Extent: 24 files

Scope and Content: This subcollection covers the years 1937-1949 (the majority of the materials date from 1942-1946) and details the relationships and collaborations among JDC Istanbul’s office and other Jewish organizations, NGOs, and governmental agencies and personnel. The files contain correspondence, cables, invoices, names lists, and expenditure statements.

Prominent correspondents include: the Jewish Agency for Palestine, whose rescue efforts were JDC-financed; the International Red Cross, under whose auspices JDC sent care packages to Jewish communities in Romania and Slovakia and to prisoners in the Theresienstadt concentration camp; and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. During World War II, mail from JDC’s Istanbul office traveled via diplomatic pouch of the US Consulate in Istanbul. After the establishment of the U.S. War Refugee Board, of which JDC was the primary funder, in 1944 (learn more here), JDC staff worked even more closely with the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Laurence Steinhardt.

Arrangement
This Organizations subcollection contains three Record Groups:
Government
Jewish Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Record Group: Government

Record Group: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

This record group contains three series:
International Red Cross
National Refugee Service
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)

Series 1: International Red Cross

Series 2: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)

Series 3: National Refugee Service

Record Group: Jewish Organizations

This record group contains six series:
Agudath Israel
Alliance Israelite Universelle
Bombay Jewish Relief Association
HICEM
Jewish Agency for Palestine
United Jewish Appeal

Series 1: Agudath Israel

Series 2: Alliance Israelite Universelle

Series 3: Bombay Jewish Relief Association

Series 4: HICEM

Series 5: Jewish Agency for Palestine

Series 6: United Jewish Appeal