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Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Alpert, Abraham, 1873-1939
Title:	Abraham Alpert (1873-1939), papers
Dates:	undated, 1900-1947 (bulk 1916-1939)
Abstract:	Born in Kovno, Lithuania, Abraham Alpert immigrated to the United States, and in 1886 settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He learned English while attending night school and would later become an internationally known writer. Outside of his writing, he also rose to become a prominent Jewish figure and leader, not just in Boston but nationally, as well. One newspaper wrote that there was not a synagogue on the Atlantic Coast that had not heard Alpert talk. He helped organize the Boston branch of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and was active there for over 40 years, aiding over 2000 immigrants in receiving citizenship. This collection contains materials pertaining to Abraham Alpert’s role as a public figure in Boston’s Jewish community, including correspondence, news clippings, a scrapbook and programs.
Languages:	The collection is in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
Quantity:	.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box and 4 OS Folders)
Identification:	P-544
Repository:	American Jewish Historical Society
Location:	Located at AJHS, Boston, MA.

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Biographical Note¹

Abraham Alpert (1873-1939)

Born in Kovno, Lithuania, Abraham Alpert immigrated to the United States, and in 1886 settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He learned English while attending night school and would later become an internationally known writer. Under his pen name Ish Kovno (the Man from Kovno), he became well known for his humorous, yet polished, writing. He was the editor of The Boston Jewish American and a correspondent for a number of Yiddish papers in New York. Outside of his writing, he also rose to become a prominent Jewish figure and leader, not just in Boston, but also nationally. One newspaper wrote that there was not a synagogue on the Atlantic coast that had not heard Alpert talk. He helped organize the Boston branch of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), and was active there for over 40 years, aiding over 2000 immigrants in receiving citizenship. Much of his work was aimed at helping the Jewish community, for which he organized meetings and events, often as a speaker, to raise funds and awareness of issues that concerned the Jewish community.

Chronology
1873	Born in Kovno, Lithuania
1886	Settled in Boston
1899	Married Sarah Bailen
1903-1939	Served as a speaker and organizer for Jewish events
1917	Acted as clerk for what is believed to be the first Rabbinical court held in Boston, concerning two synagogues' claim over Cantor Mordecai Hershman's contract
1925	Took part in the dedication of Temple Agudath Ashkenazim in Cambridge, Massachusetts
1934	Celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary
1939	Died after being ill for some time

Footnote

¹ Information used in this finding aid is from the following sources:
Materials from the collection.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection contains materials pertaining to Abraham Alpert's role as a public figure in Boston's Jewish community. His correspondence includes letters of invitation to a number of events, thank you letters for services rendered, and letters from a number of other public figures, including President Calvin Coolidge. There are news clippings that document his many public roles and activities that helped to serve and aid local Jews, as well as documenting events going on within the Jewish community at the time. This collection also includes programs and flyers for the many meetings Alpert helped to organize.

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Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series as follows:

• Series I: Correspondence, undated, 1918-1938
• Series II: General, undated, 1900-1939
• Series III: Publicity, undated, 1909-1942
• Series IV: Oversized, undated 1903

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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

Papers of Rabbi David Alpert, P-82
Records of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society-Boston, I-96

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Abraham Alpert (1873-1939), papers; P-544; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Accession information unknown.

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Access Points

• Subject Names:

  • Alpert, Abraham

• Subject Organizations:

  • Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America.

• Subject Topics:

  • Immigrants--Massachusetts--Boston Region--Social conditions--20th century.

• Subject Places:

  • Boston (Mass.)

• Document Types:

  • Correspondence
  • News clippings
  • Programs

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Container List

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

Series I: Correspondence, undated, 1918-1938.
English, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
Box 1, Folders 1-3.
Scope and Content: This series contains letters written mostly to Abraham Alpert and a few that he wrote himself. It includes invitations and letters of thanks, of note is one signed by Calvin Coolidge. They are in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Hebrew-Yiddish	undated, 1918-1938
1	2	Miscellaneous	1918-1937
1	3	Thank You Letters	1918-1936

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Series II: General, undated, 1900-1939.
English.
Box 1, Folders 4-7.
Scope and Content: Contains various miscellaneous materials that include Alpert's credentials, programs for public events he organized, and samples of his writing and poetry.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	4	Miscellaneous Documents	1905-1928
1	5	Miscellaneous Writings and Poetry	undated, 1900-1934
1	6-7	Speaking Engagement Programs	undated, 1903-1939

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Series III: Publicity, undated, 1909-1942.
The Series is in English and Hebrew.
Box 1, Folders 8-13.
Scope and Content: This series contains news clippings that pertain mainly to the Boston Jewish Community. Many are articles that mention Alpert for services he provided, or are in reference to his role as a public figure and community leader. There is also a scrapbook of news clippings in fragile condition.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	8-10	Miscellaneous News Clippings	undated, 1909-1942
1	11	News Clippings in Hebrew-Yiddish	undated, 1906-1932
1	12	News Clippings Pertaining to HIAS	undated, 1915-1947
1	13	Scrapbook	1905-1932

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Series IV: Oversized, 1903.
The Series is in English and Hebrew.
Four OS2 folders.
Scope and Content: This series contains the certificate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts certifying Alpert as a Justice of the Peace, dated September 2, 1903; and three folders of broadsides from various events.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
Shared OS2 Box	1	Justice of the Peace certificate	1903
Shared OS2 Box	2-4	Broadsides, undated	undated

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