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Guide to the Papers of Jesse B. Calmenson (1892-1952), undated, 1903-1952, 1966, 1978-1979, 1981, 1995-1996
 
*P-359

Processed by Marvin Rusinek

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Marvin Rusinek as MS Word document, May-June 2009. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on June 16, 2009. Description is in English.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Jesse B. Calmenson
Title: Jesse B. Calmenson, papers
Dates: undated, 1903-1952, 1966, 1978-1979, 1981, 1995-1996
Abstract: The collection consists primarily of correspondence reflecting Calmenson’s involvement in numerous national and local Jewish organizations. The largest quantity of material pertaining to national Jewish organizations relate to the United Palestine Appeal (1926-1945, primarily 1926-1929) and the Zionist Organization of America (1919-1952). Among the local St. Paul Jewish organizations, the largest quantity of materials relate to the Emergency Committee for Palestine (1942-1951) and the Zionist Organization of America, St. Paul Chapter (1918-1950). Among the correspondents are Harry S. Truman, H.V. Kaltenborn and Emanuel Neumann. Among the topics dealt with are the 1929 riots in Palestine, the protest against the Passfield paper, and the establishment of a Jewish army after World War I. The collection also contains materials relating to Calmenson’s private activities, e.g., the Cosmopolitan Bank in St. Paul, the Stameshkin family, the George Alexander Wilson Estate, as well as miscellaneous writings and papers belonging to the Calmenson family.
Languages: The collection is in English and German.
Quantity: 3.5 linear feet (7 manuscript boxes, 1 oversized folder)
Identification: P-359
Repository: American Jewish Historical Society
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Biographical Note

Jesse B. Calmenson (1892-1952)

Jesse B. Calmenson was born on December 1, 1892 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Cain and Annie (Cohen) Calmenson. He received his Bachelor of Laws degree at the St. Paul College of Law in 1915 and remained there to practice law until his death. He married Bertha Sloan in 1918 and they had one daughter, Betty Anne.

Calmenson was a lawyer as well as a communal leader in St. Paul. An active member of the American Jewish Congress, Zionist Organization of America, and associate editor of the American Jewish World, he served as secretary to the campaign committee of all Zionists from 1914 until his death. The Calmenson family was synonymous with Zionism in St. Paul.

In terms of his legal public life, after receiving his law degree, he was admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1921, and the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals in 1924. A member of the Minnesota State, Ramsey County Bar Associations and the American Lawyers Guild, he was director of the Herbert Manufacturing Company and the Merchants Investment and Loan Corporation.

Calmenson was active in many local and national Jewish organizations. The president of the first chapter of the American Jewish Congress in St. Paul in 1916, he was appointed a member of the national advisory committee of the United Jewish Campaign in 1926 and became a legal advisor of the Department of Rural Credit of State of Minnesota in1932. Calmenson served as regional director of the United Palestine Appeal in Minnesota, as well as North and South Dakota from 1925 to 1928. As a member of the board of trustees for the Jewish Home for the Aged of Northwest, as a president of the local branch of B'nai Brith, as a chairman of the St. Paul Zionist District, or as a president of the Jewish Educational Center Talmud Torah for eight years, as an associate editor for the St. Paul American Jewish World (1912-52), as the co-founder and vice-president of the local United Jewish Fund, or as chairman of the Bureau of Jewish Education, Calmenson contributed time and effort to Minnesota Jewish Community life.

An active joiner, Calmenson had many affiliations. Local organizations memberships included: the St. Paul Association of Civic and Commercial Affairs, the St. Paul Minnesota and American Bar Associations, and the St. Paul Zionist District. National Jewish organization activities include those of the American Jewish Committee, the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America, the Jewish Publication Society, the Joint Distribution Committee, the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association, the National Child Labor Committee, the National Conference of Jews and Christians, the Refugee Coordinating Council, United Palestine Appeal, Temple Aaron and Sons of Jacob, and the Zionist Organization of America. He was known for his Jewish community work as well as general community and civic participation, e.g., as an architect of the American Jewish Conference in its formative stage. The recipient of many honors for service to the Jewish community, he spoke well and was well respected.

Among Calmenson's private activities include his involvement with the Stameshkin family and the George Alexander Wilson Estate. He was also the vice-president and director of the Cosmopolitan State Bank in St. Paul. He cited his hobbies as amateur dramatics and gardening.

Chronology
1892 Jesse B. Calmenson born in St. Paul, Minnesota
1912 Became associate editor for the American Jewish World in St. Paul
1915 Obtained his LLB degree
1915 Began practicing law
1916 Became president of the first chapter of the American Jewish Congress in St. Paul
1918 Married to Bertha Sloan
1921 Admitted to practice in U.S. Supreme Court
1924 Practiced before U.S. Board of Tax Appeals
1925-1928 Regional director of the United Palestine Appeal in Minnesota, as well as North and South Dakota
1926 Member of national advisory committee of the United Jewish Campaign
1932 Became legal advisor of the Department of Rural Credit of State of Minnesota
1939 Honored by members of local Jewish War Veterans as the Jewish "Man of the Year"
1940 Picked for 2nd annual certificate of honor awarded by the St. Paul post of the Jewish War Veterans
1952 Calmenson dies
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Scope and Content Note

The collection consists primarily of correspondence reflecting Calmenson's involvement in numerous national and local Jewish organizations. The largest quantity of such materials relate to the United Palestine Appeal (1926-1945, primarily 1926-1929) and the Zionist Organization of America (1919-1952) with activity centered in the St. Paul area, the Emergency Committee for Palestine (1924-1951) and the Zionist Organization of America, St. Paul Chapter (1918-1950). Among the correspondents are Harry S. Truman, H.V. Kaltenborn and Emanuel Neumann. Topics include 1929 riots in Palestine, the protest against the Passfield Paper, and the establishment of a Jewish army after World War I. Materials relating to Calmenson's private activities, e.g., the Cosmopolitan Bank in St. Paul, the Stameshkin family, the George Alexander Wilson Estate, as well as miscellaneous writings and papers belonging to the Calmenson family are interspersed among the series.

The papers are valuable to researchers studying the following aspects of Jewish history: history of the Zionist movement, Jewry in St. Paul, Palestine history, U.S. charities, and Zionism.

Types of material include agendas, announcements, articles, ballots, bulletins, bylaws, ceremonial dedications, certificates of incorporation, correspondence, financial statements, interview notes, invitations, meeting minutes, memorandums, newsclippings, notarial documents, petitions, photographs, pledges, posters, press releases, programs, questionnaires, radio scripts, receipts, reports, resolutions, telegrams, and wills.

The documents are mostly in English, although there are some materials in German.

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Arrangement

The collection is divided into ten series as follows:

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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

American Jewish Conference (I-67)
Aleph Beth Club (St. Paul, Minn.) (I-276)

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Jesse B. Calmenson, papers; P-359; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Unknown.

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Access Points

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Container List

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

 

Series I: Biography and writings, undated, 1928-1929, 1931, 1940, 1942-1943, 1946-1947, 1949, 1951-1952.
The Series is in English.
Box 1, Folders 1-3.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

Box 1, Folder 1 consists of biographical material on Jesse Calmenson. Box 1, Folders 2 and 3 contain his various miscellaneous personal writings, notes, and drafts.
Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Biographical Materials undated, 1943, 1952
1 2 Miscellaneous Writings undated, 1931, 1940, 1942, 1946-1947
1 3 Miscellaneous notes and drafts undated, 1928-1929, 1949, 1951
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Series II: Activities, various, undated, 1919-1920, 1924, 1927, 1929-1931.
The Series is in English.
Box 1, Folders 4-6.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This small series contains materials pertaining to Calmenson’s private activities: the Cosmopolitan Bank in St. Paul (Box 1, Folder 4), the George Alexander Wilson Estate (Box 1, Folder 5), and the Stameshkin family (Box 1, Folder 6). The Stameshkin family were a group of immigrants in Minnesota who enlisted Calmenson’s help in procuring the immigration of family members left in Poland.
Box Folder Title Date
1 4 Cosmopolitan Bank undated, 1919-1920, 1924, 1929
1 5 George Alexander Wilson Estate 1930-1931
1 6 Stameshkin Family 1919-1920, 1927
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Series III: Correspondence and News Clippings, undated, 1908, 1911, 1918, 1920-1930, 1932-1952, 1978-1979, 1981, 1995-1996, 1999.
The Series is in English and German.
Box 1, Folders 7-27.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This series is composed of correspondence to various individuals. Box 1, Folder 7 contains the correspondence of Jesse and Ben Calmenson. Of significant note are Jesse's correspondence with H.V. Kaltenborn (Box 1, Folder 12), Harry S. Truman (Box 1, Folder 18), and Stephen S. Wise (Box 1, Folder 19).
Box Folder Title Date
1 7 Ben and Jesse Calmenson Correspondence 1948, 1950-1951, 1999
1 8 Bryn-Jones, David 1948
1 9 Goldman, Solomon 1938
1 10 Goldstein, Israel 1945
1 11 Goldstine, S.J. 1920
1 12 Gordon, Albert I. 1949
1 13 Kaltenborn, H.V. 1941, 1946
1 14 Lewis, William M. 1930
1 15 Monsky, Henry M. 1938, 1941
1 16 Neumann, Emanuel (see also: Palestine and Israel) 1943
1 17 Platz, Ruth 1938, 1940-1941
    (contains German)   
1 18 Rothstein, Leonard J. 1923
1 19 Truman, Harry S. (see also: Palestine and Israel) 1945, 1947
1 20 Wise, Stephen S. 1924, 1941, 1944, 1947
1 21 Miscellaneous undated, 1908, 1911, 1918, 1920
1 22 Miscellaneous undated, 1920-1929
1 23 Miscellaneous 1930, 1932-1939
1 24 Miscellaneous 1940-1949
1 25 Miscellaneous 1950-1951
1 26 Miscellaneous undated
1 27 Miscellaneous Correspondence and News Clippings undated, 1919, 1922, 1929, 1932, 1940-1943, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1978-1979, 1981, 1995-1996
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Series IV: St. Paul, undated, 1922-1948.
The Series is in English.
Box 2, Folders 1-2.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

Box 2, Folder 1 provides an overview of Jewry in St. Paul. The folder mainly consists of yearly articles about Jewry in St. Paul, written by Jesse Calmenson and presumably others.

Box 2, Folder 2 contains a resolution of protest concerning the attacks upon the life and property of Jewish residents in Palestine. A poster for an emergency Palestine mass meeting can be found in this folder. The folder contains a petition to the President Franklin D. Roosevelt to keep Israel's gates open for large scale immigration for Jewish refugees from Germany, Austria, Italy, and other countries.
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Jewry in St. Paul Overview undated, 1922-1947
2 2 Miscellaneous undated, 1929, 1934, 1938, 1942, 1947-1948
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Series V: Jewish Education, undated, 1922, 1926, 1930-1932, 1934-1941, 1944-1945, 1947, 1955.
The Series is in English.
Box 2, Folders 3-10.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

The series chiefly contains Calmenson’s correspondence and involvement with various Jewish educational organizations. These include the Bureau of Jewish Education, the Capital City Hebrew School, the Center Capitol Hebrew School Association, the Jewish Educational Center Association, and the St. Paul Talmud Torah. Other types of material that can be found in this series include bylaws, ceremonial dedications, certificates of incorporation, clippings, meeting minutes, memorandums, posters, programs, reports, and resolutions.
Box Folder Title Date
2 3 Bureau of Jewish Education undated, 1926, 1934-1938
2 4 Capitol City Hebrew School 1922, 1941
2 5 Center Capitol Hebrew School Association undated, 1944-1945, 1947
2 6 Center Hebrew School Association undated, 1935-1936, 1945
2 7 Jewish Educational Center Association undated, 1930-1932, 1934-1935, 1937, 1939-1941, 1955
2 8 Miscellaneous undated, 1947
2 9 St. Paul Talmud Torah undated
2 10 Survey January 1935
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Series VI: Organizations, undated, 1914, 1916, 1918-1926, 1929-1931, 1934-1936, 1938-1945, 1947-1949, 1951.
The Series is in English.
Box 2, Folder 11-Box 3, Folder 15.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This series contains material regarding the many local and national organizations that Calmenson was involved with. Types of material in this series include: articles, bulletins, clippings, correspondence, financial statements, invitations, meeting minutes, memorandums, news releases, photographs, programs, reports, resolutions, and telegrams.

Subseries A: Organizations (local), undated, 1914, 1916, 1918-1923, 1925, 1929, 1935-1936, 1938-1941, 1944-1945, 1947-1949.
The Subseries is in English.
Box 2, Folders 11-24.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This subseries contains Calmenson’s involvement with various local Jewish organizations. Among the more significant organizations are: the Aleph Beth Club (Box 2, Folder 11), the St. Paul Chapter of the American Jewish Congress (Box 2, Folder 12), the American Jewish World (Box 2, Folder 14), the Jewish Home for the Aged of the Northwest (Box 2, Folder 18), the Order Sons of Zion (Box 2, Folder 20), and the United Jewish Fund (Box 2, Folder 23). Types of material that can be found within this subseries include: articles, clippings, correspondence, financial statements, invitations, meeting minutes, news releases, reports, and resolutions.
Box Folder Title Date
2 11 Aleph Beth Club undated, 1914, 1918, 1920-1922
2 12 American Jewish Congress, St. Paul Minutes (see also: American Jewish Congress) 1919
2 13 American Jewish Relief Committee (St. Paul) 1918, 1922
2 14 American Jewish World 1916, 1918-1919, 1922-1923, 1944
2 15 B’nai Brith (Minnesota Lodge) (see also: B’nai Brith) 1922-1923, 1925, 1929, [1939], 1948
2 16 B’nai Brith Hillel Foundation at the University of Minnesota 1949
2 17 Congregation Sons of Jacob 1949
2 18 Jewish Home for the Aged of the Northwest 1929, 1941, 1945, 1947
2 19 Jewish Welfare Board (Twin Cities) 1918
2 20 Order Sons of Zion 1923
2 21 St. Paul Council of Jewish Social Agencies 1939
2 22 Temple Aaron Congregation 1929
2 23 United Jewish Fund undated, 1935-1936, 1938-1940, 1944-1945, 1948
2 24 War Records Committee 1918-1919

Subseries B: Organizations (national), undated, 1920-1922, 1924-1926, 1929-1931, 1934-1935, 1938, 1940-1945, 1947-1949, 1951.
The Subseries is in English.
Box 3, Folders 1-15.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This subseries contains Calmenson’s involvement with various national Jewish organizations. Among the more significant organizations are: the American Jewish Committee (Box 3, Folder 3), American Jewish Congress (Box 3, Folders 4 and 5), the American Joint Distribution Committee (Box 3, Folder 7), B’nai B’rith (Box 3, Folder 8), Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America (Box 3, Folder 11), and the United Jewish Appeal (Box 3, Folder 12). Types of material that can be found in this series include: articles, bulletins, correspondence, memorandums, news releases, photographs, programs, reports, and telegrams.
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Allied Jewish Campaign (contains photographs) 1930
3 2 American Association for Jewish Education 1947-1949
3 3 American Jewish Committee 1929, 1938
3 4 American Jewish Congress (see also: American Jewish Congress, St. Paul) 1920, 1934, 1938
3 5 American Jewish Congress undated, 1940-1945
3 6 A.J.C. – Institute of Jewish Affairs 1941
3 7 American Joint Distribution Committee 1938
3 8 B’nai B’rith (see also: B’nai Brith (Minnesota Lodge)-(St. Paul) 1930, 1941, 1943-1944, 1947-1948
3 9 B’nai B’rith Relief Committee 1922
3 10 Emergency Committee on Jewish Refugees 1924-1925
3 11 Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America (HIAS) undated, 1921-1922, 1935
3 12 United Jewish Appeal undated, 1935
3 13 United Jewish Campaign 1926
3 14 Vaad Bitachon 1941
3 15 Miscellaneous Organizations 1931, 1943, 1945, 1951
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Series VII: United Palestine Appeal, undated, 1921-1931, 1937-1941, 1943, 1945.
The Series is in English.
Box 3, Folder 16-Box 5.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

Calmenson was best known for his involvement with the United Palestine Appeal. The series consists of his involvement with the UPA as well as correspondence with its chapters in St. Paul, Minnesota; Duluth, Minnesota; North and South Dakota; Portland, Oregon; and the Pacific Coast. He was also known for work with organizations such as the Jewish National Fund (Box 4, Folder 6) and Keren Hayesod (Box 4, Folders 7-8). Types of material in this series include articles, correspondence, financial statements, invitations, meeting minutes, memorandums, newsclippings, news releases, pledges, programs, receipts, reports, resolutions, and telegrams.
Box Folder Title Date
3 16 Appointment of Director (Northwest Region) 1925-1926, 1928
3 17 Correspondence January-June 1928
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 Correspondence July-December 1928
4 2 Correspondence 1931, 1937-1938, 1940-1941, 1943, 1945
4 3 Duluth (see also: United Palestine Appeal, 1926-1927) 1926-1927
4 4 Duluth 1928
4 5 Financial Statements 1926-1929
4 6 Jewish National Fund (see also: United Palestine Appeal) 1930-1931, 1939
4 7 Keren Hayesod (see also: United Palestine Appeal) 1921-1924
4 8 Keren Hayesod (see also: United Palestine Appeal) 1925-1926
4 9 Minutes 1926
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 Miscellaneous correspondence 1927
5 2 Miscellaneous correspondence undated, 1927-1929
5 3 North Dakota 1927
5 4 North & South Dakota, Minnesota (1 of 2) (see also: United Palestine Appeal – Duluth) 1926
5 5 North & South Dakota, Minnesota (2 of 2) (see also: United Palestine Appeal – Duluth) 1926
5 6 Pacific Coast 1928-1929
5 7 Portland, Oregon 1928-1929
5 8 Redemption month 1928
5 9 St. Paul 1928
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Series VIII: Palestine and Israel Organizations, undated, 1917-1924, 1926-1939, 1941-1952.
The Series is in English.
Box 6, Folder 1-Box 7, Folder 10.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This series contains materials from Calmenson’s involvement with organizations and committees in Palestine and Israel. Among these committees include: the American Christian Palestine Committee (Box 6, Folder 1), the American Palestine Committee (St. Paul) (Box 6, Folder 4), the Balfour Declaration Anniversary Committee (Box 6, Folder 7), Emergency Committee for Palestine (Box 6, Folders 11-15), and Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs (Box 6, Folder 16). Among these organizations include: the American Zionist Council (Box 6, Folder 6), Children to Palestine (Box 6, Folder 9), the Palestine Cooperative Company (Box 6, Folder 18), the Palestine Development Council (Box 6, Folder 19), the Palestine Development Leagues (Box 6, Folder 20), the Palestine Restoration Fund (Box 6, Folder 23), the St. Paul Zionist Society (Box 6, Folder 24), Young Judaea (Box 6, Folder 25), and the Zionist Organization of America (Box 7, Folders 1-9). Types of material in this series include: agendas, announcements, articles, ballots, bulletins, correspondence, financial statements, interview notes, invitations, meeting minutes, memorandums, newsclippings, press releases, programs, questionnaires, radio scripts, reports, resolutions, and telegrams.
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 American Christian Palestine Committee (see also: Emergency Committee for Palestine, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) 1948-1949, 1951
Box Folder Title Date
26 2 American Christian Palestine Committee (St. Paul) (see also: Emergency Committee for Palestine, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) undated, 1946-1948, 1951
Box Folder Title Date
36 3 American Palestine Campaign (see also: United Jewish Appeal) undated, 1931-1932
Box Folder Title Date
6 4 American Palestine Committee (St. Paul) (see also: Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs, Zionist Organization of America) undated, 1939, 1941-1942
6 5 American Friends of Hebrew University 1933-1935
6 6 American Zionist Council 1949-1952
6 7 Balfour Declaration Anniversary Committee undated, 1941
6 8 Chaim Weizmann Reception Committee undated, 1922-1923
6 9 Children to Palestine 1946
6 10 Consulate General of Israel 1951
6 11 Emergency Committee for Palestine Minutes (see also: American Christian Palestine Committee, American Palestine Committee, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) 1945-1946
6 12 Emergency Committee for Palestine (see also: American Christian Palestine Committee, American Palestine Committee, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) undated, 1942, 1944-1946
6 13 Emergency Committee for Palestine (see also: American Christian Palestine Committee, American Palestine Committee, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) undated, 1947-1948
6 14 Emergency Committee for Palestine 1949-1951
6 15 Emergency Committee for Palestine (Miscellaneous) (see also: American Christian Palestine Committee, American Palestine Committee, Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) undated, 1944, 1946-1947
6 16 Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs (see also: American Palestine Committee (St. Paul), Zionist Organization of America) 1941-1943, 1945-1949
6 17 Minnesota U.N. Committee undated, 1946-1948
6 18 Palestine Cooperative Company 1923-1924
6 19 Palestine Development Council 1920-1924
6 20 Palestine Development Leagues undated, 1922
6 21 Palestine Emergency Fund 1929
6 22 Palestine Endowment Funds 1933
6 23 Palestine Restoration Fund (see also: Zionist Organization of America) 1918-1921
6 24 St. Paul Zionist Society undated, 1917
6 25 Young Judea 1928
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 Zionist Organization of America 1919-1921, 1923, 1926, 1928, 1930-1932, 1937-1939, 1942-1943, 1948-1949, 1952
7 2 Zionist Organization of America – Committee for Progressive Zionism 1948-1949
7 3 Zionist Organization of America – Deficit Fund 1930-1932
7 4 Zionist Organization of America – Emergency Fund 1930
7 5 Zionist Organization of America – Northwest Region 1919, 1927, 1947-1949
7 6 Zionist Organization of America – St. Paul Chapter (see also: St. Paul Zionist Society) undated, 1918-1921, 1924, 1926, 1930-1932, 1934-1936, 1938, 1941-1942, 1949-1950
7 7 Zionist Organization of America – St. Paul Chapter – Committee regarding Palestine Partition 1937-1938
7 8 Zionist Organization of America – St. Paul Chapter Radio Broadcasts undated, 1931
7 9 Zionist Organizations of St. Paul – Joint Membership Campaign Committee 1918
7 10 Palestine and Israel – Miscellaneous Correspondence 1920-1921
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Series IX: Topics, undated, 1918, 1929-1930, 1941-1943, 1946, 1948.
The Series is in English.
Box 7, Folders 11-16.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

Box 7, Folder 11 is devoted to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It includes an invitation to a celebration commemorating the first anniversary of the State of Israel, a copy of the declarations and resolutions at state public meeting in Minneapolis, and a letter from Jesse Calmenson to President Harry S. Truman acknowledging his recognition of the State of Israel.

Box 7, Folder 12 contains a press release from Senator Wagner, chairman of the American Palestine Committee, in which he called for the defense of the Jewish national home in Palestine. He issued a statement that gave attention to the perilous situation of the Jewish Community in Palestine as a result of the extension of the war to the Middle East and urging that Jews be given "the opportunity and the means to defend themselves."

Box 7, Folder 13 is composed mainly of correspondence related to riots in Palestine, as well as a resolution of protest presented at a public meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Box 7, Folder 14 discusses the protest against the Passfield paper, which was a British statement of policy on Palestine issued by Lord Passfield. This statement argued that Jewish land acquisition and settlement were creating a landless peasantry and unemployment among the Palestinian Arabs. In order to combat this, it ruled that Jewish immigration and land purchase should be restricted. In protest of the paper, Chaim Weizmann resigned as president of the World Zionist Organization. The folder contains a lettergram and a New York Times article about the protest as well as holding of a protest meeting by Calmenson.

Box 7, Folder 15 contains correspondence pertaining to the sinking of the S.S. Struma and steps that need to be taken to prevent a repeat of this tragedy. Box 7, Folder 16 consists of a memorandum on the history of the Zionist movement to be presented at the Minnesota Jewish Council Board in 1946.
Box Folder Title Date
7 11 Israel (Establishment) 1948
7 12 Jewish Army for Palestine (see also: Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs) undated, 1918, 1941-1943
7 13 Palestine Riots 1929
7 14 Passfield Paper Protest (see also: Miscellaneous Writings) undated, 1930
7 15 Struma 1942
7 16 Zionism 1946
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Series X: Calmenson Family, undated, 1903-1905, 1923, 1935.
The Series is in English.
Box 7, Folders 17-21.
Arrangement:

Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Content:

This series is composed of materials related to the Calmenson family. Among these are an Entertainment Committee Book of Marcia Calmenson (Box 7, Folder 17) containing the minutes of this committee. Box 7, Folder 18 contains minutes of the Jewish Study Circle, which was assembled for “the purpose of studying leading questions pertaining to the Jew of the past and present.” Box 7, Folder 19 has a notary public certificate of Jesse Calmenson. Box 7, Folder 20 includes an affectionate handwritten essay by Benjamin Calmenson about Theodore Herzl (the founder of political Zionism) as well as a biographical sketch of Theodore Herzl. Box 7, Folder 21 contains the will of Cain Calmenson.
Box Folder Title Date
7 17 Entertainment Committee Book – Marcia Calmenson September 1903-January 1904
7 18 Jewish Study Circle 1905
7 19 Notary Public Certificate 1935
7 20 Theodore Herzl – Benjamin Calmenson undated
7 21 Will of Cain Calmenson 1923
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Oversized Material, undated, 1911, 1914-1915, 1917, 1920, 1926, 1938, 1943, 1949, 1966.
1 OS1F Folder.
Scope and Content:

The oversized material folder contains photographs of Calmenson and his certificates.
Box Folder Title Date
OS1F 1 Oversized Photographs and Certificates undated, 1911, 1914-1915, 1917, 1920, 1926, 1938, 1943, 1949, 1966
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