Kaufman, Alvin Ratz, 1885-1979

Alvin Ratz Kaufman, 1885-1979, was an industrialist and philanthropist based in Kitchener, Ont.

Following the example set by his parents, Jacob and Mary Kaufman, A.R. Kaufman supported, both personally and financially, many community organizations in the Kitchener area as well as endeavours to which he was philosophically committed, such as birth control. He was Chairman of the Kitchener Planning Board for 36 years, served on the Kitchener Parks Board for more than 40 years, was a member of the Kitchener Hospital Board, was president of the YMCA for 13 years, was a member of the founding Board of Governors of the University of Waterloo, and served in various capacities for Zion Church in Kitchener. A.R. Kaufman founded the Parents' Information Bureau in 1935 to distribute birth control information. One of the field-workers he hired, Dorothea Palmer, was arrested in 1936 in Ottawa under the obscenity provisions of the Criminal Code. She was acquitted in a landmark verdict that declared her work to be 'for the public good." Mr. Kaufman was honoured in 1976 by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Ontario for his work in birth control and family planning. (Source: company publications, contents of the fonds).