{{Short description|Nonprofit organization in New York City}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{stack|float=right|1= {{Infobox museum | name = The Center for Jewish History | image = Center for Jewish History NYC.jpg | alt = | caption = The Center for Jewish History on 16th Street | logo = Center for Jewish History logo.jpg | logo_caption = Center for Jewish History logo | map_type = | map_size = | map_caption = Location within New York City | coordinates = {{coord|40.738047|-73.993821|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}} | established = 2000 | location = 15 West 16th Street<br />Manhattan, New York 10011<br/>United States | visitors = | director = | public_transit = '''New York City Subway:''' {{NYCS Union Square|time=bullets}} at 14th Street–Union Square<br>'''New York City Bus:''' {{NYC bus link|M1|M2|M3|M55|M14A|M14D}} | website = {{URL|cjh.org}} }} }} The '''Center for Jewish History''' is a partnership of five Jewish history, scholarship, and art organizations in New York City, namely the American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute New York, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Together, housed in one location, the partners have separate governing bodies and finances, but collocate resources. The partners' collections make up the biggest repository of Jewish history in the United States. The Center for Jewish History also serves as a centralized place of scholarly research, events, exhibitions, and performances. Located within the center are the Lillian Goldman Reading Room, Ackman & Ziff Family Genealogy Institute and a Collection Management & Conservation Wing. The Center for Jewish History is also an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
== History == In 2000, the Center for Jewish History was opened after a six year construction and planning phase. The center was created with the goal of creating synergies among the five member organizations, each offering a different approach to Jewish history, scholarship and art.<ref name="NYTimes-CJHOpening-2000">{{cite news|last1=Blumenthal|first1=Ralph|title=A Museum Wing To Bear Witness To Jewish Life|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/arts/a-museum-wing-to-bear-witness-to-jewish-life.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=October 26, 2000|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527141525/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/26/arts/a-museum-wing-to-bear-witness-to-jewish-life.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This ambitious approach to building an archive dedicated to uniting different views of Jewish culture has formed the largest repository documenting the Jewish experience outside of Israel.<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997">{{cite news|last1=Shepard|first1=Richard F.|title=Archives of Jewish History, Now Under One Roof|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/28/nyregion/archives-of-jewish-history-now-under-one-roof.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=April 28, 1997|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527065652/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/28/nyregion/archives-of-jewish-history-now-under-one-roof.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SmithsonianAffiliate>{{Cite web|url=http://www.affiliations.si.edu/AffiliateDetail.Asp?AffiliateID=172|title=Affiliate Detail: Center for Jewish History|access-date=April 5, 2008|work=Smithsonian Affiliations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611231029/http://affiliations.si.edu/AffiliateDetail.Asp?AffiliateID=172|archive-date=June 11, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The center's approach and large collection have led some to refer to it as the Jewish Library of Congress.<ref name="JTA-JewishLibraryofCongress-2000">{{cite news|last1=Wiener|first1=Julie|title=New History Center Touted As Jewish 'library of Congress'|url=https://www.jta.org/2000/10/24/archive/new-history-center-touted-as-jewish-library-of-congress|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=October 24, 2000|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306201640/http://www.jta.org/2000/10/24/archive/new-history-center-touted-as-jewish-library-of-congress|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=OTTO FRANK FILE FOUND AT YIVO |date=February 14, 2007 |publisher=YIVO Institute for Jewish Research |url=https://www.yivo.org/Otto-Frank-File-Found-at-YIVO |quote=According to YIVO and Center for Jewish History Chairman Bruce Slovin, "The combined collections of the Center's five partner organizations constitute an unparalleled wealth of more than half a million books and 100 million documents, forming the largest repository of Jewish archives outside of Israel. In fact, the massive archival holdings and a very large portion of the printed materials at the Center cannot be found in any other institution in the world. Thus the Center is not just a unique resource for researchers, scholars and families, it is a national and worldwide treasure-house of Jewish culture. And, it has earned the accolade as the 'Library of Congress' of the Jewish people in the Diaspora."}}</ref>
In the late 1980s, Bruce Slovin, then chairman of YIVO, originated the concept of a unified center where academic-focussed partner institutions could share resources.<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997" /> The idea was triggered when he realized that the then home of YIVO, a mansion located at 86th and Fifth Avenue, was not able to meet the needs of its visitors or the proper storage of archival materials. The YIVO facilities at the time were not temperature controlled and resulted in an environment that was hazardous to the collection, and ultimately made archival study difficult.
The Leo Baeck Institute was previously located at 129 East 73rd Street, and the American Jewish Historical Society, which had previously been a New York City-based institution prior to the early 1960s, was then located near Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Yeshiva University Museum was located in the Washington Heights neighborhood uptown.<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997" />
When it opened its doors to the public in October 2000, the center struggled with financial problems. In 2007, there were preliminary talks about a partnership with NYU's Skirball Department for Hebrew and Judaic Studies to the benefit of both organizations.<ref name="Forward-NYUCourtsCJH-2007">{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Jennifer|title=NYU Courts Center for Jewish History|url=http://forward.com/news/11714/nyu-courts-center-for-jewish-history-00547/|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The Jewish Daily Forward|date=September 26, 2007|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061958/http://forward.com/news/11714/nyu-courts-center-for-jewish-history-00547/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carlebach |first=Elisheva |date=November 29, 2007 |title=Securing the Future of the Center for Jewish History: Independence Is Invaluable |language=en |website=The Forward |url=https://forward.com/opinion/12132/securing-the-future-of-the-center-for-jewish-histo-00871/ |access-date=October 29, 2023}}</ref> In the end, the center and Skirball decided not to move forward. In 2010, the Center for Jewish History was able to raise $30 million to retire its construction debt.<ref name="NYTimes-Debt-2011">{{cite news|last1=Strom|first1=Stephanie|title=Finding Deep Pockets to Help a Jewish Center|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/finding-deep-pockets-to-help-a-jewish-center/|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=January 21, 2011|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906093903/http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/finding-deep-pockets-to-help-a-jewish-center/|url-status=live}}</ref> The amount was raised and donated by the chairman and founder of the center, Bruce Slovin; co-chairmen William Ackman and Joseph Steinberg; the Fairholme Foundation; and 19 other donors.<ref name="NYJewishWeek-CampaignSuccess-2011">{{cite news|last1=Snyder|first1=Tamar|title=History Center In The Black: West 16th Street facility is paid off, thanks to $30 million campaign.|url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Jewish Week|date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021095723/http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/history_center_black|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fundraising efforts allowed the center to pay off its accrued debts.<ref name="JTA-Slovin-2011">{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Dan|title=With the Center for Jewish History debt free, its founding chairman steps down|url=https://www.jta.org/2011/05/24/life-religion/with-the-center-for-jewish-history-debt-free-its-founding-chairman-steps-down|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=May 24, 2011|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001855/http://www.jta.org/2011/05/24/life-religion/with-the-center-for-jewish-history-debt-free-its-founding-chairman-steps-down|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2012, the center received a top rating of four stars from the Charity Navigator non-profit evaluation service.<ref name="CharityNavigator">{{cite web|title=Center for Jewish History|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3450#.VWsSVlnBzRY|website=Charity Navigator|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623025552/http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3450#.VWsSVlnBzRY|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2013, the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust awarded the center a $1.5 million grant to establish a reference services division.<ref name="WSJ-LillianGoldman-Reference-2013">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Melanie Grayce|title=Family Legacy of Libraries|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324048904578320603006606108|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002221/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324048904578320603006606108|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PRNewswire-LillianGoldman-2013">{{cite news|title=Center for Jewish History Announces $1.5 Million Grant from The Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust To Establish The Lillian Goldman Reference Services Division|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/center-for-jewish-history-announces-15-million-grant-from-the-lillian-goldman-charitable-trust-to-establish-the-lillian-goldman-reference-services-division-188817421.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=PR Newswire|date=January 29, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100443/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/center-for-jewish-history-announces-15-million-grant-from-the-lillian-goldman-charitable-trust-to-establish-the-lillian-goldman-reference-services-division-188817421.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Facilities === {{stack|float=right|thumb|right|Reading room}} The center is located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, and is a four-building {{convert|125000|sqft|m2}} campus built around a courtyard that has a central entrance on 16th Street. The center is made up of four buildings from when the location served as the campus of the American Foundation for the Blind and two new buildings constructed by the center in 2000.<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997" /><ref name="NYTimes-CJHComplexPlanning-1998" />
== Collections == The partners' collections include more than 100 million documents, 500,000 books, thousands of art objects, textiles, ritual objects, music, films, and photographs.<ref name="NYTimes-CJHOpening-2000" /><ref name="NewVilna-GlickmanInterview-2011">{{cite news|title=An Interview with Michael Glickman of the Center for Jewish History|url=http://www.newvilnareview.com/features/an-interview-with-michael-glickman-of-the-center-for-jewish-history.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=New Vilna Review|date=January 8, 2011|archive-date=October 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030120052/http://www.newvilnareview.com/features/an-interview-with-michael-glickman-of-the-center-for-jewish-history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most of the materials held at the Center had previously been housed in the member institutions and were at risk of damage or destruction.<ref name="NYTimes-CJHComplexPlanning-1998">{{cite news|title=On 16th and 17th Streets, between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas; New Center for Jewish History|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/15/realestate/postings-16th-17th-streets-between-fifth-avenue-avenue-americas-new-center-for.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=February 15, 1998|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527082150/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/15/realestate/postings-16th-17th-streets-between-fifth-avenue-avenue-americas-new-center-for.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The center is heavily involved with the preservation of records that define moments in Jewish immigration to New York City.<ref name="NYTimes-NYAssocNewAmericans-2008">{{cite news|last1=Bernstein|first1=Nina|title=After a Fight to Survive, One to Succeed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/nyregion/09jews.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=March 9, 2008|archive-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211141532/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/nyregion/09jews.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref> A $670,000 grant awarded in 2007 helped to improve and crate a centralized catalog the all partner institutions' holdings.<ref name="PRNewswire-LeonLevyAward-2007">{{cite news|last1=Center for Jewish History|title=Leon Levy Foundation Awards Additional $860,092 Grant to Center for Jewish History for Preservation of Archival Materials|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leon-levy-foundation-awards-additional-860092-grant-to-center-for-jewish-history-for-preservation-of-archival-materials-97468679.html|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=PR Newswire|date=October 24, 2007|archive-date=May 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516210227/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leon-levy-foundation-awards-additional-860092-grant-to-center-for-jewish-history-for-preservation-of-archival-materials-97468679.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The collections range from the early modern era in Europe and pre-colonial times in the Americas to present-day materials from across the globe. The center provides access to a comprehensive collection of historic archival materials, including those of: Franz Kafka, Theodor Herzl, Moses Mendelssohn, Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein.<ref name="JTA-RetiresDebt-2011">{{cite news |last1=Oster |first1=Marcy |date=January 31, 2011 |title=Center for Jewish History retires $30 million debt |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |url=https://www.jta.org/2011/01/31/arts-entertainment/center-for-jewish-history-retires-30-million-debt |url-status=live |access-date=May 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601011110/http://www.jta.org/2011/01/31/arts-entertainment/center-for-jewish-history-retires-30-million-debt |archive-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
In addition to historical documents like the 1478 record of the trial of Simon of Trent, the center also includes holdings of artwork by Max Lieberman as well as Jewish ephemera like philosopher Moses Mendelssohn's eyeglasses.<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997" />
=== Partner collection highlights === * Original handwritten copy of Emma Lazarus' 1883 poem, "The New Colossus" that was later inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty * Sandy Koufax's Brooklyn Dodgers jersey * Letter from Thomas Jefferson to New York's oldest Jewish congregation * First Hebrew prayer books printed in America<ref name="NYTimes-OneRoof-1997" />
=== Digital initiatives === * In 2011, the Center for Jewish History began a 2-year project called, "Illuminating Hidden Collections at the Center for Jewish History," with a $229,600 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources<ref name="CLIR-HiddenCollections-2011">{{cite web|title=2011 Funded Projects: Illuminating Hidden Collections at the Center for Jewish History|url=http://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/awards/for-2011|website=Council on Library and Information Resources|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919050537/http://www.clir.org/hiddencollections/awards/for-2011|url-status=live}}</ref> * In 2013, the Center for Jewish History donated 600 images to the Google Art Project, which is part of the Google Cultural Institute, an initiative that puts cultural material online.<ref name="NorthNJ-GoogleArt-2013">{{cite news|last1=Wire Service|title=NYC center contributes to Google Art Project|url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/art/nyc-center-contributes-to-google-art-project-1.567685|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=North Jersey Media Group|date=April 4, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094748/http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/art/nyc-center-contributes-to-google-art-project-1.567685|url-status=live}}</ref> The center was one of four New York City-based institutions to donate at that time, joining eight others. The images are very high resolution and include rich metadata.<ref name="WNYC-GoogleArt-2013">{{cite news|last1=Herman|first1=Charlie|title=Four New York City Cultural Institutes Join Google Art Project|url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/279957-blog-four-new-york-city-cultural-institutes-join-google-art-project/|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=WNYC|date=April 3, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094143/http://www.wnyc.org/story/279957-blog-four-new-york-city-cultural-institutes-join-google-art-project/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Haaretz-GoogleArt-2014">{{cite news|last1=Haaretz|title=N.Y. Center for Jewish History uploading gigapixel image to Google Art Project|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.576378|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=Haaretz|date=February 25, 2014|archive-date=March 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306133930/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.576378|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.cjh.org/ Center for Jewish History] * [https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/center-for-jewish-history Center for Jewish History] at Google Art Project
{{Jews and Judaism}} {{Museums in Manhattan}} {{Chelsea, Manhattan}} {{Union Square, Manhattan}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Chelsea, Manhattan Category:History museums in New York City Category:Jewish history organizations based in the United States Category:Jewish museums in New York City Category:Jewish-American history Category:Jews and Judaism in Manhattan Category:Language regulators Category:Leo Baeck Institute Category:Museums established in 2000 Category:Museums in Manhattan Category:Society museums in New York (state) Category:Yeshiva University Category:Yiddish culture in New York (state)