Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Leon Behar papers, 1916-1931
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Behar, Leon, 1900-1970
- Title
- Leon Behar papers
- Dates
- 1916-1931 (inclusive)19161931
- 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.
- Languages
- English, French, Hebrew, Ladino, Turkish
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
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.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Play scripts, advertisements, programs, handbills, notebooks, and photographs from plays directed by Leon Behar as well as biographical information about Behar.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
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
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 2416-001: Leon Behar papers, 1927-1931Return to Top
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.
Accession No. 2416-002: Leon Behar poems, 1916Return to Top
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.
Accession No. 2416-003: Leon Behar program, 1927Return to Top
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, 1920-1928Return to Top
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.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1/1 | 2416-004 | Reprint: Marc D. Angel, "Notes on the Early History of
Seattle Sephardic Community,"
Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly
|
undated |
| 1/12 | 2416-004 | Reprint: Marc D. Angel, "The Sephardic Theater of
Seattle,"
American Jewish Archives
|
November, 1973 |
| 1/3 | 2416-004 | Leather bound book,
The Story of Joseph, written in
Hebrew |
undated |
| 1/4 | 2416-004 | Loose pages possibly the draft of a play (partial)
written in Ladino |
undated |
| 1/5 | 2416-004 | Notebook, possible script |
undated |
| 1/6 | 2416-004 | By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of Men's Congregation
Ahavath Achim and Ladies Auxiliary |
June, 1931 |
| 1/7 | 2416-004 | Handbill, advertisement for "The Famous Joseph Drama
with His Eleven Brothers" (four copies) |
July 16, 1922 |
| 1/8 | 2416-004 | Program, "The Famous Joseph Drama in Eleven
Acts" |
July 16, 1922 |
| 1/9 | 2416-004 | Program, "The Little Man of Mystery" and "The Famous
Dreyfus Drama in Five Acts," given by Congregation Ezra Bessaroth (two
copies) |
March 19, 1922 |
| 1/10 | 2416-004 | Play script, "The Famous Dreyfus Drama in Five Acts,"
written in Ladino |
1922 |
| 1/11 | 2416-004 | Play script, unnamed, written in Ladino |
undated |
| 1/12 | 2416-004 | Play script, "Genoveva," written in Ladino |
undated |
| 1/13 | 2416-004 | Notebook, outside title "Exercise Folio," possible
script |
undated |
| 1/14 | 2416-004 | School notebook, "Ecoles Internationales,
J.M.F." |
April 9, 1920 |
| 1/15 | 2416-004 | Play script, "Massacre of the Jews in Russia," written
in Ladino |
undated |
| 1/16 | 2416-004 | Play script, "Tosca," written in Ladino |
undated |
| 1/17 | 2416-004 | Play script, "The Jewish Captive," written in
Ladino |
undated |
| 1/18 | 2416-004 | Play script, "Love and Religion," written in
Ladino |
undated |
| 2/19 | 2416-004 | Congregation Ahavath Ahim letterhead (two
copies) |
undated |
| 2/20 | 2416-004 | Handbill, "Dreyfus," printed in Galata, written in
French and Ladino (two copies) |
undated |
| 2/21 | 2416-004 | Advertisement in Turkish newspaper about a 1922
performance given in Washington Hall in Seattle, Washington |
undated |
| 2/22 | 2416-004 | Calling card of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Behar (two
copies) |
undated |
| 2/23 | 2416-004 | Letter from M. Hazan (West 45 Street, NYC) to Leon
Behar |
September, 1920 |
| 2/24 | 2416-004 | Miscellaneous notes titled "Role De Cesari," written on
back of menu from Pera, Turkey |
undated |
| 2/25 | 2416-004 | Notebook, possible script, handmade with "Washington
Hall" playbill |
undated |
| 2/26 | 2416-004 | Notebook, possible script |
undated |
| 2/27 | 2416-004 | Notebook, possible script |
undated |
| 2/28 | 2416-004 | Notebook, possible script, from the United States,
"Washington 1776" |
undated |
| 2/29 | 2416-004 | Program, "Genoveva," performed at Ahavath Ahim
Congregation under the auspices of Ezra Bessaroth Congregation |
February 28, 1926 |
| 2/30 | 2416-004 | Program, "Love and Religion, A Drama in Seven Acts,"
given by the Congregation Bikur Holim (three copies) |
March 20, 1927 |
| 2/31 | 2416-004 | Play script, "The Mysterious Family" |
undated |
| 2/32 | 2416-004 | Play script, "Athalie" |
undated |
| 2/33 | 2416-004 | Play script, untitled (Blue Stock New Crown Bond
Composition) |
undated |
| 2/34 | 2416-004 | Play script, untitled (Rhodes Bros. Special Office
Tablet, Seattle, Wash.) |
undated |
| 2/35 | 2416-004 | Envelope with return address of Leon Behar when he lived
in Instanbul, Turkey |
undated |
| 2/36 | 2416-004 | Roster of performers for an unnamed play |
undated |
| 2/37 | 2416-004 | Turkish passport and identification papers, one with
photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Behar |
undated |
| 2/38 | 2416-004 | Handbill, advertisement (in Hebrew) for performance in
Seattle at Washington Hall |
1922 |
| 2/39 | 2416-004 | Program, "The Massacre of the Jews in Russia, A Drama in
Three Acts," given by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bikur Holim |
December 16, 1928 |
Accession No. 2416-005: Leon Behar papers, 1922Return to Top
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
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
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)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)
