University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning.

Records, 1954-1980.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 132 and Milwaukee Tape 3

1.2 cubic ft. (3 archives boxes) + 4 audio cassette tapes

ABSTRACT: Records, primarily 1954 to 1977, of an organization formed in 1954 to promote the study of Jewish history and culture. Included are correspondence, minutes, membership lists, publications, publicity materials, scholarship committee material, clippings, and tape recorded interviews with five past presidents. The records document the role of the WSJL in establishing departments of Hebrew Studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Milwaukee in 1955 and 1961 respectively, and in founding the Wisconsin Jewish Archives at the Wisconsin Historical Society . Also documented are ongoing activities and projects such as lectures and research, fundraising, scholarships and awards.

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 papers are arranged alphabetically by type: Clippings, Correspondence, Department of Hebrew Studies, Interviews, Invitations, Membership Lists, Minutes, Publications, Publicity, and Scholarship Committee.

The records trace the establishment of the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning, the Departments of Hebrew Studies at the University of Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Jewish Archives. They also document ongoing activities of the WSJL such as fundraising, sponsoring lecture series and research projects, and awarding scholarships and citations.

The most voluminous and complete part of the collection are Minutes of the WSJL Board of Directors, 1954-1977. These files contain agendas, meeting notices, reports, minutes of the WSJL Executive Committee, and a copy of the organization’s by-laws. Included also are some minutes of the preceding organization, the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee.

Correspondence files contain outgoing and incoming correspondence and are most complete for the years 1954 to 1961. Thereafter, the correspondence becomes fragmentary.

Department of Hebrew Studies files contain reports, newsletters, press releases and clippings which reflect the relationship between the departments and the WSJL.

A complete file of WSJL publications variously titled the Newsletter, Memo, and Bulletin can be found in Publications.

The Publicity file includes programs, reprints, and informational brochures promoting the WSJL, its lecture series and scholarship funds.

The Scholarship Committee file contains correspondence and financial records which mainly document contributions made to various memorial and scholarship funds administered by the WSJL.

The collection also includes tape recorded Interviews with five past presidents and one early member of the WSJL conducted by Lennie Zukrow in June 1970. The interviewees discuss their involvement with the Society, the contributions of Rabbi Baron, establishment of the Hebrew Studies departments, founding of the Wisconsin Jewish Archives, programs of the Milwaukee Jewish Forum, WSJL project financing, and other current and future activities. Although each tape does not cover every topic, the interviewer asked the same basic questions of each person.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: In 1953, Wisconsin Jews joined in observing the three hundredth anniversary of Jewish settlement in America. As part of the observation, Rabbi Joseph L. Baron proposed 1) a state-wide organization to promote research in local Jewish history and 2) establishment of a Hebrew chair at the University of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Chapter of the American Jewish Committee started organizing these tercentenary activities: from May 1954 the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee of Wisconsin did the planning; and in August 1955 the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning (WSJL) became its permanent successor.

One of the first projects of the WSJL was a $75,000 gift to establish the Department of Hebrew Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in September 1955. Professor Menahem Mansoor headed the department with an enrollment of 50 students. In the fall of 1961 a department was also established at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

A simultaneous project was the founding of the Wisconsin Jewish Archives, to be housed at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. This collection of manuscripts and records includes research material regarding individuals, organizations, and congregations throughout Wisconsin. Staff members organized and described the collections, wrote articles based on their contents, and made contacts with individuals and organizations for the addition of more material. The WSJL has provided continuing financial support for the Archives. For additional information about WJA activities researchers may consult the Project Files of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Other activities of the WSJL include scholarships for Hebrew and Jewish studies, formation of libraries of Judaica around the state, the sponsorship of lectures and publications, and the awarding at the Society’s annual meeting of a citation to an individual for philanthropy or Jewish scholarship.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning. Records, 1954-1980. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 132, and Milwaukee Tape 3. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

American Jewish Tercentenary Committee of Wisconsin. Records, 1953-1982. (UWM Manuscript Collection 62)

Baron, Joseph L., 1894-1960. Papers, 1910-1960. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 173 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 45)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Hebrew Studies. Office of the Chair. Records, 1957-1989. (UWM Archival Collection 39)

ACQUISITION: Presented by the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1962-1985 (accession numbers M62-31, M62-224, M63-37, M63-159, M68-354, M69-400, M72-118, M74-93, M74-346, M78-242, and M85-003).

PROCESSING: Processed in 1974 by Lindsay Nauen, and Karen Baumann. Additions processed in 1991 by Cindy Knight and Paul Barclay.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Jewish learning and scholarship.
Jews--Wisconsin--Societies, etc.
University of Wisconsin--Madison. Dept. of Hebrew and Semitic Studies.
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Hebrew Studies.
Wisconsin Jewish Archives.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 132 MILWAUKEE TAPE 3	BOX	FOLDER
Clippings, 1954-1975, undated	1	1
Correspondence, 1954-1955	1	2
Correspondence, 1956	1	3
Correspondence, 1957-1959	1	4
Correspondence, 1960-1966	1	5
Correspondence, 1967, 1970-1972	1	6
Correspondence, 1973-1980, undated	1	7
Department of Hebrew Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1957-1980	1	8
Department of Hebrew Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1961-1962	1	9
Interviews, Berkowitz, Nathan, President 1955-1957, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 1]
Interviews, Melamed, Abraham, President 1961-1963, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 2, side b]
Interviews, Heller, Albert E., President 1963-1964, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 4, side a]
Interviews, Pokrass, Adolf, President 1967-1968, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 3, side a]
Interviews, Rozoff, Oscar, Early Member, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 3, side b]
Interviews, Weil, Herman, President 1957-1959, 1970 [Milwaukee Tape 3, tape 1, side b, and tape 2, side a]
Invitations, Annual Meetings, 1955-1979	2	1
Invitations, Special Meetings, 1958-1973	2	2
Membership Lists, 1959-1978	2	3
Minutes, 1954-1959	2	4
Minutes, 1959-1964	2	5
Minutes, 1964-1967	2	6
Minutes, 1967-1973	2	7
Minutes, 1974-1977	3	1
Publications, 1956-1979	3	2
Publicity, 1957-1977	3	3
Scholarship Committee, 1955-1957	3	4