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Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101141
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 4 folders of textual records, 1 DVD, and 4 photographs; b&w
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Date
- 1945-2001
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of Bert’s World War II discharge certificate (reproduction), his National Defense I.D. card, beer ration coupon book from Molson Brewery, Zaslofsky family tree, Nathanson family tree, newspaper articles about the pawn shop, ration coupon books belonging to Sylvia and her father Samue…
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 4 folders of textual records, 1 DVD, and 4 photographs; b&w
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of Bert’s World War II discharge certificate (reproduction), his National Defense I.D. card, beer ration coupon book from Molson Brewery, Zaslofsky family tree, Nathanson family tree, newspaper articles about the pawn shop, ration coupon books belonging to Sylvia and her father Samuel Nathanson, two photographs, and a video interview with Sylvia made on November 3, 2011 on the topic of her family's connection to Lowertown (21 minutes).
- Date
- 1945-2001
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Storage Location
- Individuals Boxes
- History / Biographical
- Sylvia Nathanson (Bronsther) was the first Jewish female baby to be born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on January 2, 1925 (d. April 3, 2015). Bert Bronsther was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 23, 1925 (d. December 12, 2010) and moved to Montreal with his mother when he was 11. He was actively involved with AZA and it was through his involvement that he met his future wife, Sylvia, on a blind date. Bert served oversees during World War II as a corporal and in the army service corps. While Bert was away, Sylvia would send him cigarettes from Ottawa which he sold on the black market and used the money to buy her a diamond in Amsterdam. He mailed her the diamond hidden in a pillow with $100 to have it set, which she did at Birks. Bert was discharged from the army on June 6, 1946 and they were married at Adath Jeshuran Synagogue on June 20, 1946. After the war, Bert worked at Molson Brewery and then held a clerk position with National Defense. He left the government to work in the business of Sylvia’s father, Sam’s Pawn Shop at 41 William Street. Bert, with Sylvia’s brother, eventually took over the business. Sylvia and Bert have two children, Phil and Carol Ann (Cowitz), both live in Ottawa. Sylvia was a member of the Sinai Chapter of Hadassah Wizo and an active member of AJA50+.
- Notes
- 1. Donated by Sylvia and Bert Bronsther and January 23, 2007 2. Zaslofsky family tree includes the Bronsther branches 3. Nathanson family tree includes Sylvia’s family history 4. Photographs were copied by Lux Photographic Inc and the originals returned to Mrs. Sylvia Bronsther, January 2007. 5. Mrs. Sylvia Bronsther mentioned that her father Sam Nathanson took over the pawnshop license from a Mr. Rose who was retiring from his shop on the corner of William Street. Along with the pawn shop, they also sold sheet music and musical instruments, and were sued, unsuccessfully by Sam the Record Man for unfair competition. May, 2008. 6. Notes taken from Bert Bronsther on January 23, 2007 7. Conversation with Sylvia Bronsther January 5, 2010: Sam Nathanson and Florence Weiner were married in April 1924 at the old Machzikei Hadas synagogue on Murray Street. Sam borrowed a tall top hat for the occasion. He remembered that he could feel the drips on the top of the hat from the leak in the roof! Sylvia's father decided to move from Machzikei Hadas to Adath Jeshurun (where Sylvia married Bert) because a new rabbi or cantor who played guitar had altered the tunes from the traditional and he didn't like them. Sylvia and Bert moved to the Bronther's summer house located in Brittannia (in Bell town) to escape from the summer heat of the Byward Market. Mr. Nathanson bought the property for $100.00. They honeymooned at the Chateau Laurier and near Morrisburg. Before they left Brittannia, Bert broke his back while trying to rescue a neighbor from a burning house. Dr. Nathan Schecter was his doctor who was able to treat him as a returning veteran. The couple moved to an apartment building at 60 Coburg Street owned by Myer Drazin. Her father purchased an insurance policy as "key money" from Mr. Drazin. 8. Bert's parents divorced when he was 10-11 years old. His father moved to Montreal and as a result his mother followed in search of financial support. That is how Bert Bronsther came to Canada. 9. Bert Bronsther was a corporal in the army during World War II. His stripes were taken away when he didn’t comply with a salute.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Interview with Sylvia Bronsther (nee Nathanson)
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107578
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 DVD
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Date
- November 3, 2011
- Scope and Content
- Sylvia discusses Jewish history of Lowertown with Laurie Dougherty.
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 DVD
- Scope and Content
- Sylvia discusses Jewish history of Lowertown with Laurie Dougherty.
- Date
- November 3, 2011
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Storage Location
- Multimedia Box 1 under Individuals and Organizations
- History / Biographical
- Sylvia Nathanson (Bronsther) was the first Jewish female baby to be born at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on January 2, 1925. Bert Bronsther was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 23, 1925. He moved to Montreal with his mother when he was 11. It was his involvement with AZA that led him to Ottawa, where he went on a blind date, and met his future wife Sylvia Nathanson. While Bert was serving oversees during World War II, as a corporal and in the army service corps, Sylvia would send him cigarettes from Ottawa. He sold them on the black market and bought her a diamond in Amsterdam. He mailed her the diamond hidden in a pillow with $100 to have it set, which she did at Birks. Bert was discharged from the army on June 6, 1946 and they were married at Adath Jeshuran Synagogue on June 20, 1946. After the war, Bert worked at Molson Brewery and then held a clerk position with National Defense. He left the government to work in the business of Sylvia’s father, Sam’s Pawn Shop at 41 William Street. Bert, with Sylvia’s brother, eventually took over the business. Sylvia and Bert have two children, Phil and Carol Ann (Cowitz), both live in Ottawa. Sylvia is a member of the Sinai Chapter of Hadassah Wizo and an active member of AJA50+. Bert Bronsther died on December 12, 2010.
- Notes
- 1. Duration: 50:28 minutes
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Sylvia Nathanson and her father Sam walking down the aisle at her wedding to Bert Bronsther.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn104190
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Fonds No.
- I0229; OJA 1-788-01
- Date
- June 20, 1946
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Date
- June 20, 1946
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Item No.
- OJA 1-788-01
- Acquisition Source
- Donated by Sylvia and Bert Bronsther.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Sylvia Nathanson and Bert Bronsther wedding reception at Adath Jeshurun synagogue.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn104191
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Fonds No.
- I0229; OJA 1-788-02
- Date
- June 20, 1946
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Date
- June 20, 1946
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Item No.
- OJA 1-788-02
- Acquisition Source
- Donated by Sylvia and Bert Bronsther.
- Notes
- List of names of wedding guests with photograph.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Pawnbroker sign as it hung outside Sam's Pawn Shop at 41 William Street in the 1970's.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn105929
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Fonds No.
- I0229; OJA 1-788-03
- Date
- 1975
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Date
- 1975
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Item No.
- OJA 1-788-03
- History / Biographical
- When D. Wolfson (watchmaker) went out of business, he gave the sign to Sylvia Bronther's brother for his father's shop (Sam Nathanson - Sam's Buy and Sell) at 41 William Street. A friend he knew who could fix anything, took the sign and changed the lettering across the face to read pawnbroker. He also attached the 3 balls which is the international symbol for a pawnbroker's shop.
- Acquisition Source
- Donated by Sylvia and Bert Bronsther.
- Notes
- The sign weighs approximately 75 pounds. Dimensions: 50 " h, 36" wide, 6 " deep.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Two photos of Sam Nathanson's pawnbroker sign before conservation work.
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn107395
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col.
- Fonds No.
- I0229; OJA 2-323
- Date
- [2008]
- Collection
- Sylvia and Bert Bronsther Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Material Type
- graphic material
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col.
- Date
- [2008]
- Fonds No.
- I0229
- Item No.
- OJA 2-323
- Storage Location
- vault
- History / Biographical
- Sign was restored by OJHS in 2009.6. When D. Wolfson (watchmaker) went out of business, he gave the sign to Sylvia Bronther's brother for his father's shop (Sam Nathanson - Sam's Buy and Sell) at 41 William Street. A friend he knew who could fix anything, took the sign and changed the lettering across the face to read pawnbroker. He also attached the 3 balls which is the international symbol for a pawnbroker's shop.
- Notes
- The sign is 50 " h, 36" wide, 6 " deep.
- It weighs approximately 45 pounds.
- Past Archivist Shirley Berman is seen in one photo for scale.
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
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