Finding Aid to the Seymour Fromer papers BANC MSS 2010/771
Lori Dedeyan
The Bancroft Library
2016
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Seymour Fromer papers, 1912-2010
Creator:
Fromer, Seymour, 1922-2009
Creator:
Judah L. Magnes Museum
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 2010/771
Physical Description:
16.5 Linear Feet
13 cartons, 1 box, 1 oversize folder
Date (inclusive): 1912-2010
Date (bulk): 1950-2009
Abstract: The Seymour Fromer papers document the life and work of the founding director of the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley, CA
(now the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life). A large portion of the collection is dedicated to Fromer's directorship
of the Magnes, including the Western Jewish History Center and the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries
and Landmarks, and includes correspondence and working files for its various exhibits and programs, as well as financial and
administrative records. Also documented is Fromer’s involvement with various Jewish agencies and organizations, such as the
Agency for Jewish Education, the American Association for Jewish Education (including performances organized by its Festival
of Faith and Freedom Committee), the Jewish Education Council, B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay,
and various other societies and institutions. The collection also contains Fromer’s personal files and correspondence.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Access
Collection is open for research, with exception of unprocessed digital material.
Inquiries regarding digital materials should be submitted to The Bancroft Library via the Notice of Interest in Unprocessed
Collections form: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/unprocessed-collections-form
Box 1: NEGATIVES RESTRICTED. Available for use by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright
beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility
for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Seymour Fromer papers, BANC MSS 2010/771, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Related Materials
Judah L. Magnes Museum records, 1962-2006, BANC MSS 2010/764, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft Library,
University of California, Berkeley.
Western Jewish History Center Vertical Files, BANC MSS 2010/775, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks records, BANC MSS 2010/716, The Magnes Collection
of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Jewish Education Council records (bulk 1950-1980), BANC MSS 2010/748, The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Further material relating to this collection can be found by searching The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, The Bancroft
Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Acquisition Information
Transfer; Judah L. Magnes Museum; 2010.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the folder level.
Processing Information
Processed by Lori Dedeyan in 2016.
Biographical / Historical
Seymour Fromer was the founding director of the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley, CA. Born in the Bronx, NY, on October
3, 1922, he attended Brooklyn College and Columbia University and worked as a school administrator in New Jersey until moving
to Los Angeles in the 1950s. In Los Angeles, he worked with the American Association for Jewish Education to present the
Darius Milhaud opera “David” at the Hollywood Bowl. He later moved to Oakland, CA, where he was a founding director of the
Jewish Education Council of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and helped form the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer
Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks, which was responsible for the preservation of seven gold- rush era Jewish cemeteries.
In 1962, he and his wife, Rebecca, co-founded the Judah L. Magnes Museum, which found its permanent home in an old mansion
on Russell Street in Berkeley. The museum collected Jewish art and cultural artifacts from around the world, including objects
gathered by the Fromers during their travels through North Africa and Southwest and South Asia. In 1967 Fromer started the
Western Jewish History Center, which became the largest regional repository for artifacts documenting the contributions of
Jews to the settlement of California and the West. He remained the director of the museum until his retirement in 1998.
Fromer was active in the Jewish community throughout his life, with involvement in Jewish organizations such as the Agency
for Jewish Education, the American Association for Jewish
Education, the Jewish Education Council, B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, and various other
societies and institutions.
Fromer died on October 25, 2009, at age 87.
In 2010, the Judah L. Magnes Museum transferred its collections to the University of California, Berkeley. As part of the
agreement, the collection was moved from its Russell Street location to a new building on Allston Way in downtown Berkeley.
It is now known as the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life.
Scope and Contents
The Seymour Fromer papers document the life and work of the founding director of the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley, CA
(now the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life). A large portion of the collection is dedicated to Fromer's directorship
of the Magnes, including the Western Jewish History Center and the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries
and Landmarks, and includes correspondence and working files for its various exhibits and programs, as well as financial and
administrative records. Also documented is Fromer’s involvement with various Jewish agencies and organizations, such as the
Agency for Jewish Education, the American Association for Jewish Education (including performances organized by its Festival
of Faith and Freedom Committee), the Jewish Education Council, B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay,
and various other societies and institutions. The collection also contains Fromer’s personal files and correspondence.
Series 1 (Judah L. Magnes Museum) is divided into six subseries: Administrative files; Board of Directors records; Program
files; Western Jewish History Center; Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks; and Research
files.
Series 2 (Jewish Agencies and Organizations) contains the correspondence and working files for various organizations.
Series 3 (Personal files) contains Fromer's personal correspondence, writing, and documents.
Series 4 (Photographs) contains photographs relating to the Magnes Museum, various Jewish organizations, and personal and
family pictures.
Series 5 (Audiovisual) contains various recordings for music and interviews.
The collection also contains digital material: video interviews with Seymour and Rebecca Fromer and Ruth Eis, as well as photographs
of the Molekumne Hill and Placerville Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries. This material is unavailable until processed.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Fromer, Seymour, 1922-2009--Archives.
Judah L. Magnes Museum--Archives.
Judah L. Magnes Museum. Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks--Archives
Western Jewish History Center--Archives
Jewish museums--California--Berkeley
Jewish pioneers--West (U.S.)
Museum directors
Jewish cemeteries--California
Jewish art
Fromer, Seymour, 1922-2009
Judah L. Magnes Museum
Series 1. Judah L. Magnes Museum
1912-2010
1960-2010
Physical Description: Cartons 1-8; Carton 9, folders 1-20; Carton 13, folders 1-7; Oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged into six subseries: administrative files, board of directors records, program files, Western Jewish History Center
files, Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks files, and research files.
Scope and Contents
Contains material relating to and generated by Fromer's directorship of the Judah L. Magnes Museum, including the Western
Jewish History Center and the Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks.
Subseries 1.1. Administrative files
1960-2010
Physical Description: Cartons 1-2; Carton 3, folders 1-31; Carton 13, folders 1-3; Oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within topics.
Scope and Contents
Contains the administrative files of the Magnes Museum, including acquisitions and financial records, correspondence, strategic
plans and bylaws, and museum renovation and restructuring.
Acquisitions and donations
carton 1, folder 1
Gifts and donations- deeds and correspondence
1973-2009
carton 1, folder 2
Donors files: Rosenblatt, Albert H.
1966-1969
carton 1, folder 3
Donor files: Meyer, Ernst
1967
carton 1, folder 4
Donor files: Seidel, Toscha
1971
carton 1, folder 5
Donor files: Kohs, Ellis B.
1997
carton 1, folder 6
Donor files: Honig, Lorraine and Victor
2005
carton 1, folder 7
Potential acquisitions: Altschuler, Evi (seller)
2004
carton 1, folders 8-9
Acquisitions correspondence
1960-1967
carton 1, folder 10
Acquisitions correspondence
circa 1976-2003
carton 1, folders 11-12
Acquisitions receipts
circa 1970-2007
carton 1, folder 13
Acquisitions: Zakheim monument
1968-1974
carton 1, folder 14
Acquisitions: Cochin, India
1968-1970
carton 1, folder 15
Acquisitions: Egpyt (Cairo), India (Cochin), Israel
1969-1978
carton 1, folder 16
Acquisitions: Cairo, Egypt
1972
carton 1, folder 17
Acquisitions: Egpyt (Cairo), India (Cochin)
1974
carton 1, folder 18
Acquisitions: Cochin, India correspondence
1974-1977
carton 1, folder 19
Acquisitions logs
circa 1972
carton 1, folders 20-21
Acquisitions: Bodenheimer collection
1975-1978
carton 1, folder 22
Acquisitions: Reicher collection
1976
Carton 13, Folder 1
Acquisitions: Ketubot
1983
carton 1, folder 23
Acquisitions: Krasnow, Peter (artist)
1985
carton 1, folder 24
Acquisitions: Wolpert, Ludwig
1996
carton 1, folder 25
Acquisitions: Inquisition documents
1998-1999
carton 1, folder 26
Acquisitions: Arthur Feldman Gallery (seller)
2003
carton 1, folder 27
Acquisitions: Fehl, Phillip (artist)
2004
carton 1, folder 28
Acquisitions: Portrait of Rosalie Koenigswerther
2004
carton 1, folder 29
Acquisitions: Schwadel, Paul (seller)
2005-2006
carton 1, folder 30
Acquisitions: Homer, Winslow
2008
carton 1, folder 31
Museum acquisitions and consignments
1997-2001
carton 1, folder 32
Sale of Lesser Uri and Meidner to Jewish Museum, Berlin
2001-2003
carton 1, folder 33
Sale to David Prosser
2004
Carton 2, Folder 43
Correspondence: American Jewish Historical Society
1978-1980
carton 3, folder 1
Correspondence: Blackman, Julius (Hebrew Free Loan Society)
1972-2006
carton 3, folder 2
Correspondence: Jerusalmi, Isaac (Hebrew Union College)
1995
carton 3, folder 3
Correspondence: Schakow, Charna (Docent Coordinator)
2007-2008
carton 3, folder 4
Correspondence: Stavroulakis, Nimoy (Jewish Museum of Greece)
1978-1982
Carton 13, Folder 2
Correspondence: Von der Heydt, Vernon W.
1994-1995
carton 3, folder 5
Museum expenses
1975-1976
carton 3, folder 7
NEH Challenge Grants
1977-1982
carton 3, folder 9
Budget allocation narrative
1981-1982
carton 3, folder 10
Museum expenses
1981-1983
carton 3, folder 11
Estate settlements, Magnes as beneficiary
1982-1983
carton 3, folder 12
Museum budgets and exhibits
1982-1984
carton 3, folder 13
Museum budgets
1991, 1996-1997
carton 3, folder 15
Finance planning assessment
1999
carton 3, folder 17
Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
circa 1966
oversize_folder 1
Development proposal for Magnes Museum (UC Berkeley Architecture 207 class portfolio, prof. Sami Hassid)
1973
carton 3, folder 18
Proposals and strategic planning
circa 1977-2002
carton 3, folder 19
Sculpture contract: Phoenix Group West
1978
carton 3, folder 20
Museum construction
1979-1981
Carton 13, Folder 3
Architectural drawings
1981
oversize_folder 1
Magnes architectural drawings
undated
carton 3, folder 22
Museum gift shop construction bids
1983
carton 3, folder 23
Consolidation with SF Jewish Museum, assessment report
1987
carton 3, folder 24
Magnes merger and accreditation
1990, 1997, 2001
carton 3, folder 26
Museum renovation
1994-1997
carton 3, folder 27
Relocation announcement and research
1996-2004
carton 3, folder 28
Mission statement, accreditation
1997-1998
Subseries 1.2. Board of Directors records
1968-2002
Physical Description: Carton 3, folders 32-39; Carton 4, folders 1-9
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Contains meeting minutes and correspondence from the board of directors.
carton 3, folder 32
Board meetings
1968-1969, 1972-1973
carton 3, folder 39
Planning and meetings
1982
carton 4, folder 9
Board meetings
1998, 2002
Subseries 1.3. Program files
1950s-2009
Physical Description: Carton 4, folders 10-47; Carton 5; Carton 6, folders 1-9; Carton 13, folder 4; Oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within topic.
Scope and Contents
Contains the program files of the Magnes Museum, including exhibit files, museum programs and events, proposals, publication
files, publicity and press, and general museum documents.
carton 4, folder 10
Exhibit list, 1962-1983
1983
carton 4, folder 12
Traditional Costume of the Holy Land
1981
carton 4, folder 16
Charlotte Salomon
1983-1984
carton 4, folder 17
Ben Zion: A Tradition of Independence (booklet)
1986
carton 4, folder 18
American Sephardic Synagogues (proposal)
1987
carton 4, folders 19-20
Turkish Jews/ Embellished Lives
1988-1992
carton 4, folder 21
The Legacy of Boris Deutsch
1992
carton 4, folder 22
Travelling exhibits
1992-1994
oversize_folder 1
Faith and Survival: Ethiopian Jewish Life, 1983-1992 (poster)
1993
carton 4, folder 23
Jewish Pictorial Carpets
1997-1998
carton 4, folder 24
Jewish Life in the American West
2001-2002
carton 4, folder 25
Sephardic Greece
circa 2002
carton 4, folder 27
Spice exhibit proposal
2004
carton 4, folder 28
Acting Out: Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore
2005
Carton 13, Folder 4
Houses and Housings: Portability in Jewish Faith and Culture (catalog)
2005
carton 4, folder 29
Exhibit files, general
circa 1974-2008
carton 4, folder 30
Exhibit brochures
1971-2007
carton 4, folder 31
Exhibit booklets
1969-1993
carton 4, folder 32
Magnes archival research by Joseph Rosenbloom
1962
carton 4, folder 33
Oral history project
1966
carton 4, folder 34
Jewish Film Festival, New Jewish Media Project
1972-1994
carton 4, folders 35-37
Cultural Exchange Fellowship Program to Israel for California state legislators
1976-1981
carton 4, folder 39
Symposium: "On the Life and Legacy of Judah L. Magnes"
1982
carton 4, folders 40-41
Jewish Experience in China and the Far East
1983-1998
carton 4, folder 42
Docent program
circa 1985-2006
carton 4, folder 43
Iwo Jima cemetery dedication
1995
carton 4, folder 44
Fromer retirement event
1997-1998
carton 4, folder 45
Lecture: Yehudit Shendar, "Picture Power"
1998
carton 4, folder 46
Center for Jewish Studies, Nanjing University
2005
carton 4, folder 47
Jewish Poster Collection proposal for International Poster Museum
1972-1976
carton 5, folder 1
Bay Area Fund for Arts and Letters
1976-1977
carton 5, folder 2
Institute of Sephardic Studies
1978
carton 5, folder 3
Registry of Jewish Ceremonial Objects
1980
carton 5, folder 4
Traveling Exhibits service
1987-1991
carton 5, folder 6
Center for the Advancement of Jewish, Arab, and Muslim Relations
undated
carton 5, folder 7
Consulting: Weinberger Museum of Jewish Culture
1995
carton 5, folder 8
Consulting: Jewish Museum Berlin
2000-2004
carton 5, folder 9
Consulting: "The Unseen One" interfaith video by Lynn Feinerman
2004
carton 5, folder 10
Consulting: Jews of the Fillmore
2009
carton 5, folder 11
California Association of Museums
1980-1982
carton 5, folder 49
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council
1981
carton 5, folder 12
Council of American Jewish Museums, Washington D.C. meeting
1982
carton 5, folder 13
Council of American Jewish Museums
1994-1998
carton 5, folder 14
General museum documents
circa 1970-2005
carton 5, folder 15
Ghetto of Warsaw (Stefan Mrozewsky)
1966
carton 5, folder 16
How Was It Possible? (Ludwig Rosenthal)
1970
carton 5, folder 17
Max Helfman: A Biographical Sketch (Philip Moddel)
1972-1974
carton 5, folder 18
Free to choose: The making of a Jewish community in the American West (Fred Rosenbaum)
1974-1977
carton 5, folder 19
Judah L. Magnes, Pioneer and Prophet of Two Continents: A Pictorial Biography (David Biale)
1977
carton 5, folder 20
The Haas Sisters of Franklin Street: A Look Back with Love (F. Rothman)
1978-1981
carton 5, folder 21
Architects of Reform: Congregation and Community Leadership, Emanu-El of San Francisco, 1849-1980 (Fred Rosenbaum)
1980
carton 5, folders 22-24
Dissenter in Zion : from the writings of Judah L. Magnes (Arthur A. Goren)
1982
carton 5, folder 25
Catalog of Ornamented Bags by Ruth Eis
1983
carton 5, folder 26
In Defense of the Survivors: The Letters and Documents of Oscar A. Mintzer, AJDC legal advisor, Germany, 1945-1946 (Arthur
Goren)
1993-1999
carton 5, folder 27
Fringe of the Diaspora: The Jews of Wyoming (Penny Wolin)
1995-1998
carton 5, folder 28
Bittersweet Legacy: Creative Responses to the Holocaust (ed. Cynthia Brody)
1997
carton 5, folders 29-30
A Letter to My Children (Abraham Klausner)
2001
carton 5, folder 31
Jews of the Gold Rush (proposal)
2008
carton 5, folder 32
Isaac Babel Short Stories (ill. Michael Iofin)
1999-2001
carton 5, folder 33
A Crown for a King: Studies in Jewish Art, History, and Archaeology in Memory of Stephen S. Kayser
2000
carton 5, folder 34
Manuscripts: Berg, Robert
2002, 2006
carton 5, folder 35
Manuscript: Bergas, Hannah memoir
1989
carton 5, folder 36
Manuscript: Borowsky, Bertel Kugelman- "My Story"
1994
carton 5, folder 37
Manuscript: Brechin, Gray- "Conserving the Race"
1994
carton 5, folder 38
Manuscript: Donig, Deborah- "Lyndon Johnson and Operation Texas"
2009
carton 5, folder 39
Manuscript: Feinerman, Lynn- "A Leap of Faith" (screenplay)
circa 1985
carton 5, folder 40
Manuscript: Fromer, Rebecca Cahmi memoir
undated
carton 5, folder 41
Manuscript: Frumberg, Irv- "A Taste of Life"
2005
carton 5, folder 42
Manuscript: Glaser, Agathe memoir
2000
carton 5, folder 43
Manuscript: Greenwood, Ernest- "Adventures of a Journeyman Tailor"
1997
carton 5, folder 44
Manuscript: Heyman, Hartwig
circa 1982
carton 5, folder 45
Manuscript: Meyers, Odette
2001
carton 5, folder 46
Manuscript: Rinaldi, Matthew- "The Disturbing Case of Feodor Feodorenko"
1978
carton 5, folder 47
Manuscript: Sterberger, Marcel and Ilse- "The Curse"
undated
carton 5, folder 48
Manuscript: Sternberger, Ilse- "Conversation with Diego Rivera"
undated
carton 6, folders 1-3
Mailers, programs, press
circa 1962-2008
carton 6, folder 4
Museum newsletters
1968-2001
carton 6, folder 5
Publicity scrapbook
1962-1969
carton 6, folders 6-8
Press clippings
1950s-2006
carton 6, folder 9
Jerusalmi, Isaac- "The Constitution of the Burial Society of the Bucharest Sephardic Community" (featuring Magnes holding)
2005
Subseries 1.4. Western Jewish History Center
1965-2002
Physical Description: Carton 6, folders 10-30
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within topic.
Scope and Contents
Contains the meeting minutes, correspondence, and program documents of the Western Jewish History Center.
carton 6, folder 11
Western Research Fund
1966-1977
carton 6, folder 12
Advisory Committee meetings
1965, 1969-1971
carton 6, folders 13-20
Advisory Committee meetings
1974-1985
carton 6, folder 21
Advisory Committee meetings
1987, 1991-1998
carton 6, folder 26
Correspondence
1986, 2002
carton 6, folders 28-29
Seymour Fromer oral history at WJHC
1981
carton 6, folder 30
Miscellaneous
circa 1983-1993
Subseries 1.5. Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks
1961-2009
Physical Description: Carton 6, folders 31-36; Carton 7; Carton 13, folders 5-6
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically within topic.
Scope and Contents
Contains the meeting minutes, correspondence, and working files of the Cemeteries Commission, as well as research for various
pioneer cemeteries.
carton 6, folder 31
Meetings and correspondence
1961-1973
carton 6, folders 34-36
Meetings and correspondence
2002-2004
carton 7, folder 17
Jackson- B'nai Israel historic bylaws research
circa 1988
carton 7, folder 24
Nevada City
circa 2000-2001
carton 7, folder 27
Ava Kahn- teacher's guide consulting
2008
carton 7, folder 28
Jewish Buildings and Cemeteries- A Guide to Visual Resources
1982
carton 7, folder 29
Mailers and pamphlets
undated
Carton 13, Folder 5
Magnes Trust Agreement drafts
1963
Carton 13, Folder 6
Cemetery deeds and settlements
circa 1995-2002
carton 7, folder 31
Miscellaneous
circa 1981-2007
Subseries 1.6. Research files
1912-2009
1960-2009
Physical Description: Carton 8; Carton 9, folders 1-20; Carton 13, folder 7
Arrangement
Artist files arranged alphabetically by artist surname. Subject files arranged by topic, in a roughly chronological order.
Scope and Contents
Contains Fromer's research files, including artist files, articles, programs and exhibit material from other Jewish institutions,
newsletters, museum guidelines, travel material, catalogs, and miscellaneous cultural material.
carton 8, folders 8-9
Boynton, Ray and Beryl
1982
carton 8, folder 16
Hendel, Meta
circa 1935-1960
carton 8, folder 21
Newman, Andrew (Bela Barsony)
1991
carton 8, folder 24
Walker, Shoshanna
1978-1979
carton 8, folder 26
Potential acquisitions
1965-2005
carton 8, folder 27
Potential acquisitions- Bloch, Carl
2003
carton 8, folder 28
Potential acquisitions- Gottlieb, Maurycy
circa 1987
carton 8, folder 29
Potential acquisitions- Soshana
2003
carton 8, folder 30
Potential acquisitions- Stauffenberg
2008
carton 8, folder 31
Research- Wachtel, William
undated
carton 8, folders 32-35
Programs and exhibits- other institutions
1972-2005
carton 8, Folder 36
Yeshiva University Museum- Purim programs
1979
carton 8, Folder 37
Articles (1 of 2)
circa 1968-2004
carton 9, folder 1
Articles (2 of 2)
circa 1968-2004
carton 9, folder 2
Newsletters and announcements- other institutions
circa 1957-2004
carton 9, folder 3
Museum guidelines and collection resources
1976-1994
carton 9, folder 4
Jewish Studies Microfiche Project
1976-1977
carton 9, folders 6-7
Arts and Crafts silver
1977-1991
carton 9, folder 8
Precious Legacy: Judaic Treasures from the Czechoslovak State Collections
1982-1983
carton 9, folder 9
Holocaust Memorial Cantata
1987
carton 9, folder 10
Synagogue of Tomar (Portugal)
1988
carton 9, folder 11
Mira Zussman (writing)
1989-1991
carton 9, folder 14
Travel to Girona, Spain
circa 1994
carton 9, folder 15
Jewish Archives in Europe
1998-1999
carton 9, folders 16-19
Miscellaneous documents
circa 1933-2008
Carton 13, Folder 7
Catalogs- Israeli and Ghetto Fighters' House Museum
1978, undated
Series 2. Jewish Agencies and Organizations
1954-2009
Physical Description: Carton 9, folders 21-31; Carton 10; Carton 13, folders 8-12; Oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by organization.
Scope and Contents
Contains material relating to Fromer's participation in various Jewish educational and community organizations, such as the
Agency for Jewish Education, the American Association for Jewish Education (including performances organized by its Festival
of Faith and Freedom Committee), the Jewish Education Council, B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay,
and various other societies and institutions. Included are correspondence, minutes, and program material.
carton 9, folders 21-22
American Agency for Jewish Education- minutes
1954-1955
Carton 13, Folder 9
American Association for Jewish Education, Distinguished Service Award
1959
carton 9, folder 23
American Association for Jewish Education, Hebrew Educators' Seminar to Israel
1961
carton 9, folder 24
Jewish Education Council- correspondence and program documents
1954-1959
carton 9, folder 25
Jewish Education Council- cultural programs
1955-1960
carton 9, folder 26
Jewish Education Council- correspondence
1961
carton 9, folder 27
Jewish Education Council- program documents
1960-1977
carton 9, folder 28
Jewish Education Council- correspondence and program documents
1971-1979
carton 9, folder 29
Jewish Education Council- correspondence and program documents
1981-1982
carton 9, folder 30
Agency for Jewish Education- correspondence and board meetings
1983-1984
carton 9, folder 31
Jewish education research: "Exploring Jewish Symbols" Teacber's Kit (Yeshiva University Museum)
1980
carton 10, folder 1
Jewish education research: "Death and the Jewish Way of Life" Curriculum Guide (Baltimore Board of Jewish Education)
1980
carton 10, folder 2
Jewish education, miscellaneous
circa 1960-1979
oversize_folder 1
Multi- Interest Day (M.I.D.) Jewish education program, Service Award certificate
1984
carton 10, folder 3
Oakland Jewish Community Center- sculptures
circa 1960, 2003
carton 10, folder 4
Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center- Jewish Learning Center
2000
carton 10, folder 5
Jewish Television Network
circa 1981
oversize_folder 1
B'nai B'rith, Akiba Award certificate
1974
carton 10, folder 7
Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay
1964-1994
carton 10, folder 8
Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay- Task Force on Jewish Education
1982
carton 10, folder 9
Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay
1994
carton 10, folder 10
Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay- Jewish Open Studios Committee
1999
carton 13, folder 10
Jewish Community Federation, Distinguished Service Award: Executive of the Year (plaque)
1997
carton 10, folder 11
Jewish Community Federation- Israel @ 60 Mission
2008
carton 10, folder 12
Jewish Federation- Fromer Scholarship Fund
1984-1988
carton 10, folder 13
Jewish Federation- Fromer Scholarship Fund
1991
carton 10, folders 14-18
Jewish Federation- Fromer Scholarship Fund
1999-2008
carton 10, folders 19-20
Oakland Theater League- "The Pleasure of His Company"
1960-1961
carton 10, folders 21-33
Festival of Faith and Freedom Committee (American Association of Jewish Education): "David" by Darius Milhaud at Hollywood
Bowl
1955-1961
Scope and Contents
Files contain guest lists, solicitations, working files of the Women's Committee, budgets, general correspondence, correspondence
with Darius Milhaud, a letter from actor Gregory Peck, an autographed script from Darius Milhaud, and ephemera such as concert
programs and stationery.
Carton 13, Folder 8
Festival of Faith and Freedom (American Association of Jewish Education): "David" by Darius Milhaud- vocal score
1954
carton 10, folder 34
Festival of Faith and Freedom Committee (American Association of Jewish Education): "Nabucco"
1960-1961
carton 10, folder 35
Festival of Faith and Freedom Committee (American Association of Jewish Education): "Moses"
1965
carton 10, folders 36-41
Arthur Szyk Society- minutes, correspondence, and program material
2000-2009
carton 10, folder 42
Arthur Szyk Society- newsletters and pamphlets
1998-2009
carton 10, folder 46
Lehrhaus Judaica
1983, 1985
oversize_folder 1
American Jewish Historical Society, Torchbearer Award certificate
1995
carton 13, folder 11
Lifetime Achievement Award, Council of American Jewish Museums (plaque)
1998
carton 13, folder 12
American Israel Numismatic Association Award (plaque)
undated
Series 3. Personal papers
1918-2009
Physical Description: Carton 11; Carton 13, folder 13; Oversize folder 1
Arrangement
Correspondence listed first in chronological order. Other material arranged in chronological order.
Scope and Contents
Contains Fromer's personalia, including correspondence, early notes and writing, family documents, business material, and
ephemera.
carton 11, folder 6
Correspondence with JonDavid Bachrach
1968-1976
carton 11, folders 7-8
'Get Well' cards and correspondence
1978
carton 11, folder 9
Correspondence with Charles Gray Fine Arts
2002-2007
carton 11, folder 11
Childhood notebook and Bronx Boy Scouts program
1931, 1936
carton 11, folder 12
Yearbook, Stuyvestant High School
1941
carton 11, folders 13-16
Early notes
circa 1945-1951
Carton 13, Folder 13
Order of E. Clampus Vitus membership certificate
1963
carton 11, folder 17
Passports
1950, 1968-1979
carton 11, folder 18
Biographical information
1957-1981
carton 11, folders 19-20
Notes for speeches
circa 1990s
carton 11, folder 22
Personal and family documents
1918-2005
carton 11, folder 23
Publications, speeches, and publicity
1958-1994
oversize_folder 1
Jewish National Fund, "Freedom Forest: In Memory of Sara Ann Fromer, Ten Trees Planted in Israel by Jewish Welfare Federation
of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties", certificate
1960
carton 11, folder 24
Manuscript: "Jewish Education in the Colonial Period"
1967
oversize_folder 1
Magnes Museum, Certificate of Appreciation
1982
carton 11, folder 25
Manuscript drafts: "Role of the Jewish Museum"
1994-1997
carton 11, folder 26
Rebecca Fromer poetry and correspondence
2002, 2008-2009
carton 11, folder 27
Berkeley Townhouse Corporation
1983-1984, 1994, 2001-2002
carton 11, folders 28-29
Berkeley Townhouse Corporation
2006-2009
carton 11, folder 30
The Muse (furniture gallery)
1972
carton 11, folder 31
D.J. Puffert consignment claims
1993
Carton 11, Folder 32
Miscellaneous documents
circa 1979, 2006
Series 4. Photographs
circa 1919-2008
Physical Description: Carton 12
Arrangement
Arranged in a rough chronological order. Similar subjects grouped together.
Scope and Contents
Includes personal and family photographs, event photographs for various Jewish agencies, Magnes photographs and images of
potential acquisitions, travel photographs, photographs for the Cemeteries Commission, and various untitled events.
carton 12, folder 1
Family photographs
circa 1919
carton 12, folders 2-3
Photographs of Seymour Fromer
circa 1923-2008
carton 12, folder 4
American Association of Jewish Education, Festival of Faith and Freedom: "David"
1955-1956
box 1
American Association of Jewish Education, Festival of Faith and Freedom: "David" (negatives)
1955-1956
Conditions Governing Access
NEGATIVES RESTRICTED. Available for use by appointment only.
carton 12, folder 5
Agency for Jewish Education
circa 1953-1970
carton 12, folder 6
Jewish Welfare Federation
circa 1958
carton 12, folder 7
Jewish Education Council
circa 1966-1978
carton 12, folder 9
Magnes events and exhibit (30 by 15)
circa 1979
carton 12, folder 10
Magnes photographs
undated
carton 12, folder 14
Alicante, Madrid, Toledo (Spain)
1978
carton 12, folder 16
Europe, Bosnia, Germany
undated
carton 12, folder 18
Artwork and potential acquisitions
1972-1978
carton 12, folder 19
Potential acquisitions
circa 1995
carton 12, folders 20-23
Potential acquisitions
undated
carton 12, folder 24
Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries: Marysville
2005, 2008
carton 12, folder 25
Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries: Placerville, Mokelumne Hill, Jackson
1964, 2005
carton 12, folder 26
Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries: Sonora
2005
carton 12, folder 27
Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries: unknown
undated
carton 12, folder 28
Various event photographs
1980, 1987-1997
carton 12, folder 32
Miscellaneous photographs
circa 1951-2006
Carton 12, Folder 33
Unknown photographs (deteriorating)
undated
Series 5. Audio
1995, undated
Physical Description: Carton 13, folders 14-16
Scope and Contents
Contains various recordings of interviews and music.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Special equipment or further processing may be required to access this material. Please contact the reference desk in advance
of your visit.
Carton 13, Folder 14
Untitled recording
undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 reel of 1/4 inch magnetic tape
Carton 13, Folder 15
"Tamar" opera by Marc Lavry, Act I
undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 reel of 1/4 inch magnetic tape
Carton 13, Folder 16
"WFAS AM 'From a Jewish Point of View', Rabbi Wm. Herskowitz" (1995); "Hartman, Thurs. AM"; "Hartman, Thurs. PM"
1995, undated
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
3 compact audio cassettes