au-005450
type: Institution
conditions of access: You can schedule an appointment to view materials by filling out the request form on the Rare Books website. Several collections have restrictions and are currently being reviewed for access. It is best to fill out a request form in advance so that you can be alerted if there are any restrictions. However, the archive reserves the right to restrict access to certain collections at any time during this review process. Thank you for your understanding. For information, searching, retrieval and access to the collections, please contact: Sabrina Elias.
sources: ClaimsCon'06
sources: Archive of Australian Judaica [website](https://judaica.library.sydney.edu.au/catalog/index.html)
opening hours: The Archive is open from Monday-Friday from 9:30-4:30 in Rare Books & Special Collections at Fisher Library.
agent has or had location: 1
general description: The Archive is a collection of source materials relating to Jewish Life in Australia from the origin of the Jewish community up to the present day. The material housed in the Archive consists of a variety of types including anything of an archival or ephemeral nature, which reflects the multifaceted nature of Jewish life in Australia, and its social interactions with the broader Australian community. The Archive of Australian Judaica has been operating since July 4, 1983 within Rare Books and Special Collections at Fisher Library. What does it contain? Archives, partial or complete, of the major Jewish community organisations, some of which are now defunct, and papers of Jewish individuals relating to their activities within the Australian Jewish context. There are 500 shelf metres of material, collected and processed over the thirty years of the Archive's existence. Photographs of individuals in their roles as members of community organisations or in meetings of historic community import. Photographs of places of community interest, such as synagogues and personalities, or notable events. Tapes, including programmes of the Jewish Radio Hour from its inception in 1978, seminars of the Australian Association of Jewish Studies, all the reels of 'You don't have to be Jewish', and some oral histories. Videos, DVDs and CDs are collected by the Archive and include an interview with Helena Mann, a Holocaust survivor, and a video of the art exhibition of the Jewish Arts and Culture Council in 1989. Books and Periodicals: Early in the existence of the Archive, a decision was taken that books acquired by the Archive would be housed with the regular research collections of the library and would be catalogued in the usual way. However, in situations where there is no parallel subject holding in the library, e.g. printings of the Yiddish press in Australia, the books and periodicals remain in the Archive. Theses: Researchers using the collection are encouraged to deposit their e…
history: The collections held at the Archive of Australian Judaica have been transferred to the [Australian Jewish Historical Society (AJHS)](https://portal.ehri-project.eu/admin/institutions/au-005448) The Archive of Australian Judaica Project was established in July 1983 at the University of Sydney with a grant of $10,000. Its purpose was to collect, preserve, and catalogue materials related to Jewish life in Australia, particularly in New South Wales. The project directors included Dr. Alan Crown, Dr. Neil Radford, and Jennifer Alison. The archive aimed to gather a wide range of materials reflecting Jewish life, including records, minute books, journals, newspapers, annual reports, newsletters, books, pamphlets, memorabilia, ephemera, cassette tapes, and photographs. The initiative was seen as vital for preserving the history of the Jewish community and shedding light on Australian attitudes towards minorities. The archive received donations of personal papers, including those of German Jewish refugees, and continued to expand its collection with magazines, minutes of organizations, photographs, and newspaper cuttings. Access to the archive was formalized, and efforts were made to copy early minute books onto microfiche for preservation. The project faced challenges in indexing and organizing materials due to the diverse nature of the collection, incorporating both archival and bibliographic materials. Despite these challenges, the archive aimed to combine the principles of both archivists and librarians to ensure the preservation and accessibility of its holdings. There are currently 500 shelf metres of material, collected and processed over the thirty years of the Archive's existence.
name: Archive of Australian Judaica