Summary Information
Hadassah, Rachel S. Jastrow Chapter Records
1919-1970
- Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. Madison Chapter (Wis.)
Mss 248; PH 4857; PH 6651
4.4 cubic feet (11 archives boxes) and 10 photographs (2 folders)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Records of the Madison, Wisconsin chapter of Hadassah, a Zionist women's organization engaged in activities related to medical, child welfare, and agricultural issues in Israel. The bulk of the collection consists of printed material sent to the chapters by various national Hadassah agencies and concerns the Hadassah Medical Organization, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish National Fund, and Youth Aliyah. Correspondence regarding local and regional chapter activities is that of chapter presidents Cecile Schein and Fannie Mack. Also present is information on related local organizations such as the Madison Beth El Temple, the Beth Israel Center, and the University of Wisconsin Hillel.
Forms part of the Wisconsin Jewish Archives.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00248 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Rachel S. Jastrow Chapter of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, was formed in 1914 in Madison, Wisconsin, the first chapter of Hadassah west of New York and the third in the United States. The chapter was named in honor of the younger sister of Henrietta Szold, through whose efforts the national organization was founded in 1912 in New York City. Rachel Szold Jastrow was one of the founders of the Madison Hadassah Chapter and the wife of Professor Joseph Jastrow, the first psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin.
Hadassah takes its name from the Hebrew name for Esther, the Biblical heroine who saved Persian Jewry from annihilation. Its goals are the study and discussion of Jewish problems, particularly the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. The first project undertaken by the parent organization was to send nurses to Palestine; thus began a commitment to Israel which has resulted in the establishment of two large medical centers. Hadassah also established Youth Aliyah, which helped transport and settle European Jewish refugee children in Palestine in the 1930s and more recently from Arab lands. The organization also supports the Jewish National Fund, which buys and reclaims land in Israel for agricultural purposes.
Scope and Content Note
The records consist of correspondence, minute books, financial materials, clippings, photographs, and large amounts of printed material distributed by the national organization. They are arranged in alphabetical subject files within seven series: Madison Jewish Community, Madison Hadassah Activities and Related Organizations, Regional Hadassah Organizations, National Hadassah Activities and Related Organizations, Other Zionist Organizations, Material Relating to the Formation of the Palestinian State, and Photographs.
The series on the MADISON JEWISH COMMUNITY, 1930-1966, includes Madison material not specifically related to local Hadassah activities. There is information on the two temples, the Hillel chapter at the University of Wisconsin, the Council of Jewish Women and the Madison Jewish Community Council. The file of miscellaneous Madison organizations contains lists, organized by street address, of Jewish families residing in the city.
MADISON HADASSAH ACTIVITIES AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, 1919-1970, consists of correspondence, newsletters, clippings, notebooks, membership lists and programs, and financial records which reflect the important fundraising functions of Hadassah. Through luncheons, style shows, lectures and publicity oriented events, money was raised to fund medical, child welfare and agricultural projects in Israel. The correspondence is that of chapter officers, particularly president, Mrs. S.B. (Cecile) Schein, and president and treasurer, Mrs. Herman (Fannie) Mack. The historical materials trace the growth of the organization from 1914 through 1961, as do the notebooks of minutes, 1919-1955. There is also information about related Hadassah organizations: Young Judea for school-age boys and girls and Junior Hadassah for young women mostly 18-21. These groups helped the Hadassah efforts in various fundraising projects and were used to instill Zionism in Jewish youth.
The material concerning the REGIONAL HADASSAH ORGANIZATIONS, 1930-1957, is divided into three categories: the Chicago Chapter, one of the largest in the area; and the two adjacent organizations, the Midwest Region and the Great Lakes Region. Their meetings facilitated communication between the large urban chapters and the chapters located in towns with smaller Jewish populations.
The bulk of the collection relates to NATIONAL HADASSAH ACTIVITIES AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, 1921-1961. It consists, for the most part, of printed material sent to the chapters by various national Hadassah agencies and departments. These newsletters, pamphlets, brochures and program kits informed members about national Hadassah projects, including medical, child welfare and other fundraising concerns, and helped to coordinate activities at the local level. Of interest is the program material organized topically by the generating department, meant to help plan meetings, set up discussion groups and lectures and create films and skits. Several well-documented sections concern the Medical Organization activities and the Jewish National Fund.
There is only scattered material about OTHER ZIONIST ORGANIZATIONS, 1930-1951, whose activities can be compared to Hadassah. Of particular interest is Children to Palestine, a philanthropic committee of Christians and Jews that supported Youth Aliyah.
The MATERIAL RELATING TO THE FORMATION OF THE PALESTINIAN STATE, 1937-1944, includes clippings of speeches and articles by supporters of the movement to create a Jewish state, a concept of prime importance to Hadassah in the early years of its formation.
The PHOTOGRAPHS include images of luncheons, members, and people with elected officials, including Gaylord Nelson and Governor Walter Kohler.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Mrs. Herman Mack, North Miami Beach, Florida, 1962-1976. Accession Number: M62-126, M72-395, M75-402, M76-29, M76-100
Processed by Lindsay Nauen and Eleanor McKay, August 20, 1973, and by Christine Schelshorn (archives intern) and Joanne Hohler, February 17, 1978.
Contents List
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Mss 248
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Series: Madison Jewish Community
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Beth El Temple, 1947, 1951
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Beth Israel Center, 1932-1966
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Council of Jewish Women, 1938, 1951
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Madison Jewish Community Council, undated
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Box
1
Folder
5
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University of Wisconsin, Hillel, 1931
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Miscellaneous Madison organizations, 1930-1953
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Series: Madison Hadassah Activities and Related Organizations
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Activities, general, 1920-1969
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Bulletins
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Donor, 1953-1961
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Hadassah, 1948-1970
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Clippings, 1935-1959
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Constitution, 1953
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Box
2
Folder
1-5
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Correspondence, 1926-1954
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Donor luncheons and dinners, 1948-1970
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Financial records
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Miscellany, 1931-1954
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Record book
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Box
3
Folder
2
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1926-1931
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Box
3
Folder
3
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1946-1952
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Ledgers, 1951-1954
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Treasurer's day books, 1954-1959
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Historical materials, 1937-1961
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Membership and officer lists, 1920-1954
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Membership record book, undated
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Minutes
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Box
4
Folder
1
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1919-1934
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Box
4
Folder
2
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1938-1941
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Box
4
Folder
3-4
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1943-1955
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Speeches and report notes
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Box
4
Folder
5-6
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1928-1954, undated
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Box
4
Folder
7
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Youth Aliyah, undated
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Young Judea, 1923-1956
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Series: Regional Hadassah Organizations
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Box
5
Folder
2
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Chicago Chapter, 1930-1939
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Box
5
Folder
3
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Great Lakes Region, 1951-1957
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Box
5
Folder
4
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Midwest Region, 1931-1948
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Series: National Hadassah Activities and Related Organizations
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Box
5
Folder
5
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Annual reports, 1947-1960
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Box
5
Folder
6
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Chapter instructions, 1934-1937
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Box
5
Folder
7
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Child welfare, 1930-1950
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Conventions, annual
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Box
5
Folder
8
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1921, 7th
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Box
5
Folder
9-12
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1931-1934, 17th-20th
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Box
6
Folder
1-3
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1936-1938, 22nd-24th
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Box
6
Folder
4
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1941, 27th
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Box
6
Folder
5
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1948, 34th
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Box
6
Folder
6-10
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1950-1954, 36th-40th
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Box
6
Folder
11
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1960, 46th
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Box
7
Folder
1
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Fundraising, 1953
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Box
7
Folder
2
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Israel Bond Drive, 1952, undated
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Jewish National Fund
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Box
7
Folder
3
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1927-1944
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Box
7
Folder
4
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1950-1954
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Box
7
Folder
5
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Junior Hadassah, 1927-1936, 1952-1954
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Letters to Chapter Presidents
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Box
7
Folder
6
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1930-1932
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Box
8
Folder
1
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1937-1953
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Medical organization
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Box
8
Folder
2-3
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1931-1954, undated
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Box
8
Folder
4
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Financial reports, 1930, 1951-1952
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Box
8
Folder
5
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Organizational materials, 1947, 1960-1961
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Program material
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Box
8
Folder
6
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American affairs, 1942-1955
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Box
8
Folder
7
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American Zionist Youth, 1950-1954
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Box
9
Folder
1
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Education, 1950-1961
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Box
9
Folder
2
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Hadassah Speakers Bureau, 1949-1952
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Box
9
Folder
3
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Jewish holidays, 1923-1954
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Box
9
Folder
4
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Membership, 1942, 1950-1954
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Box
9
Folder
5
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Supplies, 1949-1954
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Box
9
Folder
6
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Visual aids, 1950-1960
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Box
9
Folder
7
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Vocational education, 1953-1954
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Box
9
Folder
8
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Youth services, 1951-1952
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Box
9
Folder
9
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Zionist public relations, 1949-1954
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Box
10
Folder
1
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Miscellaneous, 1942-1959
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Publicity department
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Box
10
Folder
2
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Brochures, 1952-1953
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Box
10
Folder
3
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General, 1929, 1951-1953
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Box
10
Folder
4
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Twenty-fifth Anniversary, 1936-1937
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Box
10
Folder
5
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Young Judea, 1935-1939, 1959
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Box
11
Folder
1
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Youth Aliyah, 1936-1954
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Box
11
Folder
2
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Miscellany, 1949-1960
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Series: Other Zionist Organizations
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Box
11
Folder
3
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Children to Palestine, 1951
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Box
11
Folder
4
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Intercollegiate Zionist Federation of America, circa 1950-1951
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Box
11
Folder
5
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National Council of Jewish Women, 1929-1950
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Box
11
Folder
6
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Zionist Organization of America, circa 1931
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Box
11
Folder
7
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Miscellaneous organizations, 1930-1931
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Box
11
Folder
8
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Series: Material Relating to the Formation of the Palestinian State
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Series: Photographs
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PH 6651
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Luncheons, members of chapter, and people with elected officials, including Gaylord Nelson
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PH 4857
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Members of chapter with Wisconsin Governor Walter Kohler and Gaylord Nelson, circa 1951-1953
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