MS 200 Brigadier General Bernard Feingold Collection, 1922-1988
Those of you who follow our Twitter feed or read the Baltimore Jewish Times know that the museum has reached Manuscript Collection 200! Here is the recently completed finding aid.
Brigadier General Bernard Feingold
Collection
1922-1988
MS 200
Jewish Museum of Maryland
ACCESS AND PROVENANCE
The Feingold collection was donated to the Jewish Museum of Maryland by Brigadier General Bernard Feingold in 1993 as accession 1993.43. The Collection was initially processed in 1993, but was reprocessed by Jennifer Swisko in 2011.
Access to the collection is partially restricted. Photocopied materials in the collection either do not belong to the Jewish Museum of Maryland, or have uncertain title. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the Jewish Museum of Maryland before publishing quotations from the materials in the collection. Papers may be copied in accordance with the library’s usual procedures.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Brigadier General Bernard Feingold was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 8, 1922. He attended the Hebrew Parochial school until his graduation in 1935 and continued his education at Florence Nightingale junior high school. After his graduation in 1937 he attended Baltimore City College, graduating in 1940.
In 1938-1939 Feingold joined the Citizens Military Training Corps (CMTC). Then in 1940 he joined the Maryland Guard and remained there until called into active duty overseas during WWII. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of operations and took part in the Aleutian Islands campaigns, eventually attaining the rank of 1st sergeant.
After the war Feingold remained in the army and received a commission to 2nd Lieutenant in the Maryland Army National Guard based upon his military record.
When he returned to Maryland he met Thelma Hirsch of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were married on January 23, 1949 in Baltimore. Their only son, Dr. Alex Feingold was born on April 1, 1950.
Feingold continued to move up the ranks and he was serving as executive officer of the 1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division at the time of its deactivation in 1968. He was then re-assigned to Maryland Army National Guard Headquarters where he first served as the training officer and then as chief military support to civil authorities. On July 14, 1973 he was promoted to the rank of colonel.
Feingold’s final assignment was as the Director of Plans, operations and Training for the Maryland Army National Guard. During this time he also served as the assistant chief of staff for the Maryland Army National Guard. He retired on July 14, 1978 with 40 years of military service.
Following his retirement from the Maryland Army National Guard he was employed as a consultant to the Adjutant General of Maryland and the Military Department from 1978-1980. From 1980-1982 he was appointed State Quartermaster officer, Military Department, State of Maryland.
In 1981 Feingold helped to create the Maryland National Guard Museum at Baltimore’s 5th Regiment Armory and later was its director and curator. In 1982 he was appointed to the newly created position of Secretary to the Joint Staff which he held until 1983 and he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1984.
Following his retirement Brigadier General Bernard Feingold continued his work at the Maryland National Guard Museum. He died on February 18, 1999 and in June of that year the 5th Regiment Armory Museum and Memorial Hall was dedicated to his honor.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Feingold collection includes a range of material related to the life and interests of Brigadier General Bernard Feingold and consists of 23 folders that span the years 1922-1988. The collection includes books, pamphlets, programs, certificates, personal correspondence and biographical research related to his military and personal interests. The collection is organized into three series: Series I. Books and Booklets, 1926-1973; Series II. Programs and Leaflets 1940-1988; Series III. Biographical Research 1922-1988; Series IV. Pioneer Women’s Forest Tree Certificates 1937-1945.
Series I. Books and Booklets, 1926-1973. The folders in this series contain prayer books issued to Jews in the armed forces. It also includes several other religious books, readers for teaching Yiddish to children, and booklets related to Maryland synagogues.
Series II. Programs and Leaflets 1940-1988. This series contains programs and leaflets related to General Feingold’s life and interests. It includes play and banquet programs, as well as convention information and collected anti-Vietnam and anti-Semitic leaflets.
Series III. Biographical Research 1922-1988 The folders in this series contain biographical and archival information relating to Brigadier General Bernard Feingold, Staff Sergeant Isadore S. Jachman, Abe Sherman, and Dr. Herman Seidel.
Series IV. Pioneer Women’s Forest Tree Certificates 1937-1945. This series contains certificates to and from the Feingold family from the Pioneer Women’s Forest for trees planted in their honor.