Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center

Resources (16)

• In addition, the PJAC holds records of several beneficial associations and other groups founded by people who came from towns or regions of Russia and Eastern Europe. There is a subject file for Soviet Jewry, 1971present; and the photograph collection holds some material pertinent to the Russian Empire/ Soviet Union.

• Coats, Pants and Waist Makers' Union

  Records, 1915–20 and n.d., 1 folder. Photocopies of meeting notices of the union, written in a combination of English, Yiddish, Italian, and Lithuanian. Originals at the Temple University Urban Archives.

• Edith Deitsch

  Papers, 1926–60, 1 folder. Newspaper clippings and playbills of Yiddish theater groups, including a Young Men'sYoung Women's Hebrew Association program of Russian singer Nastia Poliakova.

• Elsie (Mrs. A. Harry) Levitan

  Papers, 1892 and n.d., 1 folder. Immigration documents in Hebrew and Russian, 1892 and n.d., and an undated card written in Russian. 8 family photos are in the PJAC Photograph Collection.

• Flitter Family

  Papers, 1903–1906, 1 folder. Copies of immigration records of the family, including a 1903 Russian passport issued to Tova Davidovich Guralnik and a 1906 Russian travel permit issued to Itzko Abroovich Flitter.

• Gerson Bergman (b. 1893)

  Interview, 1976, 1 cassette tape recording. In this interview, ca. 1.5 hrs., with his son Edward B. Bergman and Lindsay B. Nauen, PJAC archivist, he talks about his family and life in Russia, immigration to the U.S. in 1903, his father's occupations in Philadelphia, and his progeny.

• Glantz Family

  Papers, 1905–1906 and 1916, 1 folder. Immigration and marriage records of various family members; a 1905 Russian passport; and a 1906 health inspection card for Reize Flerman.

• Harris Rubin (1847-1931)

  Papers, 1915–20, 1 folder. Translation, 1974, by his granddaughter's husband, Benson Schambelan, of his autobiography, originally written in Yiddish. Born in Lithuania, he immigrated to Philadelphia in 1882. First part of the autobiography describes in great detail life in Russia in the late 19th c.; the second part recounts the trip from Russia and life in Philadelphia and New Jersey.

• Harry Richman

  Citizenship document, 26 June 1896, of Richman, who was born in Russia.

• Hershel Lichten (ca. 1872-1937)

  Papers, 1932, 1 folder. Photocopy of an autobiography, 1932, translated by his son, James Lichten. He tells about his family and life in Russia ca. 1872–1913 in great detail in the early part of the work.

• Isadore Ross (b. 1899)

  Papers, 1976, 1 folder. Edited transcript of an interview with Ross, who was born in Russia, lived in Moscow during the 1917 Revolution, and later immigrated to the U.S. He describes his experiences in Russia, marriage, and journey to the United States, as well as his life in this country.

• Jekabs Kucgalis (b. 1906)

  Papers, 1933–63, 1 folder. Photocopies of his personal papers. He emigrated from Latvia in 1939. Includes his school grades, birth certificate, and letters of recommendation from various jobs he held as a physical education teacher.

• Melnick Family

  Papers, 1901–20, 1 folder. Immigration application, health certificate, police release, and passage certificate of the Melnick family, including Sara Chmielnik, Zelig Chmielnik, Golali Chmielnik, Lora Chmielnik, Jospo Chmielnik, and Max Mulnick. Documents in both Russian and English.

• Nathan Garber (1890-1947)

  Papers, 1918–46, 1 folder. Personal papers of a Russian immigrant: draft discharge certificate, 1918; marriage license, 1921; certificate of naturalization, 1926; and death certificate.

• The Jewish World

  Records, 1914–44, 1 folder and 10 photographs. Photocopies of a newspaper clipping and correspondence, 1944, about the donation of the Jewish World press to Biro Bidjan, an autonomous Jewish state in the USSR. The Jewish World, Philadelphia's only Yiddish newspaper, ceased publication in 1942. Samuel Lipschutz, a former employee, purchased the equipment and, in 1944, donated the press and $300 to Biro Bidjan. Photos of the newspaper's (Philadelphia) headquarters and staff members are in the PJAC Photograph Collection; a few scattered copies of the newspaper are in the periodicals collection.

• Vitebsker Beneficial Association

  Records, ca. 1897–1945 and n.d., 1 folder. Constitutions and by-laws, ca. 1897 and 1934; souvenir booklets, 1927 and 1937; letter, 1945; membership list, n.d.; and 12 undated letters. Composed of men who immigrated from the Vitebsk region of Russia.