October's Object of the Month

To honor our 50th anniversary, we invite you to peek into our archives each month.

From the Archives...
Jewish Lions Club banner


Archives Record
Object #: 2010.21.1
Donor: Jewish Lions Club
Description: Banner, 33 ¼" x 53 ½"

Background:
The Jewish Lions Club formed in 1937 as a social club for local teenage boys. Members were 16 to 18 years old and met on Sundays at the Jewish Community Center. The 1941 Certificate of Incorporation describes the business of the club as “social, athletic, and for the promotion of friendship.” During World War II, as each club member left to serve in the armed services, a star with his name was embroidered on this club banner. All 25 club members who served eventually returned home safely.

Click here to learn more about the Jewish Lions Club and how the Jewish Historical Society received the banner.

Do you have Jewish teen life material that you’d like to donate to the archival collection? Contact us at info@jhsgw.org or (202) 789 0900.

Anthony Cohen Speaks at Historic Synagogue

Last week Tony Cohen, Founder and President of the Menare Foundation, came by the Lillian & Albert Small Jewish Museum to talk about his, and his ancestors', journeys along the Underground Railroad. We were thrilled to attract 50 people at lunchtime on a Tuesday--D.C. and Maryland primary day at that!

Tony riveted our guests with stories about his journeys retracing the Underground Railroad, tracing his family's Jewish-Indian-African roots, and his work--even with Oprah Winfrey(!)--on preserving the Underground Railroad's legacy. Even though it was the lunch hour, few people left early--a testament to Tony's skills as a storyteller.

If you missed it, never to fear--WETA's Forum Network recorded it. You can catch the lecture online in the near future.

Click here for more information on our upcoming programs--we hope to see you soon!

Anna Shulman's homecoming

This Sunday, over 120 people of different ages, ethnicities, and religions showed up for our one-woman living history show Anna Shulman: Queen of H Street at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

It was a homecoming of sorts. The show takes place in Anna and Abe Shulman’s dry goods store at 1237 H Street, NE—a block away from the Atlas—during the Great Depression. It tells the heartwarming story of Anna’s life and of the H Street neighborhood.

We were particularly thrilled that many nearby residents came to learn about their neighborhood’s history. In the picture you can see a Sign Language interpreter--several students and staff members from Gallaudet University came. Thanks to the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Shulman family for funding this free performance.

If you missed the show, you can always bring it to your school, synagogue, community group, or wherever; click here for more information. And keep an eye out for a H Street walking tour in the future!

Object of the Month: September 2010

To honor our 50th anniversary, we invite you to peek into our archives each month.

From the Archives...
Jewish New Years card, ca. 1910


Archives Record
Object #: 1997.06.1
Donor: Edith and Charles Pascal
Description: Rosh Hashanah pop-up card featuring welcomed immigrants, 6” x 3.5” (1.75” deep when pop-up is unfolded), 1909

Background:
The central image on this Rosh Hashanah pop-up card is known as "Finding Refuge in America.” Attributed to Joseph Keller, the original chromolithograph is in the collections of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Library.

Click here to learn more about the image and the history of these sorts of cards.

Do you have special greeting cards that you’d like to donate to the archival collection? Contact us at info@jhsgw.org or (202) 789 0900.