Bella H. Aaron papers, ca. 1890s-1996.

ArchivalResource

Aaron, Bella H. (Bella Hurst), 1910-1996. Bella H. Aaron papers, ca. 1890s-1996.

Bella H. Aaron papers, ca. 1890s-1996.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/743435688

The collection includes Bella Hurst Aaron's personal and family papers (1940s-1992), political and public service papers (1960s and 1970s), files (1957-1991) relating to Eugene Burns and the Holy Land foundation, files (1946-1990) on Aaron's involvement in John Owen's challenge to the will of Sally Stanford, former madame, restaurant owner and mayor of Sausalito, California, and photographs. Among the personal and family papers is a memoir dictated by Bella Hurst Aaron's mother Clara Hurst (Herscovich) reflecting on her immigration to Canada from Romania in the late 1890s, her adolescence in Canada and marriage to a gambler, motherhood and family issues, her journey from retail work in the field of secondhand clothing to being the owner of a large furniture store in Ogden, Utah, the death of her first husband and remarriage, and the careers of her children. Also among the personal and family papers are Bella Hurst Aaron's certificates, her resume and diplomas, and a small amount of family correspondence. Among the political and public service papers are files on Aaron's campaign for a seat on the San Rafael School Board in 1961 and working folders and clipping files from her work on criminal justice and police relations, together with correspondence detailing police grievance issues Aaron dealt with as Marin county's law enforcement grievance hearings officer. The documents from her work in the county's Criminal Justice Planning Department include her personal file called "Bella's Manual," which contains incoming and outgoing items from July to Oct. 1976 and information on the sex discrimination lawsuit she filed against the county after being forced to resign in 1977. The collection also contains a collection of photographs, including family photos of Bella Aaron and her siblings as children, family pictures from the 1940s, photographs of Aaron's law school graduation, the grave of Morris Herscovich (Clara's eldest son), and a picture of Clara and son Eddie at his furniture store. Other photographs include travel photos (including the construction of Aaron's Greek house), photos of friends and events, and a large number of photos of dogs and children.

2 cartons and 1 oversize folder (2 linear feet)

Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library