Epic Story of Famous Detroit Family

—

Centenary of the Kroliks in Their Command Role

Charles A. Madison's 'Eminent Jews'
Gains Wide Acclaim for Ex-Detroiter

Charles A. Madison, former De- who is an authority on the subject,
troiter, was the guest here last one of his books having been on
week of his brother and sister-in- "Yiddish Literature" in which he
law, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Madison, also dealt with the Jewish press—
and his sister, Mrs. Dorothy Zieg- comments here on numerous others
ler—in time for the family to share who have been creative in jour-
with him the satisfaction of seeing nalism — the Jewish and general
the appearance of his fifth book— press.
"Eminent American Jews-1776 to
Similarly, when he deals with
the Present," published by Fred- Oppenheimer, who is described
erick Ungar Publishing Co.
by the author as possessing "su-
Prominent American scholars perior scientific intelligence,"
who have read the manuscript are Madison calls the chapter "Jews
in Scientific Research" and many
applauding it as an impressive eminent scientists pass in review
addition to biographical literature, here.
Dr. Horace M. Kallen said after
Madison's accomplishment re-
ADOLPH KROLIK
HENRY A. KROLIK
HERMAN KROLIK
reading the book last week: "It is quired much research, as is indi-
years of this century when Rabbi Franklin pio- a sort of 'Who's Who' of Jewish cated in the essay on MordecL
The year 1971 marks the centennial of a Detroit
neered in the introduction of the unassigned seat- makhers in the nation's cultural Manuel Noah, "politician, play-
business started by two brothers and their cousin,
ing system in the temple on the High Holy Days,
wright, Zionist," and in this chap-
Jewish immigrants from Germany.
first in the country. Mr. Krolik was a generous
ter, as the title indicates, we learn
The name of the firm is the Krolik Corporation,
about "Jews (who) Become Ameri-
contributor to local and national causes.
a wholesale dry goods concern, and the founders
canized."
This is a chapter in
Mrs.
Henry
Krolik
was
a
devoted
member
of
were Henry A. Krolik, his brother, Herman, and
American Jewish history well
Temple Beth El and a regular attendant at its wor-
their cousin, Adolph.
worth using as a text for self-
ship services. She.served as secretary of the Ladies'
These pioneers of our Jewish community and
information by elder readers and
Society
for
the
Support
of
Hebrew
Widows
and
their families bespeak distinction in the business,
as assigned study in Jewish
Orphans in the State of Michigan, president of the
cultural, religicus and humanitarian circles of De-
schools.
Jewish
Women's
Club
(now
the
Detroit
Chapter
troit, and have deep and meaningful roots here.
of the National Council of Jewish Women), vice-
Incidentally, the entire book lends
Henry A. Krolik was born in Kempen, Germany,
president of the Detroit Federation of Women's
itself for assignment in studies by
Sept. 30, 1836. He attended public school in Kempen
teen-agers in our schools. It serves
Clubs, charter member of the Working Girls' Hotel
until the age of 11 when, due to his father's death,
(now Priscilla Hall), and charter member of the
as a guide to Jewish achievements.
he was compelled to leave school in order to help
in this country.
Girls'
Protective
League.
support the family. He came to New York in 1852
Henry died in 1922 and his wife in 1928. Under
The chapter on Jacob Schiff is
and after a residence there and in Connecticut of
the will of Mrs. Henry Krolik, the Henry and Ida
revealing, and Stephen S. Wise,
two years, he moved to Rochester, Mich. He was
Krolik Memorial Publication Fund was established
representing here "the Ameri-
joined by his cousin, Adolph Krolik, and both
in 1928 at the Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati.
canization of Judaism," emerges
peddled dry goods from farmhouse to farmhouse,
Adolph Krolik was born in Kempen, Germany,
as one of the great figures
with their wares on their backs, in Oakland and
on July 10, 1839. He came to the United States in
splendidly portrayed in this val-
Macomb counties.
the 1850s and joined his cousin, Henry, in Roches-
uable book.
CHARLES A. MADISON
Henry and Adolph were joined, in 1866, by
ter. He was an extraordinarily gifted business-
Herman. In 1871 they moved from Rochester to
The Brandeis and Lehman studies
man, a person of wide cultural interests, and a gen- economy, rich in significant detail, indicate the author's ability to
Detroit and opened a retail-wholesale dry goods
informative,
and
presenting
a
com-
erous supporter of the numerous social welfare
store at 158 Woodward. Their success led them
describe leadership and to indicate
projects undertaken by his wife, Sara Ewell, promi- pany of Joneses for all American backgrounds in political, social and
to change entirely to wholesaling, under the
youth, not only Jewish, to keep up
nent
pioneer
social
worker.
Their
children
were
firm name of A. Krolik & Co. The firm has re-
judicial functions.
Ernestine (Mrs. Albert Kahn), Belle (Mrs. David with."
mained in Detroit in the wholesale dry goods
Having written three outstanding
Scheyer), Amy (Mrs. William Brown), who is still
While Madison, a former Holt,
business for 100 years, though several changes
books,
"Critics and Crusaders,"
a
resident
of
Detroit,
Day
and
Joseph
N.
Rinehart
and
Winston
publishing
-
occurred in location and corporate names.
A graduate of the Michigan State Normal Col- house editor, has chosen 15 per- "American Labor Leaders" and
Henry A. Krolik was married to Ida G. Brown,
lege in Ypsilanti, Mich., Sarah Ewell Krolik was sonalities for his biographical "Leaders and Liberals in 20th
daughter of Henry and Babetta Snow Brown of
a pioneer in the modernization of Detroit's social texts, he has not limited himself Century America," Madison is
Flint. Their children were Babetta, who died in
work. She founded, in 1589, the Self-Help Circle, to this select group. His current especially qualified to deal with
childhood, and Julian H., who served as vice presi-
a society devoted to the teaching of domestic science work is in essence a brief his- the roles of Sidney Hillman, Justice
dent of the Krolik Corporation and became one of
tory of American Jewry in the Brandeis, Dr. Oppenheimer, Frank-
to recently arrived Jewish girls in the families of
the most distinguished leaders of Detroit's Jewish
periods
covered by the biogra- furter and others who gained fame
Russian refugees. She wrote a textbook on sewing
community.
phies he has written, and be- in the 20th Century struggle for
which was widely used throughout the country.
civil rights, the labor movement,
Mrs. Krolik was one of the founders of the cause of its historical merits he social justice.
has
included
in
his
work
the
United Jewish Charities of Detroit, predecessor
The Brandeis story is a re-
of the Jewish Welfare Federation, and served names of perhaps 100 more men
minder of a sensational battle
as a member of its board of directors until her and women who have played
for confirmation by the Senate
death. Largely through her efforts, a workroom their important roles in Amer-
when the Zionist leader was
was opened at the Jewish Institute, headquar- ican Jewish history.
ters of the United Jewish Charities, where worn,
The biographies in Madison's named to the Supreme Court.
Similarly, the numerous conflicts
en receiving relief could perform some service. book are of the following in the
When Mother D'Arcambal began her work on order of their appearance in his in Jewish life, some involving na-
behalf of discharged prisoners suffering from indus- book: Haym Salomon, Mordecai tional issues, emerge in splendid
A
trial discrimination, Mrs. Krolik became her first Manuel Noah, Judah Philip Ben- reporting in this definitive work
Golda Krolik
associate. Mrs. Krolik expanded its works to include jamin, Jacob Schiff, Oscar S. by the skilled editor and author
Julian's wife, Golda Krolik, is still carrying on the rehabilitation of boys exposed to a life of crime. Straus, Felix Adler, Louis D. Bran- whose early years in Michigan
in our community the tradition of her late husband
She was active in Ford Republic since its formation. deis, Adolph S. Ochs, Julius Rosen- made many friends for Madison
as well as her own prominent Ginsburg family.
Adolph Krolik died in 1893 and his wife in 1921. wald, Abraham Flexner, Stephen in academic and literary circles.
Photographs of a number of the
Henry Krolik served as president of Bnai Brith
Herman Krolik was born in Kempen on Sept. 14, S. Wise, Herbert H. Lehman, Felix
Pisgah Lodge, vice president of the Beth El
1847. He came to the U.S. in 1866 and joined his Frankfurter, Sidney Hillman and personalities described in "Emi-
nent American Jews" liven up the
Hebrew Relief Society, trustee of Temple Beth
brother, Henry, and his cousin, Adolph, in Rochester. J. Robert Oppenheimer.
He served as trustee and as treasurer of Temple
El, and as an active member of the Phoenix
The identification for each of well produced work.
Charles Madison qualifies highly
Club, Independent Order of Free Sons of Israel
Beth El. He was one of the organizers of Trussed these indicates the importance of
and Kesher shel Barzel (Irnon Knot) order.
Concrete Steel Co. and of Detroit Credit Men's the man in American and Jewish for the task he undertook in this
Association. He was unmarried. He died in 1916. life. Thus, the chapter on Adolph book. The lengthy bibliography
He was a great believer in the democratization
of the synagogue as advocated by the late Rabbi
The incumbent president of the Krolik Corpora- S. Ochs, the late publisher of the shows the immensity of his
Leo M. Franklin of Temple Beth El and was a
tion is Day Krolik, Jr., son of the late Day Krolik New York Times, is entitled "Jews search. He has attained his aim
P. S._
in Journalism," and the author— with notable distinction.
staunch supporter of Rabbi Franklin in the early
and grandson of the late Adolph Krolik.

By IRVING I. KATZ, Executive Secretary, Temple Beth El, Detroit

• •
Reconstituted Jewish Agency Broadens U. S. Partlapa n

11111-

neg.

NEW YORK (JTA)—Final plans
for the Reconstitution of the Jew-
ish Agency at an inaugural assem-
bly to be held in Jerusalem June
21-24 were made at the three-day
meeting here of the planning com-
mittee, it was announced by Louis
A. Pincus, chairman of the Jewish
Agency for Israel, and Max M.
Fisher, chairman of the planning
committee.
The Reconstituted Jewish Agen-
cy provides for a 296-man body,
half of whom will represent the
fund-raising bodies in Jewish com-
munities throughout the world, and
the other half will represent the
World Zionist Organization. The

Mar 7; 1971

reconstituted and enlarged Jewish
Agency, will provide for greater
participation of fund-raising bodies
throughout the world in planning
Jewish Agency programs and ac-
tivities in behalf of Israel. The
RJA provides for a separation of
structure and functions between
the WZO and the JAI. It will as-
sume the following functions: im-
migration to and absorption of
immigrants in Israel; social wel-
fare services in connection with
immigrant absorption; health serv-
ices in connection with immigra-
tion and absorption; education;
higher learning and research;
youth care and training; absorp-

tion in agricultural settlements
and immigrant housing.
The WZO will continue to be the
over-all Zionist body throughout
the world.
The inaugural assembly of the
RJA will elect a board of gover-
nors of 40 members and in a series
of panels review and plan for the
eight areas of activities encom-
passed within its functions. The
296-member general assembly of
the RJA will include 130 American
members, 89 designated by the
United Israel Appeal, Inc., and
with 41 among the World Zionist
representation.
Louis A. Pincus, chairman of the
THE DETROIT JEWISH, NEWS Jewish Agency and of the World

elusion of arrangements for the
RJA, said: "This is the culmination
of the concept originally made in
1922 in the Palestine Mandate of.
the Council of the League of Na-
tions . . . Today, with the recon-
stitution of the Jewish Agency,
there is a formal recognition of the
role played and not to be played
by all Jews willing to assist in the -,
development and growth of Israel. 11
It is an alliance cemented in the
joint rescue and absorption of
1,500,000 oppressed Jews from se;m6
of the darkest corners of the world
and it is a partnership that re-
sponded to the desperate hours and--
needs of the Six-Day War and rose
(Fisher, commenting, 'on. the -.pon- to new heights of achievement"-

Zionist Organization, was hailed
by Dr. Emanuel Neumann, chair-
man of the Jewish Agency-Ameri-
can Section, for "the historic role
he played as the architect of the
Reconstituted Jewish Agency." Dr.
Neumann presented Pincus with
the second copy of the newly pub-
lished "Encyclopedia of Zionism
and Israel." The first copy was
presented to Israeli President Zal-
man Shazar on his recent visit
here. "Louis Pincus." said Dr.
Neumann at the close of the work
of the planning committee of the
Reconstituted Jewish Agency, "has
brought a splendid level of leader-
ship to the Zionist movement."

.