Goldstein, Fanny, 1895-1961

Fanny Goldstein was born 15 May 1895 in Kaments-Pdolsk, Russia. In 1900, she emigrated with her family to the North End in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was to remain for the rest of her life.

After taking classes at Simmons College, Boston University and Harvard University, Goldstein became a librarian at the Boston Public Library North End branch in 1913. As an immigrant, Goldstein worked in branch libraries with large immigrant audiences by choice. She felt that understanding ethnicity of oneself and one's neighbors was critical to acculturating to America. At her branch library, Goldstein held an annual Hanukah-Christmas party. She also organized the Saturday Evening Girls Club in 1914. This club allowed members to learn about other's ethnic backgrounds as well as job skills. In 1922, Goldstein became the branch librarian at the West End, where she was to remain until her retirement in 1957.

Goldstein was best known as the founder of Jewish Book Week which evolved into National Jewish Book Month. In 1925, she created an exhibit of Jewish books which gave her the idea to further encourage Jewish literature. This expanded not only to Jewish Book Week, but also was the start of Goldstein's collection of Judaica within her branch. Goldstein also had close ties with and encouraged several young authors including, Reba Paeff Mirsky and Charles Angoff, in literary careers.

Fanny Goldstein died December 26, 1961 after a long illness. Her Judaica collection became a separate section of the main branch of the Boston Public Library.