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Morry Helzner 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

Call Number:
SCRC 73
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
6.17 linear feet (11 boxes + 3 map folders)
Language:
English and Yiddish
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Morry Helzner Papers, SCRC 73, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1922-1992 (inclusive)
Creator:
Helzner, Morry, 1914-1992
Form:
Clippings, Correspondence, Ephemera, Manuscripts, Membership lists, Negatives, Newsletters, Oral histories, Photocopies, Photographs, Posters, Press releases, Publications (documents), Scores (documents for music), Scrapbooks, Sheet music, and Souvenir programs
Abstract:

Morry Helzner (1914-1992) was an educator and Yiddish musicologist dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional Yiddish music. Born in Russia in 1914, Helzner immigrated with his family to the United States in 1922. His family eventually settled in Philadelphia, where Helzner attended Central High School before studying music education at Temple University. He taught social studies at the Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences for thirty five years, and also ran a successful Nature Study Day Camp. From 1940 to 1977, Helzner served as the musical director of the I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle Schools of Philadelphia, and in 1963, assumed directorship of the Workmen's Circle Chorus. Helzner also conducted the Temple University Diamond Band in 1957, and served as a member of the 130th Army Ground Forces Band during World War II. Morry Helzner was active in Philadelphia's Jewish music scene for over fifty-six years.

The Morry Helzner Papers contain correspondence and printed material related to the Philadelphia Workmen's Circle Chorus, as well as Helzner's personal correspondence, published news articles, photographs, scrapbook, and ephemera from his lectures and appearances. Helzner's papers also include his music and theater reference files, as well as collected Yiddish ephemera from the 1920s and 1930s.

The collection is arranged into 8 series as follows:

Series 1: Workmen's Circle Chorus, 1957-1991
Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-1992
Series 3: Writings by Morry Helzner, 1969-1992
Series 4: Writings about Morry Helzner, 1960-1992
Series 5: Organizations and Special Projects, 1949-1960s
Series 6: Ephemera, Photographs, and Scrapbook, 1933-1992
Series 7: Yiddish Music Reference Materials, 1935-1980s
Series 8: Yiddish Fliers and Ephemera, 1922-1939

Donated by Morry Helzner in 1975, 1986, 1988, 1990, and 1992. Some materials donated by his wife, Isabel Helzner, in 1998. Collection previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.

A selection of photographs from this collection has been digitized and is available online on the Temple University Digital Collections website.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in August 2014 by Jenna Marrone, Project Archivist, Special Collections Research Center.

Yiddish Sheet Music Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Workmen's Circle, Philadelphia District Records, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Robert and Molly Freedman Jewish Music Archive, University of Pennsylvania

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
April 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Morry Helzner Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Temple University holds intellectual property rights only for material donated to the university with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors 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

Scope and Contents

Series 1: Workmen's Circle Chorus, 1957-1991, contains documentation related to Morry Helzner's role as conductor of the Workmen's Circle Chorus. Material includes correspondence related to bookings, as well as news clippings, reviews, and fliers advertising the chorus' performances. This series is arranged chronologically, and thereafter alphabetically. The folder dates also represent the performance season, which generally ran from September-June.

Correspondence, news clippings, and programs, 1957-1967.
Box 1 Folder 1
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1962-1970.
Box 1 Folder 2
Activity logs, 1964-1967.
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence and bookings, 1964-1970.
Box 1 Folder 4
Financial statements, 1966-1990.
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence, news clippings, and programs regarding the Philadelphia Flower Show, 1969-1970.
Box 1 Folder 6
Workmen's Circle 70th Anniversary, 1970.
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence and bookings, 1970-1971.
Box 1 Folder 8
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1970-1971.
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence and bookings, 1971-1972.
Box 1 Folder 10
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1971-1972.
Box 1 Folder 11
Correspondence and bookings, 1972-1973.
Box 1 Folder 12
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1972-1973.
Box 2 Folder 1
Correspondence and bookings, 1973-1974.
Box 2 Folder 2
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1973-1974.
Box 2 Folder 3
Correspondence and bookings, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 4
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1974-1975.
Box 2 Folder 5
News clippings regarding Russian broadcast, 1975.
Box 2 Folder 6
Correspondence and bookings, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 7
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1975-1976.
Box 2 Folder 8
Correspondence and bookings, 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 9
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1976-1977.
Box 2 Folder 10
Poster: Temple University Music Festival with Molly Picon, 1977.
Map Folder M1d
Correspondence and bookings, 1977-1978.
Box 3 Folder 1
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1977-1978.
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondence and bookings, 1978-1979.
Box 3 Folder 3
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1978-1979.
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence and bookings, 1979-1980.
Box 3 Folder 5
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1979-1980.
Box 3 Folder 6
Correspondence and bookings, 1980-1981.
Box 3 Folder 7
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1980-1981.
Box 3 Folder 8
Correspondence and bookings, 1981-1982.
Box 3 Folder 9
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1981-1982.
Box 3 Folder 10
Correspondence and bookings, 1982-1983.
Box 3 Folder 11
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1982-1983.
Box 4 Folder 1
Correspondence and bookings, 1983-1984.
Box 4 Folder 2
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1983-1984.
Box 4 Folder 3
Correspondence and bookings, 1984-1985.
Box 4 Folder 4
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1984-1985.
Box 4 Folder 5
Correspondence and bookings, 1985-1986.
Box 4 Folder 6
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1985-1986.
Box 4 Folder 7
Correspondence and bookings, 1986-1987.
Box 4 Folder 8
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1986-1987.
Box 4 Folder 9
Correspondence and bookings, 1987-1988.
Box 4 Folder 10
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1987-1988.
Box 4 Folder 11
Correspondence and bookings, 1988-1989.
Box 4 Folder 12
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1988-1989.
Box 4 Folder 13
Correspondence and bookings, 1989-1990.
Box 5 Folder 1
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1989-1990.
Box 5 Folder 2
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, 1990-1991.
Box 5 Folder 3
Programs, fliers, and news clippings, undated.
Box 5 Folder 4
Sheet music, undated.
Box 5 Folder 5

Scope and Contents

Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-1992, contains correspondence from the later part of Morry Helzner's life. Much of the series is composed of letters from Helzner to various organizations and media outlets, publicizing his knowledge of Yiddish music and culture. There is also some correspondence on the subject of Yiddish music. This series is arranged chronologically.

General correspondence, 1964-1967.
Box 5 Folder 6
Correspondence regarding summer camp, 1965.
Box 5 Folder 7
Correspondence regarding potential performance at the White House, 1972-1981.
Box 5 Folder 8
General correspondence, 1971-1979.
Box 5 Folder 9
Correspondence regarding Yiddish opera in Russia, 1978-1990.
Box 10
General correspondence, 1980.
Box 5 Folder 11
General correspondence, 1981.
Box 5 Folder 12
General correspondence, 1983-1984.
Box 5 Folder 13
Correspondence regarding B'nai B'rith Music Festival, 1984.
Box 5 Folder 14
General correspondence, 1985.
Box 5 Folder 15
General correspondence, 1986.
Box 5 Folder 16
General correspondence, 1987.
Box 5 Folder 17
General correspondence, 1988.
Box 5 Folder 18
General correspondence, 1989.
Box 6 Folder 1
General correspondence, 1990.
Box 6 Folder 2
Correspondence from Prentiss, Charles J., 1990-1991.
Box 6 Folder 3
General correspondence, 1991.
Box 6 Folder 4
General correspondence, 1992.
Box 6 Folder 5
General correspondence, undated.
Box 6 Folder 6

Scope and Contents

Series 3: Writings by Morry Helzner, 1969-1992, contains articles written by Helzner on a variety of subjects including Jewish music and culture, Yiddish language, Holocaust music, and Yiddish theater and film. He also wrote a number of book reviews of works on Yiddish music. His articles were published in the Jewish Times, the Four Star Review, and the Jewish Post, among other local newspapers. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Book reviews, 1984-1990.
Box 6 Folder 7
Hanukah music, 1988.
Box 6 Folder 8
Holocaust music, 1989.
Box 6 Folder 9
Jewish culture, undated.
Box 6 Folder 10
Jewish music, 1973-1989, undated.
Box 6 Folder 11
Jews and space travel, 1984.
Box 6 Folder 12
Molly Picon, 1992.
Box 6 Folder 13
Yiddish language, 1988.
Box 6 Folder 14
Yiddish theater and film, 1982-1988.
Box 6 Folder 15
General, 1969, 1989-1991.
Box 6 Folder 16
General, undated.
Box 6 Folder 17

Scope and Contents

Series 4: Writings about Morry Helzner, 1960-1992, contains photocopies of news clippings that feature interviews with Helzner. Most of the articles focus on Helzner's interest in Yiddish music and culture, though some describe his immigrant experience in America. This series is arranged chronologically.

News clippings, 1960-1965.
Box 6 Folder 18
News clippings, 1970-1971.
Box 6 Folder 19
News clippings, 1972-1973.
Box 6 Folder 20
News clippings, 1974-1975.
Box 6 Folder 21
News clippings, 1976-1977.
Box 6 Folder 22
News clippings, 1978-1979.
Box 6 Folder 23
News clippings, 1980-1981.
Box 6 Folder 24
News clippings, 1982-1983.
Box 6 Folder 25
News clippings, 1984-1985.
Box 6 Folder 26
News clippings, 1986-1987.
Box 6 Folder 27
News clippings, 1988-1989.
Box 6 Folder 28
News clippings, 1990-1992.
Box 6 Folder 29
News clippings, undated.
Box 6 Folder 30

Scope and Contents

Series 5: Organizations and Special Projects, 1949-1960s, includes material related to Helzner's participation in teaching organizations as well as special projects he participated in. There are correspondence and teaching guides from the Philadelphia Board of Jewish Education, Walter Biddle Saul High School, and Camp Ramah. This series also contains documentation from Helzner's participation in the Ellis Island Oral History project, and includes the transcript of his interview. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject, and thereafter chronologically.

B'nai B'rith Educators Lodge newsletters, 1979-1988.
Box 7 Folder 1
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1965.
Box 7 Folder 2
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1966.
Box 7 Folder 3
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1967.
Box 7 Folder 4
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1968.
Box 7 Folder 5
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1969.
Box 7 Folder 6
Board of Jewish Education: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1970.
Box 7 Folder 7
Board of Jewish Education: outline of holiday material, 1967.
Box 7 Folder 8
Board of Jewish Education: salary scale, 1970.
Box 7 Folder 9
Board of Jewish Education: Teacher Guide and Syllabus for the Book of Isaiah, circa 1976.
Box 7 Folder 10
Board of Jewish Education: Teacher Guide and Syllabus for the Books of Joshua and Judges, 1976.
Box 7 Folder 11
Camp Ramah: correspondence, meeting minutes, and publications, 1962-1972.
Box 7 Folder 12-13
Ellis Island Oral History Project: articles regarding Helzner, 1986-1990.
Box 8 Folder 1
Ellis Island Oral History Project: articles regarding the re-opening of Ellis Island, 1986-1990.
Box 8 Folder 2
Ellis Island Oral History Project: correspondence and interview transcript, 1985.
Box 8 Folder 3
Ellis Island Oral History Project: photographs of Ellis Island, 1990.
Box 8 Folder 4
Ellis Island Oral History Project: reopening dedication ceremony invitation, tickets, and program, 1990.
Box 8 Folder 5
Holocaust Curriculum Guide, 1977.
Box 8 Folder 6
Membership lists, various organizations, 1980s-1990s.
Box 8 Folder 7
Teaching aids, undated.
Box 8 Folder 8
Walter Biddle Saul High School: memoranda, news clippings, and programs, 1950s-1970s.
Box 8 Folder 9
Walter Biddle High School: teaching schedule, 1949.
Map Folder M1d

Scope and Contents

Series 6: Ephemera, Photographs, and Scrapbook, 1933-1992, contains material related to Helzner's career as a band leader and Yiddish music aficionado. This series includes fliers, programs, and posters from Helzner's lectures and appearances, as well as ephemera he saved from award banquets and events in his honor. There is also a scrapbook that commemorates Helzner's musical career, spanning his experience as a high school big band leader in the 1930s through his success with the Workmen's Circle Chorus in the 1970s. This series is arranged alphabetically.

30th anniversary as musical director of the Workmen's Circle Chorus, 1970.
Box 8 Folder 10
Certificates and award nominations, 1984-1990.
Box 8 Folder 11
Collected news clippings, general subjects, circa 1960s-1980s.
Box 8 Folder 12
Collected programs and newsletters, general, 1988-1990.
Box 8 Folder 13
Fliers advertising performances and lectures by Helzner, 1960s-1990s.
Box 8 Folder 14
Photographs and negatives, 1960s-1980s.
Box 8 Folder 15
Press releases regarding Helzner, undated.
Box 8 Folder 16
Poster: "From the Shtetl to East Boradway," lecture by Helzner, undated.
Map Folder M1d
Programs from events featuring performances and lectures by Helzner, 1972-1992.
Box 8 Folder 17
Scrapbook, 1933-1970.
Box 11
Scrapbook: loose material, 1937-1957.
Box 9 Folder 1
Scrapbook: loose material, 1958-1964.
Box 9 Folder 2
Scrapbook: loose material, 1967-1970.
Box 9 Folder 3
Summer camp brochures, circa 1960s-1970s.
Box 9 Folder 4
Temple University General Alumni Association Founders Dinner: programs and news clippings, 1985.
Box 9 Folder 5
Tribute address in honor of Helzner, undated.
Box 9 Folder 6
Workmen's Circle testimonial dinner in honor of Helzner: cards, invitations, and programs, 1991.
Box 9 Folder 7

Scope and Contents

Series 7: Yiddish Music Reference Materials, 1935-1980s, contains guides to Yiddish music, songbooks and sheet music, and reference material related to Yiddish theater. Some of the sheet music in this series was arranged by Helzner. This series is arranged alphabetically.

"A Merry Good Purim", 1935, undated.
Box 9 Folder 8
Bibliography of books and articles on Jewish music, 1947.
Box 9 Folder 9
Klezmer music: article, 1981.
Box 9 Folder 10
Manfred Lemm: biography and poster, undated.
Box 9 Folder 11
Music books and program resources for Jewish and Israeli music, 1950s-1970s.
Box 9 Folder 12
"Oy Hanukah, Oy Hanukah", undated.
Box 9 Folder 13
Passover music, circa 1975.
Box 9 Folder 14
"Rozhinkes Mit Mandlen", undated.
Box 9 Folder 15
Sholom Alaichem's Medina, 1960s-1980s.
Box 9 Folder 16
Songbooks, circa 1940s.
Box 9 Folder 17
"The Wise Old Owls of Temple U.", 1940.
Box 9 Folder 18
Yiddish language articles, circa 1980s.
Box 9 Folder 19
Yiddish music, general, undated.
Box 9 Folder 20
Yiddish theater: articles and clippings, 1980s.
Box 9 Folder 21
Yiddish theater: photographs of Arch Street Theater and Park Theater (photocopies), circa 1980.
Box 9 Folder 22

Scope and Contents

Series 8: Yiddish Fliers and Ephemera, 1922-1939, contains fliers, advertisements, and programs circulated by Yiddish labor organizations, beneficial societies, and Jewish-owned businesses in the 1920s and 1930s. Though many of the documents were printed in Yiddish, English translations were created during the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center's administration of the collection and can be found with the original document. Many of the folder titles are based on these translations. This series is arranged alphabetically by organization name. General documents are arranged at the end of the series.

Anshei Sode Loven Beneficial Association, 1928.
Box 10 Folder 1
Association for the Benefit of the Rabbi from Makremanitz, 1931.
Box 10 Folder 2
Beran and Gomberg Saving and Loan, 1926.
Box 10 Folder 3
Berezovker Beneficial Association, 1923-1926.
Box 10 Folder 4
Congregation Poale Zedek Sharith Israel Ladies' Auxiliary, 1938.
Box 10 Folder 5
Congregation Shomri Shabbos Unsilach Yishram, 1935.
Box 10 Folder 6
Dubno Voliner Beneficial Association, 1927-1929.
Box 10 Folder 7
House of Zion Mizrachi Branch No. 1, 1924.
Box 10 Folder 8
Incomparable Brotherhood, 1939.
Box 10 Folder 9
Independent Ladies' Social Workers and Free Loan Association, undated.
Box 10 Folder 10
Independent First Kishineff Ladies' Aid Society, 1925-1930.
Box 10 Folder 11
Independent Order Brith Abraham, Royal Lodge No. 440, 1920s.
Box 10 Folder 12
Kaniver Beneficial Association, 1927-1930.
Box 10 Folder 13
King Solomon Lodge No. 101, I.O.B.S., 1929-1939.
Box 10 Folder 14
Ladies' Helping Hand Society, circa 1927.
Box 10 Folder 15
Otic-Mohlever Independent Beneficial Association, 1920s.
Box 10 Folder 16
Philadelphia Business Aid Association, circa 1927.
Box 10 Folder 17
Philadelphia Mutual Delicatessen and Grocery Association, 1926.
Box 10 Folder 18
Pioneer of South Philadelphia Branch of the Horace Berk Memorial Hospital, 1938.
Box 10 Folder 19
Progressive Beneficial Association, 1924-1926.
Box 10 Folder 20
Roumanian American Oir Chudosh Beneficial Association, 1926.
Box 10 Folder 21
Small Bakery Bosses of Philadelphia, 1927.
Box 10 Folder 22
Somech Noflen Ladies Association, undated.
Box 10 Folder 23
Squarer Lodge No. 78, I.O.B.S., 1922.
Box 10 Folder 24
Umaner Verein of Philadelphia, 1925-1927.
Box 10 Folder 25
Women's Organization of Friends of Rabbi Makremenitz, 1931.
Box 10 Folder 26
General, circa 1930s.
Box 10 Folder 27
General: advertisements, 1920s-1930s.
Box 10 Folder 28
General: cantors and choirs, 1920s-1930s.
Box 10 Folder 29
General: event menus, 1927-1928.
Box 10 Folder 30
General: event tickets, 1920s-1930s.
Box 10 Folder 31
General: invitations, 1920s-1930s.
Box 10 Folder 32
General: Sesquicentennial memorabilia, 1926.
Box 10 Folder 33

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