TheAmerican Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) was founded in 1892 with the mission to foster awareness and appreciation ofAmerican Jewish history and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials relating to American Jewish history.[1][2][3][4]
The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) is the oldest national ethnic historical organization in the United States. The Society's library, archives, photograph, and art and artifacts collections document the American Jewish experience. AJHS is located at theCenter for Jewish History in Manhattan.[5]
AJHS serves public educational and interpretive functions by publishing a journal, a newsletter, monographs and reference works; organizing and curating exhibits; and developing resources and curricula on the American Jewish experience.
In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from theCarnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayorMichael Bloomberg.[6]
The Society publishes books, a genealogy program, museums tours, academic assistance and other related educational activities. Additionally, the American Jewish Historical Society publishes the following publications:
The Society holds the original manuscript ofThe New Colossus byEmma Lazarus,[11] as well as very early American Jewish documents, includingJudah Monis'sHebrew grammar textbook (1735), the first Americansiddur forJewish holidays printed in English (1761), and the first Hebrew-English prayerbook published in the United States (1826).[13] The Society also holds documents from American JewishPatriots of theAmerican Revolution, including themarriage contract ofHaym Salomon (1777).[13] The Society's Loeb Portrait Database of American Jewish Portraits is a repository of more than 400 portraits of pre-1865 American Jews.[14]
The Society also maintains the Jewish-American Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1969 at theJudah L. Magnes Museum inBerkeley, California, and became part of the American Jewish Historical Society in 2001.[15]
^American Jewish Historical Society: Organized at New York, June 7th, 1892. Washington City, U.S.A.: American Jewish Historical Society. 1892.hdl:2027/inu.30000093657793.OCLC691194237.
^American Jewish Historical Society: Report of Organization. Abstract from the Minutes, 1892. Baltimore, MD: American Jewish Historical Society. 1892.hdl:2027/uc1.$b31191.OCLC262540372.
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