Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives: Synagogue Collections
Manuscript Collections
Below is an overview of synagogue collections housed in the South Texas Jewish Archives at the Woodson Research Center.
Synagogue Collections
Congregation Beth Am (Or Ami) Records, 1978-2005, (MS 733)
The collection consists of one box of correspondence, event materials, news clippings, newsletters, and institutional records such as, committee meeting minutes, speeches by Sandra Block while she was president of the congregation, and fundraising materials from Congregation Beth Am between 1978 and 2005.
Congregation Beth Israel collection, 1854-2012 (MS 711)
The Congregation Beth Israel Collection is made up of programs and catalogs, directories, historical documents, memorabilia, books, and temple bulletins depicting the day-to-day running of one of Houston’s largest congregations. The materials are in good condition and range in date from 1854 to 2012. Researchers interested in the Houston Jewish community, particularly the events and goings-on associated with Congregation Beth Israel would find this collection insightful.
Congregation Beth Jacob, Galveston [TX] records, 1947-2011 (MS 794)
The Congregation Beth Jacob, Galveston [TX] records is made up of letters, invitations, programs, bulletins, directories, legal documents, and a DVD recording the history of this small, vibrant congregation on Texas’ southern coast. Formed from two smaller communities--Russian and Austro-Hungarian--the congregation has a rich history of tradition.
Link to collection guide
Congregation Beth Yeshurun of Houston records (MS 722)
The collection includes 51 boxes of administrative records, books, cemetery records, correspondence, eulogies, event materials, financial records, meeting minutes, newspapers, newsletters, other published materials, school materials, photographs, recorded sermons, videos, CDs, DVDs, and music records that document the history of Congregation Beth Yeshurun and the synagogues that merged to form it, ranging from 1891 to 2021. Bound copies of the congregation's newsletter, The Message, from 1946 to 2014 have been digitized and can be accessed via The Portal to Texas History: https://texashistory.unt.edu/).
Link to collection guide
Link to digitized material
Congregation Emanu El Collection (MS 726)
The collection contains histories, service programs, building dedication program, Sentinel newsletters, Bulletin newsletters, news clippings, special programs, correspondence, brochures, posters, Beth Israel records, audio cassettes, event materials annual reports, and awards.
Congregation K'Nesseth Israel Records, c. 1950s-2010s (MS 924)
The collection contains a copy of Oil Gevalt: The History of the Baytown,Texas, Jewish Community (will be cataloged separately); run of Baytown Jewish Community News newsletter; scrapbooks; Hadassah meeting minutes,;records of the virtual restoration of small-town synagogues in Texas; 2 guest books; Audio/Visual materials; event programs; news clippings and newsletters; Texas Jewish Historical Society board meeting event agenda; Baytown chapter Hadassah Passover recipes; Shul-Torah repair documents; Shul-Rededication documents; Shul 75th anniversary documents; Shul historical marker' Hadassah yearbooks; and "Pin the store on Texas Avenue" map.
Link to collection guide
Link to digitized material
Shearith Israel Congregation collection, 1921-2002 (MS 738)
Six boxes of correspondence, programs and other event materials, books, newsletters, news clippings, bulletins, photographs, sermons, memorabilia, and video (VHS) and audio recordings document the history of, and activities at, Shearith Israel Congregation in Wharton, Texas.
Link to collection guide
Temple Freda [Bryan, TX] collection, 1912-2006 (MS 811)
The Temple Freda collection is made up of documents, photographs, and news clippings concerning one of the oldest religious buildings in Bryan, Texas. Though used for different things over the years, Temple Freda remains stalwart in its support for the Jewish community in Bryan, interacting with both congregation Beth Shalom, and the A&M Hillel in College station.
Link to collection guide
United Orthodox Synagogues records, ca. 1942-2000 (MS 712)
Three boxes of documents relating to the history of United Orthodox Synagogues, of Houston, Texas, and an embroidered silk banner listing names of congregates who served in World War II. The United Orthodox Synagogues organization of Houston, Texas, was created by the merger of Congregations Adath Emeth, Beth Jacob, and Adath Israel for the purpose of fostering loyalty to Orthodox Judaism.
Link to collection guide
Link to digitized material
