Guide to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Records and Photographs, 1908-2018

Arrangement

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Records and Photographs
Creator
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Collection Number
MSS 287
Extent
221 linear feet (231 boxes, 17 oversize folders, 58 shelf volumes, 2 two shelf items)
Date
1908-2018
Date
1963-1988
Abstract
The Federation of Jewish Philanthropies was formally established in 1912, with the goals of relieving member agencies of the necessity for raising funds; collecting increasing sums of money to support Jewish causes; assuring fair and equitable distribution of funds; requiring agencies to give full and detailed accounts of funds received; and creating one organization that could represent the various aspects of Jewish philanthropic endeavors. The materials include minutes of board and committee meetings; lists of members and officers; memoranda and correspondence; budgets and financial reports; lists of monetary distributions to campaign fund beneficiaries; statistical summaries of services provided; by-laws and amendments to them; resolutions and special memorial resolutions; and reports from committees and affiliated agencies.
Language
English .
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Martha L. Berg and edited by Catelyn Cocuzzi in 2023.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

Biographical / Historical

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh emerged from the Jewish tradition of communal responsibility to assist those in need. From the early years of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, organizations such as the Hebrew Ladies Hospital Aid Society, the Hebrew Free Loan Association, the J. M. Gusky Orphanage, and the Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section provided social services to members of the Jewish community. With increased immigration of Jews from Eastern Europe (c1880-1924), service organizations proliferated to the point of competing for financial resources.

On November 6, 1911, the "Committee of Fifty" met at Rodef Shalom Temple for a planning meeting to organize an umbrella agency that would coordinate and facilitate the work of these organizations. The Federation of Jewish Philanthropies was formally established in 1912, with the goals of relieving member agencies of the necessity for raising funds; collecting increasing sums of money to support Jewish causes; assuring fair and equitable distribution of funds; requiring agencies to give full and detailed accounts of funds received; and creating one organization that could represent the various aspects of Jewish philanthropic endeavors. With the Federation functioning as the central fundraising organization of the Jewish community, member agencies could focus on their mission, as stated in the 1916 Federation Yearbook, to "help the poor, relieve the sick, shelter the orphan, aid the widow, feed the hungry, encourage the downcast, care for the aged, [and] bury the dead."

During the 1920s the Federation improved its coordination and supervision of an increasing number of agency facilities, with an emphasis on "social morals" and the prevention of juvenile delinquency. During this time, major service providers such as the Irene Kaufmann Settlement and Montefiore Hospital were affected by the shift of Jewish population from the Hill District to the East End. With the stock market crash of 1929 and the Depression of the early 1930s, ever greater demands were made on the Federation to fund needed social services. In 1932 the Federation joined the Community Chest.

While the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies concentrated its efforts on local needs, the United Jewish Fund, created in 1936, focused on raising money for overseas beneficiaries. The need to assist Jewish agencies in Europe increased dramatically with the rise of Nazism, and the need for international refugee aid rose dramatically again with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The United Jewish Fund also assisted local educational and cultural organizations, while the Federation continued its focus on social services.

During the period between 1951 and 1955, the Federation negotiated with the Community Chest to change the terms of their joint agreement, and in 1954 the Federation and the United Jewish Fund began the negotiations that would lead to a merger of the two organizations the following year, under the name United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh.

In the late 1950s and 1960s the Federation dealt with common needs for expansion, relocation, and changing services among its large, affiliated agencies, such as Montefiore Hospital, the Jewish Home for the Aged, the Irene Kaufmann Center, and Jewish Family and Children's Services. In 1960, the Federation Board initiated the tradition of study missions to Israel. The Federation has increased its involvement in Jewish education by sponsoring both endowments for teachers and scholarships for students. It has fostered greater communication within and about the Jewish community in Pittsburgh by sponsoring publication of the weekly Jewish Chronicle, which replaced its predecessors the Jewish Criterion and American Jewish Outlook in 1962. The Jewish Community Relations Council became part of the Federation, charged with promoting dialogue between the Jewish community and other groups within the larger community, particularly minority groups. Although emphases and programs have changed over the years, reflecting world events and societal change, the United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh has continued to serve the needs of the Jewish community both locally and internationally. The UJF is now known as the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Scope and Contents

The records of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh are housed in 231 boxes, 17 oversize folders, 58 shelf volumes, and two shelf items. Series have been designated for Central Administration, Committees and Task Forces, Demographic Study, Staff Members, Scrapbooks, Miscellaneous, and Photographs. These records include meeting minutes, correspondence, budget and financial materials, reports, affiliated agency materials, program information, studies, organizational outlines, annual reports, writings, photographs and other sundry materials. The Committees and Task Forces series offers the most comprehensive look at the work done by the UJF during the bulk years cited above. Series, subseries and subject listings house information on the specific functions of the various committees and individuals within the organization. More general information may be found in the Central Administration files.

Note: MSP 278, MSO 278, and MSS 278 have been combined into one MSS collection.

Arrangement

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Records and Photographs are arranged into seven topical series and further into subseries.

  1. Series I: Central Administration (1943-1992) (bulk 1969-1987)
  2. Subseries 1: Endowments (c.1950-1989)
  3. Subseries 2: Meetings (1956-1987) (bulk 1962-1985)
  4. Subseries 3: Administrative Files (1960-1992) (bulk 1975-1988)
  5. Subseries 4: Reports (1970-1984)
  6. Subseries 5: Studies (1967-1976)
  7. Subseries 6: Y-IKC (1943-1972) (bulk 1960-1972)
  8. Subseries 7: Parade-a-thon (1971-1984)
  9. Subseries 8: Architectural Blueprints (undated)
  10. Series II: Committees and Task Forces (1967-1993) (bulk 1977-1988)
  11. Subseries 1: Campaigns (1963-1992) (bulk 1983-1987)
  12. Subseries 2: Renaissance Campaign (1991-1996)
  13. Subseries 3: Project Renewal (1979-1989) (bulk 1986-1987)
  14. Subseries 4 Community Relations Committee (CRC) (1967-1993) bulk 1975-87)
  15. Subseries 5: Public Relations (1972-2005) (bulk 1975-1988)
  16. Subseries 6: Social Planning and Budgeting (1952-1988) (bulk 1970-1987)
  17. Subseries 7: Women's Division (1970-1989)
  18. Subseries 8: Synagogue/Federation (1951-1990) (bulk 1980-1987)
  19. Subseries 9: Sr. Citizen's Programs (1954-1984) (bulk 1964-1980)
  20. Subseries 10: Miscellaneous Committees and Programs (1952-1992) (bulk 1975-90)
  21. Subseries 11: Miscellaneous Oversize (1913-2011)
  22. Series III: Demographic Study (1953-1985) (bulk 1964-1984)
  23. Subseries 1: Pittsburgh 1976 (1941-1977) (bulk 1974-1977)
  24. Subseries 2: Pittsburgh 1984 (1971-1984)
  25. Subseries 3: South Hills 1965 (1953-1967)
  26. Subseries 4: South Hills 1984 (1984)
  27. Series IV: Staff Member Files (1971-1988) (bulk 1982-1988)
  28. Subseries 1: Berkey, Jane (1982-1988)
  29. Subseries 2: Jane Berkey/Harvey Sloan (1977-1988)
  30. Subseries 3: Harvey Sloan (1982-1988)
  31. Subseries 4: Staff Members H-P (1971-1988)
  32. Subseries 5: Howard Reiger (1980-1987)
  33. Subseries 6: Weisberg (1970-1971)
  34. Series V: Scrapbooks (1945-1990)
  35. Series VI: Miscellaneous (1961-1984)
  36. Series VII: Photographs and Digital Media (1908--2018)
  37. Subseries 1: Pittsburgh (1908-2018)
  38. Subseries 2: Stock (1918-1995)
  39. Subseries 3: UJF (1950-1989)
  40. Subseries 4: Archives Accession 2018.0027 (c1940s-2011)
  41. Subseries 5: Archives Accession 2023.0157 (c1917-2018)

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of United Jewish Federation in 1992. Archives accession 1992.0148, 1992.0168, 1992.0262 Gift of United Jewish Federation in 1995. Archives accession 1995.0148, 1995.0210, 1995.0227 Gift of United Jewish Federation in 2001. Archives accession 2001.0056 Gift of United Jewish Federation in 2004. Archives accession 2004.0048 Gift of United Jewish Federation in 2005. Archives accession 2005.0057 Gift of United Jewish Federation in 2009. Archives accession 2009.0118, 2019.0013 Gift of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh in 2018. Archives accession 2018.0027 Gift of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh in 2022. Archives accession 2022.0059 Gift of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh in 2023. Archives accession 2023.0157

Preferred Citation

Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Records and Photographs, 1908-2018, MSS 287, Detre Library & Archives, Heinz History Center

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Copyright may be retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Processing Information

The minutes of the United Jewish Federation were processed by Martha L. Berg on April 13, 2004 as MSS 287. Berg revised the finding aid for the collection on April 19, 2010. Susan Melnick arranged and inventories the United Jewish Federation Photographs as MSP 287 by Susan Melnick on July 20, 2005.

K. Hertel compiled a preliminary series and box list for the entire collection in 1998. Nick Hartley continued processing activities in 2014. Carly Lough arranged the collection and wrote an inventory in January 2014 with generous support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Catelyn Cocuzzi processed additions to the collection, merged the records and photographs, and revised the finding aid in September 2023 with generous support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Separated Materials

To the museum:

Jewish War Relief drawing, 2002.48.1

Louise Silk quilt "Mishpachah," 2019.20.1

Related Materials

United Jewish Federation Volunteer Recognition Celebration on Behalf of New Americans records [manuscript] 1991 MFF 293

Jewish Education Institute/UJF Education Task Force planning records 1987-2003 [manuscript] [2014.0153]

Busis Family Papers MSS 1059

Saul Weisberg Papers MSS 392

Gloria Elbling Gottlieb MSS 545

Kruman Family Papers MSS 1058

Herman Fineberg Papers and Photographs MSS 730

Albert Smolover Papers MSS 569

William Stark Papers MSS 292

Frieda and Saul Shapira Papers MSS 508

Sylvia and Donald Robinson Papers and Photographs MSS 1035

1986 Community report : Jewish population study of greater Pittsburgh / United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. F160 .J5 C734 1986 q

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh MSS 389

Legacy : a photographic celebration of our community's proud history / United Jewish Federation Foundation ; compiled by Ellen G. Hyde, E184 .J5 L44 2007 q

This is our Federation: a half century of achievement in community service / United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. HV17 .U5 1962 long

Community directory for individuals with special needs and disabilities in Pittsburgh's Jewish Community. HV3192 P692 S64

A gift of consequence / United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. HV17 .U5 1992 f

A directory of agencies & programs of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. F159 .P692 J58 1975

Directory, business and professional women / [United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh].HD6054.4.U62 P583

Report to the community / United Jewish Federation..ANNUAL REPORT

Strudel recipes : 38th anniversary salute to Israel parade / compiled by B. "Bicky" Goldszer. TX770 .F55 S78 1986

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • American Friends of Israel War Disabled (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • American Technion Society (Pittsburgh, PA)
    • Bikur Cholim of Pittsburgh
    • B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation
    • Community Day School (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Dollar Energy Fund (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America
    • Hebrew Burial Association
    • Hebrew Institute of Pittsburgh
    • Henry Kaufmann Family Recreation Park (Monroeville, Pa.)
    • Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh
    • Holocaust Center of Greater Pittsburgh
    • Irene Kaufmann Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • J&R Day Camp (Monroeville, Pa.)
    • Jewish Association on Aging (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Jewish Braille Institute
    • Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh
    • Jewish Criterion
    • Jewish Family and Children's Services (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Jewish Institute for the Blind
    • Jewish Residential Services
    • Jewish Theological Seminary
    • Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Inc.
    • Kollel Bais Yitzchok
    • Kosher Meals on Wheels (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Ladies Hospital Aid Society (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Montefiore Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • National Conference on Soviet Jewry
    • Organizations for Rehabilitation through Training, ORT (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Pittsburgh Conference on Soviet Jewry
    • Poale Zedeck Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Riverview Towers (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • University of Pittsburgh. Israel Heritage Room.
    • Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh
    • Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
    • Zionist Organization of America

    Other Subjects

    • Jews -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
    • Jews -- Education
    • Jews -- Families
    • Jews -- Philanthropy
    • Jews -- Politics
    • Jews -- Religious life
    • Jews -- Youth
    • Zionism

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