Collection Guide
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Harris (Mollie) Jewish Community Center Collection
MS-0483
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Mollie Harris Jewish Community Center Collection
Creator:
Harris, Mollie
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0483
Physical Description:
6.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1960-1996
Language of Material:
English
.
The
Mollie Harris Jewish Community Center Collection consists of Harris's working papers from the library regarding staff, long range planning, budgeting, publicity and working
documents for programs. It includes detailed information about events and speakers, including guest registers, newspaper clippings
and press releases. General program information, staff minutes, policies and documents regarding the functions of the overall
JCC are also present.
The materials in this collection were donated to the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego in 2001 by Mollie Harris and her
son Andrew (JHSSD #2001.08.) It was transferred to the Library and Information Access August 23, 2011.
This collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Jewish Historical Society of San Diego
The materials in this collection were donated to the Jewish Historical Society of San Diego in 2001 by Mollie Harris and her
son Andrew (JHSSD #2001.08.) It was transferred to the Library August 23, 2011.
Identification of item, folder title, box number, Mollie Harris Jewish Community Center Collection, Special Collections and
University Archives, San Diego State University Library.
In 1957 the Jewish Community Center moved from its original location, a storefront on El Cajon Blvd and 30th St. in North
Park, to 54th St. between El Cajon Blvd. and University Ave. Joseph Astor, when he became the director of the new JCC, moved
the Center's library of 538 volumes to the art gallery, and engaged Mollie Harris, a professional librarian. Over the years,
she and Joseph Astor developed a Jewish community library at the JCC.
In 1970 the Astor Family provided funds for a library facility which was named the Samuel and Rebecca Astor Judaica Library,
in memory of the Astor Family parents. The Astor Family also established a memorial fund for books on Israel, in memory of
Tillie Lawrence Omens, mother of M. Larry Lawrence, chief benefactor of the library. The library was dedicated by Dr. Jacob
Bronowski and ten years later, in 1980 there were over 5,800 volumes in the library. In that year, the Jewish Historical Society
of San Diego first met in the library. The library was the center of Jewish literary life until 1996 when the library was
moved to the Lawrence Family JCC in University City. The 54th St. JCC closed in 1998.
Mollie Harris was librarian at the library in the 54th St. JCC, from the early 1960's until 1996. During her tenure as librarian,
she built the library from a very small collection to almost 20,000 volumes. She initiated and organized an annual Jewish
book fair, held regular book reviews with the help of Ida Nasatir and engaged notable Jewish literary speakers, such as I.B.
Singer and Elie Wiesel.
2011-052