Mission Statement of the Archives of the Jewish Historical Society of New Haven, Inc.
Founded in 1976, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven proudly continues our mission of collecting, publishing, and preserving primary source materials that serve as the central repository for documents, research, and education to chronicle the history of Greater New Haven’s Jewish community.
What We Do & Why We Do It
We survey, collect, organize, describe, preserve, and make available archival material documenting the history of the Jewish community in the New Haven area, including business records, personal documents, diaries, photographs, and objects. Recording and capturing history’s stories from reliable primary sources is more important now than ever. We promote knowledge and understanding of the history and contributions of the local Jewish community by serving as a research center for the scholarly and general community. In addition to answering research requests, we host educational and cultural events and tours, and we’ve published 10 volumes of Jews in New Haven.
Collections Policy
We are interested in artifacts about life in New Haven but need to evaluate each item for suitability. We are particularly interested in original documents, letters, diaries, photos, original films and videos, and company, organizational, and synagogue records. We only accept books specifically about the New Haven area or will aid our research. For instance, we are still trying to complete our collection of high school yearbooks.
We require that you sign over ownership and give us the right to use all items. Complete our online form or email us for more information.
The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven began humbly in the attic and basement of Harvey N. Ladin’s Central Avenue home. After years of collecting pictures and memorabilia about Jewish Life in New Haven, Harvey Ladin helped to organize and found the Jewish Historical Society in 1976. He became its first president.
Since its origin, the society has been collecting and cataloguing the greater New Haven Jewish community’s eventful past, publicizing its history, and preserving its heritage for future generations. Grants from the New Haven Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities helped the JHS grow, hire an archivist and move into the Jewish Home for the Aged. By 1997, the society’s holdings had grown so much that it needed a new space. It became part of the Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University
The collection contains synagogue, cemetery, and organizational records, photographs, original documents, genealogies, diaries, newspaper articles, scrapbooks, noteworthy events, as well as an object collection of artifacts. There is an extensive library of 1500 volumes. The society has over 400 audio/video tapes which preserve the society’s programs, meetings, events, and interviews, and more than 300 oral histories about Jewish New Haven. It continues to add to its archive, oral histories, and object collection.
History continues to be made each day, and our archives continue to grow. You are a part of New Haven Jewish history, help us create the next chapter.
