Australian Jewish Historical Society
Encyclopedia
The Australian Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1938 in Sydney. The first president was Percy J. Marks. At the first business meeting of the Society, the then president of the Royal Australian Historical Society
K. R. Cramp expressed the view that the chief object of the Society should be the encouragement of individual research.
In 1939, the Society published the first issue of the Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal (initially known as the Australian Jewish Historical Society, Journal and Proceedings).
In 1949, a Melbourne branch was established, which was informally known as AJHS(Vic). This branch grew and eventually incorporated. There is no national executive, with the Sydney and Melbourne Societies being financially independent. Since 1988, the two Societies have shared the production of the Journal, with the June issues being produced by the NSW Society and the November issues being produced by the Vic Society. Currently, there are two issues of the Journal each year, with occasional Special Publications.
The table of contents of recent issues of the Journal have been placed online at www.ajhs.info/journal. The cumulative index to the Journal, by subject and category, is also available online at www.ajhs.info/journal/index. This cumulative index covers all Journal issues, but not special publications, from 1939 to 2004. In 2007 AJHS (Vic) published a CD which holds in digital form all Journal issues published between 1939 and 1953.
The NSW chapter maintains extensive archives as well as a research library in Mandelbaum House
, a College of the University of Sydney
. AJHS(Vic) has also collected extensive archives, which were placed on indefinite loan to the State Library of Victoria
in 2004..
In addition to the Sydney and Melbourne chapters, there is also a small Canberra-based affiliate and there are members in all states and overseas.
From 1977 to 2006, AJHS (Vic) members under the leadership of Beverley Davis
transcribed the headstones of over 40,000 Jewish graves in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Jewish War Graves overseas.. This collection of burial data, called The BD-BD, was placed online in June 2008..
In 2007, the Society under the leadership of AJHS (Vic) president Dr Howard Freeman made a notable but unsuccessful attempt to retain intact within Australia the so-called Gurewicz Archives. The New York purchaser removed much of the holocaust material, rabbinic communications to Lithuania
, Palestine
, material re Dunera, and sold the remainder at auction to the Jewish Museum of Australia
in June 2008..
Royal Australian Historical Society
The Royal Australian Historical Society is a voluntary organisation founded in Sydney, Australia in 1901 to encourage Australians to understand more about their history...
K. R. Cramp expressed the view that the chief object of the Society should be the encouragement of individual research.
In 1939, the Society published the first issue of the Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal (initially known as the Australian Jewish Historical Society, Journal and Proceedings).
In 1949, a Melbourne branch was established, which was informally known as AJHS(Vic). This branch grew and eventually incorporated. There is no national executive, with the Sydney and Melbourne Societies being financially independent. Since 1988, the two Societies have shared the production of the Journal, with the June issues being produced by the NSW Society and the November issues being produced by the Vic Society. Currently, there are two issues of the Journal each year, with occasional Special Publications.
The table of contents of recent issues of the Journal have been placed online at www.ajhs.info/journal. The cumulative index to the Journal, by subject and category, is also available online at www.ajhs.info/journal/index. This cumulative index covers all Journal issues, but not special publications, from 1939 to 2004. In 2007 AJHS (Vic) published a CD which holds in digital form all Journal issues published between 1939 and 1953.
The NSW chapter maintains extensive archives as well as a research library in Mandelbaum House
Mandelbaum House
Mandelbaum House in Sydney, Australia, is a Jewish residential college open to both men and women, regardless of religion or nationality, affiliated with the University of Sydney. The College accommodates approximately 34 residents from all over the world; mainly undergraduate and postgraduate...
, a College of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. AJHS(Vic) has also collected extensive archives, which were placed on indefinite loan to the State Library of Victoria
State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria, Australia, located in Melbourne. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district...
in 2004..
In addition to the Sydney and Melbourne chapters, there is also a small Canberra-based affiliate and there are members in all states and overseas.
From 1977 to 2006, AJHS (Vic) members under the leadership of Beverley Davis
Beverley Davis
Beverley S. Davis is a former American professional golfer who is currently an instructor with LPGA International.- Amateur career :...
transcribed the headstones of over 40,000 Jewish graves in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Jewish War Graves overseas.. This collection of burial data, called The BD-BD, was placed online in June 2008..
In 2007, the Society under the leadership of AJHS (Vic) president Dr Howard Freeman made a notable but unsuccessful attempt to retain intact within Australia the so-called Gurewicz Archives. The New York purchaser removed much of the holocaust material, rabbinic communications to Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, material re Dunera, and sold the remainder at auction to the Jewish Museum of Australia
Jewish Museum of Australia
The Jewish Museum of Australia is a community museum, which aims to explore and share the Jewish experience in Australia and benefit Australia's diverse society...
in June 2008..