Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Seattle, WA 98195

Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 2416 Behar, Leon, 1900-1970 Leon Behar papers 1916-1931 1.02 cubic feet (2 boxes and 4 vertical files) Collection materials are in English, French, Hebrew, Ladinoand Turkish. Biographical information, program of plays and photographs of a poet and playwright of Seattle, Washington

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.

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

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

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives

Open to all users.

Request at UW

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

Behar, Leon, 1900-1970--Archives Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington), Dramatists, American--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Poets, American--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Jewish drama Jewish poetry Jewish archives--Washington (State)--Seattle Ladino poetry Sephardim--Washington (State)--Seattle Jewish theater--Washington (State)--Seattle Turkish poetry--Jewish authors Microfiches Poems Plays Programs Photocopies Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington) Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Jewish Americans Performing Arts Photographs Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)

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.

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.

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.

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, 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