Jewish Counter Culture Collection
Scope and Content Note
The Jewish Counter Culture Collection consists of materials which acted as an outlet for creativity and freedom of expression. They also are a tangible representation of history and anthropology. Among the wide range of topics covered in this collection are the following: religion, spirituality, racial inequality, feminism, the Vietnam War, politics, bureaucracy, poetry, music, artwork, and the desire to actively pursue freedom and justice. The publications also provided an opportunity for organizations to announce rallies, demonstrations, concerts, lectures, and even group travel plans. Often working with very small budgets and limited resources, these dedicated individuals created and distributed powerful tools with which to explore and expound upon issues that are just as relevant and controversial today as they were 40 years ago.
Along with many publications (including newspapers, pamphlets, and flyers), this collection also contains organizational notes, correspondence, articles, newspaper and magazine clippings, and other similar items related to social commentary, international law, and personal faith.
Dates
- Creation: 1954-2010
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.
Use Restrictions
No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.
For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org
Historical Note
The Jewish Counter Culture movement consisted of the struggles of Jewish individuals, the majority of whom were young people, not only to interpret and understand their past, but to evaluate and foster an appreciation for their future. During a tumultuous period in American history (1965-1975), student groups and community organizations banned together, found their voice, and produced publications that spoke volumes with regard to their beliefs, concerns, and commitment to paving the way for positive change. As these movements were inherently local in origin, the collection materials were created by many small contributing organizations. A number of the Collection's publications received articles from the Jewish Student Press Service, founded in 1970 in New York to provide articles to American Jewish campus periodicals. Many materials were created by Jewish students who brought their Jewish identity to the prevailing movement of campus protests and unrest. Independent organizations, generally devoted to local or liberal causes, also contributed much material.
Extent
3.6 Linear Feet (4 manuscript boxes, 1 oversized box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection includes materials documenting the activities and publications of independent and activist American Jewish organizations. Sample news publications from a variety of independent presses are included, as are a variety of home-published newsletters and flyers. The collection addresses anti-war protests and U.S. draft avoidance; American Jewish activism on Israel; feminist involvement in Judaism; socialism and radicalism; and international affairs. Materials include newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, news clippings, articles, limited correspondence, speech notes, reports, and flyers.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into three series as follows:
- Series I: Publications, 1964-2007
- Series II: Ritual Materials, 1954-2002
- Series III: Organizations, 1967-2010
Physical Location
Located in AJHS New York, NY
Acquisition Information
Materials in this collection were donated by a number of different donors from the early 2000s to 2016. Donors were identified on the folder-level based on existing description and accession records. Not all donors were able to be identified. Donors include Lori Lefkovitz, Robert Saks, Frances Goldman, Jane Rothstein, Shelly Tenenbaum, Riv-Ellen Prell, Deborah G. Roher, Suzi Wizowaty, Sharon Girard, Zalmo Bloombecker, Laurence Edwards, Isa Aron, David G. Roskies, Steve Shaw, and Toby Sonneman.
Processing Information
In 2011 the collection was processed by Christine McEvilly and Tammy Kiter. Prior to 2017, the collection was broken into five series:
- Series I: General Publications
- Series II: Collection of Feminist Haggadot and Ritual Material on Women's Issues
- Series III: Jewish Student Organizations
- Series IV: Jewish Schools
- Series V: Miscellaneous Materials
In 2017, donors, when possible, were identified on the folder-level and the collection was intellectually rearranged. The original Series IV was incorporated into Series III: Organizations. Materials in the original Series V was incorporated into all three new series.
Subject
- Wizowaty, Suzi (Person)
- Waskow, Arthur Ocean, 1933- (Person)
- B'nai B'rith (Organization)
- Aquarian Minyan (Berkeley, Calif.) (Organization)
- Jewish Student Press Service (Organization)
- Sunrise Cooperative Farm Community (Organization)
- 92nd Street Y (New York, N.Y.) (Organization)
- Hammer & Steel (Organization) (Organization)
- Romani-Jewish Alliance (Organization)
- Lights in Action (Organization)
- Jewish Peace Fellowship (U.S.) (Organization)
- Breira (Organization : New York) (Organization)
- North American Jewish Students Appeal (Organization)
- Fabrangen (Washington, D.C.) (Organization)
- New Jewish Agenda (Organization) (Organization)
- Jewish Liberation Project (New York, N.Y.) (Organization)
- Jewish Liberation Information Service (Israel) (Organization)
- Jews for Urban Justice (Washington, D.C.) (Organization)
Genre / Form
- clippings (information artifacts)
- fliers (printed matter)
- Newsletters
- publications (documents)
- Reports
- speeches (documents)
Geographic
Topical
- Alternative mass media
- Counterculture
- Feminism -- Religious aspects -- Judaism
- Hippies -- Religious life
- Jewish newspapers
- Jewish periodicals
- Jewish press
- Jewish radicals
- Jewish socialists
- Jews -- Intellectual life
- Jews -- Politics and government
- Passover
- Radicalism
- Student movements
- Student Publications
- Title
- Guide to the Jewish Counter Culture Collection, 1954-2010 (bulk 1967-1972) I-504
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Christine McEvilly and Tammy Kiter
- Date
- © 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Revision Statements
- February 2017: Additional description added and reprocessing by Nicole Greenhouse
- May 2021: RJohnstone: post-ASpace migration cleanup.
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository
