Collection focus: MC 45 Fisher and Evelyn Abramson Papers

Abramson as YMHA president with World War I plaque

Fisher Abramson at his desk

Abramson and Jewish Welfare Board

Ribbon cutting for Jewish Community Center, 1947

Tifereth Israel board signing contract for new synagogue and school

In 1989 the Archives of the Center for Jewish Culture, part of the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections, were given a collection of materials regarding Fisher and Evelyn Abramson by Irving and Dede Abramson.  Some items were donated earlier, in 1982,  by Evelyn Abramson herself.  Now catalogued, the collection consists of correspondence, awards, photographs, and newspaper clippings. It does not document his career as a lawyer, or his work for various business or civic organizations, but does provide some documentation of his efforts on behalf of the Jewish community of New Bedford, and is especially rich in photographs. Fisher Abramson was the first interview conducted for the Center for Jewish Culture’s oral history project, in 1981, a year before his death. His oral history interview provides information on all of his activities, and is part of MC 23.  The full transcription of the interview is available by contacting the archives.

Fisher Abramson was a well known lawyer and partner in the firm of Abramson, Titus and Putnam of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was very active in the Jewish community in New Bedford from 1920, when he began to practice law, until his death in 1982, serving on a number of boards and committees. He served as city solicitor from 1933 to 1937; treasurer of the Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation from 1955 to 1962; was a member of the board of directors of St. Luke’s Hospital from 1947 to 1978, and was president of that body from 1969-1978. He was a trustee of the New Bedford Five Cents Savings Bank for many years, and was vice president and treasurer of the Wamsutta Mills from 1948 to 1955. He was also a trustee of Sassaquin Hospital of New Bedford. In the Jewish community, Abramson served as president of Tifereth Israel congregation for many years, spearheading efforts to build a synagogue on Madison Street, and later on Brownell Avenue. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Jewish Community Center, which opened in the Rodman (Langshaw) Mansion on County Street in 1947. He worked for the Israeli Bond effort, was on the board of Brandeis University. In 1955 he was named B’nai B’rith Man of the year, and in 1975 he and his wife Evelyn were honored for their leadership and service to Greater New Bedford and Israel at a State of Israel Tribute Dinner.

Fisher and Evelyn Abramson married in 1920. They were first cousins. Evelyn was active in the Jewish community; she was the first president of the New Bedford Chapter of Senior Hadassah. She was also active in Tifereth Israel Sisterhood, Hebrew Ladies Helping Hand Society and the New Bedford Section of the National Council of Jewish Women.

The collection may be accessed by visiting the Archives and Special Collections on the mezzanine level of the Claire T. Carney Library.  Appointments are suggested.  The archives are open Monday through Friday between 9:30 and 5:00 pm.

Archives and Special Collections Closed for Holiday Break

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives and the Archives and Special Collections will be closed from December 24th through January 6, 2010, along with the entire UMD campus. Happy Holidays!

Traditional Portuguese Presépio on Display in the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives

Father Tim Goldrick and Prof. de Sa

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives is pleased to be chosen as one of four sites in the region to host a traditional Portuguese presépio or nativity scene assembled by the Associação Mosaico Cultural e Solidária de Lagoa, Açores, EUA e Canadá.
Faculty Director Gloria de Sá invited Mr. Roberto Medeiros, president of Associação Mosaico, and director of the Azorean Nativity Museum to display a presepio in the archives to highlight Azorean holiday traditions.  On Monday November 30, Mr. Medeiros painstakingly set up the 8 x 9 foot table top scene replete with logs, bark, moss, rocks, lichen and a sawdust street dyed pink.  Populating the scene are 93 handmade terracotta figures, which range from shepherds and washerwomen to the baby Jesus and six Magi, 16 animals, 2 windmills and 11 houses similar to those found in the Azores.  All of the figures and buildings are made by artisans from the city of Lagoa, in the Island of São Miguel, Azores. 

The opening of the exhibit was marked by an archives open house, reception and talk by Mr. Medeiros and by Father Tim Goldrick, Vice President of Friends of the Crèche, a national organization dedicated to furthering the tradition of the Christmas Nativity scene.  Father Goldrick brought several nativities from around the world from his personal collection and delivered a fascinating overview to the gathered crowd on the cultural history of the nativity from the second century to the present. 

“The Encyclopedia Britannica describes a crèche (presépio) as a three-dimensional representation of the birth of Jesus Christ that incorporates aspects of landscape and daily life.  At the core of the crèche are the figures of the infant Jesus in a manger, Mary and Joseph and the Magi.  It is the addition of the landscape and daily that elevates this model to that of a crèche from a representation of the Nativity.

In a traditional Portuguese presépio the model is set up in the family home at the beginning of Advent and the figurine of the infant Jesus is sometimes not placed upon the manger until after the Midnight Mass (Missa do Galo) on Christmas Day.  The model is then taken down after the Epiphany (Dia de Reis). 

What sets Portuguese presépios apart from other crèche representations is that throughout the years a “Portuguese vibe” has been given to the story: it is common to find figurines that represent quotidian activities such as the wash lady, the miller and his mill, members of a dance group (rancho folclórico), a woman with the traditional cântaro on her head (clay pot) amongst other stereotypical Portuguese icons.” – Sonia Pacheco, Archives Librarian for the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives

 The exhibit will be on display through December 23, 2009, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM in the Prince Henry Society Reading Room, Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives.  All are welcome.  Park in lot 13. For more information, please call 508 999-8689.

Dr. Naseer H. Aruri Papers Dedicated

On Saturday September 26, friends, family and colleagues gathered in the new Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives of the UMD Archives and Special Collections to honor Chancellor Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Naseer H. Aruri.  The occasion marked the donation of his personal research papers to the archives, and his extensive library on Middle Eastern history and politics to the Claire T. Carney Library.  Dr. Aruri taught political science at the University of Massachusetts Darmouth from 1965 through 1998.  He has authored or edited fourteen books and over 100 articles on Middle Eastern history, international politics, human rights, Palestine, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and has presented lectures at universities in the U.S. and abroad.  He is currently the president of the board of the Trans-Arab Research Institute and writes and speaks frequently on global political science.   Dr. Aruri’s papers will be permanently preserved and made available to scholars and students at the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections.

Folk Music Society of N.Y., Inc. presents Eisteddfod 2009

Folk Music Society of NY Inc. and NY Pinewoods Folk Music Club presents

Festival of Traditional Music

The 31st Eisteddfod

October 16-18, 2009 at the Friar Tuck Inn, 4858 Route 32, Catskill, NY 12414

40 miles south of Albany, 20 miles north of Kingston, and 120 miles north of New York City.

For more information see http://www.eisteddfod-ny.org or call 718-672-6399

Mayor Berta Cabral Visits Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives

 

 

 

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives has received many distinguished visitors since its opening on September 18, 2009.  Ponta Delgada mayor Berta Cabral was one such visitor, receiving a special preview of the facility before its official opening.  Chancellor Jean MacCormack hosted the mayor and her delegation, for a tour of the new archives on August 28, 2009.  Her visit was part of a week-long visit to the South Coast.   Ponta Delgada is the largest city in the Azores, and the main city on the Island of Sao Miguel.

For more information, see the Standard Times article at http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090829/NEWS/908290347

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Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives Dedicated on September 18, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

 

Press coverage for the opening in the local newspapers:
Fall River Herald News
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x1073701504/UMass-Dartmouth-opens-Portuguese-American-Archive

New Bedford Standard Times
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090919/NEWS/909190324

Portuguese Times
http://www.portuguesetimes.com/Ed_1995/Comuni/co01.htm

Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives Grand Opening Set for September 18

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives is set to inaugurate its new facility with a special celebration, and ribbon- cutting ceremony, at 4:00 PM on Friday September 18, 2009.  The newly-renovated facility, once home to the Claire T. Carney Library’s television studio, now features the Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts, Inc.  Reading Room, the Costa and Silva Families Vestibule, the William Q. and Mary Jane MacLean Gallery, and the Dorothy Santos Lobby, along with an office suite, processing room, and a climate-controlled storage vault.  The storage vault is  named for several individuals who have generously donated their personal collections as well as supported the renovation project:  The Dennis Rezendes Azorean Ancestral and Personal Life Collection, the Edmund Dinis Portuguese-American Political, Legal and Public Service Collection, the Frank B. Sousa Business and Entrepreneurship Collection and the Carlton Viveiros Collection. 

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives is a joint collaboration between the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections and the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture.

Brazilian-American Cultural Institute Archives Find Home at UMD

Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, Washington D.C. (1964-2008)

Clovis Junior exhibit held at BACI in 2003

 

            The Brazilian-American Cultural Institute (BACI) was a non-profit organization established to promote awareness in the United States about the music, art, and culture of Brazil.  It had a large art gallery, recital and lecture space, and an 8,000 volume bilingual library. BACI offered courses at all levels in Portuguese throughout its entire existence, and it also offered lessons in the samba and guitar.  Beyond these daily and weekly activities, BACI hosted hundreds of visiting artists, scholars and musicians, as well as organized educational trips to Brazil.  BACI also produced various publications over the years, including Portuguese textbooks.

            The majority of the institute’s history unfolded under the leadership of Dr. José Neistein, who was appointed by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1970 to promote Brazilian Culture in the U.S.  He served as the director of the institute until it closed in early 2008.  Although the institute generated income from its classes and art sales, it was forced to close when the government of Brazil discontinued funding.

In 2008 BACI generously donated their administrative records and hundreds of files on Brazilian artists and musicians to the Claire T. Carney Library Archives and Special Collections for use in conjunction with the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives.  The Claire T. Carney Library purchased the library of the institute, which is currently being added to the general library collections.  The archival records will be fully organized and processed within the next year or two, but are currently available for inspection with the assistance of the Archives and Special Collections Librarian.

Howard Glasser and Tom Stern Visit Archives

On June 17, Howard Glasser and Tom Stern toured the new Archives and Special Collections facility and met with archivist Judy Farrar regarding next steps in planning for the future growth of the Howard T. Glasser Archives of Folk Music and Letter Arts.  Established in 2003, the mission of the Howard T. Glasser Archives of Folk Music and Letter Arts  is to preserve the artistic and musical collecting legacy of retired design professor Howard T. Glasser.  The initial donation, digital copies of his Scottish recordings, many original Eisteddfod recordings, and programs and flyers from the Carnegie and URI ceildhs, forms the core of the collection.  The Howard T. Glasser Archives Fund was established the following year to help maintain these fragile materials, many of which reside on ageing magnetic reel to reel recording tapes.  To date, the fund has enabled staff to pay for digital conversion of a related collection, the recordings of Paul Clayton, and a selection of the Eisteddfod recordings.  The fund will also be used to begin conversion of the Tryworks concert recordings.  

The archivist welcomes suggestions for donations of potentially important historic material to the collection from folk song groups, coffeehouses and other folk music venues, collectors, artists and musicians to document the folk music “scene” in New England.  Contact Judy Farrar via email at jfarrar@umassd.edu.