Center For Jewish History Inc

ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN FOR THE ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOG

THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY AND THE AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL DIGITIZE THE BARON DE HIRSCH FUND RECORDS. FOUNDED IN 1891 TO SUPPORT JEWISH REFUGEES FLEEING POGROMS AND ABJECT POVERTY IN RUSSIA, THE BARON DE HIRSCH FUND TRAINED IMMIGRANTS IN FARMING AND TRADES AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EVERYTHING FROM MEETING NEW ARRIVALS AT PORTS OF ENTRY AND TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES TO ASSISTING WITH FARM MORTGAGES. THE 109-LINEAR-FOOT ARCHIVAL COLLECTION IS CLOSE TO BEING RENDERED INACCESSIBLE DUE TO MULTIPLE THREATS. THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS ARE TOO BRITTLE FOR RESEARCHERS TO TOUCH; MICROFILM MADE OF THE COLLECTION HAS POOR IMAGE QUALITY AND IS DETERIORATING; AND A CRITICAL MASS OF COMBUSTIBLE NITRATE-BASED NEGATIVES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE COLLECTION IN 2019.

CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY: DOCUMENTING 20TH-CENTURY AMERICAN JEWISH PHILANTHROPY AND PUBLIC SERVICE [JEWISH FEDERATIONS ARE COLLECTIVELY AMONG THE LARGEST CHARITIES IN THE U.S. AND THE WORLD. FEDERATIONS WERE CREATED BY AND FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY TO ADDRESS SOCIAL NEEDS LIKE IMMIGRANT RELIEF, EDUCATION, AND ELDER CARE BEFORE STATE-LED SOCIAL SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS AVAILABLE. AS JEWISH FEDERATIONS GREW, SO DID THE NECESSITY FOR COLLABORATION AMONG THEM, LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT IN 1932 OF THE COUNCIL OF JEWISH FEDERATIONS TO COORDINATE EFFORTS ON A NATIONAL SCALE. THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY AND THE AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL ARRANGE AND DESCRIBE THE RECORDS OF THE COUNCIL OF JEWISH FEDERATIONS (1,475 LINEAR FEET), OPENING THIS PRODIGIOUS COLLECTION TO RESEARCHERS FOR THE FIRST TIME. A SELECTION OF 5,000 ITEMS WILL ALSO BE DIGITIZED. THE COUNCIL?S RECORDS HOLD TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR HUMANITIES RESEARCH ACROSS MANY FIELDS AND APPEAL TO A BROAD PUBLIC INTERESTED THE HISTORY OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.]

SUSTAINABLE STACKS: RECONSTRUCTING THE BUILDING ENVELOPE AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY [AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION ARE TOP PRIORITIES AND COMPLIMENTARY GOALS. THE CENTER RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS $350,000 TOWARDS A DISTINCT PORTION OF A $2.5 MILLION PROJECT TO RECONSTRUCT THE BUILDING ENVELOPE OF THE CENTER?S COLLECTION STORAGE STACKS TO IMPROVE THE PRESERVATION OF IRREPLACEABLE COLLECTIONS AND REDUCE SOARING ENERGY COSTS AND EMISSIONS. THIS PROJECT IS MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING, WITH PLANNING ASSESSMENTS, STUDIES, AND THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN COMPLETE. NEH SCHC FUNDING WILL COVER 90% OF THE COST OF RENOVATING THE MOST PRESSING AREAS IN THE BUILDING B STACKS, WHERE THE GREATEST FLUCTUATION IN TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY OCCUR AND THREATEN COLLECTIONS. THIS PROJECT IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE CENTER?S AMBITIOUS SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE.]

SUSTAINING HISTORY, SUSTAINING STAFF: MISSION-CRITICAL SERVICES AND CRISIS-INFORMED PROJECTS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

LONG-TERM RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY IN NEW YORK [THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY CULTIVATES MULTILINGUAL, INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOLARSHIP BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE WORLD?S LARGEST COLLECTION ON JEWISH CULTURE AND HISTORY HELD OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL AND MAINTAINING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF FELLOWS. THE NEH SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE FELLOWSHIP SUPPORTS HIGH-LEVEL ORIGINAL RESEARCH RESULTING IN COLLECTIONS-BASED SCHOLARSHIP AND OFFERS FELLOWS OPPORTUNITIES TO FORM MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR FELLOW COHORT, OTHER SCHOLARS, AND WITH THE CENTER. THE CENTER HAS HOSTED NEH SCHOLARS SINCE 2011 THANKS TO GENEROUS PREVIOUS NEH FUNDING. THIS FELLOWSHIP HAS CONSISTENTLY ATTRACTED DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS WHO HAVE PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS. THE CENTER RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS RENEWED SUPPORT FOR THREE FURTHER NEH SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE FELLOWSHIPS, ONE 12-MONTH FELLOWSHIP EACH YEAR FOR THREE YEARS. RENEWED NEH SUPPORT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CENTER CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER AN INTELLECTUAL HOME TO ACCOMPLISHED SCHOLARS THROUGH ITS MOST PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP.]

PRESERVING THE PAST, SUPPORTING THE STAFF: PRESERVATION AND ACCESS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY [AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY, AN NEH ARP GRANT WILL FUND PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC, EXPAND ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT MOMENT, AND HELP SECURE 15 HUMANITIES JOBS. THE CENTER IS THE COLLABORATIVE HOME OF FIVE IN-HOUSE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE HOLDINGS FORM THE LARGEST COLLECTION FOR JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE ISRAEL. PARTNERS RELY ON CENTER STAFF FOR THE READING ROOM, ONLINE CATALOG, AND ARCHIVAL PRESERVATION SERVICES. WITH NEH ARP FUNDING, CENTER STAFF WILL ADDRESS PRESERVATION NEEDS LARGELY PUT ON HOLD DURING THE PANDEMIC: PRESERVING PHYSICAL COLLECTIONS, REINVIGORATING THE DIGITAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM, AND PRESERVING AT-RISK AUDIOVISUAL ITEMS. THE CENTER WILL ALSO INCREASE ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE MOMENT BY PREPARING AN EXHIBIT ON JEWISH EMANCIPATION, DIGITIZING MATERIALS ON BLACK-JEWISH RACE RELATIONS THAT HAVE SEEN RECENT RESEARCH INTEREST, AND PROVIDING DIGITIZATION ON DEMAND.] [PURPOSE:'THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO RETAIN 14 CORE STAFF JOBS AND HIRE AN INTERN TO SUSTAIN PUBLIC-FACING AND PRESERVATION-ORIENTED SERVICES OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY (CJH). CJH IS THE COLLABORATIVE HOME OF FIVE IN-HOUSE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE COLLECTIONS EVIDENCE THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL HISTORY OF JEWISH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.  ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THESE STAFF MEMBERS WILL ENGAGE IN PRESERVING PHYSICAL COLLECTIONS,'WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS BY CONTINUING TO PROVIDE DIGITIZATION ON DEMAND,'AND WILL PREPARE AN ONSITE EXHIBIT'AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES'AT THE NATION'S LARGEST REPOSITORY OF ARCHIVAL MATERIALS ON JEWISH AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE CONTINUATION OF THE BORN-DIGITAL TASKFORCE WITH PARTNERS, EXPANDING BORN-DIGITAL WORKFLOW DOCUMENTATION, AND REVISITING AND REVAMPING AN OUT-OF-DATE DIGITAL PRESERVATION POLICY DRAFT.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES:'THE GRANT WILL ALLOW FOR THE PRESERVATION,'PROCESSING,'AND DIGITIZING OF A WIDE RANGE OF COLLECTIONS,'INCLUDING'AT-RISK AUDIO-VISUAL'MATERIALS. THE CONTINUED FUNCTIONING OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY WILL RESULT FROM THIS GRANT, SPECIFICALLY THE READING ROOM, THE ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOG (SEARCH.CJH.ORG), AND THE NETWORK OF SYSTEMS USED TO MANAGE ALL FIVE PARTNERS' LIBRARY, ARCHIVE, AND MUSEUM HOLDINGS WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE. THE INTERN POSITION WILL REVIVE A PREVIOUS, SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND WILL CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE STAFFING MODEL FOR THE PRESERVATION SERVICES LAB.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: RESEARCHERS, SCHOLARS, EDUCATORS, AND THE PUBLIC WILL BENEFIT FROM THE CONTINUED OPERATIONS AS WILL THE FIVE IN-HOUSE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SERVED BY THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY. IN 2019, THE CENTER WELCOMED OVER 46,000 VISITORS ONSITE (67% ADULTS, 22% SENIORS, 6% STUDENTS, 5% CHILDREN).   SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:'THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. ]

LONG-TERM RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

LONG-TERM RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

LONG-TERM RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY IN NEW YORK

WISSENSCHAFT DES JUDENTUMS: AN INTERNATIONAL DIGITAL COLLECTION

LONG-TERM RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR SENIOR SCHOLARS AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY

THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY WILL IMPROVE STEWARDSHIP OF THE 35MM AND 16MM MOTION PICTURE FILM COLLECTIONS OF ITS FIVE IN-HOUSE PARTNERS: THE AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION, LEO BAECK INSTITUTE, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY MUSEUM, AND YIVO INSTITUTE. THE FILM COLLECTIONS CONTAIN FOOTAGE OF JEWISH LIFE IN PRE- AND POST-WORLD WAR II EUROPE, SCENES FROM YIDDISH THEATER PRODUCTIONS, A U.S. ARMY SEDER IN SAIGON CIRCA 1971, AND MANY OTHER SUBJECTS. THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE SURVEYING FILM HOLDINGS, NOTING PRESERVATION ISSUES, AND DIGITIZING 10 REELS AS A PILOT OF A NEW DIGITIZATION PROCESS. PARTNERS WILL BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FILM HOLDINGS, AND RESEARCHERS AROUND THE GLOBE WILL GAIN ACCESS TO UNIQUE PRODUCTIONS. THIS PROJECT ALSO WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR FUTURE DIGITIZATION AND PRESERVATION PROJECTS.

OPTIMIZATION OF THE PRESERVATION ENVIRONMENT

THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY HAD TO SHIFT ITS PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS ONLINE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THIS CAUSED STAFF AT THE CENTER TO REALIZE THEY NEEDED TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ITS DIVERSE PATRONS. WHEN THE CENTER REOPENS, IT HOPES TO BE A MORE INCLUSIVE INSTITUTION BY INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY OF ITS ONLINE AND ONSITE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND BY INSTALLING A HEARING LOOP IN ITS AUDITORIUM AND AT ALL SERVICE COUNTERS. IT ALSO PLANS TO IMPLEMENT ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES ON ITS WEBSITE, PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY LIVE CAPTIONS FOR A LECTURE SERIES, AND ADD CLOSED CAPTIONS TO ALL RECORDINGS OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE ALL VISITORS.

THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF JEWISH HISTORY [TO MARK ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE FALL OF 2025, THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY WILL HOST A MAJOR PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM, ENTITLED THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF JEWISH HISTORY, THAT SURVEYS THE ORIGINS OF JEWISH HISTORY AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE, ASSESSES ITS CONTEMPORARY STATUS IN WESTERN INTELLECTUAL LIFE, AND REFLECTS ON ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. WITH NEH SUPPORT, THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY WILL CONVENE 20 RESPECTED SCHOLARS FOR THIS SYMPOSIUM.]

DIGITIZING AMERICAN SOVIET JEWRY MOVEMENT COLLECTIONS