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Leon Behar papers, 1916-1931

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Behar, Leon, 1900-1970
Title
Leon Behar papers
Dates
1916-1931 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.02 cubic feet (2 boxes and 4 vertical files)
Collection Number
2416
Summary
Biographical information, program of plays and photographs of a poet and playwright of Seattle, Washington
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.

Request at UW

Languages
English, French, Hebrew, Ladino, Turkish
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Biographical Note

Leon Behar and his wife Rebecca immigrated to the United States from Istanbaul, Turkey in 1920. In his earlier years, he wrote poems and plays as a hobby while working in the shoe repair business. In Seattle, he directed and wrote plays to be performed by the members of the Sephardic community and to raise money for the community. The plays were elaborate in costume and well received by the community. Mr. Behar spoke six different languages. He became an American citizen shortly after arriving into the United States. During the Second World War, he worked in the shipyards and learned the trade of an electrician. After the war, he went into business as a small grocer.

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Content Description

Play scripts, advertisements, programs, handbills, notebooks, and photographs from plays directed by Leon Behar as well as biographical information about Behar.

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Other Descriptive Information

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 5 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2416-001, Leon Behar papers, 1927-1931
  • Accession No. 2416-002, Leon Behar poems, 1916
  • Accession No. 2416-003, Leon Behar program, 1927
  • Accession No. 2416-004, Leon Behar papers, 1920-1928
  • Accession No. 2416-005, Leon Behar papers, 1922

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Description: Accession No. 2416-001: Leon Behar papers, 1927-1931
    .06 cubic foot (1 vertical file)

    Scope and Content: Biographical information on Leon Behar. Program and xerox copies of "Love and Religion", a drama in seven acts, 1927; other plays, two photographs of Sephardic plays and one color slide. Bylaws of Congregation Ahavath Achim (photocopy), 1931.

    Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

    Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

    Acquisition Info: Donated by Mrs. Myer Agoado, 5/1/1975.

  • Description: Accession No. 2416-002: Leon Behar poems, 1916
    .06 cubic foot (1 vertical file)

    Scope and Content: Microfiche and xerox copy of notebook containing a series of poems written in Turkish in Arabic script, and some poems in Hebrew script which are in Ladino.

    Leon Behar began the notebook while he was in military school and is the author of the poems in it. The name Leon Behar (written in Latin script) appears at the end of several of the poems. His name and that of Carlo Behar appear at the end of the section of poems along with the date 1916. In some poems the name "Leon" is crossed out and the name "Ali" has been added. On almost every page of the notebook the stamp of the Gloria Club "soccer club" of Galata (a suburb of Istanbul) appears. The final pages of the notebook contain some kind of financial record, possibly related to the Soccer Club.

    Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

    Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

    Acquisition Info: Donated by Mrs. Myer (Josie) Agoado, 5/1/1975.

  • Description: Accession No. 2416-003: Leon Behar program, 1927
    0.06 cubic foot (1 vertical file)

    Scope and Content: Program "Love and Religion".

    Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

    Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

    Acquisition Info: Donated by Rebecca Moshcatel, 7/5/1978.

  • Accession No. 2416-004: Leon Behar papers, 1920-1928

    0.84 cubic foot (2 boxes)

    Scope and Content: Includes play scripts, advertisements, programs, handbills, notebooks, and photographs from plays directed by Leon Behar from 1922-1928. Productions include "The Famous Joseph Drama with his Eleven Brothers", The Little Man of Mystery", "The Famous Dreyfus Drama in Five Acts", "Genoveva", The Jewish Captive", "Love and Religion", and "Massacre of the Jews in Russia". Also includes the passports and calling cards of Leon and Rebecca Behar and the by-laws of the Men's Congregation Ahavath Achim and Ladies' Auxiliary from 1931. Many of the materials are written in Hebrew or Ladino. The three photographs depict the casts of the Sephardic theater troupe from: 1) "The Massacre of Jews in Russia", 1928, 2) "Genoveva", 1926, 3) "The Famous Dreyfus Drama in Five Acts", 1922.

    Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

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

    Acquisition Info: Donor: Josephine Behar Agoado, October 25, 2005.

  • Description: Accession No. 2416-005: Leon Behar papers, 1922
    1 vertical file (1 newspaper clipping advertisement plus translated version)

    Scope and Content: 1 newspaper clipping advertising a play, "Josef Vendido Por Sus Ermanos" by Leon Behar. To be performed on 16 July 1922 at Washington Hall. Clipping is in Hebrew. Also included is a Ladino translation.

    Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

    Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

    Acquisition Info: Lilly Dejaen

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Subject Terms

  • Dramatists, American--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Jewish archives--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jewish drama
  • Jewish poetry
  • Jewish theater--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Ladino poetry
  • Poets, American--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Sephardim--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Turkish poetry--Jewish authors

Personal Names

  • Behar, Leon, 1900-1970--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Microfiches
  • Photocopies
  • Plays
  • Poems
  • Programs

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington), (host institution)

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Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)


2007 (Last modified: 4/11/2018)

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