Documents & Photos
These artifacts are documents and photographs from our families and ancestors. The documents and photographs provide information about our history and events in the past. They also tell stories, reflect memories and give us insight into our journey to this country.
Encyclopedia Definition from 1926 - Holocaust
United States
This is an article from the Encyclopedia Britannica from 1926 which was published 89 years ago. The Encyclopedia defines a Holocaust as a “sacrifice wholly destroyed by fire” often on a “large scale”.
The Holocaust as we know it today was a time that the Nazis would round-up the Jewish people, force them to work, and them kill them. During the Holocaust about 6 million Jews were killed.
This artifact is significant because it was written before the Holocaust, so it has different perspective than what we have today.
Encyclopedia Definition from 1926 - Holocaust
United States
This is an article from the Encyclopedia Britannica from 1926 which was published 89 years ago. The Encyclopedia defines a Holocaust as a “sacrifice wholly destroyed by fire” often on a “large scale”.
The Holocaust as we know it today was a time that the Nazis would round-up the Jewish people, force them to work, and them kill them. During the Holocaust about 6 million Jews were killed.
This artifact is significant because it was written before the Holocaust, so it has different perspective than what we have today.
Wedding Photo of My Great-Grandparents
Boston,MA
My Grandmother
This photograph is significant to my family because this photo is my great-grandparents wedding photo. I am very lucky to have met my great-grandmother and am so fortunate to have spent a lot of time with her. She taught me so much about my culture. Unfortunately, I never met my great-grandfather but I am honored that I am named after him. I have heard so many amazing stories about him. My Hebrew name is Kalman, which was my great-grandfather's Hebrew name.
This photo is significant to Jewish heritage because my great-grandparents taught my family all of the Jewish traditions and customs that my family still follows today. We always celebrate every Jewish holiday together. My great-grandmother made great Jewish foods, such as matzoh ball soup, potato latkes, and brisket. My great-grandmother was very special to me and I miss her very much.
Family Photo
United States
Grandma Edyie B.
This the first photo of my family taken in the United States. It was taken about 10 years after their arrival in the US. It shows my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother as adults. My great-grandfather seems to be about 12 years old. It also depicts my two great aunts.
This photo represents the American dream coming to life. Hard work has paid off and the condition of our people rose from poverty to middle class. The photo shows the ability to afford good clothing and the cost of sitting for a family photo, all of which are luxuries.
Family Portrait
Merrimac, Massachusetts
Mal B.
This is a picture of my great-great-grandfather Moses, his wife Jennie and their 4 children including my great-grandfather Joseph. Moses and Jennie came to the United States in 1891 from what is now the Ukraine. They came from a town called Biala in the Province of Galicia. This picture is important to my family because it is the only family portrait of my great-grandfather and his parents that my family has.
My grandfather was able to tell me about my great-great-grandfather from the picture. He was the first Jewish Mason in the county he lived in. The Masons are a community service organization. He was a very giving person. He also rode his horse and wagon and secretly delivered presents to families who didn't have much money during many holidays. He was a mensch and believed in Tikkun Olam. I am glad I got to know about him.
Photograph of My Family
New York
Belongs to me
This picture is most likely the first family portrait taken of my grandparents, mother and uncle in America. The photograph is significant to our family as it shows parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents to the generations that followed after their arrival to America.
Immigration to America meant a better life for those who were fortunate enough to be able to leave Europe at that time. My grandparents left Poland in 1915 with my Uncle Julius, who is pictured on the left. On the right, my mother is seated and she was born in America in 1917. Another daughter was born to this family after this photograph was taken. Notice the seriousness in the expressions of the family. We have to wonder why did they not smile? This is a question I ask myself over and over again after I look at pictures taken at that time and before.
Great-Grandpa's family photo & documents
Manhattan and Brooklyn
Sharon F.
The first picture is a family photo where I can see what my ancestors looked liked and their relationships with each other. It is one of the only pictures we have of our ancestors and it is important to know family links. The second picture is a national census and my great-grandpa is on line 57. This tells me a little bit about him. From his registration card I see that he had blue eyes, was short and his nearest relative was Jessie S.
Our ancestors were Jewish and believed strongly in Judaism. They have passed that down to me. My great-grandpa's name was Morris S. His wife's name was Tess. His 2 sisters' names were Anna and Alice. His father's name was Frank. His brother's name was Jack.
Passenger Record
Ellis Island
Grandmother
This passenger manifest documents the immigration of my great-great-grandfather to the United States on line 12 of the manifest. My great-great-grandfather emigrated to the U.S. when he was only 9 years old. His parents led a very frugal life in Austria. He had 3 brothers and 3 sisters and life was tough in Austria. His parents wanted him to have the promise of a better life with better opportunities in the U.S. so they arranged for him to live with an uncle in Brooklyn. While there he learned how to be a bagel baker and eventually married my great-great-grandmother.
This is significant to Jewish heritage because the parents of my great-great-grandfather were very Orthodox. They spent much of their spare time worshiping at their local synagogue. A very precious artifact that my great-great-grandfather brought with him when he traveled here from Austria was the tefillin that his father used when he prayed in his synagogue. It was very precious to him and he used it at his local temple in Brooklyn when he grew up. I wish that I could have met him, but my Mom told me that he was a very pious and wonderful man.
Naturalization Certificate
State of New York
My father's great-aunt
The naturalization certificate is important to my family because it belonged to the first known member of our family to come to America. My great-great-grandfather came to America with his wife from Poland. They had to leave many family members behind - family they never saw again. Alone, they settled for a short time in Texas. Then they moved to the Bronx where my great-great-grandfather worked with a butcher. They raised three girls in New York. One of them was my bubbe Laura. Coming to America meant they could live and be free.
Many Jewish people died in Poland during the Holocaust. The naturalization paper is a sign of survival for my great-great grandfather. It is the beginning of our family here in America and of my ancestors survival. My father's great-aunt Frances kept this paper her whole life because it was so important to remember that her father Max and her mother Sarah were lucky to come to America and not die for being Jewish like so many others did in Poland.
Latvian passport, naturalization certificate
Latvia and Brooklyn, NY
Grandfather
These artifacts are important to my family because they show the generations of my family tree. Since there were no computer records or digital technology in those decades, these photos and documents are all we have to show (part of) our family's origin.
These artifacts are important to our Jewish heritage because they show that Jews from other parts of the world had a desire to not only set out to find a new way of life in a new place but to become contributing members of American society.
Certificate of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Kentucky
Richard S.
This certificate was obtained by my grandfather because he is a direct bloodline descendant of a relative that fought in the Revolutionary War. Daniel D. Denniston is my grandfather's 4th great-grandfather, making him my 6th great-grandfather. Daniel Denniston joined the Army as an Ensign in the 4th New York Regiment, which was part of George Washington's "New York Line." After being promoted to lieutenant, he was transferred to the 2d NY Regiment where he served until the end of the war and was promoted to captain.
Although this certificate by itself has no Jewish significance, its connection to Judaism is through my grandfather's marriage to my grandmother (who is Jewish) and my father's marriage to my mother (who is Jewish). It is important to me because it brings together two families having different religions and very different histories.