American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office Records, 1969-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator
American Jewish Committee. Seattle Regional Office
Title
American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office Records
Dates
1969-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.78 cubic feet (4 boxes) plus 1 vertical file
Collection Number
2788
Summary
Administrative files from the American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1945, the Greater Seattle Chapter of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) was established to safeguard and protect Jewish civil rights. The first meeting was held January 31, 1946. In 1959, the Chapter established the Max H. Block Award to High School Students, named after the organization's first chair, to recognize students who demonstrate outstanding conduct. Another significant award presented by the organization is the Edward F. Stern, Sr. Human Relations Award, given annually to a leader in the Seattle Jewish community in recognition of "distinguished leadership and dedicated service to the Jewish and general community."

In 1973, AJC's Seattle Chapter coordinated Seattle area volunteers to support Israel during and after the Yom Kippur War. Other activism includes promoting passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and lobbying for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Civil Rights Act. Since 1945, the organization's purpose has expanded from a focus on protecting Jewish civil rights to a mission of protecting the rights and freedoms of Jewish individuals and all minorities.

Local programming has included a Jewish Film Festival, an Interfaith Response to the Holocaust Commemoration, and the implementation of the Hands Across Campus prejudice-reduction curriculum in schools. Now known as the Seattle Regional Office of the AJC, the organization sponsors community seders and speaker's series.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection consists of correspondence, minutes, financial records, conference materials, newsletters, news releases, subject files, and other records. Additionally, the collection contains material relating to subgroups within the American Jewish Committee, including national topics, the Portland, Or. chapter, and the committee's Western Regional Advisory Board. Persons represented include Robert J. Block, Gene Brandzel, Donald Esfeld, Arnold Robbins, Neil Sandberg, Peter Schnurman, and Douglas Weisfeld.

Also included is one program from the organization's 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner in 1995

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions:

  • Accession No. 2788-001, American Jewish Committee Seattle Chapter Records, 1969-1971
  • Accession No. 2788-002, American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office records, 1995

Acquisition Information

Donated by American Jewish Committee, Seattle Chapter, 12/26/1974, and American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office, 9/15/1999.

Related Materials

The American Jewish Committee Seattle office website has been regularly captured by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine since 2014. The snapshots can be viewed here: https://wayback.archive-it.org/4224/*/http://www.ajcseattle.org

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2788-001: American Jewish Committee Seattle Chapter Records, 1969-1971Return to Top

3.78 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Scope and Content: Administrative files, primarily subject series which include correspondence, 1969-1971 (bulk 1970-1971); 2 items, 1979 and 1980.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Literary rights of representatives of the records-creating organization transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by American Jewish Committee, Seattle Chapter., 12/26/1974

Description
American Jewish Committee Seattle Chapter Records

Accession No. 2788-002: American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office records, 1995Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: One program from the 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner on May 22, 1995. The program describes the activities and programs implemented by the Seattle agency decade by decade.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office, 1999-09-15

Description
American Jewish Committee, Seattle Regional Office records

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Jews--Oregon
  • Jews--Societies, etc
  • Jews--United States
  • Jews--Washington (State)
  • Jews--West (U.S.)
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Block, Robert J. (Robert Jackson), 1922-
  • Brandzel, Gene B. (Gene Bruce), 1937-
  • Esfeld, Donald
  • Robbins, Arnold B., 1928-
  • Sandberg, Neil C
  • Schnurman, Peter
  • Weisfeld, Douglas

Corporate Names

  • American Jewish Committee
  • American Jewish Committee. Portland Chapter (Portland, Or.)
  • American Jewish Committee. Seattle Chapter--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • American Jewish Committee. Western Regional Advisory Board (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)