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Jacob and Esther Stiffel Senior Center Oral Histories and Cookbook Project Files
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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Jacob and Esther Stiffel Senior Center, a branch of the Jewish Community Centers (JCC) of Greater Philadelphia, was located at 604 West Porter Street in South Philadelphia. The Center provided activities, special events, and meals for senior citizens of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. The building that housed the center was initially constructed in 1928 as the Jewish Education Center No. 2 of the Associated Talmud Torahs, before becoming a community center branch of the Neighborhood Centre. Following the merger of the Neighborhood Centre with the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association in 1965 it became a constituent site of the Jewish Ys and Centers (JYC) of Greater Philadelphia. Known as the Multi-Service Center South, the center transitioned to providing services to seniors exclusively in 1973. A fire damaged the building in 1985, and after two years of repairs, the center reopened as the Jacob and Esther Stiffel Senior Center. The senior center closed in 2011.
This collection contains oral history transcripts, audiocassette tape recordings, and project files created and recorded for a cookbook entitled Memories and Meichels: A Collection of Reminiscences and Recipes from the Members of the JCCs Stiffel Senior Center. In addition to sharing recipes, interviewees discuss growing up in South Philadelphia, learning to cook, and the role of food within Jewish families.
Series 2: Oral history tapes, 1996-1997, undated
Series 3: Project files and drafts, 1999
Donated by the Jacob and Esther Stiffel Senior Center in 2000. Collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in August 2015 by Jenna Marrone, Project Archivist, Special Collections Research Center.
Subject
- Community cookbooks--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
- Jewish cooking
- Older Jews – Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
- Passover cooking
- Senior centers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- February 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research. Some publication restrictions may apply. Please see the Publication and Copyright Information below.
- Use Restrictions
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The Jacob and Esther Stiffel Senior Center Oral Histories and Cookbook Project Files are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), Temple University Libraries. The interviews are available, as stipulated under the fair use provision of U.S. Copyright Law, for private study, scholarship, and research purposes. Please contact the SCRC regarding use of the interviews for publication, reproduction, distribution, derivative works, public performance, public display, and other uses. There are no release forms on file for the interviews; therefore researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and may be required to obtain written permission from the interviewee or their legal heirs or assigns to quote from the interview beyond fair use. Researchers must cite and give proper credit to both the SCRC and the interviewee.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Oral history transcripts, 1996-1999, undated, contains transcripts of oral history interviews conducted with members of the Stiffel Senior Center. The interviewees, most of whom are women, discuss growing up in Jewish neighborhoods, learning to cook, caring for families, and the role of food at Shabbos and High Holidays. Interviews were often conducted with more than one person at a time. Transcripts are organized alphabetically by the primary interviewee's last name.
Series 2: Oral history tapes, 1996-1997, undated, contains audiocassette tapes of interviews conducted with members of the senior center. The interviewees, most of whom are women, discuss growing up in Jewish neighborhoods, learning to cook, caring for families, and the role of food at Shabbos and High Holidays. In a few cases, there is a transcript but not an audiocassette tape of the interview. Interviews were often conducted with more than one person at a time. Tapes are organized alphabetically by the primary interviewee's last name.
Series 3: Project files and drafts, 1999, contains drafts of the book Memories and Meichels: A Collection of Reminiscences and Recipes from the Members of the JCCs Stiffel Senior Center, and also includes a copy of the final product. The book is divided into thematic chapters including, "Growing up the Neighborhood, " "Learning to Cook, " "Shabbos and Holidays, " and "Working and Managing." The final product also contains recipes shared by the interviewees. This series is arranged alphabetically by type of material.