Rivers Family fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101258
- Collection
- Rivers Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .06 m of records, 2 framed certificates, 4 B&W photographs, 2 colour, 12 souvenir pins, 1 Byward Market street sign.
- Fonds No.
- I0203
- Date
- 1926-1992
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of the Rivers family Naturalization Certificate - 1926; Albert Rivers talk on Jewish Commerce in the Byward Market 1920's -1940's - June 28, 1992; A report of a survey of the older Jewish population of Ottawa-Carleton, Albert Rivers, Chairman - 1979; News clippings about Leah Rive…
- Collection
- Rivers Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- .06 m of records, 2 framed certificates, 4 B&W photographs, 2 colour, 12 souvenir pins, 1 Byward Market street sign.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of the Rivers family Naturalization Certificate - 1926; Albert Rivers talk on Jewish Commerce in the Byward Market 1920's -1940's - June 28, 1992; A report of a survey of the older Jewish population of Ottawa-Carleton, Albert Rivers, Chairman - 1979; News clippings about Leah Rivers, Albert Rivers and Irving Rivers; Leah River’s Jewish National Fund certificate celebrating her 75th birthday; 12 souvenir pins, including four from Hadassah-Wizo; Irving Rivers Correspondence; Irving Rivers business card; Irving Rivers posters; Jewish National Fund certificate in memory of Jacob Rivers - 1949 (see 1-991); A small hand written Hebrew book of religious thoughts read by Jacob Rivers; Ben Goldberg’s Jewish National Fund certificate - 1991; 24 Byward Market street sign; Jewish National Fund certificate presented to Leah Rivers by her children on the occasion of her birthday - 1964 (see 1-964)
- Date
- 1926-1992
- Fonds No.
- I0203
- History / Biographical
- Jacob (b. 1880 - d.1949) and Leah Rivers (b. 1889 - d. November 1, 1977) fled Russia to escape the Cossacks and settled in Ottawa in 1921. Jacob and Leah had five children, Elenor (b. May 11, 1909 - d. July 6, 1984), Thelma (originally Tanya) (b. May 1 1912 - d. November 7, 2004), Albert (b. 1915 - d. October 15, 2002), Irving (b. August 15, 1923 - November 1, 1997), and Goldie (b. 1924). Jacob Rivers started his business by renting a “stand” in the Byward market soon after his arrival. By 1924 he had enough saved to rent a store at 16 Byward Market where he sold fruits and vegetables, both wholesale and retail. The business was named J. Rivers Fruits. Later in 1946, the fruit store gave way to a clothing store which Jacob operated with a relative. Leah Rivers went to night school twice a week to learn English. She helped in the shop and was a strong support for her family. She maintained a kosher household and observed most of the Holy days. Jacob's son Albert pursued an accounting career, graduating from Queens University in 1938, and earned his Chartered Accountant’s qualifications in 1956. Albert married Goldie Schacter (b. 1921 - d. 2013) and had three children - Cynthia (Nathanson), Stephen (b. 1948) and Jason (b. 1956). Another son, Irving, bought the retail clothing business from his father in 1950. Irving Rivers named his Market store after himself and adopted the slogan “We corner the market” for his shop which sells a variety of goods from work boots to Canadian flags to hats and more. He was a popular personality in the market area. The store still exists at 24 Byward Market as of 2023 and is run by Irving's daughter, Ellen Rivers. Irving married Ethel Sandler (d. August 24, 1975) and had three children - Jacqueline (b. December 1954), Ellen (b. November 1957), and Ilsa (b. June 20, 1960).
- Notes
- 1. Souvenir pins, Jewish National Fund certificates donated by Eileen Goldberg (Mrs. Ben) July, 2002, a daughter of Leah and Jacob Rivers. 2. 24 Byward Market Street sign donated by Howie Osterer, June 27, 2004 (see - 1-956). 3. Naturalization Certificate and 3 photographs including the Rivers Family, 1945, donated and identified by Gail Victor, November 28, 2007. 4. Jewish National Fund certificate in memory of Jacob Rivers, 1949 located in over-sized certificate box, donated by Goldie Rivers Cantor, summer, 2007. 5. Small Hebrew Book entitled Imre Shefer (Words of Beauty) is a book containing various prayers, recitations, incantations against the evil eye, quotations, formulas, verses from the Torah, Gemorrah etc. The book would have provided inspiration to the reader who painstakenly copies these works from a printed source. 6. Irving Rivers yellow posters stored in Mixed box 13.
- Related Material
- Related material in Cantor, Steinman and Victor family fonds.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
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