MARCH 2024

der zamler


JPL’S NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THINGS
ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS


While last month may have been the shortest of the year, our team has been hard at work! Now open late on Tuesdays, you can drop in and visit our Archives Director Maya and Reference Archivist Sam working on conservation in the evening. Digital Archivist Leah has continued migrating our collections to our archival catalogue where we now have over 200 of our fonds listed. The Outreach team have also been busy engaging with McGill’s MISt students, as well as preparing for our upcoming workshop in collaboration with the Maude Abbott Museum and Osler Library. And we can’t forget our outstanding students, who have been processing small fonds, Yiddish collections, our poster collection… even assisting in liaison with donors!

Our 2nd Yiddish Translate-a-thon was postponed due to a power outage in our building, but rest assured we will reschedule. If you were already registered, stay tuned for updates. If you would like to

do independents translations, reach out to archives@jplmontreal.org to set up a time!

Advertisement for event featuring medical tool kit

UPCOMING EVENT

THOU HAST NEED OF THEM:

HISTORICAL MINORITIES IN THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE

A medically-themed archival workshop featuring materials from McGill University and the Jewish Public Library and Archives

Join the Osler Library of the History of Medicine, Maude Abbott Medical Museum, and the Jewish Public Library and Archives to discuss the fascinating holdings related to three medical graduates from McGill University, each of whom prevailed over the systemic barriers they faced in pursuing their medical careers. Each institution will give a brief presentation about their graduate, followed by the opportunity to interact with items from their material history. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 2PM EST

Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building,  Anatomy Reading Room [221-224], 3640 rue University, Montreal, QC

Open to all | In-Person | RSVP required

FOR THE RECORD:

A BLOG ABOUT THE WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHERE, AND HOW (OF ARCHIVING)

Photograph of rare book title page with Latin script

RARE AND WONDERFUL: ADDING TO OUR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Our Director of Library and Learning Services, Eddie Paul, explains how the newest addition to our rare books collection was acquired.

Black and white photo of female conductor

CURRENT OFF-SITE EXHIBITION

ETHEL STARK,
THE MONTREAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, AND THE PRESERVATION OF AUDIO HERITAGE

February 1, 2024 - July 31, 2024
Marvin Duchow Library, Music Building, McGill University

The Marvin Duchow Music Library’s new exhibit in collaboration with the Jewish Public Library Archives explores the professional achievements of Ethel Stark (1910-2012), a pioneering violinist and conductor who forged new paths for women with the creation of the Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra (1940-1965), as well as the role libraries and archives play in preserving audio heritage.

Stylized photograph of Hebrew Text with heavy censorship in black ink

CURRENT IN-HOUSE EXHIBITION

CENSORSHIP IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

November 24, 2023 - March 10, 2024

Censorship of books is as old as books themselves. This exhibition highlights a handful of instances of censorship that appear in the rare books of our Special Collections. On view in the lobby of the Jewish Public Library through March 2024, and more information about each volume found on JPL Curates.

want more?

Do you want to know more about what is going on with the JPL’s Archives and Special Collections? Check out our highlights on JPL Curates.

Der zamler is a Yiddish term meaning “the collector” and is related to the verb zamlen, which means “to gather.” In using this name, we join a long history of people dedicated to gathering and preserving Jewish culture around the world. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Sam Bick for the initial idea and to Anna Fishman Gonshor for providing the cultural context.

All non-archival photography, unless otherwise credited, by staff of the JPL Archives.

Please click here to support the work of the Jewish Public Library.


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