Jacob Fishman (1888-1962) Theater Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the prompt-books for Yiddish plays by, among others, Avrom Goldfaden, Jacob Gordin, David Pinski, Moisey Ghitzis, Avrom Reyzen, Shomer (Nahum Meyer Shaykevich), Karl Gutzkow, and Abraham Veviorke. These prompt-books also contain Yiddish translations of plays by writers such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Maxim Gorky, Gerhart Hauptmann, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, Octave Mirbeau, Hermann Sudermann, and Stanislaw Przybyszewski. There is an original play by Boaz Young as well as notes for a study on female Jewish writers that Jacob Fishman appears to have started. Yiddish play titles have been given in the original Yiddish spelling and in an English translation. Plays that were translated into Yiddish are just given in English translation. The dates given sometimes refer to when the play was originally published or performed in Yiddish and sometimes to the date when the play was first translated into Yiddish.
Dates
- Creation: undated, 1898-1939
Creator
- Fishman, Jacob (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in Yiddish.
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
Biographical Note
It is likely that this collection belonged to the Jacob Fishman who founded the Folksbiene Theater in 1915 under the auspices of the Workman’s Circle, and was an actor and the director of the Folksbiene from 1915-1940. Prior to that, he was involved with the Progressive Dramatic Club and the Hebrew Dramatic League, where he was also the director.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (2 manuscript boxes)
Abstract
This collection contains the prompt-books for numerous plays, both those originally written in Yiddish as well as Yiddish translations of well-known authors. There is also an original play by Boaz Young and notes for a study on female Jewish writers.
Arrangement
The bound prompt-books and manuscripts are in the first box and have been arranged alphabetically according to the English title of the first play in each book. Individual unbound plays are in the second box and have been arranged alphabetically according to the English title. The collection has been arranged in one series.
Physical Location
Located in AJHS New York, NY
Acquisition Information
There is no information about the provenance of this collection.
Separated Material
There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.
Processing information
Processed by Rachel S. Harrison as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation. Loose items were put into folders.
Subject
- Fishman, Jacob (Person)
- Yong, Boʻez, 1870- (Person)
- National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (Organization)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Jacob Fishman (1888-1962) Theater Collection, undated, 1898-1939 P-37
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Rachel S. Harrison
- Date
- ©2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation.
- Edition statement
- [This version was derived from JacobFishman_P-37.xml]
Revision Statements
- March, June 2020: EHyman: post-ASpace migration cleanup
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository
