by Jim Schwartz | May 14, 2015 | News |
Welcome to my first BLOG entry as President of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society! As we approach the end of our fiscal year, I thought highlighting some of the events and individuals that made this a special year was in order.
We welcomed seven talented and enthusiastic Board Members this year, whose contributions to the board have already been noteworthy. We completed the initial phase of our strategic plan over the summer and moved into the implementation of our key initiatives.
During the same, busy summer, a committee led by May Sebel and Joan Gremont began planning our inspiring fall event, One Story at a Time, honoring 250 individuals, natives and newcomers alike, who shared their oral histories with the DJHS over the last five years. The cocktail reception was first-class, followed by a great program. The event was well attended, received rave reviews and exceeded our fundraising goals.
Also in September, DJHS and the Dallas Mexican American Historical League collaborated with the Latino Cultural Center on a 6 week, multimedia exhibit on life around Dallas’ Pike Park. The exhibit traced the roots of Jewish and Mexican immigrants, honoring community life in the area most recently known as Little Mexico.
In December, our Andres Family Lecture Series presented genealogist Karen Franklin, author of “Tracking David Stone, the Jewish Bank Robber of Frost, Texas”. Karen shared the story of Mr. Stone from his birth in England to the night of the gun battle which claimed his life, still considered one of the biggest events in the town’s history.
Don’t miss the next lecture “Jewish Major Leaguers in their Own Words” by author Peter Ephross on May 20th at the JCC.
This is also the year that we embarked on the ambitious project to digitize the contents of our archives, in keeping with our Vision: to help present and future generations connect with Jewish Dallas. We have received several generous grants to begin funding this project, but the need will be ongoing. The initial phase involves uploading over 500 oral histories to the recently launched new website, a website that was paid for by a generous board member.
Perhaps the crowning achievement was the recent Ann Loeb Sikora Humanitarian Award luncheon, “Elected to Make History,” held at the Westin Galleria April 16th to a full house. Our award recipients were six women who transformed our cities and state with their impressive achievements in public office: Lois Finkelman, Adelene Harrison, Ann Margolin, Laura Miller, Florence Shapiro, and Annette Strauss z”l. The talented Brad Sham elevated the event as emcee as he introduced moving, short videos of our honorees, and, of course, the comments of each of our honorees were inspirational. Board member Scott Cytron garnered media coverage, including an amazing segment on Good Morning Texas! This event broke records financially, thanks to all of our sponsors, especially Presenting Sponsor, Sparkman-Hillcrest. Kudos to co-chairs Andrea Weinstein and Barbara Lee and their entire team for an outstanding job well done!
by debrap | Apr 23, 2015 | Events, News |
The Ann Loeb Sikora Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to public service, and who stand as role models for future generations. Each honoree represents Ann Loeb Sikora’s legacy of leadership and devotion to countless causes in the Jewish and general communities.
Our 2015 Honorees are remarkable women who were Elected to Make History.
Florence Shapiro, Ann Margolin, Adlene Harrison, Laura Miller and Lois Finkelman at the DJHS Ann Loeb Sikora Humanitarian Award Luncheon, April 16, 2015.
by DJHS Admin | Sep 29, 2014 | News
A Dallas Jewish Journey is the Dallas Jewish Historical Society’s video project, produced locally by Media Projects, Inc. Allen & Cynthia Salzman Mondell have been making award-winning docudramas and documentary films and videos for over 30 years. This DVD takes you from the beginnings of the Dallas Jewish community to the more recent community we know today; through photographs, news events and personal stories, narrated by renowned actor Stephen Tobolowsky (a home-grown member of the Dallas Jewish community.)
This is the first 2 minutes to the Dallas Jewish Journey. https://www.facebook.com/DallasJewishHistoricalSociety/videos
by DJHS Admin | Sep 29, 2014 | News
The Dallas Mexican American Historical League and the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, in collaboration with the Latino Cultural Center, are proud to announce an important joint multi-media exhibit centered on life around Pike Park. The exhibit will be on display at the Latino Cultural Center located at 2600 Live Oak from September 12 through October 18, 2014. A press preview will be held on Friday, September 12 and a grand opening reception for the public will be held on Thursday evening, September 18, 2014.
Sol Villasana, author of the book, Dallas’s Little Mexico, will be one of the guest speakers in the Jesse Tafalla Lecture Series that will accompany the exhibit. The full schedule of speakers and dates will be announced later.
The exhibit will trace the roots of Jewish and Mexican immigrants, honoring community life in an area of Dallas most recently known as Little Mexico. Many don’t realize that the area surrounding Pike Park was initially settled in the late 1800’s by poor Eastern European Jewish immigrants and was alternately referred to as Little Jerusalem, Goose Valley or Frogtown. With a solid sense of commitment to one another and strong family ties, the Jewish settlers became established. The area flourished with entrepreneurial businesses, schools, and synagogues and the park was in the heart of the Jewish community.
From 1910-1930 the Mexican community in Dallas grew rapidly due to displacement during the Mexican Revolution and job opportunities stimulated by the railroads and the city’s industrialization. During the same period the rising middle class Jewish community began moving out of old North Dallas to South Dallas, and Little Jerusalem began its transition to Little Mexico. Albert Valtierra, president of the Dallas Mexican American Historical League said, “The early Mexican settlers, then referred to as colonists, followed a similar settlement pattern in developing the area. Neighborhoods, businesses, schools and churches thrived.”
Pike Park, originally named Summit Play Park, was developed in 1914. Located on Turney Avenue (now Harry Hines), the 4 ½ acres was purchased for $18,085. Though it was in a congested area of the old Second Ward at the time, it was considered a state-of-the-art park. Debra Polsky, executive director for the Dallas Jewish Historical Society and exhibit co-chair, said, “This city project was the first in Dallas to look at the recreational needs of an established neighborhood and design a park to meet those needs—as plan architect George Kessler intended.” The magnificent field house which cost $25,000 contained shower baths, reading rooms, an assembly hall, and every convenience for all ages. Outdoor amenities included a wading pool, tennis courts, outdoor playground equipment and baseball fields. In 1927, the park was renamed Pike Park in honor of Edgar L. Pike, a former and longtime serving member of the Dallas City Park Board who contributed to the broader development of the Dallas park system. Mr. Pike was married to Jessica Sanger, daughter of Philip Sanger.
Welcome to my first BLOG entry as President of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society! As we approach the end of our fiscal year, I thought highlighting some of the events and individuals that made this a special year was in order.
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