"A good work for all humanity" : American-Jewish response to Russian-Jewish immigration, 1881-1914, 2007

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Sha

Identifier: b2089519

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate History program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

From the Collection:

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations Publishing website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2007

Creator

Shapiro, Kathleen M. (1943-2010) (Author, Person)
Greenberg, Brian (1946- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)
Veit, Richard F. (1968- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 122 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpts]

The universal Jewish tradition of righteousness, Tzedakah, required American Jews to help their Eastern European and Russian cousins, and establish these impoverished unwashed newcomers as self-supporting, productive members of the greater American community. In addition, the social reforms that were taking root in the United States between 1881 and 1914, especially the belief that unskilled, illiterate immigrants could be transformed into productive American citizens, were ideals that were consonant with Tzedakah. American-Jewish efforts to absorb, educate, and assimilate their Russian-Jewish cousins were imbued with the Progressive ethos that defined this period of American social reform....

This essay examines three programs initiated by the American-Jewish community to solve the problems associated with the tremendous influx of Russian-Jewish immigrants: the Industrial Removal Office established by the Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society, the Galveston Movement, and the agricultural and industrial colony established at Woodbine, New Jersey....

Partial Contents

Introduction -- 1. Strangers in a strange land -- 2. Trial and error -- 3. Being Jewish in America -- 4. Men, means, and methods -- 5. The programs -- Conclusions -- Notes on sources -- Illustrations -- Appendix -- Bibliography.