MS 165 The Business and Professional Women’s Group, Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah, Papers, 1937-1976

Post author By Admin
Post date 03/10/2011

We don’t have spectacular images to go along with this collection, but I was drawn into the story of the group and how it got started. I just had to share!

Black and white photograph of the Business Women’s Week Proclamation being signed by Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin honoring Kate Coplan, the Business and Professional Women’s Club “Woman of the Year,” October 1, 1963. 1987.51.42a

Business and Professional Women’s Group,

Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah Papers

1937-1976

MS 165

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The Business and Professional Women’s Group, Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah Papers were given to the Jewish Historical Society of Maryland on August 13, 1986 as accession 1986.077 by Julia Kaplan on behalf of the Business & Professional Women’s Group of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. Jonathan Roscoe processed the collection in February 2007 with assistance from Vera Kestenberg.

Access to the collection is unrestricted and is available to researchers at the Jewish Museum of Maryland. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the Jewish Museum of Maryland before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library’s usual procedures.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Hadassah, the Women’s ZioNist Organization of America, was founded as a volunteer women’s organization by Baltimorean Henrietta Szold in 1912. The first activities of Hadassah centered on providing medical aid to Israel (then Palestine). During World War II Hadassah assisted in bringing children from Europe to Palestine. Hadassah continued to expand its services and initiatives into multiple aspects of America life and in Israel. Hadassah is now an international organization and the Baltimore chapter is still active today.

The Business & Professional Women’s Group of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah was formed in 1920 by Bertha Szold Levin (Henrietta’s sister). The members of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah met the fourth Monday of every month at one o’clock in the afternoon, which prevented working women from participating. The Business & Professional Women’s Group was created to allow working women to take part in Hadassah by meeting in the evenings and eventually on Sundays.

The minutes from the early years of the organization were disposed of by the family of the original secretary after her death. The organization was under the Baltimore chapter of Hadassah, but was financially self-supporting. The organization is still in existence, but its membership is decreasing. (Information provided by Betty Seidel)

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Business and Professional Women’s Group, Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah Papers contain two types of documents. The first series consists of Meeting Minutes for the Business & Professional Women’s Group of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. The second series contains copies of the Shoppers’ Guide & Directory produced by the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. The Directories list members of Hadassah along with their telephone numbers and addresses. The books also include advertisements from local charities and businesses.

Series I. Meeting Minutes, 1937-1974 contains the Meeting Minutes for Business & Professional Women’s Group of the Baltimore Chapter of Hadassah. The minutes cover the board meetings and the general meetings. Minutes are typed and handwritten.

Series II. Shoppers’ Guides and Directories, 1961-1976 contains printed copies of the Shoppers’ Guide and Directory dated from 1961 to 1976 with only 1969 missing.