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Shaindele di Chazante Collection

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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

Shaindele di Chazante was born Jean Gornish in Philadelphia in 1916. She is considered one of the first women cantors in the United States. Though she did perform cantorial music in synagogues, she was never formally assigned the position of cantor. She performed secular music under the stage name Jean Walker for a short time prior to her career performing strictly Jewish religious and folk songs. In addition to performing live concerts, she also appeared on radio station WPEN and released recorded music.

This collection contains concert fliers, posters, tickets, contract, photographs, and additional promotional material documenting Shaindele di Chazante's singing career. Also included is a vinyl LP of her performing liturgical music.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Donated by Sylvia G. Silver on August 12, 1982. Collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.

A small selection promotional material has been digitized is available in this collection on the Libraries' website: https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p15037coll15

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. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Initial processing and finding aid created by Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center staff. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in March 2021 by Casey Babcock, Project Archivist.

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
October 2023
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Shaindele di Chazante Collection is the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The donor has 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

Associated Talmud Torahs of Philadelphia merit certificates, 1929-1931, 1951.
Box 1 Folder 1
Bukier Beneficial Association performance contract, May 10, 1938.
Box 1 Folder 2
Concert fliers, notices, and advertisements, 1932-1953.
Box 1 Folder 3
Concert posters, 1940-1944.
Box 1 Folder 4
Concert programs and tickets, 1937-1965.
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1942-1950.
Box 1 Folder 6
Jean Walker concert fliers, 1934, undated.
Box 1 Folder 7
Liturgical song notes, undated.
Box 1 Folder 8
Photographs, circa 1950.
Box 1 Folder 9
Publicity materials; newspaper clippings, 1940-1968.
Box 1 Folder 10
Shaindele Sings the Songs of Her People LP, circa 1960.
Box 1 Folder 11
This is the Land promotional material, 1936-1937.
Box 1 Folder 12

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