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Guide to the Papers of Pamela B. Cohen, undated, 1968-2005, 2007, 2009

*P-897

Processed by Andrey Filimonov and Stephanie Wilson

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.
Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Andrey Filimonov in July 2010. Description is in English.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Cohen, Pamela B.
Title: Pamela B. Cohen, papers
Dates: Papers, undated, 1968-2005, 2007, 2009 (bulk 1978-1996)
Abstract: Pamela B. Cohen Papers document activities of the prominent activist of the American Soviet Jewry Movement. Pamela B. Cohen began her activity through the independent grass roots council, Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry (CASJ) and in 1978, served with Marillyn Tallman as co-chair until 1986, when she became the national president of the Washington-based Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ). She served in that capacity for 10 years. The Pamela B. Cohen papers include materials from the late 1960s through 2009, and the bulk of the collection is dated 1970s-1980s. The documents include correspondence, notes, memoranda, publications, news clippings, photographs, ephemera, audio and video recordings and 3-D objects.
Languages: The collection is in English, Russian, Hebrew, and Icelandic.
Quantity: 23.27 linear feet (46 manuscript boxes, 1 MAP folder)
Identification: P-897
Repository: American Jewish Historical Society
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Historical Note

The Papers of Pamela B. Cohen represent one collection housed within the Archive of the American Soviet Jewry Movement (AASJM). These papers reflect the effort, beginning in the 1960s through the late 1980s, of thousands of American Jews of all denominations and political orientations to stop the persecution and discrimination of Jews in the Soviet Union. The American Soviet Jewry Movement (ASJM) is considered to be the most influential Movements of the American Jewish community in the 20th century. The beginnings of the organized American Soviet Jewry Movement became a model for efforts to aid Soviet Jews in other countries, among them Great Britain, Canada, and France. The movement can be traced to the early 1960s, when the first organizations were created to address the specific problem of the persecution and isolation of Soviet Jews by the government of the Soviet Union.

Pamela Cohen was an activist in the Soviet Jewry Movement from the early 1970s through 1996. She began her activity through the independent grass roots council, Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry (CASJ) and in 1978, served with Marillyn Tallman as co-chair until 1986, when she became the national president of the Washington-based Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ). She served in that capacity for 10 years.

Beginning in 1978, Mrs. Cohen traveled throughout the U.S.S.R. to visit Jewish emigration activists and Refuseniks, Jews who were refused emigration visas, to bring out information and to develop strategies for UCSJ's grass roots support. In 1989 Mrs. Cohen led an international delegation, representing five countries, to the Soviet Union to hold the historic first open meeting between Jews of the Soviet Union and Jews of the West and Israel. Later that year, at the request of the Refusenik activists, she traveled again to Moscow for the opening of the Solomon Mikhoels Cultural Center. In 1991, she returned to Russia for a Round Table of Human Rights, co-sponsored by the Union of Councils, with participation of indigenous human rights and democratic leaders. She also led a UCSJ team to Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to assess the situation of Jews in the Soviet Moslem Republics and returned to Kyrgyzstan the following year with a UCSJ delegation to conduct an International Symposium on Human Rights as requested by local Jewish leadership. In the same year, she participated in a Human Rights Experts meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, co-sponsored by UCSJ.

Mrs. Cohen has participated in numerous international and national conferences on the issues of Soviet Jewish emigration, Soviet anti-Semitism, and the right to Jewish identity in the former U.S.S.R.. On behalf of the Union of Councils, she attended three separate sessions of the Vienna Follow-Up Meeting of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE); the 1989 CSCE Paris Conference of the Human Dimensions; the Paris CSCE Summit 1990; the Copenhagen Conference of the Human Dimension in 1990; the 1991 Moscow Conference of the Human Dimension and served as a public member of the official U.S. delegation to the CSCE Conference on Minorities in Geneva, Switzerland in 1991. She traveled to Israel on bi-annual basis with UCSJ activists to debrief Jews who were able to receive visas.

Pamela Cohen established networks for transferring information to and from Refuseniks throughout the U.S.S.R. and maintained regular telephone contacts with activists during the darkest days for Soviet Jewry. She testified at Congressional hearings on the state of Soviet emigration policy and state-sponsored anti-Semitism during the Soviet era and participated regularly in briefings for the Congress, the White House, departments of State, Commerce and Defense. She participated in briefings for President Reagan, Secretaries of the State Schultz, Baker and for Condoleezza Rice, during her tenure with the National Security Council. In 1992 she was a guest at the White House for the State dinner during the Summit between Presidents George Bush and Boris Yeltsin.

During the course of her service, Mrs. Cohen has received the Raoul Wallenberg Humanitarian Award from the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of Chicago in 1981 and the Edward J. Sparling Award from Roosevelt University's Alumni Association. In 1989, during the UCSJ Conference in Moscow, Mrs. Cohen was given the Medal of Honor by grass roots Soviet Jewish activists and leaders for her achievements on behalf of Soviet Jewry. In 1997, she received a degree of Doctor of Human Letters from Spertus College of Judaica.

In 1995, Pamela Cohen and Rabbi Ezra Belsky co-founded Komimiyus, the Deerfield, Illinois-based North Shore Torah Center, an independent grass roots education center dedicated to Jewish classical education for adults in the Chicago area.

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Scope and Content Note

The Pamela B. Cohen papers include materials from the late 1960s through 2009, and the bulk of the collection is dated 1970s-1980s. The documents include correspondence, notes, memoranda, publications, news clippings, photographs, ephemera, audio and video recordings and 3-D objects.

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Arrangement

The collection is divided into twelve 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, N.Y., 10011 reference@ajhs.org

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Related Material

The Papers of Pamela B. Cohen is one individual collection within the Archive of the American Soviet Jewry Movement (AASJM) located at the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS). Other Soviet Jewry Movement collections at AJHS include the records of Action for Soviet Jewry (I-487), the National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ; I-181 and I-181A), the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (I-410, I-410A), Medical Mobilization for Soviet Jewry, the papers ofJoel Ackerman (P-787), Julia Mates Cheney (P-806), Jerry Goodman (P-863), Laurel and Alan J. Gould (P-866), Carolyn W. Sanger (P-870), Si Frumkin (P-871), Elaine Pittell (P-873), Sanford A. Gradinger (P-880), Shaul Osadchey (P-882), Leonard S. Cahan (P-883), Doris H. Goldstein (P-887), David H. Hill (P-888), Margery Sanford (P-889) and Pinchas Mordechai Teitz (P-891).

Individual accounts of activities within the Soviet Jewry Movement are preserved in the UJA Oral History Collection (I-433), which includes accounts from members of the following organizations: the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, Bay Area Council on Soviet Jews (BACSJ), Seattle Action for Soviet Jews, Houston Action for Soviet Jews, Chicago Action for Soviet Jews, Colorado Committee of Concern for Soviet Jews and the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. Interviewees include accounts by Lillian Forman (BACSJ), Ann Polunsky, Morey Schapira, Myrtle Sitowitz, Deborah Turkin, David Waksberg, Sylvia Weinberg and Dolores Wilkenfeld. In addition, posters related to the Soviet Jewry Movement can be found in the Jewish Student Organizations Collection (I-61).

Additional materials from other collections include records dealing with the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) located within the North American Jewish Students Appeal (NAJSA, I-338) and the records of the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC, I-172). Related records are also located at the AJHS in Newton Centre, MA including memorabilia and ephemera of the New England Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (I-237) and the Records of the Student Coalition for Soviet Jewry - Brandeis University (I-493).

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Pamela B. Cohen, papers; P-897; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Donated by Pamela B. Cohen in 2009.

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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: Correspondence, Memos, Notes, Speeches, News Clippings, undated, 1978-1998, 2005.
This series is in English.
70 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series I contains documents reflecting Pamela Cohen's personal involvement in the American Soviet Jewry movement amassed from the time of her initial engagement with the Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry in the late 1970s, throughout her presidency of Union of Council of Soviet Jews and into the late 1990s. The documents in the series include Pamela B. Cohen's notebooks and memos, correspondence with Soviet Jews, fellow human rights activists and U.S. government officials; materials on her travels to the U.S.S.R., transcripts of her speeches and clippings of news stories related to her activism.
Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Appeals and Open Letters From and on Behalf of Soviet Jews 1978-1985
1 2 Appeals and Open Letters From and on Behalf of Soviet Jews 1986-1987
1 3 Appeals and Open Letters From and on Behalf of Soviet Jews undated, 1988-1989
1 4 Contacts undated, 1980-1981, 1987, 1991
1 5 Correspondence: Congressional and Governmental 1983
1 6 Correspondence: Gilbert, Martin 1984-1985, 1988-1989
1 7 Correspondence: Letters from the Refuseniks 1978-1979
1 8 Correspondence: Letters from the Refuseniks 1980-1982
1 9 Correspondence: Letters from the Refuseniks 1983-1986
1 10 Correspondence: Postal Return Receipts 1978-1985, 1987
Box Folder Title Date
2 1 Letters and Appeals from Soviet Jews undated, 1976, 1982-1988, 1994-1998
2 2 Notes 1992
2 3 Notes 1992-1993
2 4 Notes undated
2 5 Outline for a Book on the American Soviet Jewry Movement undated
2 6 Pamela Cohen's Speeches 1982-1983
2 7 Pamela Cohen's Speeches 1986-1989, 1991, 1997, 2005
2 8 Pamela Cohen's Speeches undated
Box Folder Title Date
3 1 Pamela Cohen's Speeches undated
3 2 Pamela Cohen's Timeline of the American Soviet Jewry Movement undated
3 3 Personal File 1987-1989
3 4 Personal File 1978, 1981-1986
3 5 Personal File 1990-1995
3 6 Personal File undated, 1996-1997
3 7 President's File 1978-1979, 1981-1982
3 8 President's File 1980
Box Folder Title Date
4 1 President's File 1981
4 2 President's File 1981
4 3 President's File 1981
4 4 President's File 1983
4 5 President's File 1983
4 6 President's File 1983
4 7 President's File 1984
Box Folder Title Date
5 1 President's File 1984
5 2 President's File 1984
5 3 President's File 1985
5 4 President's File 1985
5 5 President's File 1986
Box Folder Title Date
6 1 President's File 1986
6 2 President's File 1987
6 3 President's File 1987
6 4 President's File 1987
6 5 President's File 1987
Box Folder Title Date
7 1 President's File 1987
7 2 President's File 1987
7 3 President's File 1987
7 4 President's File 1988
7 5 President's File 1989
7 6 President's File 1989
Box Folder Title Date
8 1 President's File 1989
8 2 President's File 1989
8 3 President's File 1990
8 4 President's File 1990
8 5 President's File 1991
Box Folder Title Date
9 1 President's File 1991
9 2 President's File 1992
9 3 President's File 1993
9 4 President's File 1993
9 5 President's File 1994
Box Folder Title Date
10 1 President's File 1994
10 2 President's File 1995
10 3 President's File 1996
10 4 President's File 1996
10 5 President's File 1996
Box Folder Title Date
11 1 President's File 1998
11 2 President's File, 1988 Trip 1988
11 3 President's File, Annual Meeting in Moscow 1989
11 4 President's File, Annual Meeting in Moscow 1989
11 5 President's File, UCSJ Meetings 1987
11 6 President's File, UCSJ Meetings 1987
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Series II: Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks, 1983-1986.
This series is in English.
4 folders.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

Series II contains notes taken during phone conversations with Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R.-one of the most important ways of monitoring the conditions of Soviet Jews and obtaining the information, useful to help them emigrate from the U.S.S.R.
Box Folder Title Date
12 1 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1983-1984
12 2 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1984
12 3 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1985
12 4 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1985
12 5 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1986
12 6 Records of Phone Conversations with the Refuseniks in the U.S.S.R. 1986
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Series III: Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry, 1983, 1988-1993.
This series is in English.
5 folders.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

Series III contains press releases from the Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry.
Box Folder Title Date
13 1 Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: News and Press Releases 1983
13 2 Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: News and Press Releases 1988
13 3 Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: News and Press Releases 1989-1990
13 4 Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: News and Press Releases 1991-1992
13 5 Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: News and Press Releases 1993
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Series IV: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, undated, 1968-1981, 1983, 1985-1995, 1998.
This series is in English.
15 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series IV contains memos, press releases, brochures and statements of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews.
Box Folder Title Date
14 1 Affairs Materials: UCSJ Brochures, Leaflets, Post Cards, Handouts undated, 1976-1977, 1980-1981, 1983, 1990-1991
14 2 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1972
14 3 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1973
14 4 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1974
14 5 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1975
14 6 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1976
14 7 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1977
14 8 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1978
14 9 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1978
Box Folder Title Date
15 1 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1979
15 2 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Historic Documents 1968-1972, 1980, 1998
15 3 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Historic Documents 1985-1986
15 4 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Historic Documents 1987-1988
15 5 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Historic Documents 1989-1990
15 6 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Historic Documents undated, 1991-1995
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Series V: Individual Case Files on Soviet Jewish Refuseniks, undated, 1977-1989, 1994, 1998.
This series is in English, Russian and Hebrew.
21 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series V includes individual case files of several Refusenik families and individuals, detailing their struggle to emigrate from the U.S.S.R., and work on their behalf by Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry, Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, and by Pamela Cohen personally. The files contain correspondence, memos, notes and news clippings.
Box Folder Title Date
16 1 Blitshtein, Lev undated, 1979-1983, 1985-1988
   

(contains Russian)

  
16 2 Chernobilsky, Boris undated, 1984, 1987-1989
   

(contains Russian and Hebrew)

  
16 3 Gorodetsky, Yakov undated, 1977-1981, 1983-1984, 1986-1987
   

(contains Russian)

  
16 4 Gorodetsky, Yakov undated, 1984-1986
16 5 Gorodetsky, Yakov undated, 1982-1984, 1986
Box Folder Title Date
17 1 Gorodetsky, Yakov undated, 1984-1986
   

(contains Russian)

  
17 2 Gorodetsky, Yakov undated, 1983, 1985
   

(contains Russian)

  
17 3 Khassin Family 1979, 1982, 1985-1987
   

(contains Russian)

  
17 4 Khassin Family undated, 1986-1988
   

(contains Russian)

  
17 5 Khassin Family undated, 1986-1988
Box Folder Title Date
18 1 Poltinnikov Family undated, 1979-1980, 1983, 1994, 1998
18 2 Volvovsky, Leonid Anayevich undated, 1978-1987
   

(contains Hebrew)

  
18 3 Volvovsky, Leonid Anayevich undated, 1979-1980, 1982, 1985-1987
18 4 Volvovsky, Leonid Anayevich undated, 1978, 1986-1987
18 5 Volvovsky, Leonid Anayevich undated, 1985-1988
Box Folder Title Date
19 1 Volvovsky, Leonid Anayevich undated, 1977-1980, 1982-1983, 1985-1987
   

(contains Hebrew)

  
19 2 Zunshine, Zachar undated, 1984-1986
   

(contains Russian)

  
19 3 Zunshine, Zachar undated, 1984-1986
   

(contains Russian)

  
19 4 Zunshine, Zachar undated, 1983-1986
   

(contains Russian and Hebrew)

  
19 5 Zunshine, Zachar undated, 1984-1986
   

(contains Russian)

  
19 6 Zunshine, Zachar undated, 1984-1985
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Series VI: Subject Files, undated, 1972-1973, 1976, 1978-1994, 1996-2001, 2003.
This series is in English.
25 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series VI: comprise materials on a number of issues, individuals and events connected with Soviet Jewry. The Subject Files include information on Soviet Anti-Semitism, prisoners of conscience, Jewish culture in the U.S.S.R., profiles of U.S. politicians and human rights activists, and other subjects. The documents include correspondence, memos, notes and brochures.
Box Folder Title Date
20 1 Antisemitism undated, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1990-1991, 1998
20 2 Antisemitism undated, 1980-1990, 1993
20 3 Golempolsky, Tankred undated, 1989, 1992-1994, 1996
20 4 Holocaust on Soviet Territory 1976, 1981, 1983, 1985
20 5 Interviews undated, 1979, 1987, 1994, 1997, 1999-2001, 2003
   

(contains 3 audio cassettes)

  
20 6 International Parliamentary Group for Human Rights in the Soviet Union (IPG) undated, 1980, 1983-1987
20 7 Lein Trial undated, 1981
20 8 Leningrad Trial undated, 1979, 1987, 1996, 1998
   

(contains audio cassette)

  
20 9 Mikveh of Mariyna Roscha Synagogue, Moscow undated, 1995, 1998
20 10 Miscellaneous Subjects undated, 1983-1989
Box Folder Title Date
21 1 Moscow Olympics undated, 1972-1973, 1976-1980
21 2 News Articles on Soviet Jewry 1987-1988
21 3 News Articles on Soviet Jewry 1989-1990
21 4 Poor Relatives Group undated, 1989
   

(contains Russian)

  
21 5 Porter, John E., Congressman 1982-1983
21 6 Prisoners of Conscience undated, 1979, 1981-1985, 1988-1989, 1999
21 7 Rabbinic Actions 1984-1988
Box Folder Title Date
22 1 Rapoport, Louis undated, 1986-1990
22 2 Reagan, Ronald undated, 1985-1988
22 3 Secrecy Refusals undated, 1987
22 4 Sharansky, Anatoly 1979, 1981, 1984, 1986-1988
22 5 Sister Cities 1987-1989
22 6 Struggle for Jewish Culture in the U.S.S.R. undated, 1979-1980, 1982, 1984-1985, 1988, 1997
   

(contains audiocassette)

  
22 7 Utevsky, Lev undated, 1983-1985
22 8 Vaad Hatzolah Chabad 1998-2000
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Series VII: Projects and Events, undated, 1980-1992, 1994, 2009.
This series is in English and Icelandic.
28 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series VII documents meetings and activities related to events important to the Soviet Jewry movement, such as the meetings of U.S. President Ronald Reagan with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, the U.S. elections of 1988 and other events. The series also contains documents on special projects, such as direct mail efforts, and on cooperation with other human rights groups. The documents include memos, notes, correspondence and news clippings.
Box Folder Title Date
23 1 A. B. Data Direct Martketing Services undated, 1989-1996
23 2 Abram-Bronfman Agreement, 3/1987 1985-1987
23 3 American-Soviet Jewish Bureau for Emigration, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law 1990
23 4 American-Soviet Jewish Bureau for Emigration, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law 1990
23 5 American-Soviet Jewish Bureau for Emigration, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law 1990
Box Folder Title Date
24 1 CSCE (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) Helsinki Meetings undated, 1980, 1982, 1985-1989
24 2 CSCE (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) Helsinki Meetings undated, 1980, 1987-1991
24 3 CSCE (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) Helsinki Meetings 1989-1990
24 4 CSCE (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) Helsinki Meetings May 1990
24 5 Direct Mail Samples 1991-1992, 1994
24 6 Direct Mail Samples 1995
24 7 Direct Mail Samples 1996
24 8 Direct Mail Samples circa 1990s
Box Folder Title Date
25 1 Elections 1988 1988
25 2 Finnish Christians, Edward Usoskin undated, 1983-1987, 2009
25 3 Jerusalem-Munich-Vienna Meetings February 1988
25 4 Madrid Review Conference of the Helsinki Agreement 1980-1981, 1983, 1992
25 5 Moscow International Seminar on Human Rights and Soviet-American Governmental Commission undated, 1987-1988
25 6 Reykjavik Summit undated, 1985-1986
25 7 Reykjavik Summit: Morgunbladit Newspaper 1986
   

(contains Icelandic)

  
Box Folder Title Date
26 1 Reykjavik Summit: News Articles undated, 1986
26 2 Reykjavik Summit: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews undated, 1986
26 3 Summit Meeting, Helsinki 1988
26 4 Summit Meeting, Washington 1987
26 5 Summit: Washington, DC Rally Mobilization Task Force 1987
26 6 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Annual Leadership Meeting 1991-1992
26 7 Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Meetings in Israel 1980, 1982, 1986-1987
26 8 World Conference on Soviet Jewry, Presidium undated, 1983-1984, 1986-1988
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Series VIII: American Soviet Jewry Movement: History, Controversial Issues, Interaction Among Organizations, Relationship with Israel, undated, 1972, 1975, 1977-2000, 2003-2004, 2007.
This series is in English and Russian.
16 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series VIII contains materials on the history of the Soviet Jewry Movement in the United States, on the relationship among American Soviet Jewry Movement organizations, and their relations with the Israeli government and organizations responsible for repatriation of Soviet Jews. The series contains documents on controversial and much disputed subjects, such as the issue of the Noshrim (Hebrew word for "dropouts"), the Soviet Jews who left the U.S.S.R. on an Israeli visa, but instead of going to Israel chose a different destination, usually the United States. The documents include correspondence, memos and notes.
Box Folder Title Date
27 1 Chicago Jewish Federation and Chicago Conference on Soviet Jewry 1982-1990
27 2 Confidential undated, 1977, 1979, 1982-1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2009
   

(contains Russian)

  
27 3 Conflicts Among Soviet Jewry Movement Organizations 1978-1979, 1981-1983, 1986-1988, 1993, 1995-1996, 1999-2000, 2007
27 4 Drop Outs (Noshrim) 1979, 1982
27 5 History of the Soviet Jewry Movement in the U.S. undated, 1975
27 6 History of the Soviet Jewry Movement in the U.S. 1980, 1984, 1986-1989
27 7 History of the Soviet Jewry Movement in the U.S. 1992-1994, 1997, 2004
27 8 Israel File 1977, 1979-1985
Box Folder Title Date
28 1 Israel File undated, 1988-1990, 1994-1996, 1999
28 2 Israel File 1986
28 3 Israel File 1987
28 4 Lishkat Hakesher (Nativ) 1972, 1979-1980, 1987-1989, 1991, 1993, 1996-1998, 2003
28 5 National Conference on Soviet Jewry 1988-1989, 1995-1996
28 6 Pamela Cohen's Timeline of the American Soviet Jewry Movement undated
28 7 Public Activity Versus Quiet Diplomacy Regarding Soviet Jews undated, 1986-1987, 1991
28 8 Women's Movement undated, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1984-1987, 1998
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Series IX: Travel to U.S.S.R., undated, 1978, 1980-1989.
This series is in English.
33 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series I is divided into two subseries.

Subseries A contains information intended for the American Jews who wished to visit Jews in the U.S.S.R. to supply them with material and spiritual aid, and to gather information for the American Soviet Jewry Movement organizations. These documents include the UCSJ Travel Program outline and lists of Refuseniks to visit. The subseries also contains American travelers' articles and personal accounts of violations and unusual experiences with Soviet officials. The documents include memos, notes, news clippings and articles.

Subseries B includes Trip Reports of the American visitors of Soviet Jews in the U.S.S.R.

Subseries A: Information for American visitors of Soviet Jews in the U.S.S.R., undated, 1978, 1980-1984.
This subseries is in English.
3 folders.
Box Folder Title Date
29 1 Travel Program Information undated, 1978, 1983-1984
29 2 Tourist Violations undated, 1980-1984
29 3 Tourist Law 1981-1984

Subseries B: Trip Reports of the American Visitors of Soviet Jews in the U.S.S.R., undated, 1981-1989.
This subseries is in English.
32 folders.
Box Folder Title Date
29 4 Abramson, Carole; Cohen, Gail; Gittleman, Mark; Muchin, Karen; Singer, Lynn 1988
29 5 Anisfeld, Michael 1987-1988
29 6 Anschel, Hillary; Ross, Ken undated, 1985
29 7 Berlowitz, Jack; San, Bernard 1985
29 8 Cowen,Ruth, Wally; Rapp, Marsha and Mr. (first name unknown) undated, 1989
29 9 Cantor, Nelson and Cohen, Lynn undated, 1985
29 10 Domsky, Judy and Ron 1984
29 11 Feig, Konnilyn; Wilhelm, Lisa undated, 1985
29 12 Freed, Michael and Jean 1984
29 13 Freed, Michael and Jean 1988
Box Folder Title Date
30 1 Gamoran, Saul, Reuben 1982
30 2 Gilat undated
30 3 Edelheit, Joe and Gilman, Sam undated, 1984
30 4 Kahn, Betty and Opper, Lynn undated, 1984
30 5 Katz, Betsy and Grey, Lana undated, 1986
30 6 Kenney, Jim and Miller, Ron 1984
30 7 Kohn, Sandra and Spinner, Nancy 1985
30 8 Kurtz, Vernon and Simon, Mordecai undated, 1981-1983
30 9 Lewis, Michael and Valerie undated, 1984
30 10 Lewis, Valerie and Arzti, Donna undated, 1987
30 11 Mednick, Robert and Susan; Janger, Dick and Lois 1982
30 12 Morris, Mitchell; Shapiro, Ronald undated, 1983
30 13 Motew, Marty; Winick, Al undated, 1986
30 14 Oberman, Marty 1981
Box Folder Title Date
31 1 Opper, Linda; Tallman, Marillyn; Waksberg, David undated, 1988
31 2 Peshkin, Frances and Murray undated, 1989
31 3 Rizowry, Carlos and Halbkram, Harry undated, 1982
31 4 Rosenfeld undated
31 5 Rosenfeld: Nancy, Martin 1982
31 6 Stein, Jay 1986
31 7 Stern, Barbara and Canadian Delegation 1984
31 8 Taussig, Elaine and Stuart 1983
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Series X: Soviet and American Policies Affecting Soviet Jews, undated, 1978-1991, 1993-1996.
This series is in English, Russian and Hebrew.
18 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series X contains materials on Soviet and American laws and policies that affected Immigration of Soviet Jews and Jewish life in the U.S.S.R.. The documents include memos, press releases and news clippings.
Box Folder Title Date
32 1 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1978-1979, 1983, 1985-1986
32 2 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1987
32 3 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1987
32 4 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1988
32 5 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1989
32 6 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1989
Box Folder Title Date
33 1 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1989
33 2 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1989
33 3 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1989
33 4 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1990
33 5 Jackson-Vanik Amendment 1991, 1993-1995
33 6 Jackson-Vanik Amendment: 20th Anniversary 1994-1995
33 7 Repatriation 1983-1985
   

(contains Russian and Hebrew)(contains 1 cassette)

  
Box Folder Title Date
34 1 Soviet Anti-Zionist Committee undated, 1978, 1980, 1983-1995
   

(contains Russian)

  
34 2 Soviet Disinformation and Propaganda 1978, 1981-1989, 1992, 1996
   

(contains Russian)

  
34 3 Soviet Emigration Policy 1981-1986
34 4 Soviet Emigration Policy undated, 1987-1989
34 5 Stevenson Amendment 1985, 1988-1989
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Series XI: Publications, 1975, 1977-1991, 1993, 1996-1997.
This series is in English, Russian and Hebrew.
18 folders.
Arrangement:

Alphabetical.
Scope and Content:

Series XI contains newsletters and reports on Soviet Jews published in America, Europe and Israel.

Box Folder Title Date
35 1 35's [Women's Campaign for Soviet Jewry] 1981
35 2 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] January-May 1979
35 3 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] June-December 1979
35 4 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] January-June 1980
35 5 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] July-December 1980
35 6 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] 1981
Box Folder Title Date
36 1 Alert [Union of Councils for Soviet Jews] 1982-1986
36 2 Antisemitism in the Former Soviet Union, 1995-1997, Report by Union of Councils for Soviet Jews 1997
36 3 Antisemitism in the U.S.S.R. 1979
36 4 Antisemitism in the U.S.S.R. 1979
36 5 Antisemitism in the U.S.S.R. 1980
36 6 Antisemitism in the U.S.S.R. 1986
36 7 Information [Israel] 1979-1980
Box Folder Title Date
37 1 Information [Israel] 1991-1993
37 2 Insight: Soviet Jews, Vol. 1, Nos 2, 3, 5; Vol. 4, No. 11 1975, 1978
37 3 Jews in the U.S.S.R. January-June 1977
37 4 Jews in the U.S.S.R. July-December 1977
37 5 Jews in the U.S.S.R. January-June 1978
37 6 Jews in the U.S.S.R. July-December 1978
37 7 Jews in the U.S.S.R. February-June 1979
37 8 Jews in the U.S.S.R. July-December 1979
37 9 Jews in the U.S.S.R. 1980
Box Folder Title Date
38 1 Jews in the U.S.S.R. 1981
38 2 News Bulletin [Scientists Committee of the Israel Public Council for Soviet Jewry] 1978-1980
38 3 News Bulletin [Scientists Committee of the Israel Public Council for Soviet Jewry] 1981
38 4 News Bulletin [Scientists Committee of the Israel Public Council for Soviet Jewry], Nos. 3, 4, 6 1996
38 5 Refusenik: Information from Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry 1979-1980
38 6 Refusenik: Information from Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry 1981-1982
38 7 Refusenik: Information from Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry 1983-1984
Box Folder Title Date
39 1 Refusenik: Information from Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry 1985-1987
39 2 Refusenik: Information from Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry 1990-1991, 1993
39 3 Soviet Jewry Education and Information Center Bulletin 1984-1986
39 4 Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry 1978-1979
39 5 Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry 1980-1981
39 6 UCSJ Quarterly Report 1983-1986
39 7 U.S.S.R. News Brief [Editor Cronid Lubarsky] 1986
39 8 U.S.S.R. News Brief [Editor Cronid Lubarsky] 1987-1988
39 9 U.S.S.R. News Brief [Editor Cronid Lubarsky] 1989
39 10 U.S.S.R. News Brief [Editor Cronid Lubarsky] 1990
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Series XII: Audio, Visual and Oversize Materials, 3-D Objects, undated, 1976-1994, 1998, 1999.
This series is in English,Russian and Hebrew.
Scope and Content:

Series XII is divided into five subseries.

Subseries A contains photographs taken during Pamela B. Cohen’s travels in the U.S.S.R. and during various events related to the American Soviet Jewry Movement.

Subseries B contains videocassettes of television broadcasts and other video materials related to Soviet Jews, including an oral history interview with Pamela B. Cohen, taken in 2009.

Subseries C includes audio- and microcassettes containing recordings of conversations with Soviet Jews and the proceedings of the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews conference in Israel.

Subseries D contains three metal bracelets stamped with names of Soviet Jewish Prisoners of Conscience and one plastic pin, commemorative of the Conference of Jewish Organizations and Communities of U.S.S.R., Moscow 1989.

Subseries E contains Soviet Jewry Movement posters and broadsides.

Subseries A: Photographs, undated, 1976-1994, 1999.
This subseries is in English.
23 folders.
Box Folder Title Date
40 1 Photographs 1978-1979
40 2 Photographs 1980-1989
40 3 Photographs 1990-1992, 1994, 1999
40 4 Photographs 1991
40 5 Photographs 1991
40 6 Photographs 1991
Box Folder Title Date
41 1 Photographs undated
41 2 Photographs undated
41 3 Photographs undated
41 4 Photographs: Azerbaijan 1994
41 5 Photographs: Bishkek, Kirghizia, Human Rights Meeting 1991
41 6 Photographs: Chernobylsky Family undated, 1985, 1987-1989
41 7 Photographs: Cohen, Pamela and Leonard Trip to the U.S.S.R. 1978
Box Folder Title Date
42 1 Photographs: Gorodetsky, Yakov undated
42 2 Photographs: Greenberg, Moshe undated
42 3 Photographs: Khassin Family undated, 1979, 1982, 1985-1987
42 4 Photographs: Lazaris, Vladimir undated, 1976-1977
42 5 Photographs: Moscow May-June 1990
42 6 Photographs: Moscow 1992
Box Folder Title Date
43 1 Photographs: Moscow 1993
43 2 Photographs: Moscow, UCSJ Meeting 1989
43 3 Photographs: Opening of the Mikhoels Cultural Center in Moscow 1989
43 4 Photographs: Volovsky Family undated, 1978, 1986-1987
43 5 Photographs: Reykjavik Summit 1986
43 6 Photographs: Sharansky undated, 1984, 1987
43 7 Photographs: Sharansky Dedication October 1982
43 8 Photographs: Stolar, Abe in Chicago undated
43 9 Photographs: UCSJ Human Rights Meeting in Kiev 1992
43 10 Photographs: Women's Movement undated

Subseries B: Video, undated, 1984-1986, 2002.
1 box.
Box Folder Title Date
44 1 DVD: Oral History Interview with Pamela B. Cohen 2009
44 2 Videocassette: Natan Sharansky Release Interview, PBC 1986
44 3 Videocassette: Avital Sharansky at the Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry March 1984
44 4 Videocassette: Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry: Marty Oberman undated
44 5 Videocassette: Lev Roitburd (Odessa) undated
44 6 Videocassette: Union of Councils for Soviet Jewry: Orlov-Sharansky Human Rights Violations undated
44 7 Videocassette: Re-Remembering, Chicago Action for Jews in the Former Soviet Union 2002
44 8 Videocassette: Betty Kahn and Pam Cohen undated
44 9 Videocassette: Pamela Cohen on "Friends" with Mike Heiderman, on Channel 5 Late News and Today Show 1985
44 10 Videocassette: Kevin Klose, Washington Post: Leningrad Broadcast undated

Subseries C: Audio Materials,  undated, 1984-1987, 1998-1999.
Box Folder Title Date
45 1 Audiocassette: "Abe Stolar 3/21" undated
45 2 Audiocassette: "Songs--Volovsky, Ebsteins (Moscow 7/20/81)" July 20, 1981
45 3 Audiocassette: "Volovsky 1. Ed, Dem. Tel Aviv" undated
45 4 Audiocassette: "Volovsky" June 28, 1982
45 5 Audiocassette: "Lynn-Volovsky" undated
45 6 Audiocassette: "Ari Volovsky, Letter" Spring 1979, March 1981
45 7 Audiocassette: "Volovsky, July 1, 1980; Stolar, Abe, June 19, 1980" 1980
45 8 Audiocassette: "Volovsky" undated
45 9 Audiocassette: "Tatiana Zunshain" undated
45 10 Audiocassette: "Tatiana Zunshain, Orleans, France" undated
45 11 Audiocassette: "Tanya's Letter to Pres." undated
45 12 Audiocassette: "Yale/Addresses" undated
45 13 Audiocassette: "Tatiana Zunshain" undated
45 14 Audiocassette: "Tatiana Appeal" undated
45 15 Audiocassette: "Gorod. John Porter" August 13, 1985
45 16 Audiocassette: "Lifshitz" September 23, 1985
45 17 Audiocassette: "Volovsky Letter, 42 Signatures, November 28, 1985: Burshtein's Release From Prison" 1985
45 18 Audiocassette: "Zunshain" March 15, 1985
45 19 Audiocassette: "Imp. English Statement" undated
45 20 Audiocassette: "Zunshain, 3/17/1986, Intervention/Sud 3/17/1986" 1986
45 21 Audiocassette: "Zunshain-Begun, May 19" undated
45 22 Audiocassette: "Tanya Zunshain" April 1, 1986
45 23 Audiocassette: "Tanya Zunshain-Mitterrand/April 4, Yasha-Tourists" undated
45 24 Audiocassette: "Zunshain" undated
45 25 Audiocassette: "Zunshain Post Card to Deputies" May 16, 1985
45 26 Audiocassette: "Tanya Zunshain, Stachenko (Dobrovensky)" undated
45 27 Audiocassette: "Volovsky, May 28, Hawkes" undated
45 28 Audiocassette: "Abe Stolar 8/81 Master, Lev Blitshtein--Original" undated
45 29 Audiocassette: "Abe Stolar, 72nd Birthday, Message to Mayor of Washington" December 18, 1983
45 30 Audiocassette: "Volovsky, Michael Sherbourne, Mesh Called in Dec. 82." 1982
45 31 Audiocassette: "Abe Stolar to Mayor Byrne, Moscow" December 8, 1980
45 32 Audiocassette: "Volovsky" September 10, 1979
45 33 Audiocassette: "Israel Conference UCSJ: Families--Moscow" 1980
45 34 Audiocassette: "Israel Conference UCSJ: Grigory Kanovich" 1980
45 35 Audiocassette: "Israel Conference UCSJ: Emigration, Drop Outs, Ben Fein" 1980
45 36 Audiocassette: "Israel Conference UCSJ: Anatoly Altman, Families" 1980
45 37 Audiocassette: "Israel Conference UCSJ: David Shipler--Effects of Polish Crisis, Michael Sherbourne, Barras" 1980
Box Folder Title Date
46 1 Audiocassette: "Volovsky" January 1984
46 2 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky, Gene, 21" 1984
46 3 Audiocassette: "Lev Goldfarb" April 27, 1984
46 4 Audiocassette: "Mila, Red Cross" undated
46 5 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky, 3/22/83/Tatiana Zunshain 3/23/84" 1983-1984
46 6 Audiocassette: "Nellie Mai" May 2, 1984
46 7 Audiocassette: "Ari Volovsky" undated
46 8 Audiocassette: "Mila Volovsky" undated
46 9 Audiocassette: "Yasha" November 14, 1984
46 10 Audiocassette: "Yasha 6/6/1984; Gorodetsky" 1984
46 11 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky--June 15" undated
46 12 Audiocassette: "KGB--Yasha--Aug. 20, 1984 Use in Case of Trial" 1984
46 13 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky Arrest, Pratt, Khassina" September 1984
46 14 Audiocassette: "Leningrad Appeal" undated
46 15 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky" undated
46 16 Audiocassette: "Tanya, Helsinki Letter April; Revised Women's Letter" undated
46 17 Audiocassette: "Yasha: I Can Help You" undated
46 18 Audiocassette: "Yasha Gorodetsky: Messenger Call Interrupted 8/5/85; Porter, Aug. 13, 1985" 1985
46 19 Audiocassette: "Yasha, Defomation" May 20, 1985
46 20 Audiocassette: "Burshtein; Alla P." undated
46 21 Audiocassette: "Alla Praisman; Vasserman, June 25" undated
46 22 Audiocassette: "Edward; Yasha" July 24, 1985
46 23 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky--Usoskin" undated
46 24 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky Signatures, 19/09/84; Pam Cohen-Usoskin" 1984
46 25 Audiocassette: "Yiddish Songs in German, N. Ratner" April 23, 1987
46 26 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky, April 3" undated
46 27 Audiocassette: "Yasha, Repatriation, Repeat" October 15, 1985
46 28 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky and Porter" undated
46 29 Audiocassette: "Yasha" September 11, 1985
46 30 Audiocassette: "Yasha Gorodetsky" February 24, 1985
46 31 Audiocassette: "Yasha Gorodetsky" undated
46 32 Audiocassette: "Tanya Zunshain" January 10, 1985
46 33 Audiocassette: "Yasha" undated
46 34 Audiocassette: "Women to American Congress" undated
46 35 Audiocassette: "Dina Beilina 3/24" undated
46 36 Audiocassette: "Gorodetsky; Zulshtein, Arrest" undated
46 37 Audiocassette: Unlabeled undated
46 38 Audiocassette: "Leningrad Appeal to Israel, Russian" undated
46 39 Audiocassette: Unlabeled undated
46 40 Audiocassette: "Chicago Action for Soviet Jewry Refuseniks: Heroes of History"
46 41 Audiocassette: "Letters to Jews in the West, 1985; Natasha Bechkan: Complaints, Fanya Berenshtein, Tanya Edelstein, Dec. 26, 1984" 1984-1985
46 42 Audiocassette: "Beilina-John Hatch, Grassoly Boshewitz" undated
46 43 Audiocassette: "P. Cohen--Debriefing Speech" undated
46 44 Audiocassette: "Lev Suel; Dima Beilina--Message from Ilona Khassina" undated
46 45 Audiocassette: "Give up Citizenship, Mairobi; The Reasons for Establishing Process of Repatriation" October 18, 1985
46 46 Audiocassette: "Vlad L.--History of Persecution" undated
46 47 Audiocassette: "Shapiro Case; Tanya" undated
46 48 Audiocassette: "Dr. Michael Wasserman and Consulate re: Sharansky; Ari Volovsky, October 21st" undated
46 49 Audiocassette: "Candidates, Congress, Nepomnishaya" undated
46 50 Audiocassette: "Natasha Khassina" undated
46 51 Audiocassette: "Meshkov 3-24" undated
46 52 Audiocassette: "Ari Volovsky Singing" undated
46 53 Microcassette: "Shauli--G. Farber" undated
46 54 Microcassette: "Gennady/Joseph E." undated
46 55 Microcassette: "M. Sherbourne" undated
46 56 Microcassette: "Shmucler" undated
46 57 Microcassette: "Simcah-Dinitz" undated
46 58 Microcassette: "Rabbi Chazan" August 16, 1998
46 59 Microcassette: "Chaim Burshtein" January 4, 1998
46 60 Microcassette: "KGB" 1999
46 61 Microcassette: "Bronfman-Sharansky" undated
46 62 Microcassette: "Alex Pyatetsk I" undated
46 63 Microcassette: "Rabbi Greenberg Interview, Would not Talk" August 17, 1998
46 64 Microcassette: "Yesh. Anug Min. Foreign Affairs; Nechemiah, Levanon" undated
46 65 Microcassette: "Rabbi Chazan Interview" August 17, 1998
46 66 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 67 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 68 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 69 Microcassette: "Isobin" undated
46 70 Microcassette: "Mendeleev 5/25" undated
46 71 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 72 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 73 Microcassette: "Ouda History" undated
46 74 Microcassette: "Semenovsky 5/16" undated
46 75 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 76 Microcassette: "Ann Shenkaz (?)" undated
46 77 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated
46 78 Microcassette: "Alex IV" undated
46 79 Microcassette: "Alex III" undated
46 80 Microcassette: Unlabeled undated

Subseries D: 3-D Objects, undated, 1989.
This subseries is in English.
2 folders.
Box Folder Title Date
46 81 Pin: Conference of Jewish Organizations and Communities of U.S.S.R., Moscow 1989
   

(contains Russian and Hebrew)

  
46 82 Three Metal Bracelets with Names of Soviet Jewish Prisoners of Conscience: Judith Ratner, Aryeh Volvosky, Eduard Kuznetsov undated

Subseries E: Oversize Materials, undated, 1985-1986.
This subseries is in English.
1MAP folder.
Box Folder Title Date
MAP1 1 Poster: "How Many Years Can Some People Exist Before They're Allowed to Be Free," by Student and Academic Campaign for Soviet Jews, London, UK, 17"x24", b/w undated
MAP1 1 Poster: "Hosting Human Rights Conference; Denying Human Rights to Soviet Jews," by Student and Academic Campaign for Soviet Jews, London, UK, 17"x24", color undated
MAP1 1 Poster: Prisoner of the Soviet Secret Police Mikhail Kornblit, Soviet Jew, by Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, by Student Struggle for Soviet Jews, 11"x17", b/w undated
MAP1 1 Broadside: International Herald Tribune, "There are Still 370,000 Hostages in the Soviet Union" October 9, 1986
MAP1 1 Broadside: The Wall Street Journal, "Secretary Shultz: Seventy-Three Women and Men are Risking Their Lives by Running this Ad Today" January 2, 1985
MAP1 1 Poster: "UCSJ Network of Human Rights Bureaus in Russian and the Newly Independent Nations of the Former Soviet Union," 11"x17", color undated
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