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Records of the Jewish Culture Foundation

Call Number

RG.12.11

Dates

1929-2001, inclusive
; 1955-1990, bulk

Creator

Jewish Culture Foundation

Extent

7.54 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

The Jewish Culture Foundation was a student group at NYU and its records relate to the organization's administration and functions. The records include correspondence, budgets, election information, event flyers, photographs, calendars, JCF and related publications, and information about Jewish groups at other institutions.

Historical Note

The Jewish Culture Foundation was founded in 1937 by Abraham Katsh, chairman of the Department of Hebrew Culture and Education at NYU. Its goal was to serve the religious, cultural, and social needs of the Jewish student body on both the University Heights and Washington Square campuses. The group lobbied for kosher dining and university breaks on Jewish holidays and also organized events for Jewish holidays. They published the Shofar Press, NYU Pride, and Te'chiyat Hanefesh.

Arrangement

Folders are arranged alphabetically within series.

The files are grouped into four series:

Series I: Correspondence

Series II: Events and Programs

Series III: Publications

Series IV: Subject Files

Scope and Content Note

The collection covers the social, political and financial activities of the Jewish Culture Foundation from its founding in 1937 until 2001, when student members were involved in relief efforts relating to September 11, 2001. The records include correspondence, budgets, election information, event flyers, photographs, calendars, JCF and related publications, and information about Jewish groups at other institutions.

Access Restrictions

Institutional records of New York University are closed for a period of 20 years from the date of their creation (the date on which each document was written). Board of Trustees records are similarly closed for 35 years from the date of creation. The opening date for files spanning several years will be 20 years from the most recent date. Access will be given to material already 20 years old contained within a collection that is not yet open when such material can be isolated from the rest of the collection.

Materials related to personnel, faculty grievances, job searches and all files with information that falls under the University's Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) policy are permanently restricted.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
New York University Archives
Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, New York 10012
Phone: 212.998.2641
Fax: 212.995.4225
E-mail: university-archives@nyu.edu

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); The Records of Jewish Culture Foundation; RG 12.11; box number; folder number; New York University Archives; New York University

Location of Materials

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least two business days prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Provenance

The first part of the records were transferred to the University Archives in 1981 by Naomi Olkon, who was the director of the Jewish Culture Foundation at that time. In 2010, the second half of the collection was moved to the University Archives and integrated with the earlier materials.

In May 2024, six folder containing photographs, negatives, and slides were transferred from the New York University Archives Photograph Collection (PHOTO 00001). These materials were removed from RG 12.11 previously and placed in PHOTO 00001 for unknown reasons at an unknown time. The accession number associated with this accretion is 2024.038.

Related Material at the New York University Archives

See RG 39.9, Series 7 for publications associated with the Jewish Culture Foundation and RG 39.9.1 for the Jewish Culture Foundation's Women's Division.

See RG 42.9 for records of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life Galleries at NYU.

Collection processed by

Annie Grunow. Additional materials were integrated and described by Margaret Fraser in 2010.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-05-29 15:32:12 -0400.
Language: Description is in English

Processing Information

Processing decisions made prior to 2024 have not be documented.

In May 2024, six folder containing photographs, negatives, and slides were transferred from the New York University Archives Photograph Collection (PHOTO 00001). Photographs were kept in their original folders and rehoused into a manuscript box (Box 20). These materials were intellectually returned to their original location in the finding aid.

Revisions to this Guide

January 2023: Edited by Anna Björnsson McCormick to reflect the rehousing of restricted materials
May 2024: Updated by Aki Snyder to reflect 2024 accretion

Repository

New York University Archives
New York University Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10012