Elsa K. Levinson papers, 1956-1975

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Levinson, Elsa K.
Title
Elsa K. Levinson papers
Dates
1956-1975 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.22 cubic feet (4 boxes plus 1 sound cassette and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
2296
Summary
Tape-recorded interview and papers of a civic leader of Seattle, Washington concerning her term as president of the Council of Jewish Women and other works
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

Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Else Levinson (1901-1979) was born in San Francisco on November 30, 1901. She grew up in Tacoma and in 1925 was graaduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Fine Arts. Since that time she has lived in Seattle and has been an active leader in community affairs. She was founder and first president (1956-1958) of the National Women's Committee, Brandeis University; and founder and president of the Seattle Zionist Council. She has served as president of the Seattle Section of the Council of Jewish Women; the Pacific Coast Region, the Northern Pacific Coast Region and the Seattle Chapter of Hadassah; the All-City Symphony (1956-1958); and the Seattle Chapter of the Women's American O.R.T. She was state first vice-president (1953-1957) of the United Nation's Childrens' Fund, vice-president of the Seattle Federated Jewish Fund and Council {1964-1965) and a member of the board of directors of the Seattle Jewish Community Centers. Among her many interests is a love of antique glass and she was formerly president of the National Early America Glass Club, Seattle Unit #4.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, minutes, reports, ephemera, notes, clippings and a tape-recorded interview.

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. 2296-001, Elsa K. Levinson papers, 1956-1973
  • Accession No. 2296-002, Elsa K. Levinson oral history interview, 1975

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2296-001: Elsa K. Levinson papers, 1956-1973Return to Top

2.22 cubic feet (4 boxes) plus 1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, reports, ephemera, notes, clippings.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Elsa K. Levinson, 8/1/1974.

Container(s) Description Dates
Series 1: Personal Papers
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 2296-001
Biographical Information
1/2 2296-001
Biographical Information of Others
1/3 2296-001
Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith incoming letters
 1960-1961
1/4 2296-001
National Council of Jewish Women incoming letters
 1930, 1967-1973
1/5 2296-001
Hadassah incoming letters
 1948
1/6 2296-001
Israel Independence Celebration Committee incoming letters
 1959-1960
1/7 2296-001
Jewish National Fund incoming letters
 1967
1/8 2296-001
Jews, Bikur Cholim incoming letters
 1966
1/9 2296-001
Jews, Temple De Hirsch incoming letters
 1960
1/10 2296-001
Kline Galland (Caroline) Home incoming letters
 1972
1/11 2296-001
Organization for Rehabilitation Training incoming letters
 1961
1/12 2296-001
Seattle Bar Association incoming letters
 1956
1/13 2296-001
Seattle Zionist Council incoming letters
 1959
1/14 2296-001
United Jewish Appeal incoming letters
 1956
1/15 2296-001
Unidentified incoming letters
 1961-1969
1/16-17 2296-001
A-W Miscellaneous incoming letters
 1946-1973
1/18 2296-001
Outgoing Letters
 1939-1973
1/19 2296-001
Meetings
1/20 2296-001
Financial Records
 1959-1965
1/21 2296-001
Agenda
1/22 2296-001
Speeches and Writings
1/23 2296-001
Reports
 1961-1972
1/24 2296-001
Lists
1/25 2296-001
News Releases
1/26 2296-001
Programs
1/27 2296-001
Programs and Invitations
1/28 2296-001
Bulletins
1/29 2296-001
Yearbook
 1954
1/30 2296-001
Certificates
2/1 2296-001
Photo
2/2-3 2296-001
Notes
2/4 2296-001
Conferences
2/5 2296-001
Memorabilia
2/6-7 2296-001
Clippings
2/8 2296-001
Ephemera
Series 2: UNICEF
Box/Folder Accession
3/1 2296-001
Historical Information
3/2 2296-001
Incoming Letters (C-U)
 1958-1959
3/3 2296-001
Outgoing Letters
 1957-1958
3/4 2296-001
Meetings
3/5 2296-001
Reports
 1957
3/6 2296-001
Schedules
3/7 2296-001
Notes
3/8 2296-001
Lists
Series 3: Brandeis University National Women's Committee
Box/Folder Accession
3/9 2296-001
By-Laws
3/10 2296-001
Incoming Letters
 1957-1973
3/11 2296-001
Outgoing Letters
 1970-1972
3/12 2296-001
Minutes
 1959
3/13 2296-001
Agenda
3/14 2296-001
Reports
 1958-1962
3/15 2296-001
Speeches and Writings
3/16 2296-001
Notes
3/17 2296-001
Programs
3/18 2296-001
Newsletters
3/19 2296-001
Lists
3/20 2296-001
Clippings
Series 4: Council of Jewish Women, Council House Dedication Committee
Box/Folder Accession
3/21 2296-001
Outgoing Letters
 1972
3/22 2296-001
Minutes
 1972
3/23 2296-001
Agenda
3/24 2296-001
Writings
3/25 2296-001
Notes
3/26 2296-001
Lists
Series 5: Jewish Federation and Council of Greater Seattle
Box/Folder Accession
3/27 2296-001
By-Laws
3/28 2296-001
Incoming Letters
 1966-1974
3/29 2296-001
Outgoing Letters
 1967
3/30 2296-001
Minutes
3/31 2296-001
Programs
3/32 2296-001
Reports
 1966-1969
3/33 2296-001
Lists
3/34 2296-001
Ephemera
Box
4 2296-001
Plaques

Accession No. 2296-002: Elsa K. Levinson oral history interview, 1975Return to Top

1 sound cassette (30 minutes)

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview, conducted by Jeanette Schrieber and Meta Kaplan, 7/10/75.

Mrs. Levinson tells how she stepped into the breach left when Mrs. Benjamin Rose could not serve her term as president of the Council of Jewish Women. Mrs. Levinson had no previous experience in Council or in organization work. She took a course in parliamentary procedure from Mrs. Utter, parliamentarian for the state legislature. Work with ongoing projects such as the Settlement House, which the Council funded, and Vocational Scholarships continued. She tells of the German refugees who were beginning to arrive in Seattle and how Council participated in welcoming teas in people's homes. Elsa illustrates Dr. Samuel Koch's unrelenting anti-zionism and tells how Council changed from non-Zionistic to pro-Israel and started working in Israel. She mentions Mrs. Nathan Degginger, Ida Shapiro, Helen Blumenthal, Mrs. Nathan Eckstein.

Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Elsa K. Levinson, 7/10/1975.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Civic leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Women civic leaders--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Levinson, Elsa K.--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Jewish Archives (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Jewish Federation and Council of Greater Seattle. Women's Division (creator)
    • National Council of Jewish Women. Seattle Section (creator)
    • UNICEF (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)


2007 (Last modified: 7/16/2020)

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West