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David H. Wice Papers
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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
David Herschell Wice was born on February 1, 1908, to Henry and Rose (Cooper) Wice in Petersburg, Virginia. He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA in 1927 and 1928, respectively, and later received an honorary doctorate degree in 1948 from the same institution. In 1933, he was ordained by the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, which also granted him an honorary degree in 1952. In 1934, Wice wed Sophie Salzer, to whom he was married until her death in 1987, and they had two children, David and Carol.
Shortly after becoming ordained, Wice became the rabbi for Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served until 1941. He then moved to New Jersey to serve the B'nai Jeshurun congregation in Newark. It was there that the rabbi solidified his place as a prominent member in Reform Judaism. In 1945, he joined the World Union of Progressive Judaism—Reform Judaism's organizing institution—as its American director, serving until 1955. Then, in 1973, he returned to the organization as its president until it moved its headquarters from New York City to Jerusalem.
He left B'nai Jeshurun in 1947 to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to become the senior rabbi for Congregation Rodeph Shalom and take over for Rabbi Louis Wolsey. While there, he led the congregation through expansions and projects to grow their community. Even after accepting emeritus status in 1981, the rabbi remained active in the congregation's rabbinical duties until the mid-1990s.
Along with his rabbinical duties, Rabbi Wice served as a board member for the Hebrew Union College, Gratz College Board of Overseers, Federal Jewish Agencies, and the Family Service Association of America among other institution. He also served as the founding president of the Jewish Chaplaincy Services of Philadelphia and as president of Planned Parenthood's Marriage Council, and was the founder and director of the Museum of Judaica in Philadelphia, now the Museum of Jewish Art within Rodeph Shalom. Wice was also a collector of antique Judaica. Wice passed away on February 16, 2002, at the age of 94 in his Philadelphia home.
The David H. Wice Papers consist of Wice's personal and professional papers. Among his personal papers are correspondence, writings, notes, books, commentary, and documents and artifacts pertaining to his collection of antique Judaica. Professional papers detail his time serving as rabbi at Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska, B'nai Jeshurun in Newark, New Jersey, and Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rodeph Shalom papers detail Wice's work as religious teacher and as community leader who oversaw expansion projects for the congregation into the suburbs of Philadelphia. Along with rabbinical papers and records, professional papers also detail Wice's activist work that he incorporated into all aspects of his life and his teachings as rabbi, including civil rights and access to family planning services among other movements.
This collection is arranged into 4 series:
- Series 1: Professional papers: 1921-1994, undated
- Subseries 1.1: Temple Israel records, 1937-1941
- Subseries 1.2: B'nai Jeshurun records, 1941-1947, undated
- Subseries 1.3: Rodeph Shalom records, 1947-1994, undated
- Subseries 1.4: Correspondence, 1929-1994, undated
- Subseries 1.5 Family Service Association of America records, 1964-1969, undated
- Subseries 1.6: Religious services, sermons, and events records, 1921-1994, undated
- Subseries 1.7: World Union for Progressive Judaism records, 1946-1988, undated
- Series 2: Personal papers: 1864-2002, undated
- Subseries 2.1: Education papers, 1924-1932, 1986-1987
- Subseries 2.2: Family papers, 1944-2002, undated
- Subseries 2.3: Correspondence, 1929-1990, undated
- Subseries 2.4: Publicity and articles, 1920s-2001, undated
- Subseries 2.5: Writings, 1955-2001, undated
- Subseries 2.6: Wice's Judaica Collection, 1864-1914, 1979, undated
- Subseries 2.7: Awards, honors, and certificates, 1943-1992, undated
- Series 3: Research and Writings: 1928-1994, undated
- Subseries 3.1: Essays, 1928-1967, undated
- Subseries 3.2: Research and notations, 1932-1988, undated
- Subseries 3.3: Sermons and speeches, 1930-1994, undated
- Series 4: Audiovisual materials: 1927-2003, undated
- Subseries 4.1: Photographs, 1927-1990, undated
- Subseries 4.2: Cassettes and CDs, 1979-3003, undated
- Subseries 4.3: Videotapes, 1987-2003, undated
Collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009. Additional material donated by Wice family in 2022.
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in June 2022 by Sarah DeRupo, Project Archivist
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Sarah DeRupo, Project Archivist
- Finding Aid Date
- June 2022
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
The creator/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
Subseries 1.1: Temple Israel records, 1937-1941
Subseries 1.2: B'nai Jeshurun records, 1941-1947, undated
Subseries 1.3: Rodeph Shalom records, 1947-1994, undated
Subseries 1.4: Correspondence, 1929-1994, undated
Subseries 1.5 Family Service Association of America records, 1964-1969, undated
Subseries 1.6: Religious services, sermons, and events records, 1921-1994, undated
Subseries 1.7: World Union for Progressive Judaism records, 1946-1988, undated
This series contains material pertaining to the professional aspects of Wice's life. The series is arranged into 7 subseries.
Physical Description15.34 Linear Feet31 boxes
This subseries pertains to the Temple Israel congregation in Omaha, Nebraska, where Wice held his first rabbi position
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This subseries pertains to the B'nai Jeshurun congregation in Newark, New Jersey where Wice worked from 1941 until 1947.
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This subseries consists of materials pertaining to Congregation Rodeph Shalom, where Wice served as senior rabbi for nearly forty years, and then as rabbi emeritus for over a decade. These papers include religious services, programming, and expansion for the congregation's Suburban Center among others.
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This subseries contains letters to and from Wice from colleagues, congregants, and others pertaining to the professional aspects of Wice's life, primarily as rabbi.
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This subseries contains materials pertaining to the Family Service of America Philadelphia chapter, of which Wice was president and co-founder.
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This subseries consists of programs, orders of service, administrative and community information for assorted events and service performed by Wice.
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This subseries includes materials from the organizing body of Reform Judaism. Wice was the organization's American representative during the 1960s, and then served as president from 1973-1980.
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Subseries 2.1: Education papers, 1924-1932, 1986-1987
Subseries 2.2: Family papers, 1944-2002, undated
Subseries 2.3: Correspondence, 1929-1990, undated
Subseries 2.4: Publicity and articles, 1920s-2001, undated
Subseries 2.5: Writings, 1955-2001, undated
Subseries 2.6: Wice's Judaica Collection, 1864-1914, 1979, undated
Subseries 2.7: Awards, honors, and certificates, 1943-1992, undated
This series consists of Wice's family materials, personal correspondence, education, awards, and other papers. Also included are papers regarding Wice's antique Judaica collection.
Physical Description5.09 Linear Feet5 boxes
This subseries consists of school records and assignments from Wice's time getting his Bachelor and Master degrees as well as his PhD.
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This subseries contains papers pertaining to the Wice family, including family travels to New England and abroad.
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This subseries consists of personal correspondence from relatives, friends, colleagues, as well as postcards and greeting cards.
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This subseries contains articles, newsletters, and materials about Wice that were published in assorted publications.
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This subseries contains inscribed books gifted to Wice, travel plans, and personal notes.
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This subseries includes materials from Wice's personal collection of antique Judaica, including correspondence regarding the collection as well as some papers and books from the collection.
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This subseries contains plaques, certificates, and awards given to Wice throughout his professional and after his educational career.
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Subseries 3.1: Essays, 1928-1967, undated
Subseries 3.2: Research and notations, 1932-1988, undated
Subseries 3.3: Sermons and speeches, 1930-1994, undated
This series contains writings and research that Wice used during schooling, his professional career, and for personal writing.
Physical Description5.09 Linear Feet4 boxes
This subseries consists of essays written throughout Wice's life, as well as drafts of articles written for journals, newsletters, and other publications.
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This subseries includes research material, notations, and annotated materials
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This subseries includes sermons given throughout Wice's career, as well as speeches delivered during his education and at events during and after his rabbinical career.
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Subseries 4.1: Photographs, 1927-1990, undated
Subseries 4.2: Cassettes and CDs, 1979-3003, undated
Subseries 4.3: Videotapes, 1987-2003, undated
This series includes photographs, audio material, and videos from Wice's career and education.
Physical Description5 Linear Feet4 boxes
This subseries contains photographs from services at Rodeph Shalom, events attended by Wice, photographs of Wice with colleagues, and class photographs from the Rodeph Shalom school among others.
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This subseries contains audio of services conducted by Wice, events honoring Wice, music used during services, and interviews with Wice.
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This subseries contains video recordings of interviews with Wice and services conducted by Wice.
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