Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Division of Cultural History Judaica Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1160
Creators:
Cohen, Henry, Reverand
Ahlborn, Richard E., 1933-2015
Harris, Michael
Deinard, Ephraim
Adler, Cyrus, 1863-1940
Luchs, Leopold
Lipkowitz, Sylvia E.
Marks, Michael Neil
Marks, Cara Goldberg
Howland, S. S.
Hartogensis, Henry S.
Krauss, S., Father
Kantrowitz, J.H.
Neeman, Zipora
Sulzberger, Mayer, 1843-1923
Sulzberger, S.
Dates:
1639-1980
Languages:
Hebrew
.
Physical Description:
22 Cubic feet
32 boxes
Repository:
An extensive collection of Judaica collected by the Division of Cultural History, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection is a compilation of gifts from numerous donors, of documents relating to Judaism in numerous countries and the United States. Documents include betrothal contracts, bills of divorcement, eulogies, memorial plaques, candle labels, Jewish calendars, sukkah decorations, certificates of ritual slaughter, prayers, poems, sermons, and other types of documents.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is unarranged.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Judaica Collection at the Smithsonian is the oldest of its type in the United States. The archival collection is comprised of various documents, prints, sukkah decorations, marriage contracts, and memorial candle labels from Europe and the Middle East. The bulk of the collection was transferred in the 1960's to the National Museum of History and Technology (later, the National Museum of American History). A portion of the collection (artifact-related) still resides in the National Museum of Natural History. For a detailed description of items found in the collection see Cohen Grossman, Grace and Richard Ahlborn. "Judaica at the Smithsonian: Cultural Politics as Cultural Model." Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, Number 52, 1997.
The first Judaica collections were acquired by the Smithsonian specifically for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1890. The next large Judaica collection was acquired in 1902 with the purchase of a torah case and Sukkah ornaments from Ephraim Deinard, bibliophile, Hebrew author and independent book dealer. A native of Latvia, Deinard immigrated to the United States in 1888. By 1913, Deinard had amassed a large collection of Judaica from Europe and the Middle East. He eventually deposited, between 1920 and 1927, almost 600 objects to the Smithsonian. The collection remained on loan until 1955 when Deinard's heirs donated the collection. It was 10 years later with the opening of the National Museum of History and Technology (National Museum of American History), that there was a renewed interest in collecting Judaica objects. A small number of Judaica objects have been acquired since then. The archival collection is housed at the Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Separated Materials
This collection has related artifacts in the Division of Home and Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life).
Processing Information
Collection is unprocessed.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by the following donors:
J.H. Kantrowitz.,Purchase,1889; Mrs. S. Sulzberger, Gift; Leopold Luchs, Gift; Dr. Cyrus Adler ,Gift; Mayer Sulzberger, Purchase; Rev. Henry Cohen, Gift.,1897; William Wesley and Son, Purchase; Father S. Krauss, Gift.,1902; S.S. Howland, Bequest.,1902; Ephraim Deinard, Purchase.,1902; Mrs. Simon Kann,Gift.,1920; Henry S. Hartogensis,Gift,1920; Ms. L. Lieberman,Gift,1924; Ephraim Deinard,Gift; Cara Goldberg Marks, Michael Neil Marks.,Gift; Michael Harris, Gift, 1982; Richard E. Ahlborn,Gift, 1986; Sylvia E. Lipkowitz, Gift, 1987; and Neeman, Zipora,Gift, 1988.
Custodial History
Collected from various donors by the Division of Cultural History (now Division of Cultural and Community Life). One donor, Ephraim Deinard, donated the vast majority of the collection, having acquired the documents during travels to the Near East, North Africa and Europe. Transferred to the Archives Center in 2008.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Division of Cultural History Judaica Collection, 1639-1980, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Related Materials
Cohen Grossman, Grace and Richard Ahlborn. "Judaica at the Smithsonian: Cultural Politics as Cultural Model." Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, Number 52, 1997.
See: https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/2452

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Russia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Palestine Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Syria Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Slovakia Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jewish funeral rites and ceremonies Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jewish mourning customs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jewish art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jewish art and symbolism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Crimea Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
France Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jews -- Social life and customs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Judaism Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
India Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Israel Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Germany Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Holland Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Eulogies Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Etchings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Italy Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lithographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ketubahs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Greeting cards Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Prayers Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 19th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Petitions Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Posters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Poems Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Proclamations Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Prints Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sermons Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sukkah decorations Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wills Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Envelopes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Betrothal contracts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Calendars Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Receipts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Amulets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Divorce records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engravings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Certificates Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Deeds Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu