Exhibits and Collections

Curated History for Everyone

History is preserved in many forms. From rare photographs  and documents to personal items, artifacts, and community records, our exhibits and collections capture the spirit of movements and everyday moments throughout time. Whether you’re interested in a particular Dallas family, a historical event, or cultural moment, there is something fascinating for everyone to explore here.

Exhibits

  • From the Archive 2019 Annual Meeting
    Summer 2019

    From the Archive 2019 Annual Meeting

  • Let there be Light
    Winter 2017-2018

    Let there be Light

  • Women’s Philanthropy
    Spring 2023

    Women’s Philanthropy

  • Better Together: Fraternal Organizations Dallas Jews Believe In
    Spring 2020

    Better Together: Fraternal Organizations Dallas Jews Believe In

  • Bonim, Greene, and Beyond
    Summer 2021

    Bonim, Greene, and Beyond

  • Coming of Age
    Fall 2018

    Coming of Age

Featured Collections

Isidore Zesmer Collection

Isidore Zesmer Collection

An influential figure in the Dallas Jewish community with a lasting legacy.

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Enid Klass Collection

Enid Klass Collection

A personal window into the Neiman Marcus era, gifted by Stanley Marcus's own assistant.

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Sylvia Margules Trugman

Sylvia Margules Trugman

A century of family memory, captured in photographs and papers.

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Ellis & May Titche

Ellis & May Titche

Ellis and May’s letters offer a personal glimpse into wartime life, love, and their eventual reunion in Dallas.

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The Ruth Kahn Family Collection

The Ruth Kahn Family Collection

Community advocacy, Dallas mercantile royalty, world travel, and strong family bonds.

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Laurence Kahn Family Films

Laurence Kahn Family Films

Explore a selection of home movies from the Kahn family collection.

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Ray Family Film Collection

Ray Family Film Collection

8mm and 16mm footage from the 1930s and 1940s, capturing a Dallas family's life on film.

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Renee Stanley Collection

Renee Stanley Collection

An interactive exhibition celebrating decades of Jewish women's philanthropy in Dallas and beyond.

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Natalie Ornish Interview Collection

Natalie Ornish Interview Collection

Listen to Interviews and recordings related to Natalie’s research for her book Pioneer Jewish Texans and personal family genealogy.

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The History of Keeping Kosher in Jewish Dallas

The History of Keeping Kosher in Jewish Dallas

Experience what it meant to keep kosher in Dallas from various generations dating back to the turn of the 20th century thru present day.

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Disaster Recovery & Resilience

Disaster Recovery & Resilience

Gain insight into the experiences of Dallas Jews who have been impacted by natural disasters and other crises. Interviews conducted by Rose Horowitz, a Doctoral Fellow at SMU.

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Israel Solidarity Mission Interviews

Israel Solidarity Mission Interviews

In March 2024, DJHS began interviewing participants of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Israel Solidarity Mission and other community missions, such as Friends of the IDF, JOFA, and others.

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A group of women in 1930s dresses and hats pose together for a photo outdoors, some standing and some sitting.

Online Archives

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search by keyword, year, images, and material in our online archival database.

Visit Online Archives

Become a Storykeeper

Membership is the lifeblood of DJHS. Your support funds preservation of our archives, oral history interviews, and community programs. Together, we can continue preserving the story of Jewish Dallas for generations to come.

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Elderly woman wearing glasses smiles while sewing fabric on a machine, against a blue background.