metro »
25 Years, 25 Treasures
New exhibit explores history of Jewish Detroit through archival collection.
Robbie Terman | Special to the Jewish News
A
s persecuted Eastern European
Jews flocked to Detroit in the late
1800s, aid societies formed to
help newly arrived immigrants. At Temple
Beth El, choir girls began sewing items for
the children of immigrants. When it was
suggested that the immigrant children
would benefit more if they were taught
to sew, the Self-Help Circle was born. In
1899, the group became one of the first
agencies of the United Jewish Charities.
The women who taught sewing created
instruction books with samplers to use
during classes. In 1991, the sewing book
of Hattie Franklin, wife of Rabbi Leo M.
Franklin, was found in the basement of
the Fred M. Butzel Memorial Building,
then home to the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit.
This book is just one of the 25 “trea-
sures” that can be seen in the upcoming
exhibit, “25 Years, 25 Treasures.”
Since 1991, the Leonard N. Simons
Jewish Community Archives has collected
more than 2 million documents, 25,000
photographs and recorded over 100 oral
histories that chronicle the rich and varied
history of Detroit’s Jewish community. In
honor of this milestone 25th anniversary,
it is showcasing some of its most signifi-
cant and rarely seen objects, documents
and photographs.
Each item featured is unique. Like the
letter that was a catalyst to the building of
the Federation Apartments, which proved
one voice is as powerful as many. Or the
pictorial glimpse into the Jewish Children’s
Home during the Great Depression. And
the first handwritten minutes’ book of the
United Jewish Charities. These primary
source documents are not only a record
of the past, but also tell the stories of the
people and organizations that have shaped
Jewish life in Detroit.
The “25 Years, 25 Treasures” exhibit will
be held at the Walter P. Reuther Library of
Labor and Urban Affairs on the campus of
Wayne State University and will run June
27-Aug. 5.
“The Reuther Library is excited to host
this exhibit and to join in the celebra-
tion of the 25th anniversary of the Jewish
Community Archives,” says Erik Nordberg,
library director. “We are fortunate to part-
ner with JCA in preserving and providing
access to these critical historical resources
documenting the history of Jewish
Detroit.”
20 June 2 • 2016
Women attending a leadership seminar at the Butzel
Memorial Building in 1969
You can get a sneak peek of this fasci-
nating exhibit at the opening reception on
June 26, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The program
will include readings from the archives
holdings, some by family members of the
documents’ authors. Mary Lou Zieve will
read a short speech written by her father,
Leonard N. Simons.
“The whole world of history meant
so much to him,” Zieve said. “He would
be thrilled to know his name has been
memorialized and his papers preserved as
part of the Jewish Community Archives.”
During its five-week run, docent-led
group tours of the exhibit are available.
Adds Nordberg, “We’re looking for-
ward to the event on June 26 and happy
to arrange tours of our facility during the
exhibit installation.”
The installation complements the
Archives’ yearlong traveling exhibit
making its way through Metro Detroit.
“Creating a Jewish Community” consists of
five double-sided panels, each addressing
a different topic: immigration, neighbor-
hoods, Israel, service organizations and a
Two photos from the Hebrew Orphans Home collection, 1931-1936
timeline of Federation history.
Every panel is moved to a
new location monthly, and
the exhibit will hit more than
30 locations throughout 2016.
In July, “Creating a Jewish
Community” will be hosted in
its entirety at the Detroit Public
Library, a short five-minute
walk from the Reuther Library.
Why two exhibits in one year?
“We wanted to share the col-
lection of the archives with as
many people as possible,” says
Michael Berke, chair of the archives com-
mittee. “The traveling exhibit allows us to
reach people where they work, play and
worship. But we also wanted the chance to
display one-of-a-kind objects, and for that
we needed to do an installation. We have
a longtime association with the Reuther
Library, and it provides the ideal place for
our ‘25 Treasures’ exhibit.”
*
Robbie Terman is director of the Leonard N. Simons
Jewish Community Archives.
The Hattie Franklin pattern book
details
“25 Years, 25 Treasures” is open to the
public June 27-Aug. 5 at the Walter P.
Reuther Library in Detroit. To register for
the opening reception ($25 per person;
includes a light brunch) on June 26, visit
jewishdetroit.org/archives.
For more information or to schedule
a group tour, contact Robbie Terman at
(248) 203-1491 or archives@jfmd.org.