Jews--America

Avern L. Cohn Papers

aergas — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:21:05 -0400

The materials in this collection represent the scope of Judge Avern Cohn's professional life and his wide-ranging interests and activities, from family matters to philanthropy to leisure travel. The collection includes correspondence, opinions and orders, speeches and writings, scrapbooks, files on a large array of subjects and some audio-visual materials. In his several decades on the federal bench, Cohn was involved in cases involving a variety of issues including tax law, civil rights, school desegregation, and patents and trademarks. Among his most notable decisions are John Doe v. University of Michigan, which held unconstitutional the university's speech code; the Kearns patent infringement suit against Ford Motor Company regarding intermittent windshield wipers; the "Jake Baker case," which involved a student dismissed from the University of Michigan for allegedly putting a pornographic story on the internet; and Bradley v. Milliken, regarding school desegregation. Cohn was a prolific writer of professional articles, as well as of opinion pieces and letters to the editor; his research materials and writings are included here. He was a frequent participant in and speaker at meetings for the legal profession and many other professional groups. His interest in legal education is evidenced from materials reflecting his participation in moot courts, new lawyer seminars and student forums at various law schools including the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Detroit College of Law. The collection includes Cohn's wide-ranging correspondence on the local, national and international level with lawyers and judges; politicians and government officials; journalists and publishers; business leaders; religious leaders; and academics. Active participation and leadership in the Jewish community is reflected in the papers. He served in numerous organizations, notably as president of the Jewish Welfare Federation, wrote extensively on Jewish historical subjects and was awarded some of the highest honors for service to the community. Materials relevant to Cohn's research into family history and genealogy, including correspondence with relatives in France and Israel are included here. Scrapbooks included in this collection were collected and arranged by Judge Cohn and
his staff. They provide an overview of his public life from the 1960s through approximately 2014.

Folklore Archive: Student Field Projects Records

drice — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 10:50:49 -0400

The Folklore Archive, established in 1939 by WSU English professors Emlyn Gardner and Thelma James, contains the oldest and largest record of urban folk traditions in the United States. To document these traditions, Wayne State University students conducted field research projects covering a broad range of topics. These projects typically consist of transcripts of oral interviews conducted by the students as part of their research. The collection is strong in modern industrial and occupational folklore, reflecting the rich ethnic diversity and workoriented heritage of Detroit and southeastern Michigan.

Robert J. Greene Papers

drice — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:13:29 -0500

Robert Greene was active in Michigan politics and a national advocate for Jewish interests. His papers reflect his forty years as a political activist, taken from his manuscript, "Sidebars."

Matilda Robbins Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:12:38 -0500

Manuscripts (articles and stories), clippings, correspondence, personal papers, and photographs collected by Mrs. Robbins, who was a labor organizer and writer for the IWW from 1912 until her death in 1963. Subjects include the Paterson N.J. Silk Strike.

Emma Schaver Papers

drice — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:58:07 -0400

Emma Lazaroff Schaver (March 15, 1905 - February 4, 2003) was best known as a Jewish opera and folk singer and Labor Zionist. She was a member of the first Jewish delegation to the Displaced Persons camps after World War II where she sang to survivors of the Holocaust. She toured the United States, Canada, Europe and South and Central America as a soprano with various opera companies and as a soloist. Along with her husband, Morris Schaver, Emma was respected for promoting Jewish culture in the United States, and for philanthropic work in the local Detroit Jewish community and Israel.

The Emma Schaver Papers contain correspondence with family, friends, and Zionist and Israeli leaders covering her career, philanthropic and Zionist activities. The collection also includes correspondence, diary fragments, notebooks, authorization papers, and photographs from her experiences in the D. P. camps as well as manuscript copies of her book in Hebrew, Yiddish and English. Her music career is highlighted through newspaper clippings and publicity, photographs, and sound recordings as well as concert posters and programs. Her charitable work and Zionist activities are documented through newspaper clippings and publicity, as well as medals, awards and plaques she received in honor of her work for Israel and Jewish culture. A large number of scrapbooks can be found, both assembled by Emma and given to her, which highlight her career and activities, as well as those of her husband, Morris, and son, Isaac. Emma's personal life is represented largely through a significant number of family photographs, and photo albums.

Collections Spotlight: “Out of the House: Detroit Women’s Organizations in the 20th Century”

teller — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 10:20:24 -0400

Two archivists from the Reuther presented talks at the Historical Society of Michigan's 57th annual Local History Conference in March. The joint session, entitled “Out of the House: Detroit Women’s Organizations in the 20th Century” was presented by Troy Eller English, the Society of Women Engineers Archivist, and Aimee Ergas, the Reuther's collections archivist for Jewish Detroit. Kathy Schmeling of the Reuther Library was the moderator. read more »

Commemorating Rabbi Morris Adler

aergas — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 11:25:46 -0400

The Jewish community of the Detroit area recently commemorated the 50th anniversary of the tragic death of a prominent leader, Rabbi Morris Adler. Born in Russia in 1906, Rabbi Adler was the spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Detroit (later in Southfield, MI) from 1938 until 1966. On February 12, 1966, while presiding at religious services he was shot by a mentally disturbed congregant; he died 27 days later at the age of 59. The Reuther Library marks this sad anniversary and notes that Rabbi Adler’s legacy remains in several collections in the archives. read more »

Judge Avern L. Cohn Papers open for research

aergas — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:23:20 -0400

The Reuther Library is pleased to announce the opening of the Avern L. Cohn Papers, now accessible to researchers and the public. The materials in this collection represent the scope of Judge Avern Cohn’s professional life and his wide-ranging interests and activities, from history to family matters and philanthropy to leisure travel. The papers include correspondence, opinions and orders, speeches and writings, scrapbooks, files on a large array of topics and some audio-visual materials. read more »

Subject focus: Jewish Detroit Experience

wlefevre — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:52:44 -0400

The Reuther Library celebrates the Jewish holiday of Passover with a look at some of the significant collections housed in the library that deal with the Jewish experience in Metropolitan Detroit.

As the repository for the Jewish Community Archives (JCA), the Reuther Library has a wealth of information on the Jewish community in Detroit and surrounding environs. The JCA holdings include, but are not limited to, the papers of: read more »

Subject Focus: The Purple Gang

Public Relations Team — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:11:58 -0400

In the Winter 2012 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Camille Chidsey is a Library and Information Science graduate student at Wayne State University. Her concentrations are in Archival Administration and Digital Content Management.

"'These boys are not like other children of their age, they’re tainted off color.' 'Yes,' replied the other shopkeeper. 'They’re rotten, purple like the color of bad meat, they’re a Purple Gang.'" read more »

The Jewish Community Archives at the Reuther Library: Additions and Revisions

aergas — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 10:33:53 -0500

The Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives document the rich and varied history of the Detroit Jewish community. In 1991, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit placed the bulk of its archival holdings in the Reuther Library. The collection dates back to the beginning of the United Jewish Charities in 1899. Through the years, the Jewish Community Archives (JCA) at the Reuther Library has expanded to include more than two million documents chronicling the growth and development of the Federation and its member agencies and Jewish communal agencies.

Recently, some new collections have been added and some revisions have been made to finding aids. read more »

(26144) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:49:53 -0400

A view of the escape route that the perpetrators of the Collingwood Massacre took after they murdered four men.

Caption reads: “Scene showing the alley between Collingwood Avenue and Lawrence Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(WSAV002727_167) Beth Olem Cemetery, Hamtramck, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:25 -0400

An early morning view of gravestones at Beth Olem Cemetery.

(WSAV002727_168) Beth Olem Cemetery, Hamtramck, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:25 -0400

Early morning at Beth Olem Cemetery.

(WSAV002727_169) Beth Olem Cemetery, Hamtramck, 1981

eclemens — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:22:25 -0400

An early morning view of gravestones at Beth Olem Cemetery.

(239) Rabbi Guthman, Cesar Chavez, 1971

eclemens — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:55:56 -0400

Photograph of a meeting between Rabbi Guthman and Cesar Chavez during Yom Kippur.

(11470) Temple Beth El, Detroit, Michigan, Undated

eclemens — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:58:40 -0400

An exterior view of Temple Beth El, located at Woodward and Erskine, prior to its renovation into the Mayfair and Bonstelle Theatres. The Beaux-Arts style synagogue was built by Albert Kahn in 1902, and housed Detroit's oldest Jewish congregation until 1922.

(26141) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:40:36 -0400

Crowds gather outside of 1720 Collingwood as police investigate the quadruple homicide in apartment 211.

Caption reads: “Photograph of a DeSoto sedan, license plate # 283-757, taken in front of 1720 Collingwood Ave in the company of Inspector Navronne.”

(26142) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:43:07 -0400

Caption reads: “Scene looking east on Collingwood Ave from 12th Street, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26143) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:47:40 -0400

Caption reads: “Scene showing 1740 and 1750 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26147) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:41:09 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the bedroom of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26148) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:43:18 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the bathroom and bedroom of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26149) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:39:20 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the living room of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26150) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:07:01 -0400

Crime scene photograph that shows the bodies of Joe Lebovitz and Hymie Paul after they were gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: “Scene in the living room of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26151) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:18:20 -0400

Crime scene photo that shows the body of Isadore “Izzie the Rat” Sutker where he fell in the bedroom after being gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: “Scene in the bedroom of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26153) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:21:52 -0400

Crime scene photo that shows the bodies of Isadore Sutker, left, near bed; Hymie Paul, right, foreground; Joe Lebovitz, center, background after they were gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: "Scene in the bedroom, hall and living room of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins."

(32229) First World War, Army, Jewish Battalion, Detroit, 1918

eclemens — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:05:59 -0400

Members of a "Jewish Battalion," pose for a photograph before leaving for the First World War. The young men are most likely members of the Jewish Legion, who actively recruited in Detroit in 1918.

(33760) DeRoy Memorial, Groundbreaking, Jewish Community Center, Detroit, 1939

eclemens — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 11:06:22 -0500

A view of the groundbreaking for the Aaron DeRoy Memorial Building of the Jewish Community Center, located at Woodward & Holbrook in Detroit, Michigan. Gilbert Michael, Henry Meyers, Mrs. Joseph N. Welt, Percival Dodge, and Isidore Sobeloff are shown.

(181932) Ethnic Communities, Polish, War Relief, Detroit, 1940

eclemens — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:28:35 -0500

Volunteers load trucks filled with bags of clothing that will be sent to Polish Jews, Detroit, Michigan. The storefront for the vacant Weisz & Lax Meat & Poultry shop is in view at right.