16 records – page 1 of 1.

Interior group portrait of the Montreal Fur and Leather Workers Union - Jewish Branch at their annual get-together or organizers and executives.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn28181
Collection
Photograph Collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w; 20.6 x 25.3 cm
Fonds No.
1255; 010365
Date
Nov. 3, 1945
Collection
Photograph Collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w; 20.6 x 25.3 cm
Date
Nov. 3, 1945
Fonds No.
1255
Item No.
010365
Subjects
Finkelstein, Arthur.
Labour Unions.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

Exterior scene of the Montreal Trade and Labour Council float in the labour day parade.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn28182
Collection
Photograph Collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w; 20.6 x 25.3 cm
Fonds No.
1255; 010366
Date
1951
Collection
Photograph Collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w; 20.6 x 25.3 cm
Responsibility
Federal Photos
Date
1951
Fonds No.
1255
Item No.
010366
Notes
Scanned, DISC 1
Subjects
Labour Unions.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

Lea Roback Fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn31359
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
multiple media
Physical Description
4.8m of textual records. -- 1013 photographs.
Fonds No.
1243
Date
1901-1998 ; predominant 1930-1998
Scope and Content
The Fonds contains material reflecting Lea Roback's activity in politics, union organization and activism in addition to personal records that document her relationship with family. Records from her political and activist work include radio addresses, correspondence, fliers, reports, and periodical…
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
multiple media
Physical Description
4.8m of textual records. -- 1013 photographs.
Scope and Content
The Fonds contains material reflecting Lea Roback's activity in politics, union organization and activism in addition to personal records that document her relationship with family. Records from her political and activist work include radio addresses, correspondence, fliers, reports, and periodicals. Personal records include correspondence wit her family members, the narrative of the Roback family written in prose, and various pieces of memorabilia belonging to Roback. The majority of the photographs in the collection are of Lea and her family from their time in Montreal, Beauport (QC) as well as Lea's travels in Europe. The series included within the Lea Roback Fonds are the following:
Series 1 -- Professional activity
Series 2 -- Biographical and personal material
Series 3 -- Correspondence
Series 4 -- Bibliographic reference publications
Series 5 -- Videos
Series 6 -- Photographs
Series 7 -- Graphic material
Date
1901-1998 ; predominant 1930-1998
Fonds No.
1243
Storage Location
JPL
History / Biographical
Activist and organizer, Lea Roback was born on November 3rd, 1903 in Montreal. She was the second of nine children of Fanny (1885-1973) and Moses (1870-1935) Roback, both of whom immigrated from Poland. She spent her childhood in Beauport, Quebec where her parents ran a general store. The Robacks spoke Yiddish at home; outside it was French or English. Léa was able to switch freely between languages, a skill that became useful in work with labour organizations. When Léa was fourteen the family returned to Montreal where, two years later, she began working in the city's factories. It was at this point that she became accutely aware of the inequality between Montreal's affluent English-speaking families and the mostly French and Jewish working class. In the mid-1920s, Léa spent a two years at the University of Grenoble in France, supporting herself by privately teaching English to students. In 1928, Léa joined her older brother Harry in Berlin where he was studying medicine. She enrolled at the University of Berlin studying Sociology and German. Léa became involved with leftwing student groups and eventually joined the Communist Party. In 1932 Lea returned to Montreal, finding work as a youth group director at the Young Women’s Hebrew Association, where her mentor was Saidye Bronfman, wife of Sam Bronfman. In 1935 she managed the Modern Bookshop on Bleury Street, the first Marxist bookstore in Quebec, which became a gathering place for local radicals. That same year Lea coordinated Fred Rose's bid for election. Eight years following this campaign, Rose became the first communist elected to the House of Commons. In 1936 she was recruited by Thérèse Casgrain, legendary women’s suffrage leader, to assist in her work to obtain the vote for women in Quebec. Léa also became involved with the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) during their attempts to improve conditions in the garment industry. In 1937, Léa was a leader – along with organizers such as Rose Pesotta and Bernard Shane – in organizing over 5,000 women who walked off the job from the garment industry factories of Montreal. During the war years, Lea began working for the Radio Corporation of America (R.C.A.) and became an organizer for the United Electrical Workers, where she was a business agent for the 3,000 R.C.A. workers in Montreal. Lea was an active advocate for social justice and human rights for the majority of her life. She was affliated with numerous organizations in Montreal including the Québec Aid to the Partially Sighted, the Voice of Women, as well as anti-nuclear and anti-war groups. Lea was a continual presence within the ranks passing out leaflets, demonstrationing, providing support and lending her respected voice to so many causes.
Language
English
French
Yiddish
Spanish
Acquisition Source
Lea Roback
Custodial History
This material was donated to the Jewish Public Library Archives by Lea Roback in 1998. The material of the Fonds was in the possession of Ms. Roback until the date of the transfer.
Arrangement
The arrangement of the Lea Roback fonds maintained the order in which it was donated to the archives with the exception of Series 3. In the correspondence series, letters were grouped by sender and when without date or an identifiable author, were grouped together. In 2015, as a result of entering unprocessed material into the database, the intellectual arrangement of this fonds was also updated. To consult the original finding aid please contact the JPL-A directly.
Notes
In addition to textual and photographic material, the Lea Roback Fonds contains sound recordings (10 audio cassettes) and graphic material (2 prints, 7 posters)
Access Restrictions
Some privacy restrictions apply to material within the Léa Roback Fonds. Please contact the JPL-A directly for further information.
Reproduction Restrictions
Some Copyright restrictions may apply
Finding Aid
Detailed finding aid available; file level control.
Accession No.
09-002
Name Access
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Subjects
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Labour movement
Labour unions
Women Workers
Women in the labour movement - Canada
Working Class
Feminism
Social justice
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Images
Less detail

Interview with Lea Roback

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn31751
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 audiocassette
Fonds No.
1243; 1; 00306
Date
1996
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 audiocassette
Date
1996
Fonds No.
1243
Series No.
1
File No.
00306
Storage Location
2-3B
Container 12
Creator
Harris, E.
Language
English
Acquisition Source
Lea Roback
Access Restrictions
Privacy restrictions may apply
Reproduction Restrictions
Copyright restrictions may apply
Finding Aid
Audio content summary available
Name Access
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Harris, Eiran
Parent, Madeleine
Bronfman, Saidye
Subjects
Antisemitism
Emigration and immigration.
Nazi Germany
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Communist Party of Canada
Communism
Textile industry -- Canada.
Labour unions
Young Men's-Young Women's Hebrew Association
Pesotta, Rose
Shane, Bernard
Rose, Fred
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
YouTube

Interview with Lea Roback

https://www.youtube.com/embed/KMWRppX703Y
Less detail

Family Gathering to Commemorate the Passing of Leo Roback

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn31759
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 audiocassette
Fonds No.
1243; 2; 00314
Date
1985
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 audiocassette
Date
1985
Fonds No.
1243
Series No.
2
File No.
00314
Storage Location
2-4F
Container 12
Language
English
Acquisition Source
Lea Roback
Access Restrictions
Privacy restrictions may apply
Reproduction Restrictions
Copyright restrictions may apply
Finding Aid
Audio content summary available
Name Access
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Subjects
Roback, Leo
Roback, David
Labour movement
Labour unions
Social justice
World War, 1939-1945 - Personal narratives
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
YouTube

Family Gathering to Commemorate the Passing of Leo Roback

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nsQkNxe8IlY
Less detail

Interior, ILGWU Local 252 members.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn32289
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm
Fonds No.
1243; 6; 00006; 014399
Collection
Lea Roback Fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm
Fonds No.
1243
Series No.
6
File No.
00006
Item No.
014399
Storage Location
Bay 2
Container 14
Acquisition Source
Lea Roback
Subjects
Women in the labour movement - Canada
Women employees
Labour and labouring classes
Labour movement
Labour unions
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Images
Less detail

Speeches and Correspondence, Fair employment practices of the State University of New York Construction Fund

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn17149
Collection
Charles and Ninel Segal Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
1 file textual records
0003
Collection
Charles and Ninel Segal Fonds
Description Level
File
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
1 file textual records
File No.
0003
Storage Location
5-5G
Subjects
Segal, Charles
State University of New York
Buffalo Plan
Labour and labouring classes
Labour unions
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

The Organizer

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn38373
Collection
Organizer Collection
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
9 p.
Fonds No.
1266
Collection
Organizer Collection
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
9 p.
Parallel Title
L'Organisation
Publication
Montreal, QC : Joint Council Cloak and Dressmakers Union
Fonds No.
1266
Storage Location
SC3
Creator
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Language
English
French
Acquisition Source
Urian Family
Related Material
Lea Roback Collection
Accession No.
10-009
Subjects
International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Labour movement
Labour unions
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
Images
Less detail

Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn18200
Collection
Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
multiple media
Physical Description
4 m of textual records and other material
Date
1908-current
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 10 series containing the operating records of the Workmen's Circle, its committees, branches, choir and school program. Series I – Committees Series II – Branches Series III – His tory and Organizational Papers Series IV – Publications Series V – Abra…
Collection
Workmen's Circle of Montreal Fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
multiple media
Physical Description
4 m of textual records and other material
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of 10 series containing the operating records of the Workmen's Circle, its committees, branches, choir and school program. Series I – Committees Series II – Branches Series III – His tory and Organizational Papers Series IV – Publications Series V – Abraham Reisen Schools Series VI – Workmen’s Circle Loan Syndicate Series VII – Workmen’s Circle Choir Series VIII – Workmen’s Circle, New York Series IX – Correspondence Series X – Scrapbooks and Artefacts
Date
1908-current
Storage Location
Bay 6
Creator
Workmen's Circle
Physical Condition
Excellent.
History / Biographical
The Workmen’s Circle (Arbeter Ring) of Montreal (now Worker’s Circle) celebrated its 100th Anniversary in the city in 2007. The organization, which was originally founded in New York in 1892 by mainly Russian Jewish immigrants fleeing Czarist pogroms, conducted itself as an “irretrievable part of the radical labour movement.” An advocate for change, the Workmen’s Circle also provided education, enlightenment, health benefits, open forums, a library, clubs and cemetery plots for its members. The work of the group extended to emergencies such as operating a soup kitchen during the Depression or organizing the Action Committee for Soviet Jewry in the late-1980s and early 1990s to aid immigration. Their involvement in politics saw support for the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and candidates such as A.M. Klein, David Lewis and Kalman Kaplansky. In 1940, two Workmen’s Circle members from Branch 151 were elected to the Montreal municipal council, Michael Rubenstein and Albert Eaton. The first Workmen’s Circle building was completed in 1936 after several years of planning and a hold due to the Depression. The building was located at 4848 St. Laurent and served the Workmen’s Circle’s business and social activities as well as one of the schools. Like most other Jewish organizations, the Workmen’s Circle moved from the once-traditionally Jewish Main area and re-located to Isabella closer to the Jewish community campus. The Worker’s Circle is still housed there although the organization is shrinking and serves an aging population.
Language
Yiddish, English, Russian
Acquisition Source
Workmen's Circle of Montreal
Custodial History
Transferred directly from the Workmen's Circle, first date of transfer unknown, accural of new materials in November 2007.
Arrangement
Current arrangement based on an older system of description used by the JPL-A during the 1970s and 1980s. The finding aid was up-dated to RAD standards in March 2008.
Related Material
Jewish Labour Committee Fonds
Name Access
Workmen's Circle, Montreal
Subjects
Workmen's Circle Schools (Montreal, Quebec)
Labour and labouring classes
Workmen's Circle - Eugene Debs Branch no. 204
Workmen's Circle - Meyer London Branch no. 151
Workmen's Circle - Moishe Lewis Branch
Workmen's Circle, New York
Workmen's Circle - Vladeck Branch
Workmen's Loan Syndicate (Montreal)
Labour movement
Labour unions
Women in the labour movement - Canada
Workmen's Circle - Ladies' Vladeck Branch
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

Lea Roback Interview

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn75020
Collection
Jewish Public Library Oral History Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 electronic record : digital ; 468 MB + transcription
Fonds No.
1287; OH_00004
Date
August/04/1996
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with feminist and retired militant syndicalist Lea Roback by Archivist Emeritus Eiran Harris, August 4, 1996. This interview was made as part of the Jewish Public Library Archives commitment to documenting the history of Jewish Montreal. Major themes discussed are: he…
Collection
Jewish Public Library Oral History Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Physical Description
1 electronic record : digital ; 468 MB + transcription
Scope and Content
Recording is of an interview with feminist and retired militant syndicalist Lea Roback by Archivist Emeritus Eiran Harris, August 4, 1996. This interview was made as part of the Jewish Public Library Archives commitment to documenting the history of Jewish Montreal. Major themes discussed are: her student years at the university in Berlin, Germany in the 1930s. Her militantism and involvement at the start of the syndicalist movement in Montreal. She collaborated with Dr Bethune. Saidye Bronfman contibution in the community.
Responsibility
Eiran Harris
Date
August/04/1996
Fonds No.
1287
Item No.
OH_00004
Storage Location
JPL-A
Creator
Jewish Public Library Archives
History / Biographical
See transcription
Language
English
Notes
Two approx., 5 min. video extracts of the interview is available on You Tube.
Recording is available in .wav format.
Interview participants: Shannon Hodge, Chantal Côté and Esther Edouard.
Transcription by Sonia Boulanger and Chantal Côté.
Transcription of the interview is available in English.
Length of the interview: 60 minutes
Reproduction Restrictions
Copyright may apply
Name Access
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Subjects
Roback, Lea, 1903-2000
Labour movement
Labour unions
Women employees
Women in the labour movement - Canada
Germany -- Jews.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

Trilingual Mayday protest poster

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn78469
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 24.6 x 34.0cm
Fonds No.
1099; 1; 00058; 1099_058_17
Date
1934
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 24.6 x 34.0cm
Date
1934
Fonds No.
1099
Series No.
1
File No.
00058
Item No.
1099_058_17
Storage Location
JPL
Physical Condition
Very fragile with area taped; bottom left-hand corner torn
Language
English
French
Yiddish
Subjects
Jewish Public Library (Montreal, Quebec) - Outreach
Krishtalka, Sholem
May Day (Labour Holiday)
Labour movement
Labour unions
Activism
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
Less detail

Poster. International Fur Workers of United States and Canada, Great Mass Meeting opened to all Fur Workers of Montreal.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn79231
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 31.5 x 14.5cm
Fonds No.
1099; 1; 00060; 1099_060_6
Date
[between 1930 and 1950]
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 31.5 x 14.5cm
Date
[between 1930 and 1950]
Fonds No.
1099
Series No.
1
File No.
00060
Item No.
1099_060_6
Storage Location
JPL
Language
Yiddish
English
French
Subjects
Fur trade
Labour movement
Labour unions
Labour
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
Less detail

Flyer. Mass Meeting and Concert

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn79235
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 flyer : paper ; 33.5 x 15.2cm
Fonds No.
1099; 1; 00060; 1099_060_10
Date
1934
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 flyer : paper ; 33.5 x 15.2cm
Date
1934
Fonds No.
1099
Series No.
1
File No.
00060
Item No.
1099_060_10
Storage Location
JPL
Physical Condition
Paper brittle
Language
Yiddish
Notes
Text includes (translated from Yiddish): Mass Meeting and Concert / Tuesday May 1 1934 8:00PM / Carmen Silva Hall / Poalei Zion Youth Association / Paolei Zion / Borochov Association / Dr. N. Sirkin Assocation / Pioneer Women's Organization / National Workers Faband / Local 209 Amalgamated Clothing Worker's Union of America / Ginger Ale Driver's Union
Subjects
Farband Labour Zionist Alliance (Montreal)
Poalei Zion (Montreal, Quebec)
Labour movement
Labour unions
Textile industry
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
Less detail

Poster. Anti-War Mass Meeting, "War Clouds are Thickening, Fight Against Fascism and War"

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn79253
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 27.7 x 21.7cm
Fonds No.
1099; 1; 00058; 1099_058_28
Date
1934
Collection
Sholem Krishtalka Collection
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 poster : paper ; 27.7 x 21.7cm
Date
1934
Fonds No.
1099
Series No.
1
File No.
00058
Item No.
1099_058_28
Storage Location
JPL
Language
Yiddish
Notes
Translation from Yiddish: Anti-War Mass Meeting / Saturday August 4th [1934] 7:30PM / "War Clouds Are Thickening! Fight against Fascism and War" / Jewish Worker's Culture Centre / Canadian Arbiter Ring / Woman's League of Jewish Workers / ICOR [Organization for Jewish Colonization in the Soviet Union] / Jewish Branch of C.L.D.L.
Subjects
Labour movement
Labour unions
Workmen's Circle of Montreal
Women's organizations
ICOR, Organization for Jewish Colonization in the Soviet Union
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Documents
Less detail

Jewish Labour Bund

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn92938
Collection
Jewish Labour BUND
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
6cm textual records
Fonds No.
1194
Date
1949-1967
Scope and Content
The fonds consists primarily of material related to the Bund's Third World Conference and the Jewish Labour Committee Montreal Division. Materials include: File 001: Clippings File 002: Pre-Conference Correspondence and Delegate List, 1955 File 003: Post-Conference Correspondence, 1955 File 004: P…
Collection
Jewish Labour BUND
Description Level
Fonds
Material Type
textual record
Physical Description
6cm textual records
Scope and Content
The fonds consists primarily of material related to the Bund's Third World Conference and the Jewish Labour Committee Montreal Division. Materials include: File 001: Clippings File 002: Pre-Conference Correspondence and Delegate List, 1955 File 003: Post-Conference Correspondence, 1955 File 004: Post-Conference Correspondence, 1955 File 005: Post-Conference Correspondence, 1955 File 006: Membership List File 007: Executive de l'association des socialists juifs "Bund" 1967 File 008: Meetings 1964-1965 File 009: Bund Papers, 1963 File 010: Varia
Date
1949-1967
Fonds No.
1194
Storage Location
JPL
History / Biographical
The Jewish Labour Bund, formed in 1897, was an influential political organization and labour union throughout the 20th century. It played a role in the formation of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party and was influential in interwar Poland. The Bundist movement travelled with Jewish immigrants, influencing social movements around the world. In 1955 the The Jewish Labour Bund held the Third World Conference in Montreal. https://yivo.org/cimages/bund_120_post-pub_final.pdf
Language
English French Yiddish
Related Material
Workman's Circle Fonds
Subjects
Bund, Jewish
Labour movement
Labour unions
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Jewish Public Library Archives
Less detail

Labor Unions in England request Legislation to outlaw anti-Semitism - dispatch from London

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn94429
Collection
Canadian Jewish Congress organizational records
Description Level
Item
Material Type
textual record
Fonds No.
CJC0001; FA 2; CJC-IOI-FA2-351
Date
03/12/1948
Collection
Canadian Jewish Congress organizational records
Description Level
Item
Material Type
textual record
Date
03/12/1948
Fonds No.
CJC0001
Series No.
FA 2
Item No.
CJC-IOI-FA2-351
Subjects
Labor Unions in England request Legislation to outlaw anti-Semitism - dispatch from London
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Canadian Jewish Archives
Documents
Less detail

16 records – page 1 of 1.