Treasures from the Archives – March 2016

by | Apr 7, 2016 | 1960s, Uncategorized | 0 comments

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Artifacts from the collection of former Appeals Court Judge Barbara Rosenberg

Scrapbook Bas Mitzvah compressed

Pages from the Bas Mitzvah scrapbook of Barbara Rosenberg, c. 1960s

 

By Stuart Rosenfield, DJHS Board Member

Among the many collections to explore, the archives of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, located in the Aaron Family JCC, houses a collection from one of Dallas’s most progressive Court of Appeals judges, Barbara Rosenberg.

Barbara Rosenberg’s story, from her early political beginnings while studying for the bar, to being a pioneer as a woman in the legal profession, her nationally renowned campaign against an establishment candidate, and her tireless legal work to advance gay and lesbian rights, is a story documenting Dallas’s changing attitudes from the late 20th century to today.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Rosenberg attended the University of Texas at Austin, and later moved to Dallas where she became involved in the Democratic Party. In her early career, she worked with several law offices, including the legal team that defended people arrested during raids at Village Station in the late 1970’s. A constant advocate for LGBT and women’s rights, Rosenberg worked to educate members of the Gay Political Caucus on the participation process for the Democratic Convention and served as vice-chair of the Dallas Area Women’s Political Process.

Appointed to her first judiciary position as Associate Municipal Judge in 1977, Rosenberg went on to serve as an Associate Judge for the 330th District Court (1984-1991), and as an Associate Justice (1992-1994) and an Assigned Justice (1991-2003) of the Fifth District Court of Appeals at Dallas.  In addition, she has taught as an Adjunct Professor at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and maintained a private law practice from 1976-1984, and again from 1995-1999.  She currently works in the Dallas City Attorney’s office, focusing on Appellate Law.  She is most likely best known for her 1992 campaign against the incumbent Republican Criminal District Court Judge, Jack Hampton. The campaign win made national news.

This archive collection, generously donated by Attorney Rosenberg, includes childhood and college memorabilia, professional and personal speeches and information from her time on the bench, campaign materials (including ground-breaking video from her local TV advertising spots), and a copy of the Gender Bias Task Force of Texas report which she co-authored. Contact the Dallas Jewish Historical Society to view the collection, or check out the extensive collection of oral histories from Dallas Jewish personalities at www.dallasjewishstories.org.

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society works to collect, preserve, and protect the papers, photographs, artifacts, and recorded personal stories that illustrate the history of the Jewish community in Dallas.

Treasures from the DJHS Archives – February 2016

by | Mar 23, 2016 | 1920s and Earlier, News | 2 comments

Titche's ephemera 2015-more

Titche-Goettinger Collection ephemera

Titche-Goettinger 1908 General Ledger

Titche-Goettinger 1908 General Ledger

1904-05 Mail order catalog page display

1904-05 Mail order catalog page display

 

 

 

 

 

Among the many collections to explore, the archives of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, located in the Aaron Family JCC, houses a collection from one of Dallas’s premier department stores of the 20th century.

Titche’s, or Titche–Goettinger’s as it was known, was opened in downtown Dallas in 1902, by Edward Titche and Max Goettinger. Originally located at the corner of Elm and Murphy Streets in downtown Dallas, the store moved in 1904 to the Wilson building and then again when it built its flagship location at St. Paul Street, between Elm and Main Streets, which was then considered “Uptown”. At this new, much larger location the store successfully competed for Dallas’s growing fashion-conscious consumer and expanded the number of stores.  Over the years, Titche-Goettinger was sold to larger retail conglomerates, who later shortened the name to Titche’s when the store expanded into the suburbs in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The name was changed again from Titche’s to Joske’s (its sister department store chain) until the then-owners (Allied) sold the stores to Dillard’s in 1987.  The flagship location in downtown Dallas was closed after the Dillard’s acquisition.

This collection, generously given to the DJHS by Ellis M. Titche, a founding family descendent, includes a Titche-Goettinger General Ledger Cash Book from 1908-1910, a 1904-1905 Fall/Winter catalog, store gift boxes, an employee nametag from the 1960s, a wedding registry book published in 1964, and numerous photographs early store locations, as well as panoramic photographs from company picnics taken during the 1920’s. Additionally, the collection includes a promotional brochure and a newspaper article announcing Titche’s as one of Northpark Mall’s first anchor stores.

Come visit us when you are at the Aaron Family JCC, or check out our extensive collection of oral histories from Dallas Jewish personalities at www.djhs.org. The Dallas Jewish Historical Society works to collect, preserve, and protect the papers, photographs, artifacts and recorded personal stories that illustrate the history of the Jewish community in Dallas. The DJHS depends on annual membership dues, starting at $72, to support our programs and archive efforts, and is a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. Come join us!

By Stuart Rosenfield, DJHS Board Member

re-printed from the Texas Jewish Post

Lynn Fine

by | Mar 3, 2016 | Roots to Boots, Video Oral History | 0 comments

Lynn Fine, originally from Johannesburg, is descended from Lithuanian emigres to South Africa. Soon after Lynn and her husband, Stanley, married, they left South Africa, intrigued by the American Dream. They first moved to Los Angeles, then later to Dallas, where they have been for over 20 years. Lynn received her Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Theory and Psychology and worked for a public relations company in South Africa. When she first came to Dallas, she bought an African art company and sold African art and was very in touch with the European fashion market. She has been the Creative Director of KidKraft, the company for which she works.

To watch the video, click here.

Dr. Alan Menter

by | Feb 19, 2016 | 1940s, Roots to Boots, Video Oral History | 0 comments

Dr. Alan Menter and his wife, Pam, were one of the earliest Jewish families from South Africa to arrive in Dallas, thanks to a fellowship opportunity at UT Southwestern Medical Center in 1973.  Since their arrival, the Menter family has been actively involved in Jewish communal life, including Temple Shalom and AJC. Dr. Menter, born in England in 1941 and a former member of the South African National Rugby team, is a renowned dermatologist and authority on psoriasis as a serious immune-mediated disease.

To watch the video, click here.