Photoessay #1571 - Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven

The largest part of our research time last week was at the the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven which is located at the Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University. The actual building is very plain and industrial; looks like it should be an equipment shop for motorized vehicles. At least five historical societies have come together to share the space:

The Greater New Haven African American Historical Society
The Connecticut Irish American Historical Society
The Italian American Historical Society of Connecticut
The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven
The Connecticut Ukrainian American Historical Society

A picture taken outside of the building including my cousin is at the bottom of the post. Not much to look at from the outside.

But busy on the inside. Fortunately for us, Werner Hirsch came by for a meeting and helped us by looking at some old German documents plus showed me how to scan on their computer as well as sharing his own Maier Zunder sources with me. He tried to translate some old papers from bavaria. My cousin Mary Ann looks on. Notice that she's wearing my mom's iridescent seagul pin on her sweater. Marvin Barger, the archivist has his back to us. He was extremely helpful during our three days 'on the ground' I think he expecially enjoyed our hunt for Abraham Saveliwitz the last day.

One of the New York Times articles featured the battle about prayer in the New Haven Schools. Maier was known in the press as the German representative not the Jewish representative. He worked to get prayer taken out of the schools in 1877. This sounds SO familiar. So in 1888, a coalition of protestant and catholics form a "Bible" party to get the Bible back in the schools. This coalition had written this very elaborate guide about religious exercises for the different kids by religion. Many of the these Bible party candidates were elected. So it comes down to the Committee on Schools. Three members. Maier and two Bible party guys. He clearly does not have the votes. Maier somehow turns one of the Bible party guys to his side, completely squelching the whole deal. 2-1, Maier wins. The Board supports Maier. The Bible party platform does not make it to the schools.

Wow, how did he DO that?? I believe that Maier had tremendous social and persuasive skills. As Dennis says, WE need Maier Zunder NOW.