MS 76 Baltimore Zionist Federation Records
The following collection is made up entirely of archives – no objects and no photographs. The images that you will see in this post represent some of the organizations that fell under the Baltimore Zionist Federation, but here at the JMM the activities of the BZF can only be found in the written word. The written word is, of course, very important, but it can only give us a partial understanding of a person or an organization, just has having a lone photograph can tell us some but not all of the story.
Having written documents, photographs and objects supporting each other can be extremely important in order to understand the past. It’s also more visually interesting. I’m an archivist so I love letters and diaries and meeting minutes, but I like putting faces to the names I read, or seeing the object they discuss. Think about that as you go about your day-to-day life at home and at work – how much are you documenting and in what way?
Baltimore Zionist Federation
Records, n.d, 1972-1978
MS 76
The Jewish Museum of Maryland
ACCESS AND PROVENANCE
The Baltimore Zionist Federation Records were donated to the Jewish Museum of Maryland by Mrs. Sylvia Goldman in 1985 as accession 1985.73. The collection was processed in July 2001 by Alisa Rose.
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.
- Tzedekah box for the Jewish National Fund. 2000.54.4
HISTORICAL NOTE
The American Zionist Federation was established in 1970 as an “umbrella” organization to unite all American Zionist organizations. It sponsors and promotes Zionist and Israel-related youth activities, educational programs, and public and communal affairs.
The Baltimore branch of the American Zionist Federation, the Baltimore Zionist Federation, was established in 1971 to serve as the “umbrella” organization for many local organizations including Hadassah, the Baltimore District of the Zionist Organization of America, Mizrachi Men, Mizrachi Women, the American Labor Zionist Alliance Pioneer Women, and the Jewish National Fund. The Baltimore Zionist Federation has implemented many ongoing projects such as Aliyah Conferences, Ulpanim, publications of Zionist interest, and scholar-in- residence programs. In addition, they offer scholarships to Jewish students for travel and study in Israel.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Baltimore Zionist Federation Records include correspondence with community leaders, local congregations, government officials, and scholarship applicants, newspaper clippings, articles relating toIsrael, and information relating to Baltimore Zionist Federation fundraisers and events. Folders titled “Baltimore Jewish Council” contain minutes from Baltimore Jewish Council Board Meetings which were attended by representatives from several local organizations including Baltimore Zionist Federation representatives. Collection also includes a petition that was sent to the Maryland Congressional Delegation requesting that they support H.R. 12203, the Foreign Assistance Contingency Resolution, which was intended to provide funds to Israel. Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.