topic:"Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal." found 2 records - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network

Scope and Content: Consists of thirteen group portraits of the casts of Y Minstrel and other musical performances. Also includes souvenir programmes for various Y Minstrel shows.

Collection: Irving Silverman Collection

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 13 photographs + textual records

Scope and Content: Consists of thirteen group portraits of the casts of Y Minstrel and other musical performances. Also includes souvenir programmes for various Y Minstrel shows.

Responsibility: YMHA of Montreal

Date: c1933-c1955

Fonds No.: 1288

Storage Location: JPL

History / Biographical: Irving Silverman was born Isadore Silverman to Aaron (Harry) Silverman (d. 1969) and Mary (Adelstein/Edelstein) Silverman (d. ca 1934) in Montreal on December 5, 1912. Both of his parents were originally from Bessarabia and emigrated to Boston, Massachusets prior to 1907. Although Mary and Harry knew each other before their immigration, they married once they arrived in the United States. The couple moved to Montreal shortly after in order to find work. In addition to Irving, the Silverman family also had two daughters, Esther and Rae, and two additional sons, Ben and Sam. The family lived near St. Lawrence Blvd. and Rachel Street and Harry Silverman worked as a house painter. He also painted with oils as a hobby. Irving Silverman left school after grade eight to work. During the summers he worked in entertainment in the Laurentians. He extended this work in doing make-up for the Yiddish theatre and YMHA productions in Montreal, a skill taught to him by his father who was also involved in theatre. In the 1930s, Irving joined the Montreal police force, working first in vice until he was injured slightly during an incident. Irving was giving chase to a suspect when he was shot at, the bullet ricocheting off of a building causing the brick pieces to hit his cheek. After this he continued to work for the police force but in different departments. In 1939, Irving joined the RCAF becoming a Flight Sergeant and then a Service Policeman (MP). He was stationed in various locations across Canada including Brandon, MB, Edmonton, AB, Pearce, AB and Halifax, NS. His time in Alberta was spent at the POW camp for German soldiers. Irving was discharged from the army on August 10, 1945. Irving met his wife Margaret Gilmour Hulburd, who was born in Bedford, Quebec on February 15, 1911, while he was stationed in Edmonton. At the time Margaret was working for the US Army in a clerical position. The couple met at a USO club where Irving frequently had to arrest unruly soldiers as part of his MP duties. This type of work was apparently no problem for Irving as he stood 6'1", weighed 220 pounds and his abilities earned him the nickname "Hi Ho Silver". Irving and Margaret continued to court after Irving was transferred to Calgary and then long-distance when Margaret moved to Washington, DC in 1942. She returned to Calgary briefly to marry Irving on June 17, 1943. After the war, the couple moved to Montreal and lived there until 1948 when they returned to Edmonton. They lived there for the remainder of their lives; Margaret passed away on November 20, 1977 and Irving passed away on August 12, 1987.

Language: English

Subjects: Silverman, Irving; Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal -- Minstrels (Theatrical Group).; Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal -- Theatrical Productions.; Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal; Musical comedy; Musicals; Minstrel shows

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Jewish Public Library Archives

Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn34235

Collection: Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 27.3 linear metres of multiple media

Fonds No.: 1061

Scope and Content: General information about the Saidye Bronfman Theatre, but also specific records about different events that occurred in it and/or were organized by it. There are multiple files about plays with detailed descriptions about the budgets, the scripts and the costumes to name a few. Exhibitions’ …

Collection: Saidye Bronfman Centre Fonds

Description Level: Fonds

Material Type: multiple media

Physical Description: 27.3 linear metres of multiple media

Scope and Content: General information about the Saidye Bronfman Theatre, but also specific records about different events that occurred in it and/or were organized by it. There are multiple files about plays with detailed descriptions about the budgets, the scripts and the costumes to name a few. Exhibitions’ explanations are also available to the interest of the public. Festival programs such as Family and Puppet Festival and activities such as Artapalooza are also in the Fonds. Grant proposals, donations by individuals and businesses, overall budgets, renovation information, letters between the centre and other institutions or people related to the centre and its activities, etc.

Fonds No.: 1061

Storage Location: JPL

History / Biographical: Initially funded by the Bronfman family and named for matriarch Saidye to honor her many years of deep and active interest in the arts and the YM-YWHA, the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts was inaugurated on September 24, 1967 as a non-profit cultural centre for the arts. The centre was home to an art gallery, theatres staging English, French and Yiddish language productions; the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre and the Youth Institute. It also housed the School of Fine Arts where classrooms were established as well as fine arts studios, dance and acting classes. The purpose the Centre was ‘to bring together in the common pursuit of learning and exploration men and women of all ages, religions, races, language or ethnic origins who identify with the mosaic of cultures which make up our province and our country.’ The art gallery was known internationally for its innovative leadership and excellence in contemporary art. Canadian, as well as international artists showed their multi-media exhibitions in the 3 500 square foot gallery. The Saidye Bronfman Centre hosted different shows and plays for older as well as younger audiences. Many plays were shown in the Yiddish Theatre to a larger public. There were also plays for children mostly organized by the Youth Institute which hosted stand-up comedy and activities for a younger audience. Artapalooza which was organized annually was also very popular and children participated heavily in the many activities related to it. The theatres of the SBC played an important role in the Montreal Jewish Community since ‘the Yiddish Theatre and its founder, Dora Wasserman [were] the recipients of many awards in recognition of the essential role they play in preserving the Yiddish language and cultural heritage.’ The School of Fine attracted people who were passionate about painting, photography, jewellery and much more. The School held sculpture symposiums and numerous photographs and painting exhibitions in order to show diverse projects in a myriad of mediums and subjects. It offered courses to approximately 1 000 students, ranging from novice to advanced levels. In the last year of its existence, the Saidye Bronfman Centre went through a major change. According to Kalichman, co-president of the YM-YWHA, a complex series of pressures led to the changes as well as financial issues for the Centre’s three entities; the gallery, the theatre and the School of Fine Arts. These pressures meant that these entities were directly competing for funding. Eventually these pressures led to the closure of the Saidye Bronfman Centre as it was under the administration of the YM-YWHA and the founding of the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts at the ‘Saidye’. The new centre has a new focal point concentrating strictly on performing arts. Because of this, the decision was made to close the School of Fine Arts and to discontinue the art gallery from the Segal Centre.

Language: English; French

Custodial History: The collection came from the Saidye Bronfman Centre and the YM-YWHA.

Access Restrictions: Privacy laws may apply

Reproduction Restrictions: Copyright laws may apply

Subjects: Saidye Bronfman Centre [Montreal, Quebec].; Renovation; Buildings; Theatrical Productions.; School of Fine Arts; Fine Arts; Youth Institute; Art gallery; Correspondence; Administrative information; Marketing; Publicity; Young Men-Young Women's Hebrew Association, Montreal.

Archival / Genealogical: Archival Descriptions

Repository: Jewish Public Library Archives