The American Jewish Historical Society Records document the workings of the society, including its activities, conferences and other programs, relations with other organizations and agencies, internal structure, and publications. These materials date from the society’s founding in 1892 until AJHS relocated its main office to the Center for Jewish History in New York City in 2000. Approximately 10 folders containing materials from after 2000 that were found in boxes of earlier records can also be found in this collection. The society has made two major moves in its history and did not historically have a records manager. Consequently, there are some gaps in the records. This collection contains all of the society’s records that were extant as of late 2011, when processing began.
Record types include correspondence with individuals and institutions, memoranda, committee and board meeting agendas and minutes, published articles and pamphlets, news clippings, newsletters, brochures, booklets, catalogs, manuscripts, financial and tax records, budget reports, grant applications and other grant records, exhibition records, personnel files, membership materials and ledgers, form letters, contracts, publicity and press releases, photographs, reports, constitutions and by-laws, programs, invitations and event announcements, and letters to existing and potential contributors and members. The collection is a great indicator of the growth in institutional records as the records dating from 1892-1979 were roughly equal in quantity to those dating from 1980-2000.
Please note that all records after 1980 are closed to the public
