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Finding Aid
Subcollection: Administration

This subcollection focuses on the composition, structure, leadership, and operations of JDC and JDC committees and is divided into the following two record groups:

New York Administration:
Materials document expanding JDC committee development, assignments, commitments to undertake relief activities and raise funds for impoverished Jews in various locations abroad.

Overseas Administration:
Materials document operations abroad, disruptions caused by war, transmission and use of funds to acquire relief supplies, and relations with overseas organizations, including local Jewish “help committees,” through whom JDC channeled funds. In this period, JDC did not maintain its own apparatus in Europe in the form of offices or permanent representatives.

Record Group 1-1: New York Administration

Series 1: General Files

File 1.1: Administration, General, 1914-1917

Extent: 1 inch

Reports, correspondence, extracts of meeting minutes on origin of efforts to raise relief funds among American Jews to alleviate Jewish suffering in Europe and Palestine. Henry Morgenthau telegram, correspondence, materials on needs of Jewish community in Palestine, including cable (August 27, 1914) from William J. Bryan, U.S. secretary of state, regarding U.S. plans to send relief ship. Miscellaneous on allocations.

Administration, General, 1914-1917

File 1.2: Administration, General, 1918

Extent: 0.50 inch

Reports, correspondence, summaries of daily activities. Miscellaneous on allocations, licenses for remittances.

Administration, General, 1918

File 2: JDC Administration, JDC Chronology of Events, 1914-1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Brief chronological entries on appeals, distribution of financial aid and relief supplies to various locations; organizational and mass meetings; dispatch of fact-finding commissions.

JDC Administration, JDC Chronology of Events, 1914-1918

Series 2: Governing Bodies

File 3.1: JDC Administration, Executive Committee, Transcripts of Minutes, 1917

Extent: 1 inch

Transcripts of Executive Committee meetings (January 18; February 6; June 18; July 17, November 7, December 18, 1917); discussion, decisions on fund-raising, allocations.

JDC Administration, Executive Committee, Transcripts of Minutes, 1917

File 3.2: JDC Administration, Executive Committee, Transcripts of Minutes, 1916

Extent: 0.80 inch

Transcripts of American Jewish Relief Committee and JDC Executive Committee meetings (June 2; June 20; September 8; October 10; November 16; December 14; December 28, 1916); heated discussion, decisions on allocations, transmission bureau.

JDC Administration, Executive Committee, Transcripts of Minutes, 1916

File 4.1: JDC Administration, Committees, Members, 1914, 1916, 1919-1920

Extent: 0.10 inch

Lists (most undated, presumed incomplete) of names, addresses of committee members.

JDC Administration, Committees, Members, 1914, 1916, 1919-1920

File 4.2: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Five, 1916

Extent: 0.10 inch

Minutes of July 1916 meetings of Committee of Five, appointed to arrange for a commission to supervise distribution of relief funds abroad (occupied territories). Minutes outline structure of committee, role and duties of the commission.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Five, 1916

File 4.3: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Six, 1916-1917

Extent: 0.50 inch

Minutes, transcripts of meetings, decisions on allocations.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Six, 1916-1917

File 4.4: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Seven, 1917

Extent: 0.10 inch

Minutes of meeting (May 24, 1917), discussion about Rabbi Stephen Wise meeting at State Department, disinclination of Spanish envoy to forward relief funds.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Seven, 1917

File 5: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Eight, 1917-1918

Extent: 1 inch

Minutes, transcripts of meetings of Committee of Eight; discussions, decisions about allocations, transmitted through Holland.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee of Eight, 1917-1918

File 6.1: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Administration and Coordination, 1918-1919

Extent: 0.15 inch

Organization of standing Committee on Administration and Coordination, to coordinate activities of constituent organizations, avoid duplication of efforts. Correspondence, minutes of meetings.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Administration and Coordination, 1918-1919

File 6.2: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Control, 1918

Extent: 0.15 inch

Minutes of meeting (January 3, 1918), recommendations of Committee on Control, on coordination of fund-raising, treasuries.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Control, 1918

File 7: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Palestine, 1918

Extent: 0.33 inch

Reports, agendas, meeting minutes of the Committee on Palestine. Materials on remittances, allocations.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Palestine, 1918

File 8.1: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Publicity, 1918-1919

Extent: 0.15 inch

Meeting minutes of Committee on Publicity; miscellaneous on distribution of JDC Bulletin. Felix Warburg High Holiday fund-raising message (undated; publication unknown).

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Publicity, 1918-1919

File 8.2: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Reconstruction, 1918-1919

Extent:0.33 inch

Correspondence, committee minutes regarding principles for post-war reconstruction.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Reconstruction, 1918-1919

File 9: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Romania, Serbia and Other Countries, 1916, 1918-1919

Extent: 0.50 inch

Meeting minutes; review of remittances, allocations, appeals for aid.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Romania, Serbia and Other Countries, 1916, 1918-1919

File 10: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Russia, 1918-1919

Extent: 0.50 inch

Correspondence, meeting minutes, agendas, reports to Executive Committee.

Miscellaneous on remittances, allocations, appeals for aid.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on Russia, 1918-1919

File 11: JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on War Chest, 1918

Extent: 0.10 inch

Correspondence, meeting minutes regarding coordination, control of various war relief fund-raising campaigns.

JDC Administration, Committees, Committee on War Chest, 1918

Series 3: Financial

File 12: JDC Administration, Financial Accounts, 1914-1918

Extent: 1.25 inches

Financial statements, treasurer’s and auditor’s reports, correspondence on allocations (for relief supplies, or direct remittances to recipient institutions).

JDC Administration, Financial Accounts, 1914-1918

Series 4: Publicity

File 13.1: JDC Administration, Publicity, 1915-1916, 1918-1919

Extent: 0.25 inch

Correspondence on publication of JDC Bulletin, coordination of publicity. There are no copies of the JDC Bulletin in file.

JDC Administration, Publicity, 1915-1916, 1918-1919

File 13.2: JDC Administration, Publicity, Press Releases, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.50 inch

Press releases on JDC relief, allocations, fund-raising, communal conditions of Jews abroad. “Open letters” from JDC leadership.

JDC Administration, Publicity, Press Releases, 1916-1918

Record Group 1-2: Overseas Administration

Series 1: Overseas Administration, Governing Bodies

File 14: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Commission Centrale de Secours, 1916-1919

Extent: 0.50 inch

Correspondence, reports, minutes of meetings (French, English) of Central Commission of Assistance to Ottoman Jews (Commission Centrale de Secours aux Israelites Ottomans), on allocations, appeals.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Commission Centrale de Secours, 1916-1919

File 15: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Danish Relief Committee, 1916-1919

Extent: 0.33 inch

Correspondence on transmission, use of funds by neutral committee to buy food, relief supplies; disruptions because of war.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Danish Relief Committee, 1916-1919

File 16: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Scandinavian Central Relief Committee, 1916, 1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Correspondence on activities; Alfred Heymann report on 1916 trip, conditions in Russian Poland.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Scandinavian Central Relief Committee, 1916, 1918

File 17.1: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, 1917

Extent: 1.5 inches

Correspondence on efforts to establish committee in Holland to handle, transmit American relief funds to Russian Poland, Palestine. Boris Bogen and Max Senior reports on activities with new bureau in Hague; information on communal conditions in occupied territories. Correspondence on allocations, remittances. List of relief committee members.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, 1917

File 17.2: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, January–May 1918

Extent: 1.25 inches

Correspondence on operations of Holland bureau, distribution of relief funds, relief supplies to Russian Poland, Palestine. Miscellaneous financial reports, correspondence on remittances, receipts. Printed report (May 1918; unknown source) on “Jewish charities,” including Boris Bogen report.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, January–May 1918

File 17.3: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, June–December 1918

Extent: 0.75 inch

Correspondence, reports on operations of Holland bureau, distribution of relief funds, problems with distributing relief supplies (clothing) to Poland. Financial reports, correspondence on remittances, receipts.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Holland Bureau, June–December 1918

File 18.1: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, 1915

Extent: 0.50 inch

Financial correspondence (English, German), reports on remittances, receipts. Correspondence on means to provide relief; prospects for development of “interconfessional neutral” committee for Poland.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, 1915

File 18.2: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, January–July 1916

Extent: 1.5 inches

Financial correspondence (English, German, many originals), reports on remittances, receipts. Correspondence regarding political sentiments, reliability of German Jewish relief committee.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, January–July 1916

File 18.3: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, August–December 1916

Extent: 0.75 inch

Financial correspondence (English, German, many originals), reports on remittances, receipts. Some names listed on individual remittances.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, August–December 1916

File 18.4: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, 1917

Extent: 0.33 inch

Financial correspondence (English, German, many originals), reports on remittances, receipts. Miscellaneous on reorganization of Judisches Hilfscomite. List of Officers of Judisches Hilfscomite.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Judisches Hilfscomite, 1917

File 19.1: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Israelitische Allianz zu Wien, 1914-1916

Extent: 0.75 inch

Financial correspondence (English, German, some originals), reports on remittances, receipts, use of funds for refugee relief in Austria, Hungary, Galicia.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Israelitische Allianz zu Wien, 1914-1916

File 19.2: Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Israelitische Allianz zu Wien, 1917-1918

Extent: 0.75 inch

Financial correspondence (English, German) on remittances, receipts, use of funds for refugee relief. Israelitische Allianz report (June 25, 1917; English, German) on use of funds, relief work for 1916-1917. Appeals for aid for destitute rabbis. Report (December 13, 1918) of Juedischer Nationalrat fuer Deutschoesterreich (Jewish National Council for German-Austria). There is limited material for 1918.

Overseas Administration, JDC Committees, Israelitische Allianz zu Wien, 1917-1918

Series 3: Financial

File 35.1: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, 1914-1916

Extent: 0.25 inch

Correspondence, forms on transmission of relief funds, primarily with assistance of U.S. government.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, 1914-1916

File 35.2: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, January–August 1917

Extent: 1.25 inches

Correspondence, receipts on transmission of relief funds, primarily with assistance of U.S. government. Extensive materials on arrangements for transmissions from other nations, especially under wartime conditions, inability to deal with “enemy nationals.”

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, January–August 1917

File 35.3: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, September–December 1917

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence, receipts on transmission of relief funds, logistics for transmission due to Trading With the Enemy Act.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, September–December 1917

File 35.4: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, January–March 1918

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence, licenses, receipts on transmission of relief funds; license applications reveal plans, operations of relief projects. Miscellaneous on logistics for transmission of funds due to war, restrictions of Trading With the Enemy Act. ARTIFACT: U.S. War Trade Board postcard (February 26, 1918) according application for license under Trading With the Enemy Act.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, January–March 1918

File 35.5: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, April–July 1918

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence, licenses regarding transmission of relief funds; license applications reveal plans, operations of relief projects. Miscellaneous on logistics for transmission of funds, restrictions of Trading With the Enemy Act.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, April–July 1918

File 35.6: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, August–December 1918

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence, licenses regarding transmission of relief funds; license applications reveal plans, operations of relief projects. Miscellaneous on logistics for transmission of funds, currency exchange.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission of Relief Funds, August–December 1918

File 36: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, General, 1915-1918

Extent: 6.75 inches

Correspondence, instructions on procedures for transmission of individual remittances; forms, including affidavits. Affidavits for transmission of individual remittances (these are standardized). Correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; heavy on names, queries (many handwritten, English, Yiddish) on family members. Miscellaneous on licenses to send individual remittances and licenses to aid people who may be “enemy aliens.” Press notice (November 27, 1916) on Transmission Bureau. Occasional announcements about ability to transmit funds to various countries; instructions to relief societies. Financial reports on operations of Transmission Bureau, by country of destination. Miscellaneous newspaper accounts. [MATERIALS IN FILE NOT SORTED CHRONOLOGICALLY]

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, General, 1915-1918

File 37.1: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, General, 1914

Extent: 0.15 inch

Correspondence, including letter (November 18, 1914; unsigned, possibly Harriet Lowenstein) to Jewish Colonization Association (ICA) in Petrograd, agreeing to remit funds from American Jews to relations in Russia. Miscellaneous on procedure.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, General, 1914

File 37.2: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, January–August 1915

Extent: 1.5 inches

General, financial correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; heavy on names, queries (many handwritten, English, Yiddish) on family members. Miscellaneous on procedures.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, January–August 1915

File 37.3: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, September–December 1915

Extent: 1 inch

General, financial correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; heavy on names, queries (many handwritten, English, Yiddish) on family members. Miscellaneous on procedures.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, September–December 1915

File 37.4: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, January–May 1916

Extent: 1 inch

General, financial correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; heavy on names, queries (many handwritten, English, Yiddish) on family members. Miscellaneous on procedures.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, January–May 1916

File 37.5: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, June–December 1916

Extent: 0.50 inch

General, financial correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; heavy on names, queries (many handwritten, English, Yiddish) on family members. Miscellaneous on procedures when individual cannot be located or has died.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, June–December 1916

File 37.6: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, 1917

Extent: 0.75 inch

General, financial correspondence on payments, receipts on transmission of individual remittances; remittance lists. Information on procedures when individual cannot be located or has died.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Individual Remittances, 1917

File 37.7: JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Remitters, Lists and Receipts

Extent:

Lists and receipts of remitters who used the JDC Transmission Bureau to transfer funds to Petrograd.

JDC Administration, Financial, Transmission Bureau, Petrograd, Remitters, Lists and Receipts

Series 5: Representatives

File 20: JDC Administration, Representatives, Abel-Bogen, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Correspondence regarding travel, accreditation, instructions to participants in the Russia-bound Commission on American Jewish Relief Funds: Abel Senior, Reverend Bernard Abramowitz, Boris Bogen.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Abel-Bogen, 1916-1918

File 21: JDC Administration, Representatives, Bogen-Senior Commission, 1916-1918

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence regarding travel, accreditation, instructions to Max Senior, Boris Bogen, in Holland to arrange, supervise use of American relief funds. Senior-Bogen reports on travel, logistics, local conditions, finances.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Bogen-Senior Commission, 1916-1918

File 22: JDC Administration, Representatives, Brandeis-Cutler, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Miscellaneous regarding JDC leadership, representatives: Louis Brandeis, Fulton Brylawski, Harry Cutler.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Brandeis-Cutler, 1916-1918

File 23: JDC Administration, Representatives, Friedlaender, 1917-1918

Extent: 0.20 inch

Miscellaneous on Israel Friedlaender’s nomination to, withdrawal from American Red Cross commission to Palestine. Miscellaneous on efforts to locate, aid sister Mania in Warsaw.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Friedlaender, 1917-1918

File 24: JDC Administration, Representatives, Glazebrook Reception, 1917-1918

Extent: 0.75 inch

Invitations, transcript of remarks from reception (December 1917) at home of Henry Morgenthau for Otis Glazebrook, US consul in Jerusalem, for aid to Jews of Palestine.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Glazebrook Reception, 1917-1918

File 25: JDC Administration, Representatives, Goldman-Lucas, 1916-1919

Extent: 0.50 inch

Miscellaneous regarding credentials, assignments, financing of JDC leadership, representatives, staff: Hetty Goldman, Herbert Lehman, Solomon Lowenstein, Albert Lucas.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Goldman-Lucas, 1916-1919

File 26: JDC Administration, Representatives, Mack-Rosenwald, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.50 inch

Miscellaneous regarding credentials, assignments, sentiments of JDC leadership, representatives: Julian Mack, Judah Magnes, Julius Rosenwald. Booklet for Julius Rosenwald tribute (April 14, 1918).

JDC Administration, Representatives, Mack-Rosenwald, 1916-1918

File 27: JDC Administration, Representatives, Sanders-Senior, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Miscellaneous regarding credentials, assignments, sentiments of JDC leadership, representatives: Leon Sanders, Jacob Schiff, Max Senior.

JDC Administration, Representatives, Sanders-Senior, 1916-1918

File 28: JDC Administration, Representatives, Straus-Warburg, 1916-1918

Extent: 0.33 inch

Miscellaneous regarding donations, interests of JDC leadership, representatives: Nathan Straus, Cyrus Sulzberger, Felix Warburg, including several Warburg articles. Booklet with transcript of Warburg testimonial dinner (December 22, 1918).

JDC Administration, Representatives, Straus-Warburg, 1916-1918

Series 6: Fund-Raising

File 29: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, General, 1916-1919

Extent: 1 inch

Correspondence, fund-raising appeals, commitments, statements on funds raised. Miscellaneous on Judah Magnes proposal for record loan to rebuild Jewish homes in Europe.

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, General, 1916-1919

File 30: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Carnegie Hall, 1916

Extent: 0.33 inch

Transcript of speeches of fund-raising rally at Carnegie Hall in New York, December 21, 1916, including financial pledges.

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Carnegie Hall, 1916

File 31: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, National Emergency Conference, 1917

Extent: 0.25 inch

Press release, transcript of banquet (April 15, 1917) of National Emergency Conference, intended to invigorate fund-raising.

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, National Emergency Conference, 1917

File 32: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Special Assembly, 1917

Extent: 0.50 inch

Materials, including invitation for convening a special assembly (October 28, 1917) of war relief workers for fund-raising campaign. Minutes, transcript, speeches at dinner sponsored by Felix Warburg.

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Special Assembly, 1917

File 33: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Hero Land Bazaar, 1917-1918

Extent: 0.25 inch

Materials, financial statement; logistics on general fund-raising campaign (“Hero Land, or over the top with Uncle Sam and his allies”).

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Hero Land Bazaar, 1917-1918

File 34: JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Contributions, 1917-1919

Extent: 0.15 inch

Random correspondence (English, Yiddish) on contributions.

JDC Administration, Fund-Raising, Contributions, 1917-1919

Finding aid prepared by Rose Klepfisz and revised by Marilyn Henry with the assistance of a grant from Marshall Weinberg in Marilyn's honor.

Digitization of this collection was made possible with funding from the Polonsky Foundation.

Archives of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.

Email: [email protected]