Genealogical Resources in the JDC Archives

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1 Genealogical Resources in the JDC Archives Association of Jewish Libraries Conference June 19, 2017 Presenter: Linda Levi Director of JDC Global Archives

2 JDC: Context and Background JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) World s leading Jewish humanitarian agency Founded in 1914 at outset of World War I Assists vulnerable Jewish communities in over 90 countries worldwide Support professional development and self-sufficiency initiatives for global Jewish communities Provides non-sectarian relief to victims of natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies

3 About the JDC Archives Founded in early 1960s Institutional repository for global organization Names Index with 500,000 names Over 3 miles of documents Over 100,000 photographs Over 2,500 audio-visual holdings Research library of over 6,000 titles Global branches in New York and Jerusalem

4 Genealogy Researchers Genealogists Those interested in family history Those whose families were assisted by JDC--esp. WWII era Families of former JDC leaders or employees Young people doing roots projects

5 Transmission Bureau Office, New York (c. 1921)

6 14/18 #36-2 9/22/16 Admin: Financial: Transmission Bureau: Remittances for Poland

7 The Dreyfus soup kitchen in Jerusalem (1921)

8 Jewish war orphans brought from eastern Europe by JDC s War Orphans Bureau (1921).

9 JDC s Indexing Project Comprises over 500,000 names of people to whom JDC has provided financial, diplomatic and rescue aid. Highlights include: Orphans provided guardianship through JDC's financial adoption program, 1921 Refugees on the SS St Louis who Received JDC Aid, 1939 Yeshiva Students Receiving JDC Aid in Wartime Japan, 1941 List of Egyptian Jewish Refugees in France Receiving Aid from JDC, Transmigrants Assisted by JDC in Rome,

10 Content of Names Database Card collections include: 1. Prisoners of War in Siberia Cards ( ) - 1,100 cards 2. Barcelona Refugee Case Cards ( ) - 8,000 cards 3. JDC Emigration Service: Munich and Vienna Cards ( s) - 80,000 cards 4. JDC Emigration Service: Warsaw ( ) - 6,400 cards 5. Transmigration Bureau deposit cards ( ) - 37,700 cards 6. Hungarian Refugee Registration Cards ( ) - 10,000 cards

Made Possible by Volunteer Manpower In the past seven

11 Made Possible by Volunteer Manpower In the past seven years, 19 people have volunteered their time toward the indexing project. Indexing of names takes place in both our NY and in Jerusalem offices. We are currently recruiting for volunteer in both offices. Photo: Associated Press Photo: Associated Press Photo: JDC Archives

JDC NY Archives, Records of the New York Office of the American Jewish Joint Distribution

12 Noteworthy Names: Eli Wiesel Eli Wiesel, listed with a spelling error as Lazar Wiezen, found on document entitled Jewish Orphans from Buchenwald brought to France by JDC, JDC NY Archives, Records of the New York Office of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, , Folder #19, Jewish Orphans from Buchenwald brought to France by JDC, 06/08/1945.

13 Noteworthy Names: Menachem Begin JDC NY Archives, Records of the New York Office of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, , Folder #876, Vilna Refugees, 1940, 02/04/1940.

14 Our Shared Legacy Go to:

15 World War II-Era Lists: -List of children in Holland whom JDC is trying to assist to emigrate to the United States, Yeshiva Students Receiving JDC Aid in Wartime Japan, List of Jewish Orphans Who Immigrated from Warsaw to France with JDC s help, Jewish Refugees on the S.S Serpa Pinto -Refugee Children in Spain and Portugal Whom JDC is Helping to Emigrate, Jewish Orphans from Buchenwald Brought to France by JDC, Ship Lists -Births in Cyprus

16 33/44 #387 Subject Matter: Emigration: Sailings: Serpa Pinto, 1943

17 Yemenite refugees preparing to board plane for Israel ( )

18 Operation Magic Carpet (Yemen) - Almost 50,000 names in English - Collaboration with IGRA

19 Other Lists of Interest Refugees Receiving JDC Aid in Camp Fadhala, Morocco, 1944 Egyptian Jewish Refugees in France Receiving Aid from JDC, Refugees Assisted in Brazil, 1957 JDC Aid to Algerian Jews after Earthquake

20 Archives Website:

21 Names Index Search Click on the name(s) to view details and documents.

22 Archives Website: Explore the Archives

23 Inventory of Lists in the Names Database

24 Allows more detailed, complex searching. FAQ-style search guide; video tutorials also available on this page below. Enter a search term for quick search.

25 Advanced Searches of Names Database To conduct Advanced Searches of the Names Database: Go to Click Search the Archives on right-hand side Choose Advanced Search in the drop-down menu At Change search profile, select Names Search

26 In Conclusion: To conduct Basic Searches of the Names Database go to: To search the JDC Archives database: - Stay in Touch: Contact: archives@jdc.org Website: Facebook: Instagram:

Picture Postcards from the Past

Picture Postcards from the Past Credits: Canadian Jewish Heritage Network Written by Shannon Hodge, Archivist Jewish Public Library Archives of Montreal May 2011 Picture Postcards from the Past 1 Picture