for the Aged
Newsletters, 1965, 1974

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Series 4: Jewish Community Center

BoxFolder
21Newsletters, events, articles. 1963, 1973-1975

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Series 5: Awards

BoxFolder
22Certificates, 1961-1964

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Series 6: Administration

BoxFolder
23Business Operations
Correspondence, 1943 to 1975
Operations manuals
BoxFolder
24Officers
History and Bylaws of the NCJW
Administrators (Biographies and Obituaries)
Directory
Correspondence
Speeches
Installation Service

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Series 7: Newspaper Clippings

BoxFolder
25-9Clippings files

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Series 8: Photographs

BoxNumber
2RG E 23.1 to RG E 23.5Conferences and Seminars
RG E 23.6 to RG E 23.8WICS
RG E 23.9 to RG E 23.14Job Corp
RG E 23.15 to RG E 23.22Jewish Home for the Aged
RG E 23.23 to RG E 23.27Outreach
RG E 23.28 to RG E 23.30Administration
RG E 23.31Fundraisers
RG E 23.32 to RG E 23.41Installation Brunch, May 18, 1965
RG E 23.42Volunteers
RG E 23.43 to RG E 23.44Jewish Community Center
RG E 23.45 to RG E 23.46 Portraits of Individuals (identified)
RG E 23.47 to RG E 23.60Portaits of Groups (identified)
RG E 23. 61 to RG E 23.66Aid in Israel (identified)

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Series 9: Scrapbooks

Box
3Scrapbook
Contains information on Operation Lift which was a literacy program operated through WICS (Women in Community Service)
Binder
Contains separate sections on the National Council of Jewish Women programs

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Series 10: Membership

Box
4Membership directories, 1913 to 1976

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Series 11: Oversize Materials

Box
5Plaque
Recognition of achievement in membership growth presented by the National Convention, 1965
Scrapbook (bound) with loose sheets
Contains information on the National Council of Jewish Women’s revue of 1950 and numerous newspaper clippings.

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