Access and Provenance Institutional Sketch Scope and Content Note Arrangement Box and Folder Listing

An Inventory to the Women of Reform Judiasm, District 10 Records Manuscript Collection No. 63 1962 - 2000. 4.0 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The records of the Women of Reform Judaism (formally National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods), District 10 were received from the organization in separate shipments in August 1978, September 2000, December 2001, July 2002. Records were donated to the American Jewish Archives by presidents of the organization. The WRJ, District 10, by the act of donating the records to the American Jewish Archives, assigned the property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are held by the individual authors of the documents or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The records of the Women of Reform Judaism, District 10 are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives.

INSTITUTIONAL SKETCH top

The National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (now called the Women of Reform Judaism) was officially acknowledged by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1912. In 1913, under the leadership of Mrs. Abram (Carrie) Simon, and Rabbi George Zepin, director of Synagogue and School Extension for the UAHC, local sisterhoods joined under the umbrella of the new national organization. There were 49 Sisterhoods and approximately 5,000 members. The Ohio Valley Federation chapters were a part of the NFTS from the inaugural conference in Cincinnati in March, 1913.

An early report of the newly created Special Committee on State and District Federations at the 1922 Biennial Convention notes that Ohio was a model state federation whose example could be followed by others. Both Ohio and Indiana had state federations before such organizations were formally recognized by the Executive branch. In fact, the Special Committee of the NFTS used the Ohio constitution as its model for other states wishing to create federations. The stated goals of state organizations were to strengthen the work of the national organization, promote publicity, and bring together Jewish women for the exchange of ideas.

There have been several changes in the geographic region covered by the district now known as District 10 because of changes in Sisterhood memberships. State federations evolved into interstate regions. Federations are first mentioned in 1915 in relation to subscriptions for the Hebrew Union College scholarship fund. Federations were primarily organized by state. In 1960, the former District 6 (Ohio Federation) and District 12 (Kentucky and Tennessee Federation) combined to form the District 9 Ohio Valley Federation. Two years later the District 7 (West Virginia Federation) became part of District 9. In 1970, the District 10 (Indiana Federation) joined with District 9 because of diminishing membership. In 1997, a further reorganization brought in the former District 11 (Michigan Federation) to become District 10- the Ohio Valley-Michigan Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.

The regional Sisterhood organization holds biennial conventions. It elects a board which meets yearly and liaisons with the national organization. Activities of the Ohio Valley-Michigan Federation have included sponsoring speakers, programs, care packages for college students away from home and the sale of uniongrams. They have also had a series of newsletters which help to foster communications between the sisterhoods separated by large distances.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The Women of Reform Judaism, District 10 Records detail the activities and goals of a regional women's organization. Regional organizations encourage communication both between individual chapters and with the national organization in part through common events. Biennial conventions showcase speakers from both the regional chapters and representatives of the national organization and are an important part of the records. There are some convention files which explicate the planning and program of a typical convention together with a complete series of Highlights reports which summarize the meetings of the membership as a part of the records. The Interim Board file from 1987 contains information about the debate over the value and structure of future biennial meetings.

Within the Women of Reform Judaism there are numerous committees and offices. The records contain committee files from 1978- 2000, from such ordinary departments as Administration to the files that illustrate more singular committees as Judaica Shop and the Critical Issues committee. The Critical Issues committee contains material about the Federation’s platform on issues such as abortion, intermarriage and Soviet Jewry. Other committee files typically contain the reports of the committees chairs and correspondence with membership. Membership lists and local president lists are included among the committee files. Such files are also contained in the membership roster files.

The Ohio Valley Federation and Michigan Federation, both formed in the early years of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (now called the Women of Reform Judaism) were merged into the new District 10 in 1997. The majority of the records are from the District 9 years of the regional organization from 1962-1997. Minutes and reports show typical and atypical activities and projects for the regional organization. Records relating to the merger are found in the 1995-1996 presidential records of District 9.

There are limited records relating to the Michigan District 11 from those same years. There are no early records in the collection documenting the state federations prior to 1962. The early records of the Indiana state federation are located at the Indiana Jewish Historical Society. A history of the organization from 1913-1979 provides a useful chronology for District 9. The span dates for the records of this collection are 1962- 2000.

Related AJA Collections

Michigan Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. Nearprint Special Topics.

National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. Nearprint Special Topics.

Ohio Valley Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, District 9.

History of District 9 NFTS. 1964-1978. X-167 to X-168.

Women of Reform Judaism Records. Manuscript Collection No. 73.

ORGANIZATION & ARRANGEMENT top

The papers are divided into three (3) series:

A. DISTRICT 9 - OHIO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS

B. DISTRICT 11 - MICHIGAN FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS

C. DISTRICT 10 - OHIO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS

SERIES A. DISTRICT 9 - OHIO VALLEY OF FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS series consists of 5 Hollinger boxes, dating from the merger of the Ohio-Kentucky-Tennessee federations with West Virginia until the completion of its merger with the Michigan federation. These records include minutes and materials relating to biennial conventions. There are also committee records from the 1980s-1990s, along with publications and membership lists. Committee records typically include minutes, membership lists, correspondence and reports. The span dates are 1962-1997. The series is arranged alphabetically by title. Within the folder, materials are arranged chronologically.

SERIES B. DISTRICT 11 - MICHIGAN FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS series consists of 3 folders of material. There are scattered minutes and reports, and a folder of material relating to the 1976 biennial convention sponsored within the district. The span dates are 1974-1996. The series is arranged alphabetically by title. Within the folder, materials are arranged chronologically.

SERIES C. DISTRICT 10 - OHIO VALLEY OF FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS series consists of 4 Hollinger boxes, dating from the merge of Federations 9 and 11 in 1997. The records continue until 2000. There are committee records, convention records, membership lists, correspondence and reports. The span dates are 1997 to 2000. The series is arranged alphabetically by title. Within the folder, materials are arranged chronologically. There is also a Nearprint collection included at the end of the series which includes a video tape and booklets. The booklets are arranged alphabetically by title.

BOX AND FOLDER LISTING top

Box  File      			Contents

SERIES A. DISTRICT 9.  OHIO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS. 1962-1997.

1	1			Administration Department. 1985-1987.
	2			Administration. Manuals; Procedures; Reports. 1962-1996; n.d.
	3			Area Directors Reports. 1975-1988.
	4			Awards. 1985-1996.
	5			Biennial Convention. Highlights Reports. 1962-1968.
	6			Biennial Convention. Highlights Reports. 1978-1988.
	7			Biennial Convention. Highlights Reports. 1989-1994.
	8			Biennial Convention. Hebrew Union College (Cincinnati,
					Ohio).  1962.
	9			Biennial Convention. Akron, Ohio. 1964.
	10			Biennial Convention. Detroit, Michigan. 1976.
	11			Biennial Convention. Nashville, Tennessee. 1988.
	12			Biennial Convention. Columbus, Ohio. 1992.
	13			Biennial Convention. Huntington, West Virginia. 1994.

2	1			Biennial Convention. Canton, Ohio. 1996.
	2			Bulletins. 1962-1972.
	3			Bulletins. 1985-1990.
	4			Bulletins. 1991-1997.
	5			Bulletin Editor. Correspondence. 1988-1992.
	6			By-Laws; Parliamentary Rules. 1986-1994;  n.d.
	7			Circle of Service Committee.  1987-1993.
	8			Collegiate Affairs Committee. 1987-1990.
	9			Education and Religion Department. 1986-1995; n.d.

3	1			Critical Issues Committee. Correspondence; Reports. 1988-1995.
	2			Critical Issues Committee. Nearprint. 1986-1995; n.d.
	3			Executive Committee Meetings. Minutes. 1962-1965.
	4			Executive Committee Meetings. Minutes. 1966-1967.
	5			Executive committee meetings. Minutes. October 1967-1968.

4	1			Meeting Minutes. 1962 - 1975.
	2			Meeting Minutes.  1976 - 1980.
	3			Meeting Minutes.  1981 - 1990.
	4			Executive Committee Meetings. Minutes. 1981-1990.
	5			Executive Committee Meetings. Minutes. 1991-1996; n.d.
	6			Financial Reports. Audit Statements. 1980-1988; n.d.
	7			Financial Reports. Treasurer's Reports. 1979-1989.
	8			Financial Secretary. Reports. 1982-1996. 

5	1			Fundraising Committee. 1976-1991.
	2			History. 1979.
	3			Human Relations Department. 1986-1994; n.d.
	4			Interim Board Minutes. Lexington, Kentucky.  1987.
	5			Judaica Shop Committee. n.d.
	6			Membership Committee. 1984-1992.
	7			Membership Rosters. 1979- 1988; 1994-1996.
	8			Outreach Committee (Intermarriage). 1987-1995.
	9			President's Records. Correspondence; Reports. 1962-1967..

6	1			President's Records. Correspondence; Reports. 1967-1971.
	2			President's Records. Correspondence; Reports. 1982-1994.
	3			President's Records. Correspondence; Reports. 1995-1997.
	4			Program Committee. 1978-1990.
	5			Small Sisterhoods Committee. 1994-1996.
	6			Speaker's Bureau. 1986-1992.
	7			Union of American Hebrew Congregations. 1990-1995.
	8			World Union for Progressive Judaism. Correspondence. 1986-1995.			


SERIES B. DISTRICT 11. MICHIGAN FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS. 1974-1996.

6	9			Membership and Officers Lists. 1976-1979; 1992-1996.
	10			President's Records. Correspondence; Reports. 1974-1979.
	

SERIES C. DISTRICT 10. OHIO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEMPLE SISTERHOODS. 1997- 2000.
	   		

7	1			Awards. 1995-1998.
	2			By Laws and Policies, 1996
	3			CPR: Communication , Presentation, Reciprocation. 1997; n.d.
	4			Correspondence: Spring Letter to Vice-President, 1997.
	5			Correspondence. Letter to Officers. 1998.	
	6			Correspondence. Letters to Presidents Whose Terms Expire in 1997.
	7			Critical Issues, 1997-1998.
	8			District Areas: Maps and Lists, n.d.
	9 			Districts 9 and 11 Merger. 1997.
	10			District 10 Budget. 1995-1998.
	11			District 10 By Laws and Financial Plan. 1996.
	12			District 10 Records. 1998-2000.
	13			District 10 Merger History. 1997.
	14			District 10 Vice President Reports. 1997.
	15			Executive Board. 1996-1997.
	16			Financial Secretary. 1996-1998.
	17			General District Notebook. 1997.
	18			Historian. 1997.
	19			Judaica Shop. 1998.
	20			Meetings. Area Days. 1997.
	21			Meetings. District 10 Biennial Convention. 1998.
	22			Meetings: Fall Executive Meeting. 1997 and 1998.
	23			Meetings. Indianapolis Biennial Meeting. 1997. 
	24			Meetings. Interim Board-Leadership Conference. 1997.
	25			Meetings. Leadership Conference. 1997.
	25			Meetings. Women of Reform Judaism District Assembly. 1997.

8	1			Membership Lists. Contact Forms. 1997.
	2			Membership Lists. Ohio Valley of Temple Sisterhoods: General. 1996-1998.
	3			Membership Lists. Sisterhood Leadership Rosters. 1997-1998.
	4			Membership Lists. Women of Reform Judaism. 1998-2000.
	5			Or Ami Award Materials. 1997.
	6			Policies and By-Laws. 1996.
	7			Presidents Records. Reports, correspondence, forms. 1997-1998.

9	1			Quarterly Phone Call Chart. n.d.
	2			Sisterhoods by Size List. 1996-1998.
	3			Sisterhood Job Descriptions. n.d.
	4 			Sisterhoods and Liasons Materials. 1996-1998.
	5			Torat Nashim. 1997-1998.
	6  			YES Fund. 1997.

	Nearprint Collection
				Video Tape: "We Are the Women", by the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. VHS format. n.d.
				Booklet. "Catalog of Program and Administrative Materials for Sisterhoods". n.d.
				Booklet. "Celebrating Together: National Federation of Temple Youth's 50th Anniversary". 1999.
				Booklet. "The Executive Agenda: A Program for Leadership
				Development and Training For the Women of Reform Judaism,
				Basic Information for Sisterhood Leaders. n.d.
				Booklet. "The President's Guide: A Partnership Between Your
				Sisterhood and Women of Reform Judaism". 1997-1998.
				Booklet. "The President's Guide: A Partnership Between Your
				Sisterhood and Women of Reform Judaism". 1998-1999
.				Booklet. "Reform Jewish Outreach: The Idea Book". 
				Booklet. "When Love is Not Enough: Spousal Abuse in Rabbinic
				and Contemporary Judaism". 
			

Copyright © 2003 Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives