Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Milwaukee.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection consists of Administrative Records, Affiliate Information, Publications, and a Historical Scrapbook. 

Administrative Records include such material as a history of the federation, board member lists (1937 and 1965), a constitution and by-laws, and lists of affiliates. Meeting information consists of minutes, agenda, attendance records, and bulletins. The conferences documented are the Conference on Human Relations (1949), interfaith teas (1949-1951), and the Milwaukee Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry in 1968. Correspondence includes incoming and outgoing letters of the president, together with a few letters of the corresponding secretary. This correspondence does not include letters to or from affiliates; such material is filed with the affiliate information. One folder of the correspondence pertains to the National Bureau of Federated Jewish Women's Groups, which linked federations around the country. Financial records focus on fund raising and dues, and include check stubs (1947-1953) and a savings book (1947-1950). The miscellany consists of an award of merit from the Milwaukee County Citizenship Committee (1954) and information on the nominating committee (1942-1971) and the Talent Showcase (1962-1968).

Affiliate Information consists of correspondence, pamphlets, annual reports, directories, minutes, and clippings from Jewish women's groups that were members of the federation. Chief among the affiliates documented here are the Community Welfare Board, the Intergroup Council of Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Jewish Welfare Board. Other groups such as B'nai B'rith, Congregation Sinai Sisterhood, Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee, National Council of Jewish Women, United Community Services, and the Women's Welfare Board are filed together alphabetically by name.

Publications include the Yearbook, a directory of events and organization, and the newsletter, Focus.

The Historical Scrapbook, which includes most of the early material on the federation in the collection, consists almost entirely of newspaper clippings about the group and its leaders.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Milwaukee was established in 1925 by twenty-two organizations as the conference of Jewish Women's Organizations to act as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas, to establish a calendar of events so that the groups could avoid conflicting dates and duplication of effort, and to bring about better organizational understanding. It consists of a delegate body of presidents and representatives of Jewish women's organizations engaged in philanthropic, cultural, educational, and communal activities. By 1953 there were 50 constituent chapters. The federation has been involved in many community-oriented projects, including the "Serve-a Chaplain" Fund, conference on human relations, and interfaith teas.

Federation of Jewish Women's Organizations of Milwaukee. Records [microform], 1929-1981. Milwaukee Micro Collection 52. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

B'nai B'rith. Waukesha Chapter 156 (Wis.). Records, 1947-1966. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 138)

PROCESSING:  Prepared for microfilming in 1986 by Laura H. Katz-FGH intern.

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