B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 Records, 1864-1999,, bulk bulk 1980-1999

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Summary

Title:
B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 records
Dates:
1864-1999,, bulk bulk 1980-1999
Creators:
B'nai B'rith. District Grand Lodge No. 4
Abstract:
The B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 records document an extensive history of Jewish programming and community service from one of the most important Jewish organizations in North America.
Extent:
Number of containers: 31 cartons, 22 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 box Linear feet: 48 linear feet
Language:
Collection materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 Records, BANC MSS 2010/777, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

The B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 records consist primarily of executive board records from the District, as well as various administrative materials from the District's areas, lodges, and units. The records are divided into three series:

  • Series I: Administrative Files
  • Series II: District - Areas, Councils, and Lodges
  • Series III: Public Relations, Events, and Awards

The administrative files consist of materials documenting the administrative and organizational functions of B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4. Administrative files include: constitutions, by-laws, membership rolls and directories, and annual meeting proceedings. The series also contains records from the executive board of District No. 4, including board minutes and materials from executive cabinets and committees, such as the Fundraising Cabinet, the Finance Committee, and the Nominating Committee. The bulk of District No. 4's executive board files date from 1980-1999.

The records from the District's areas, councils, and lodges consist of reports, correspondence, and petitions from individually named lodges and/or units, as well as materials segregated by broad geographic region (Southern, Northern, Central, and Interior). The bulk of these records date from 1980-1999.

Public relations, events, and awards files consist of District or individual lodge/unit event materials, such as invitations, programs, and photographs. The series also contains official B'nai B'rith magazine publications, as well as various newspaper and journal clippings, member biographies, awards, and convention photographs.

Biographical / historical:

In 1843, Henry Jones and 11 other German-Jewish immigrants gathered in New York's Lower East Side to confront the plight and condition of Jews in the United States - giving birth to the organization, B'nai B'rith. The original members' first concrete action was to create an insurance policy that awarded members' widows $30 toward funeral expenses and a stipend of one dollar a week for the rest of their lives. It is from this basis of humanitarian aid and service that a system of fraternal lodges and chapters grew in the United States and, eventually, around the world.

In 1863, B'nai B'rith District Grand Lodge No. 4 was chartered in San Francisco, California. In 1870, this lodge established orphan asylums and homes for the aged in both northern and southern California. In 1891, it supported Jewish education by establishing a religious school in San Francisco; which, in turn, laid the groundwork for future support by the Jewish Education Society.

Over the years, B'nai B'rith has been recognized as being a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity; as a leader in disaster relief; as a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens; and as a staunch defender of the State of Israel.

In 2004, B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 became part of the Golden Pacific Region of B'nai B'rith International, including Northern California and San Francisco.

Acquisition information:
The B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 records were transferred to The Bancroft Library from the Judah L. Magnes Museum in 2010.
Processing information:

Processed by Jeffrey Sahaida in 2013.

Arrangement:

Arranged to the folder level.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

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.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding Aid written by Jeffrey P. Sahaida
Date Prepared:
© 2007
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid generated by Finding Aid author(s) via EAD XPress; markup validated by The Bancroft Library staff using OAC validation tools; Date of source: January 2014

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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], B'nai B'rith, District Grand Lodge No. 4 Records, BANC MSS 2010/777, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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