Susan Hoffman
Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
320 Elmer L. Anderson Library
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-625-0192
Email: s-hoff@umn.edu
web: http://www.jhsum.org
Inventory Minnesota Jewish Historical Society
Acqusition Number 0088
St. Paul Jewish Community Center
Records, l930-ca l970s
4 linear feet, oversize scrapbooks, and 5 linear feet photographs
Provenance
Received as a gift from the St. Paul Jewish Community Center in l987.
No restrictions on use.
History
Although the need for a community building to serve the social and educational needs of the expanding Jewish population in the Hill District had long been evident, it was not until l930 that the Jewish Education Center was opened. This building, which housed both a Hebrew school and recreational facilities, quickly ran into financial difficulties because of the Depression. The Jewish Education Center Association turned to the Community Chest for assistance, and, following that organization's suggestions, was reorganized in l934 into three parts: One owning and operating the building; one operating and maintaining the Hebrew school (the Jewish Education Center or JEC); and one taking charge of the community activity programs. This third part, the Jewish Center Activities Association or JCAA became eligible for Community Chest support. It is from the JCAA that the present day Jewish Community Center was created in l948.
In l956 the original building on Holly and Grotto was sold, and the programs were operated from temporary facilities in the Highland Park area. During this period the Jack Butwin Day Camp was established in the Rosemount area. Ground was broken for the present JCC in l963, and, at present, the numerous activities put such a strain on the facilities that an addition to the building is projected.
For further information on history see We Rolled Up Our Sleeves by Chiat and Proshan or the background research for the JCC in the United Jewish Fund and Council archival materials at the Minnesota Jewish Historical Society.
Scope and Content Note
The organization of the materials is self evident. Series One contains the history, board minutes and annual meetings. Because the early records of the JEC represent both the educational and receational functions, it seemed logical to maintain the early board minutes and annual meetings in their original intertwined state.The collection is quite strong in materials on the formation of the JEC and on the financial problems and reorganization during the early years. The later minutes are incomplete, having two large gaps, and a further search is in order.
Series Two contains committee reports and minutes, Series Three studies, and Series Four programs and activities. It was the intent of the archivist to select enough materials to give a representative sample of the activities of the JCC over the decades. Further additions may be necessary.
Series Five contains correspondence, and here the materials are limited. The board correspondence end date is l945, and United Jewish Fund and Council correspondence begins at l958 which indicates gaps in rather important materials. It is hoped that further correspondence will be found. Series Six contains JCC publications and scrapbooks, and every decade is represented. The numerous, photographs are a great historical resource, but need to be classified and identified to realize their full historical usefulness.
Linda Schloff, December, l987
Series One. History, Board Minutes, and Annual Meetings
Box 28 D01S10CD
History of JCC movement
History of JCC in St. Paul l9l9-l931
Dedication and Rededication Books l930, l940
One Hundred Dollar Dinner l934-l935
Legal documents l930-l938
By-laws of JCAA, JEC l934
JEC/JCAA Board Minutes l931-l937
reports of executive secretary
JEC Board Minutes, duplicates l931-l936
" " rosters l931-l941
JCC Board Minutes l934-l941
" " " l958-l961
1966-1967
1968-1970
" " " l971-l975, 2 ff.
" " " l976, l977, incomplete
JCC Executive Committee Minutes l957-l964
" " " " l971-l974
" " " " l978
JEC Women's Auxiliary Minutes l939-l946
Box 29 D01S10CE
Staff Minutes l935-l940
Federation of Centers and Settlement Houses Minutes
l939-l940
Annual Meeting materials l938
" " " l940-l941
" " " l942-l947
l947-l958
" " " l961-l976
Series Two. Committees
Committees
Save the Center l932-l933
Reorganization l933-l934
includes Committee of Seven, corresp., recommendations
Community Chest
Budget l931-l940
House l930-l941
Library l931-l941
Membership l940
High Holiday l940-l941
Stay at Home Camp l940-l941
Endowment l936
Self Evaluation and Self Study l935, l945, l947
Day Camp Committee l959-l961
Nursery School Committee l960s
Senior Adult Advisory Committee l967, l968-l969
Building Committee l961-l962, l964, l969,
Teen Advisory Committee l969-l970
Miscellaneous Committees l965-l978
Series Three. Studies
Box 30 D01S10CF
Self Study l948
Community Chest Recreation Study l954
Population Study l959
Series Four. Programs and Activities
Membership Campaign
Proposals for programs ND
Alumni Council 1936
JCC Forum, Orchestra l944-l947, l940-l947 Grade School girls' activities l953-l955, 4 ff.
Teen Activities l963-l966, l969-l971, 4 ff.
Israel Independence Day l968-l969, l974
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising l9694 ???
Russian Day Care l979
Senior Citizens' Writings l970s
Series Five. Correspondence, miscellaneous
Board correspondence l926-l945
Correspondence and studies of JEC/JCAA by Community
Chest l934-l939
Mortgage Retirement l943-l944
UJFC correspondence l958-l971
Temple of Aaron correspondence l963-l971
Neighborhood House materials l969
Rosters,
Army & Navy, Youth, Board of Directors l944-l975
Bequests l953-l966
Series Six. JCC Publications and Scrapbooks 30AD01S10CF
Center Newspiece, bound l932-l937
Center Piece, unbound l940s -l970s 5 ff.
Misc. brochures and bulletins l930s
Newsclippings 1950s
Annual meeting commemorating 100
years of JCC movement 1954
Scrapbook of clippings, Senior Citizens l957-l958
news clippings l972, l973
“Whats Nu” Senior newsletter 1991-93
Leisure League writings n.d., 1970, 72
“Reflections” Senior Citizen
Writing Workshop 1987-2000 2 ff.
“Voices from the Old Country” 1985
Box 30B five pages of ca 1938 photo album
scrapbook of 1954 dinner celebrating 100 years of JCC movement in America.(photos missing)
two scrapbooks of JCC Women 1951-52,1953-54
three scrapbooks of newsclippings 1961-62,1964-65
1964-67
loose newsclippings l954-55
two scrapbooks of Center Showcase Theater 1971-73
Box 31 JCC Activity Bulletins l970s, 4 ff.
Oversize Scrapbooks
news clippings l934-l946, 2 books
" " l960-l962
" " (boxed) 1963-64
Sesoteens l937
Stay at Home Camp l940
Centerpieces, bound 1967-69
JCC Women 1952-53
Campaign (new building) 1961-62
Center Showcase Theater (boxed)
Photo of Council Camp? St. Paul Talmud Torah, ND
photo files
Loose, unclassified photos
Added to oversize
Centerpiece, bound 1967-69
JCC women 1952-53
Newsclippings 1963-64
Campaign scrapbook 1961-62
Box 30A
Five pages of ca 1938 photo album
1954 scrapbook of dinner celebrating 100 years of JCC in America (photos missing)
Moved to oversize:
JCC women, 1951-52
JCC women, 1953-54
Newsclippings, 1954-55, 1961-61 and 1964-65
