Guide to the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Records, 1903-2006

Arrangement

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Records,
Creator
Beaver Valley United Jewish Community (Beaver Falls, PA)
Collection Number
MSS#447
Extent
7.5 linear feet (8 boxes)
Date
1903-2006
Date
1955-1970
Abstract
Throughout the history of the United Jewish Community Center many groups and individuals participated in the various activities held at the center. From its founding, it has served as an axis for the Beaver Valley Jewish community. The materials regardless of the organization are administrative in nature depicting the individuals involved, and the interaction of membership activities. These papers include constitutions and by-laws, membership rosters, programs and budgets from events, meeting minutes, news clippings, scrapbooks, financial materials, and organizational correspondence.
Language
The material in this collection is in English and Yiddish.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Jennifer Bator.
Sponsor
Funding for this project was made available by Simon Hafner Charitable Foundation.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Throughout the history of the United Jewish Community Center (UJCC, the center) many groups and individuals participated in the various activities held at the center. Except for Beth Sholom, all of the organizations existed prior to the founding and building of the UJCC. The center from its founding served as an axis for the Beaver Valley Jewish community.

United Jewish Community Center (1957-2006)

Discussion regarding the formation of the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Center began in 1955, and it was chartered in 1957. The UJCC officially opened its doors on December 31, 1959. Built with two sanctuaries, several class, meeting and social rooms, the UJCC housed several organizations and two congregations. The building's kitchen was maintained as kosher. Throughout its existence, the UJCC hosted events that were religious, social, and community oriented. Agudath Achim, a conservative congregation, occupied the larger sanctuary, while Beth Sholom, a Reform congregation, occupied the smaller sanctuary. Several organizations were affiliated with these congregations, including the Sisterhood and Men's Club of Agudath Achim. Hebrew and Sunday school operated out of the UJCC, as well as a non-denominational nursery school. Chapters of B'nai B'rith, A.Z.A., the National Council of Jewish Women, and Hadassah also held meetings and activities at the UJCC.

Membership dues paid to the UJCC also covered membership to the synagogue the individual designated. Special arrangements were made for people who wanted to join the UJCC, but belonged to an external congregation.

Agudath Achim (1903-2005)

The Agudath Achim Congregation of Beaver Falls was founded in 1904. The original synagogue was built at Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street in Beaver Falls and was completed in 1914. After moving to the newly constructed UJCC, the original synagogue building was sold. From the initial stages, members of this congregation were involved in the planning of this community center. The congregation joined the community center and relocated to the UJCC's larger sanctuary in 1959.

Agudath Achim Men's Club was founded in 1947. Meetings were held Sunday mornings and included a breakfast and discussion or speakers.

Agudath Achim Sisterhood was founded at the same time as the Congregation in 1903. The sisterhood was active in fund-raising and planning activities for the congregation, and for the UJCC at large.

Beth Sholom Congregation (1960-1986)

Stemming from Beaver Valley's original reform congregation, Beth El, the Beth Sholom Congregation formed in 1960 and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1962. The congregation held lay services once a month in the small chapel. Student rabbis from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati Ohio performed services during the High Holidays and at other times during the year. The congregation disbanded in 1986 leaving its assets to the UJCC.

Tree of Life Synagogue (1927-1973)

Discussion to found a synagogue serving Rochester, Beaver, Monaca, Freedom and Conway began in 1927. It was then decided to build the synagogue in Rochester, PA as this town was easily accessible from the surrounding areas. The building was first occupied in 1928.

Faced with declining membership, by the early 1970s the congregation had increased difficulty in calling together the 10 men necessary for minyan. In 1973, the members decided to close the synagogue. The building and the assets were turned over to the United Jewish Community Center in June of 1973. Members of this congregation were offered "extended membership" in the UJCC and the opportunity to join one of the congregations at the center.

Organizations

B'Nai B'rith Lodge #777

The B'nai B'rith lodge in Beaver Valley was founded in 1921. Members participated in activities organized locally as well as regionally. They organized many fundraising social events which were held at the UJCC.

Aleph Zadik Alephs (A.Z.A.)

The chapter of the B'nai B'rith boy's organization, Aleph Zadik Aleph, was begun in Beaver Valley in 1929. B'nai B'rith Girls began a chapter in 1941.

National Council of Jewish Women (1917-2006)

The Beaver Valley Section of the National Council of Jewish Women served the Beaver Valley beginning in 1917. The Beaver Valley section initially met in the Council House which in the early years of the 20th century was the center of the Beaver Falls Jewish community. The section founded and operated the Beaver Valley Hebrew Religious School in the early 1900s and continued this work after the UJCC was completed.

Women's Auxiliary of the United Jewish Community Center (1959-2006)

The Women's Auxiliary was formed at the establishment of the Center. It organized fund raising activities and was responsible for many of the beautification projects for the UJCC.

Hadassah (1945-2006)

The Beaver Valley chapter was founded in 1945 and was active on both a local and regional level.

Scope and Content Notes

The United Jewish Community papers are housed in eight boxes and are arranged in chronologically ascending order into four series. Series have been designated for: the UJCC at large, the Agudath Achim Congregation, Other Congregations, and Organizations. These papers include constitutions and by-laws, membership rosters, programs and budgets from events, meeting minutes, news clippings, scrapbooks, financial materials, and organizational correspondence. The materials regardless of the organization are administrative in nature depicting the individuals involved, and the interaction of membership activities. To a small degree, the materials depict the communication between organizations on the local, regional and national levels. Many of the folders appear to have originated from one person; as such they contain a mixture of administrative and more personal materials such as scrapbooks, calendars, and place cards.

Series I: United Jewish Community Center (1955-2000)

The papers are divided according to the category of materials. Because many of the materials were filed by the person who created them, (i.e. the corresponding secretary, or the board president) the files contained a mixture of materials. In some cases, the materials were separated based upon their individual content and filed accordingly. These materials consist of two and a half boxes.

The building category contains documents related to the purchase of land and construction of the building. There are also documents which relate to inspections and a drawing of the UJCC.

The correspondence predominately comes from the corresponding secretary's file, and from the files of the UJCC's board president. The existing correspondence is intermittent and dates primarily from late 1950s to mid-1960s, and from the mid-1970s. Correspondence may also be found with meeting minutes.

The events category includes programs of fundraisers and celebrations held by and for the center. Scrapbooks were created by members to mark various events and notable occasions of the members or of the groups of the center. These scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings, photographs as well as programs for the event. There are two scrapbooks. One scrapbook dates from 1957-1979, and the other from 1961-1964.

The financial documents are comprised of accounting ledger books, financial reports, receipts, invoices and bank statements. There are gaps in the records. The documents from the 1970s present the day-to-day running of the center, while the documents from other years present an overview. The materials from the 1960s are membership applications. Documentation for the 1980s is intermittent but provides more of an overview through treasurer's reports.

The meeting minutes include board and community meeting minutes and represent the business of the center. The minutes primarily document the founding and the early years of the center. There are gaps in the minutes from 1962 to present. Relevant materials were kept with the minutes to which they apply. (i.e. financial reports, correspondence, budgets, etc.) Due to the fact that they are part of the business of the board, the minutes include resolutions regarding the deaths of members.

Resolutions regarding the death of individual members were issued by the UJCC's Board. The resolutions in this section came primarily from the correspondence files.

The miscellaneous section contains materials that were not readily categorized. These include newspaper articles about regional occurrences and a certificate from the Beaver Falls Historical Society and Museum.

Series II: Agudath Achim Congregation (1903-2005)

The records of the Agudath Achim Congregation date from the founding of the congregation and consist of two and a half boxes.

The documents related to the building include materials relevant to the decoration and furnishing of the sanctuary, as well as the disposal of furnishings at the center's closing.

Agudath Achim owned and maintained a cemetery and these documents include correspondence and an accounting ledger. Throughout the Agudath Achim series there is auxiliary information regarding the cemetery.

The correspondence was originated by the corresponding secretary and is primarily from the 1980s. Within the correspondence files, there are letters regarding perpetual care payments as well as the purchase of gravesites.

The events materials include scrapbooks, a list, a program, and expenses and invoices. The scrapbooks mark various events, and they cover the period from 1957-1982.

The financial materials consist of annual financial reports, receipt and transmittal records, and accounting ledger books. The early accounting ledger is in Yiddish.

The membership materials include documents related to membership guidelines and membership lists.

The minutes section includes board meeting minutes, as well as the congregation's constitution and by-laws. The board meeting minutes are incomplete and date from the year 1974 until 1987. There are no minutes from the 1960s, and only one year, 1957, from the 1950s.

Resolutions were issued by the congregation to mark the passing of members. These resolutions date from the years 1982 through 1990. Resolutions may also be found within the congregation minutes.

The school documents consist of a listing of class participants for the year 1968-1969.

Men's Club (1947-1960)

These papers consist of the program for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Men's Club, and a listing of their activities for 1959-1960. There are two minutes ledgers covering the date range from 1947 – 1960.

Agudath Achim Sisterhood (1938-1960)

These papers include meeting minutes, activities scrapbooks, invoices, a calendar and correspondence. Both of the activities scrapbooks were compiled by Sisterhood president Mrs. Samuel Gilbert. They document the various events and the Sisterhood's involvement in wartime efforts through newspaper clippings and notes.

Series III: Other Congregations

Beth Sholom (1960-1962)

The records for the Beth Sholom congregation derive from the congregation's founding in the early 1960s. They include the congregation's constitution and by-laws, meeting minutes, and correspondence. They consist of three folders.

Tree of Life Congregation (Rochester) (1935-1984)

These records are comprised of meeting minutes for both the congregation and the Sisterhood, correspondence, and a brief history of the congregation. They consist of one half box and two shelf volumes.

Series IV: Organizations

B'nai B'rith (1947-1980)

The B'nai B'rith records are composed of meeting minutes, an accounting ledger, and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings regarding the activities of the District Grand Lodge no. 3 that administered the region. There are also minutes from Aleph Zadik Aleph (A.Z.A.) meetings. They consist of one half box and one shelf volume.

National Council of Jewish Women (1922-1979)

These records include a minutes ledger, an accounting ledger, a script for a participatory film, and correspondence. There is also a document related to Hadassah. They consist of four folders and one shelf volume.

United Jewish Community Center Women's Auxiliary (1976-1981)

These documents include meeting minutes and a scrapbook. Also included are the meeting minutes for the joint meetings conducted by the National Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah and the UJC Women's Auxiliary after 1997. The consist of one quarter of a box.

Also included is an accounts ledger, in Yiddish, of unknown date and origin.

Conditions Governing Access

No Restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records and photographs were received in March 2006 as a single accession, Archives Accession # 2006.0030. Gift of the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Center.

Preferred Citation

Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Records, 1903-2006 , MSS# 447, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Jennifer Bator in November 2006 with generous support provided by the Simon Hafner Charitable Foundation.

Separated Materials

Photographic materials related to the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community are identified as MSP# 447. A separate finding aid has been created for the photographs.

Oversized materials related to the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community are identified as MSO# 447. A separate finding aid has been created for the oversized material.

The oversized photographs related to the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community are identified as MSR# 447. A separate finding aid has been created for these photographs.

Three reels of 16mm film have been separated to the media collection MSC#447. One reel dates from 1959-1960 and depicts the ground breaking for the community center, and New Year's Eve event which also celebrated the opening of the center. The second reel is not dated but is circa early 1960s. It depicts the Sunday School rooms and three events held at the center. The third reel is also not dated but is circa early 1960s. It depicts the "Men of the Year" dinner held at the center.

The following published books were transferred to the Library:

Early American Jewry, The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1951.

A History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1976.

The Jewish Encyclopedia, Volume I-XI, Funk and Wagnalls Company, 1925.

Dedication of the Beaver Valley United Jewish Community Center, 1960 (2)

Dedication of the Tree of Life Synagogue (Ellwood City), 1954

The following serial publications were transferred to the Library:

United Jewish Community Center Bulletin, 1960-2003

"Newscaster" , Beaver County B'nai B'rith Newsletter, 1947-1950

The following three dimensional artifact was transferred to the museum division: chuppah cover

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Beaver Valley United Jewish Community (Beaver Falls, PA)
    • Agudath Achim Congregation (Beaver Falls, PA)
    • Beth Sholom Congregation (Beaver Falls, PA)
    • Tree of Life Congregation (Rochester, PA)
    • Hadassah
    • National Council for Jewish Women--Beaver Valley Chapter
    • Zionist Organization of America--Beaver Valley Chapter
    • B'nai B'rith--District Grand Lodge #3
    • B'nai B'rith--Beaver Valley chapter
    • Aleph Zadik Aleph--Beaver Valley chapter

    Other Subjects

    • Jews--Pennsylvania--Beaver Falls
    • Jewish youth--Pennsylvania--Beaver Falls
    • Synagogues--Pennsylvania--Beaver Falls
    • Jews--Clubs--Pennsylvania--Beaver Falls
    • Jews--Social Life and Customs--Pennsylvania--Beaver Falls
    • Jewish women--United States--Societies and clubs--History
    • Synagogues--Pennsylvania--Rochester

Container List