JHSSA staff regularly answer historical inquiries from researchers, but our office also welcomes individuals, by appointment, who are pursuing research projects. JHSSA holdings include subject files, newspaper collections and a cemetery file, as well as photographs, primary source (ie. original / archival) material and a reference library.
Our subject files cover a wide range of topics regarding the history of the Jewish communities of southern Alberta, both the institutions and the individuals. Material in these files is usually photocopied from original sources, and may include related articles and research notes, newspaper clippings, organizational or family histories, oral history transcripts, and samples of minutes or correspondence.
Also readily available to researchers are the Local Jewish Press binders, which contain copies of the local Jewish newspapers from 1960- to the present day, and the clipping binders, which contain copies of articles relating to the Jewish community from the Calgary Herald, Albertan and Sun newspapers, some as far back as the 1890s. The JHSSA Cemetery files contain index cards for each Jewish burial in southern Alberta, including a headstone photo and transcription, and an obituary when possible.
Archival descriptions, which include details of the primary source material held by our archives, have been created for most of southern Alberta’s Jewish organizations, as well as some families. This material can be consulted by arrangement with the archivist. For more information on how to access archival documents, or on any other aspect of doing research at JHSSA, please contact the office.
Related Pages:
Archival Descriptions
Harry and Martha Cohen Library
JHSSA Local Jewish Press collection
Oral Histories
Southern Alberta Jewish Veterans of World War I & II database
Subject Reference File List