Library & Archives

The Library

The Dr. Moses I. Polowin Library was created in 1990 and dedicated to the memory of the first president of the Saint John Jewish Historical Society.

In 1996, the Library was recognized by the Church and Synagogue Library Association of Portland, Oregon as an Outstanding Congregational Library.

The collection is composed of books in English, Hebrew and Yiddish and covers a wide range of subject matter – Jewish religion and practice, literature, biography and history. There is also a large and well – used collection on the Holocaust.

The Library is open from Monday to Friday from late May to October. Other Times by appointment. All materials must be consulted on site. Students and general readers are welcome.

The Archives

The Louis I. Michelson Archives is dedicated to the collection, preservation and research of documents and photographs related to the history of the Jewish community in Saint John.

Much of the documentation covers the history of the Synagogues and the numerous Jewish organizations which existed in Saint John from 1896 to the present day. Involvement in the local business community, local charitable organizations and military service are also represented. Personal information on the city’s Jewish residents from published and private sources tell individual stories.

The scope of the collections include minutes, records, financial records, newsletters, correspondence, membership lists, events programs, newspaper clippings, family trees, oral interviews and photographs.

A review of fonds level descriptions is underway and these will be added to this web page as they become available.

Donations of material related to the history of the Jews in New Brunswick are welcomed.

Researchers are also welcomed to the Archives by appointment. Contact the museum by telephone or email to make these arrangements. All researchers will be asked to follow archival policy during their visit to the Archives. Copying services are available on a limited basis.