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National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section records

 Collection
Identifier: LaRC-667

Scope and Contents

The National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section records consist of annual reports, agendas, minutes, financial reports, scrapbooks, bulletins, programs, general files pamphlets, and correspondence with other local and national organizations.

Dates

  • 1894-1986 (bulk: 1950-1982)

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

OFFSITE LOCATION

The collection is stored offsite. Researchers must contact specialcollections@tulane.edu at least two business days (48 business hours) in advance for access to these materials.

Conditions Governing Use

Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Biographical / Historical

The National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section was established in New Orleans in 1897 when seventeen women first began giving housekeeping lessons to immigrants. Their many projects include helping illiterate adults learn to read and write; "Magic Land," a cultural enrichment program for disadvantaged preschool children that was the forerunner for '"Project Head Start"; and "Teen Town," a recreational program that was the predecessor for the New Orleans Recreation Department. The Council has supported the Better Young Men Boys' Club in the Lower Ninth Ward, and the Mobile Answer Desk along with the city of New Orleans. They are also active regarding public relations and legislation for Tay-Sachs disease, women's rights, and human rights. Each year they hold the Angel Ball, which is their major social and fund-raising event.

A collaborative effort between the National Council of Jewish Women, New Orleans Section; WDSU-TV; the New Orleans Public Library; and New Orleans public and parochial schools, these programs encouraged reading and literacy as well as the use of the public library amongst New Orleans-area children. The fifteen-minute storytelling programs aired on WDSU from 1951-1975. Beginning in 1946, the National Council of Jewish Women, under the guidance of Storytelling Committee Chair Helene Baginsky, began a storytelling program at the New Orleans Public Library. This program continued for five years when Baginsky and the Committee approached WDSU with the idea of a children's television show. WDSU agreed to the proposal and in 1951 "Magic Tree" began. "Let's Tell a Story," beginning in 1958 and one of WDSU's first color telecasts, ran until 1975.

Extent

114 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically. The collection consists of 196 boxes and 55 volumes. It is 114 linear feet.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section. Date acquired: 06/10/1982.

Processing Information

Collection processed in 2011 by LAC Group.

Title
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section records
Author
LAC Group
Date
04/05/2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Tulane University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Jones Hall Room 202
6801 Freret Street
New Orleans 70118 US