| History/Biographical |
The Jewish Public Library Photograph Collection consists of photographic materials spanning over three centuries, exhibiting historical and cultural aspects related to or effecting Montreal’s Jewish Community. Given the immigrant history and internationalism of the Jewish community, there are also numerous photographs from various periods and on a myriad of subjects from Eastern Europe, Israel, and northern Africa.
The subject material of the photographs is as diverse and rich as the Jewish community: events, such as anniversaries, board meetings, building constructions, etc., relating to various organizations, institutions, or subjects, including - but not limited to - the Allied Jewish Community Services/Federation CJA, the Jewish Public Library, the Jewish Peretz/Jewish Peoples Schools, the United Talmud Torah, Montreal synagogues, and the YMHA/YWHA. Photographs of Montreal’s architecture, landscapes, and traditionally Jewish neighborhoods are also present.
The collection contains images of significant members of the community, including - but not limited to - Sarah Fischer, members of the Bronfman family, David Rome, Rochl Korn, and Mordecai Richler, as well as internationally renown Jewish figures, such as Sholom Aleichem and Albert Einstein.
It should be noted that the collection consists of photographs taken by amateurs as well as professionals. It consists of some photographs original created for personal collections while others were intended for public presentations or distribution. |
| Custodial History |
The majority of photographs in the Collection were donated at the same time as the related textual collections, especially during the 1970s and 1980s. In these cases, the custody is linked to the original donors. In other cases, however, the custody of photographs was not recorded and is therefore unknown. Photographs originating from the Jewish Public Library, FEDERATION CJA and its earlier titles, and affiliated agencies such as the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society (JIAS) were created and donated directly by these organizations and agencies. |
| Scope & Content |
Collection includes photographs and negatives, arranged by event and/or category. Categories include Allied Jewish Community Services/Federation CJA, Jewish Public Library, Schools – Jewish Peretz/Jewish Peoples Schools, Schools – United Talmud Torah, Synagogues, and YMHA/YWHA, all of which are available through search requests. Other photographs belong to textual collections and can be searched via content and creator. All photographs can be searched via subject headings.
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