Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Mountain States Regional Office Records

Collection

Identifier: B090

Staff Only

Abstract

The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Mountain States Regional Office began in 1913 as a volunteer committee led by Simon Heller. The purpose of the organization was to fight prejudice and intolerance and to preserve the Jewish democratic heritage. The formal organization was established in 1941 as the tri-state office with Harold Saks as the first director. The Mountain States Regional Office in Denver worked toward the elimination of discrimination in employment, housing, accommodations and education. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Mountain States Regional Office records contain material relating to Soviet Jewry, anti-semitism and community relations with ethnic groups. The materials include correspondence, press releases, photographs, bulletins, newsletters, newspaper clippings, logs of complaints and incidents, telegrams, festival programs, conference programs, audio cassette tapes, and 16 mm. films.

Dates

1940-1980

Creator

B'nai B'rith. Anti-defamation League. Mountain States Regional Office (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The National Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B'nai B'rith was founded in 1913 by Sigmund Livingston, an Illinois lawyer and scholar. The purpose of the ADL is to fight prejudice and intolerance and to preserve the Jewish democratic heritage. A volunteer committee under the auspices of B'nai B'rith Lodge 171, (Denver, Colo.), led by Simon Heller, preceded the establishment of the formal organization of the Anti-Defamation League, Mountain States Regional Office. This committee represented every facet of Jewish life in the community. The formal organization of the ADL was established in 1941 as the tri-state office of the ADL, with Harold Saks as the first director. The purpose of the Regional Office located in Denver was to work toward the elimination of discrimination in employment, housing, accommodations and education for Jews and non-Jews alike.

Extent

19.5 Linear Feet ((22 containers) 18 record boxes, 1 full legal doc box, 2 half legal doc box and 1 print box)

19.5 Linear Feet (22 containers)

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

This collection contains material relating to Soviet Jewry, anti-semitism, and community relations with ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics. Additionally, there are materials on other religious groups on a local, national and international level. The material illustrates communication and interaction between the Denver chapter of the ADL and such communication and interaction between the Mountain States Regional Office of the ADL and such organizations as the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council, The National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. The collection contains correspondence, press releases, photographs, bulletins, newsletters, newspaper clippings, logs of complaints and incidents, telegrams, festival programs conference programs, audio cassette tapes, 16 millimeter films, and administrative files.