American Jewish Congress and the Civil Rights Era

One of our largest collections is from the American Jewish Congress; an organization that tackles questions of American national significance, and whose leaders, staff, and members work for “full equality in a free society for all Americans.” Throughout the Civil Rights Movement representatives from AJ Congress frequently partnered with religious and social justice leaders to push for equality and advocate for positive change. Join us as AJHS Director of Collections & Engagement Melanie Meyers gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the painstaking work that goes into processing an archive of this size – from lifting the lid off the first box to creating the finding aid. Historian Dr. Lila Corwin Berman will highlight the historical significance of the collection and its importance to researchers, and Dr. Ilana Kaufman, Executive Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, will shed light on how to frame this collection in our contemporary moment for students.