William Stern papers, 1915-1965

Summary

Creators:

Stern, William, 1897-1965

Abstract:

The papers of Rabbi Willam Stern of Oakland, California. The collection includes files on Stern's involvement with various local and national organizations, Jewish and non-Jewish; files from Stern's years at Temple Sinai; correspondence, including letters of appreciation to Rabbi Stern for his efforts on weddings, bar mitzvot, funerals, and conversions; sermons and addresses, some of which were for the Jewish Chautauqua Society, about religious, patriotic, and philanthropic matters, including The California Jew in History; subject files; ephemera and clippings; certificates and commendations; and a small number of photographs.

Extent:

Number of containers: 6 cartons, 2 boxes, and 2 oversize boxes Linear feet: 8.2

Language:

Collection materials are in English

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes files on William Stern's involvement with various local and national organizations, Jewish and non-Jewish; files from Stern's years at Temple Sinai; correspondence, including letters of appreciation to Rabbi Stern for his efforts on weddings, bar mitzvot, funerals, and conversions; sermons and addresses, some of which were for the Jewish Chautauqua Society, about religious, patriotic, and philanthropic matters, including The California Jew in History; subject files; ephemera and clippings; certificates and commendations; and a small number of photographs.

Biographical / historical:

William Stern served as a rabbi of Oakland's Temple Sinai from 1934 to 1965. Before serving at Sinai, he was a rabbi at Congregation United Hebrew in Fort Smith, Oklahoma, and at Temple Beth El, in South Bend, Indiana. During his tenure at Temple Sinai, Stern was known for his knowledge, thoughtfulness, congeniality, and patriotism, and Sinai's membership increased greatly during his rabbinate. He actively involved himself in the affairs of his community, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, immersing himself in interfaith relations and doing what he could to combat anti-Semitism. He served with various civic organizations, including the Citizens Committees for Better Schools, Better Dental Health and Urban Renewal; Travelers Aid; the Alameda County United Fund; Rotary Club; the Jewish Community Relations Council (with which he was affiliated from 1952 to 1964); the Northern California Board of Rabbis (from 1939 until his death); the Interfaith Committee on Release Time and Religious Education; the Jewish Committee for Personal Service; the Jewish Welfare Federation of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties; and the Palestine Orchestra Fund. In 1937, Rabbi Stern spoke for the Emergency Peace Campaign of Northern Foreign War Crusade. In 1942, he was elected to the executive council for the Oakland Area War Fund.

Acquisition information:

The William Stern papers were gifted to The Bancroft Library by the Judah L. Magnes Museum in 2010.

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

Location of this collection:

UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library

Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US

Contact:

510-642-6481

bancref-library@berkeley.edu

Website