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Joseph and Connie Smukler Papers on Soviet Jewry

Notifications

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

Call Number:
SCRC 414
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
3 linear feet (3 boxes)
Language:
English and Russian
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph and Connie Smukler Papers on Soviet Jewry, SCRC 414, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1971-1997 (inclusive)
Creator:
Smukler, Joseph, 1928-2012 and Smukler, Connie (Constance)
Form:
Administrative records, Clippings, Correspondence, Ephemera, Financial records, Mailing lists, Manuscripts, Minutes (administrative records), Negatives, Newsletters, Pamphlets, Photocopies, Photographs, Press releases, Reports, Slides, Souvenir programs, and Speeches (documents)
Abstract:

Joseph Smukler and Connie (Constance) Smukler, Philadelphia Soviet Jewry activists, organized local and national rallies, freedom runs, and protests, and lobbied lawmakers to liberate Soviet Jews in the 1970s and 1980s. The Smuklers both served on the Soviet Jewry Council of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia and the National Conference on Soviet Jewry.

The Joseph and Connie Smukler Papers on Soviet Jewry document the Smuklers' involvement in the Soviet Jewry movement to advocate, aid, and communicate with Refuseniks, Soviet Jews denied the right to emigrate from the USSR. The bulk of the collection consists of records from the Soviet Jewry Council and allied national organizations such as administrative correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, publicity materials, and speeches given by the Smuklers at events. Other records in the collection include correspondence from Refuseniks sent to the Smuklers; extensive newspaper clippings and press releases about the plight of Soviet Jews including Natan Shcharansky's imprisonment and local and national efforts to provide aid to them; Soviet Jewry conference materials; records related to Project Manna, a food distribution program conceived by Joseph Smukler in 1991; and photographs of rallies and related events. The bulk of the collection is in English with some records, namely correspondence and reports from Refuseniks, in Russian.

Files in the collection have been grouped in the following categories and arranged alphabetically: "Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky, " "Federation of Jewish Agencies, " "International Conferences, " "Life in the Soviet Union, " "National organizations, " "Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism, " and "Soviet Jewry Council."

Donated by Joseph Smukler in 1998. Collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.

The bulk of the collection initially processed and inventoried in February 1998 by Andrew Harrison, Ph.D. Collection arranged according to contemporary archival standards, reboxed, and finding aid prepared in July 2019 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist. Some folder titles were edited for the sake of clarity and description enhancement, including the addition of dates and formats.

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Philadelphia Records, SCRC 230, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bobbie Morgenstern Papers on Soviet Jewry, SCRC 403, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

People
Organization
Subject
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

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Joseph and Connie Smukler Papers on Soviet Jewry is the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creators have not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: correspondence regarding release, 1985-1986.
Box 1 Folder 1
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: Joseph Smukler speeches, undated.
Box 1 Folder 2
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council and National Conference on Soviet Jewry efforts to aid Shcharansky, 1977-1986.
Box 1 Folder 3
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: national newspaper clippings, 1977-1986.
Box 1 Folder 4
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: photographs, 1987, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: S. L. Lipavsky charges, 1977.
Box 1 Folder 6
Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky: Soviet Jewry Council activities, 1977-1987.
Box 1 Folder 7
Federation of Jewish Agencies: Mission 1000 correspondence and trip itinerary, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 8
Federation of Jewish Agencies: Operation Exodus correspondence, meeting minutes, and notes, 1989-1990.
Box 1 Folder 9
Federation of Jewish Agencies: Passage to Freedom meeting minutes, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 10
International conferences: Brussels II conference program materials, 1976.
Box 1 Folder 11
International conferences: International Lawyers Conference, Moscow photographs, 1988.
Box 1 Folder 12
International conferences: International Lawyers Conference, Moscow program and Joseph Smukler notes, 1988.
Box 1 Folder 13
International conferences: Joseph Smukler notes, 1985-1987, undated.
Box 1 Folder 14
International conferences: World Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence, program, and press releases, 1983.
Box 1 Folder 15
Life in the Soviet Union: "The Case of Dmitri Berman", 1989.
Box 1 Folder 16
Life in the Soviet Union: charitable relief photographs, 1992.
Box 1 Folder 17
Life in the Soviet Union: draft of "Nonprofit Social Services in Moscow: Leadership and Administrative Issues" by Felice Davidson Perlmutter, circa 1995.
Box 1 Folder 18
Life in the Soviet Union: Israel entry visa, 1976.
Box 1 Folder 19
Life in the Soviet Union: Joseph Smukler notes on split among Moscow Refuseniks, undated.
Box 1 Folder 20
Life in the Soviet Union: Joseph Smukler notes on the town of Belz, undated.
Box 1 Folder 21
Life in the Soviet Union: letters of appeal and reports by Refuseniks, 1976-1989, undated.
Box 1 Folder 22
Life in the Soviet Union: postal service, 1985-1987, undated.
Box 1 Folder 23
Life in the Soviet Union: "Remuneration by Biscuits", undated.
Box 1 Folder 24
Life in the Soviet Union: Soviet emigration regulations and legal system history, 1987, undated.
Box 1 Folder 25
Life in the Soviet Union: summary of facts in Nashbitz and Tzithonik trial, undated.
Box 1 Folder 26
Life in the Soviet Union: William Brait notes on split among Moscow Refuseniks, 1975.
Box 1 Folder 27
National organizations: Joint Distribution Committee humanitarian relief, 1992.
Box 1 Folder 28
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning, 1985.
Box 1 Folder 29
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1974-1976.
Box 1 Folder 30
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1977-1979.
Box 1 Folder 31
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1982-1985.
Box 1 Folder 32
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1986-1987.
Box 1 Folder 33
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1988-1989.
Box 1 Folder 34
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry correspondence and publicity materials, 1990-1993.
Box 1 Folder 35
National organizations: National Conference on Soviet Jewry Strategic Assessment Task Force reports and meeting notes, 1985-1988.
Box 1 Folder 36
National organizations: National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council correspondence, press releases, and newspaper clippings, 1975-1976.
Box 1 Folder 37
National organizations: National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council correspondence, press releases, and newspaper clippings, 1977-1978.
Box 1 Folder 38
National organizations: National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council correspondence, press releases, and newspaper clippings, 1984-1986.
Box 1 Folder 39
National organizations: National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council correspondence, 1987-1990.
Box 1 Folder 40
National organizations: Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry newsletters and press releases, 1974-1985.
Box 2 Folder 1
National organizations: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews "Draft Law on Exit from and Entry to the USSR for Citizens of the USSR (with amendments)", 1989.
Box 2 Folder 2
National organizations: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews correspondence and publicity materials, 1974-1979.
Box 2 Folder 3
National organizations: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews correspondence and publicity materials, 1981-1985.
Box 2 Folder 4
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: biographical information on Smuklers, 1981-1990, undated.
Box 2 Folder 5
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Connie Smukler editorials, 1984-1992, undated.
Box 2 Folder 6
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Connie Smukler speeches, 1980-1997, undated.
Box 2 Folder 7
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence from Leonid Slepak to Smuklers, 1979.
Box 2 Folder 8
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence from Masha and Voldoya Slepak to Smuklers, 1978-1979.
Box 2 Folder 9
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence from Refuseniks to Smuklers, 1973-1987, undated.
Box 2 Folder 10
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence from Sanya Slepak to Smuklers, 1978.
Box 2 Folder 11
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence with Anatoly (Natan) Shcharansky, 1986, undated.
Box 2 Folder 12
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: correspondence with Martin Gilbert, 1986-1987.
Box 2 Folder 13
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Joseph Smukler editorials, 1975-1994.
Box 2 Folder 14
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Joseph Smukler speeches, 1986, undated.
Box 2 Folder 15
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Joseph Smukler speeches and meeting notes, 1978, undated.
Box 2 Folder 16
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: legal community's efforts to aid Refuseniks, 1975-1988.
Box 2 Folder 17
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: lists of Refuseniks, 1983, 1990, undated.
Box 2 Folder 18
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: rally and event photographs, slides, and negatives, 1971-1987, undated.
Box 2 Folder 19
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Refusenik reports given to Enid Wurtman of the Israel Public Council for Soviet Jewry, 1988.
Box 2 Folder 20
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Sister Cities and cultural exchange program, 1986-1990.
Box 2 Folder 21
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Slepak Foundation draft of principles, 1988.
Box 2 Folder 22
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: Soviet Emigre Orchestra programs, 1979, 1981.
Box 2 Folder 23
Philadelphia Soviet Jewish activism: U.S. legislative policies, 1974-1989.
Box 2 Folder 24
Soviet Jewry Council: Brussels conference, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 25
Soviet Jewry Council: Committee for 1000 for Soviet Jewry correspondence and reports, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 26
Soviet Jewry Council: Connie Smukler Moscow and Leningrad debriefing report, 1981.
Box 2 Folder 27
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence and newspaper clippings, 1971, 1974.
Box 2 Folder 28
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence and newspaper clippings, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 29
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 30
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 31
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, 1978-1980.
Box 2 Folder 32
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, reports, and publicity materials, 1981-1984.
Box 2 Folder 33
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, reports, and publicity materials, 1985-1986.
Box 2 Folder 34
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, reports, and publicity materials, 1987-1989.
Box 2 Folder 35
Soviet Jewry Council: correspondence, reports, and publicity materials, 1990-1992.
Box 2 Folder 36
Soviet Jewry Council: Flyers - Soviet hockey game, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 37
Soviet Jewry Council: history, 1974.
Box 2 Folder 38
Soviet Jewry Council "Jewish Women Against Refusal: A Philadelphia Response", 1987.
Box 2 Folder 39
Soviet Jewry Council: Joseph Smukler speech introducing Victor Polsky, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 40
Soviet Jewry Council: meeting minutes and reports, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 41
Soviet Jewry Council: meeting minutes and reports, 1976.
Box 2 Folder 42
Soviet Jewry Council: meeting minutes and reports, 1977.
Box 2 Folder 43
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings and press releases, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 44
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings and press releases, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 1
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings and press releases, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 2
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings regarding aid to Refuseniks, 1975.
Box 3 Folder 3
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings regarding aid to Refuseniks, 1976.
Box 3 Folder 4
Soviet Jewry Council: newspaper clippings regarding aid to Refuseniks, 1977.
Box 3 Folder 5
Soviet Jewry Council: photographs of Refuseniks, 1973-1979, undated.
Box 3 Folder 6
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna correspondence, 1991.
Box 3 Folder 7
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna correspondence, 1992.
Box 3 Folder 8
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna correspondence, 1993-1995.
Box 3 Folder 9
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna expenses and reports, 1992-1995.
Box 3 Folder 10
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna Joseph Smukler meeting notes, circa 1992.
Box 3 Folder 11
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna newspaper clippings and press releases, 1991-1993.
Box 3 Folder 12
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna photographs, 1992, undated.
Box 3 Folder 13
Soviet Jewry Council: Project Manna recipient correspondence and lists, 1991-1992.
Box 3 Folder 14
Soviet Jewry Council: Soviet Union trip reports, 1974-1988, undated.
Box 3 Folder 15
Soviet Jewry Council: "Travel to the USSR" guidelines, undated.
Box 3 Folder 16
Soviet Jewry Council: Valery and Galina Panov performances, 1974-1975.
Box 3 Folder 17

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