OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization
of America. Minneapolis Chapter and Upper Midwest Region.
Organizational records of the Minneapolis
Chapter and Upper Midwest Region.
1948-1996.
Records of the regional and Minneapolis
branches of a national Jewish women's Zionist organization.
6.7 cu. ft. (7 boxes).
See [Detailed Description](a9) section for shelf
locations.
HISTORY OF HADASSAH
Hadassah was founded in New York in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, a Jewish
scholar, editor, and Zionist. The organization grew out of a meeting of twelve
members of the Daughters of Zion Study Circle on the Jewish holiday of Purim,
and quickly expanded into a nationwide organization. The major projects of
Hadassah were medical and educational aid to Palestine and subsequently to the
Jewish state of Israel. The Youth Aliyah program, initiated by Szold in 1934,
expanded the organization's work to include the rescue and transportation of
children to Palestine from Germany and other Nazi-controlled parts of
Europe.
Shortly after Szold founded Hadassah in New York, six young
Minneapolis Jewish women pledged themselves to raise funds for war relief and
medical equipment and personnel in Palestine. The group, initially called the
"Self-Denial Club," wasn't officially chartered as the Minneapolis Chapter of
Hadassah until 1924.
The late 1940s saw further organizational development with the
creation of the Upper Midwest Region. The group concept, in which women of
similar age ranges and interests within a chapter affiliated, also developed
during this period. The Minneapolis Chapter initially formed three groups,
Herzl, Szold, and Brandeis. Groups continued to form and dissolve as the
interests and backgrounds of Hadassah women changed throughout the years. In
1991 members of both the St. Paul and Minneapolis Chapters formed Hadassah's
first joint group, the Twin Cities Career Women's Network, later renamed
D'vorah.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION
These records are divided into the following sub-series:
Upper Midwest Region Records
- Administrative Records
- Topical Files
- Chapters
Minneapolis Chaper Records
- Administrative Records
- Groups
- Topical Files
RELATED MATERIALS
The newsletter of the St. Paul Chapter of Hadassah, entitled
Kol Hadassah (1934-1937), St. Paul Chapter of Hadassah (1937-1954),
Bulletin (1954-1969, 1985-present), and
This is Hadassah (1969-1985), is separately
cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.
Our Story: A History of Hadassah, St. Paul
Chapter 1913-1988 by Linda Mack Schloff is separately cataloged in the
Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
The Hadassah Idea: History and
Development, edited by Hannah Goldberg and Bernice Salpeter is
separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection.
The annual roster of the St. Paul Chapter of Hadassah is separately
cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings..
Topics:
Jewish women -- Middle West -- Societies and clubs.
Jews -- Minnesota.
Jews - Minnesota -- Minneapolis.
Medical care -- Israel.
Women -- Social networks.
Zionism -- Minnesota.
Persons:
Szold, Henrietta, 1860-1945.
Gordon, Bernice Cowl. A girl of Baltimore: the story of
Henrietta Szold.
Organization:
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.
Minneapolis Chapter.
Type of documentation:
Photographs.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Hadassah Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,303; 10,775
Processing Information:
Processed by: Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, June 1998
Catalog ID number: 09-00320075
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
UPPER MIDWEST REGION RECORDS
Administrative Records
144.E.17.5B
1
Board meeting notices/invitations, 1994,
1989-1991.
Agendas, 1987-1994.
Board minutes, 1980-1995.
2 folders.
Budget, 1982-1993.
Budget: Region subvention requests,
1985-1990.
Fund raising reports and related materials, 1987-1996.
8 folders.
Fund raising seminar, February 1990.
Conferences, 1967-1980 (incomplete).
4 folders.
Includes programs, flyers, correspondence, planning materials,
brochures and other handouts, and promotional materials.
144.E.17.6F
2
Conferences, 1982-1983.
2 folders.
Spotlight (region
newsletter), 1976-1995 (incomplete).
Topical Files
Arranged in alphabetical order. Some topics are grouped together
in one folder.
144.E.17.6F
2
Area Vice Presidents, 1988-1995.
Includes reports by the Area Vice President on the activities
and status of various branches in the region.
Associates, 1988-1992.
Awards, 1988-1990.
Banquets - Bulk mail.
Breast cancer, 1994-1995.
Calendar - Israel bonds.
Career women, 1989-1990.
Conference: Presidents' meetings, undated.
Convention, 1992.
Directories, 1988-1994.
Exhibit for 75th anniversary, 1987.
144.E.17.6F
2
History and archives, 1989-1991, 1996.
Includes A Girl of Baltimore: the Story
of Henrietta Szold, by Bernice Cowl Gordon.
Diamond Jubilee (75th anniversary), 1987.
JCC/JCRC (Jewish Community Center/Jewish Community
Relations Council), 1989-1990.
Kallahs, 1984-1993.
2 folders.
MAC (Midwest Area Cooperative):
General, 1988-1993.
Minutes, 1989-1993.
Rosters, 1990.
Seminars, 1990-1992.
Conferences, 1990-1991, 1995.
Major gifts, 1988-1995.
Mediscope, 1990-1991.
Membership, 1991-1995.
144.E.17.7B
3
Membership reports, 1990-1996.
National board meeting, January 1995.
President's correspondence, 1992-1995.
Programming, undated.
Public relations, 1989-1992.
Region personnel, 1987-1992.
Rummage sale, undated. 1 photograph.
Skits, undated.
Speakers tour, 1988-1994.
2 folders.
Strategic planning, 1989, 1991.
Vanguard (singles group), 1993-1994.
Wellness weekend, 1993.
Young Judea, 1989-1995.
Young Leaders, 1990-1994.
Miscellaneous correspondence, reports, and other
materials, 1980s-1990s.
Chapters
Records relating to the chapters that make up the Upper Midwest
Region are arranged alphabetically by chapter name and include newsletters,
budgets, correspondence, reports, publicity and invitations for events,
agendas, and minutes. Also included are lists of chapter officers and committee
chairs called "activity lists." Additional information on chapters may be found
in the "Area Vice Presidents" folder in the alphabetical topical files.
Additional information on the Minneapolis Chapter may be found in the
Minneapolis Chapter Records.
143.E.17.7B
3
Aberdeen, SD, 1976-1990.
Chapter dissolved in 1990.
Bismarck, ND, 1976-1993.
Chapter dissolved in 1993.
Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA, 1994.
Des Moines, IA, 1994.
Duluth, MN 1985-1995.
Duluth, MN: Bulletin,
1985-1995.
2 folders.
Fargo, ND, early 1980s-1995.
Fargo, ND: Bulletin,
1982, 1984, 1988-1995.
143.E.17.8F
4
Grand Forks, ND, 1985-1991.
Hibbing/Chisolm, MN, 1977-1991.
Chapter dissolved in 1991.
Lincoln, NE, 1994-1995.
Minneapolis, MN, 1983-1995.
2 folders.
Minneapolis, MN: Groups, 1985-1995.
Omaha, NE: 1994-1995.
St. Cloud, MN, 1983-1996.
St. Cloud, MN: Hadassah
Bulletin, 1985-1996.
The St. Cloud Chapter was formerly known as the Pine Grove
Chapter.
St. Paul, MN, 1963-1969, 1984-1995.
St. Paul, MN. Chai Aviva Group, 1985-1994.
St. Paul, MN: Hadassah
Bulletin, 1987-1995.
Additional issues of this St. Paul Chapter newsletter are
separately cataloged in the MHS Serials collection.
Sioux City, IA, 1994-1995.
Sioux Falls, SD, 1986-1995.
Sioux Falls, SD: Hadassah
Herald, 1986-1994.
Superior, WI, 1983-1991.
Virginia/Eveleth, MN, 1986-1993.
MINNEAPOLIS CHAPTER
Administrative Records
144.E.17.9B
5
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and
1949-1950, 1955-1960, 1985-1988.
3 folders.
Minutes, January 1984-October 1995 (incomplete).
2 folders.
Meeting calendars, August 1991-February
1995.
Calendar date books, 1967/68, 1974/75.
Chapter board rosters, 1965-1995
(incomplete).
Financial reports, 1987-1993.
Financial records, 1991.
Includes income and expense reports, balance sheets,
transaction activity lists, and other budgetary records.
142.F.14.4F
7
Journal of cash receipts and disbursements, 1958-1955.
1 volume.
Scrapbooks, 1959-1962. 4 volumes.
144.E.17.9B
5
Newsletters: Hadassah
Bulletin/Lifeline, 1949-1996 (incomplete).
3 folders.
Newspaper clippings, undated and 1992.
Groups
Each member of the Minneapolis Chapter affiliated with the Group
of her choice. Groups were distinguished primarily by the age of their members,
their preferred meeting time (days or evenings), and interests. Records from
Minneapolis Groups include minutes, board and membership rosters, and other
miscellaneous materials.
144.E.17.9B
5
D'vorah/Twin Cities Career Women's Network,
1990-1995.
This group is actually a joint group of the St. Paul and
Minneapolis Chapters, chartered in 1991.
Golda Meir, 1985-1995.
Herzl-Brandeis, 1985-1995.
Scopus, 1985-1995.
Shalom, 1985-1995.
Szold, 1973/74, 1985-1994.
Szold: Minutes, 1985-1995.
2 folders.
144.E.18.2F
6
Weizmann, 1985-1989.
This group was dissolved in 1991.
Weizmann: Photo album, 1968-[early 1980s?]. 1
volume.
Topical Files
Arranged in alphabetical order.
144.E.18.2F
6
Associates, 1984-1986, 1988.
Anniversary (75th), 1987.
Art auction, 1983.
Big gifts, 1981-1985, 1989-1990.
2 folders.
Big gifts: Godparent lists, 1984-1985.
Bundt pan, 1975.
Craft-a-Rama, 1979-1983.
Education meeting, undated and 1986, 1988.
Fund raising council, 1985-1987.
Federation (Minneapolis Federation for Jewish
Service), 1985-1986.
Group mailings, undated and 1986-1987.
Announcements of Group activities.
HIES (Hadassah Israel Education Services), undated and
1986, 1988.
HMO (Hadassah Medical Organization),
1980s.
Israel Independence Day, 1986-1987.
Invitations, 1968-1995.
JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council),
1985-1986.
JNF (Jewish National Fund), 1982-1984.
Job description forms, undated.
144.E.18.2F
6
Leadership workshops, undated and 1984,
1988.
Life membership, undated and 1983.
Membership, 1980s.
Membership 2002, 1986.
National correspondence, 1985-1988.
Programs for chapter meetings, 1985-1986.
Shalom Minneapolis, 1985.
Soviet Jewry, 1986.
United Way, 1987-1988.
Wonderall Fabric Circus fund-raiser,
1971-1972.
Youth Aliyah, 1972-1973, 1984-1987.
Miscellaneous items:
Minneapolis chapter collage, undated.
Certificate of recognition for fundraising success,
May 1981.