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Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Touro Synagogue – Newport, Rhode Island
Title:	Touro Synagogue – Newport, Rhode Island, collection
Dates:	undated, 1913-1996
Abstract:	Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, is the nation’s oldest synagogue. The Jewish community of Newport was founded in 1658 by a small group of Sephardic Jews seeking religious freedom. In 1758, Isaac Touro, a Dutch Jew, became the community’s spiritual leader. Shortly after, the congregation purchased land and hired Peter Harrison to design the Synagogue. The building was dedicated in 1763, and has continued to serve Newport’s Jewish community. This collection consists of addresses, annual reports, correspondence, board meeting minutes, articles and newspaper clippings concerning the synagogue, as well as publications, a calendar, dedication pamphlets, postcards, slides, negatives, a scrapbook and invitations to miscellaneous events. Most of these materials are secondary and were collected by staff at the American Jewish Historical Society. For original records, please contact the Newport Historical Society.
Languages:	The collection is in English.
Quantity:	2.45 linear feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 oversized box)
Identification:	I-461
Repository:	American Jewish Historical Society
Location:	Located at AJHS, Boston, MA.

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Historical Note

Touro Synagogue, Newport, Rhode Island

Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, is the nation's oldest synagogue. The Jewish community of Newport was founded in 1658 by a small group of Sephardic Jews seeking religious freedom. In 1758, Isaac Touro, a Dutch Jew, became the community's spiritual leader. Shortly after, the congregation purchased land and hired Peter Harrison to design the Synagogue. The building was dedicated in 1763, and since then, has continued to serve Newport's Jewish community.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of addresses, annual reports, correspondence, board meeting minutes, articles and newspaper clippings concerning the synagogue, as well as publications, a calendar, dedication pamphlets, postcards, slides, negatives, a scrapbook and invitations to miscellaneous events. Also included are the anniversary souvenir journals, promotional brochures, balance sheets and the following publications: "Newport Jewish News Items," "Touro Monthly" and "Update." In box 2, folder 7, there is a facsimile reproduction of George Washington's 1790 letter to the synagogue. Most of these materials are secondary and were collected by staff at the American Jewish Historical Society. For original records, please contact the Newport Historical Society.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into a single series as follows:

• Records of Touro Synagogue – Newport, Rhode Island, undated, 1913-1996

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

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Related Material

The official records of the Touro Synagogue are held at the Newport Historical Society.

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Touro Synagogue – Newport, Rhode Island, collection; I-461; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Acquisition information unknown, although some items were collected by the American Jewish Historical Society.

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Access Points

• Subject Organizations:

  • Touro Synagogue (Newport, R.I.)

• Subject Topics:

  • Synagogues.
  • Touro Synagogue (Newport, R.I.)--History.

• Subject Places:

  • Newport (R.I.)

• Document Types:

  • Brochures
  • Corporation reports
  • Newsletters
  • Publications
  • Scrapbooks

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Records of Touro Synagogue – Newport, Rhode Island, undated, 1913-1996.
The collection is in English.
Scope and Content: See Collection Scope and Content Note.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Addresses	1934-1963
1	2	Articles	undated
1	3	Calendar/“Newport Daily News”	1935
1	4	Clippings/National Shrine Dedication	1947
1	5	General	1913-1993
1	6	Postcards/Slides, Negatives	undated
1	7	Promotional Material/General	undated, 1946
1	8	Promotional Material/Programs and Invites	1925-1989
1	9	Publications/“Newport Jewish News”	1932
1	10-13	Publications/“Touro Monthly”	1989-1994
1	14	Publications/Touro Synagogue Miscellaneous	1948, 1988
1	15	Restoration Committee	1955-1956, 1960
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	1	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Annual Report	1980
2	2	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Balance Sheet and Financial Statement	1983
2	3	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Board Meetings	1988-1991
2	4	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/By-Laws	1990
2	5-7	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Correspondence	[1790], 1948-1995 (with gaps)
2	8	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Membership	undated
2	9	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/Misc. Material	1977-1994
2	10	Society- Friends of Touro Synagogue/“Update”	1989-1996
2	11	Yarmulke	undated
2	12	Registers	1946-1984
2	13	Tercentenary Committee/Scrapbook (photo-stat)	[1939]

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