WPA Yiddish Writer's Group Study (1938)

Directory of Organizations: Yiddish listing


The following 2145 organizations are listed in Di yidishe landsmanshaftn fun nyu york (The Jewish Landsmanshaftn of New York) (pages 274-372) prepared by the Yiddish Writers' Guild of the Federal Writers' Project, Works Projects Administration, published by the I.L. Peretz Yiddish Writers' Group in 1938.

It was based on a survey form that was sent to 2,468 New York landsmanshaftn. The questionaires were completed by 1,757 organizations consisting of anshei synagogues (landsmanshaft congregations), independent societies, ladies aid societies and ladies auxiliaries, workmen's fraternal orders (Workmen's Circle, Jewish National Workers' Alliance, and International Workers' Order), other fraternal orders, united relief committees, patronati (organizations that aided political prisoners in Poland), and miscellaneous centers and clubs. 131 family circles also responded, which are listed directly beneath the aforementioned organizations. A third category is 257 organizations that may have responded, but did not provide enough information. The remaining balance of 323 organizations are assumed not to have responded at all and are not listed below. Several organizations that filled out surveys are erroneously listed again in the third category under a different variation of their name, such as Erste Bacauer Kranken Unter. Verein/Erster Bacauer K.U.V.; Erster Chacemirer K.U.V./Erster Chacemirer Kranken Unt. Verein; and Narovler Unterstützung Verein/Narovler Aid Society.

For the organizations and family circles that responded to the survey, the tables below contain the following data columns: the name of the organization, the year in which it was organized, the number of members at the time of organization, the number of members at the time the survey was taken in 1938, the percentage of members that were American-born, and the percentage of members who were non-landsleit (those who did not come from the town for which the society was established). I have also indicated the numerical order (order no.) and page number in which the organization appears on the original list. The societies are not listed in their original order here because I have alphabetized them according to the English alphabet. To ease your search I have added a keyword column; to find a society that is of interest to you, please search by keyword.

At first glance the statistics may seem genealogically irrelevant and not worth the time and effort of including. However, I did so because they give an idea as to when the bulk of immigration for a given town occurred. For instance, if an organization had a much larger number of members in 1938 than it did at its founding, then it means that the bulk of immigration from that town occurred in the first two decades of the 20th century and the organization would have still been in its heyday. However, if an organization had a much smaller number of members in 1938 than it did at its inception, it means that the bulk of immigration from the town occurred earlier, such as in the last two decades of the 19th century, and that the society was on the decline. Additional data contained in the original, but not included here are the day(s) and place where the monthly meetings were held, the language in which the meetings were conducted, the purpose of the society, and the name and address of its secretary. To see what a typical entry looks like in its original Yiddish, click here.

This list is a transliteration of the original Yiddish. There was no consistency. Standard Yiddish words found in society names were either written in Yiddish or much more frequently their English equivalent was written in Yiddish letters. For instance, "Erste" and "First", "Frauen" and "Ladies", and "Verein" and "Society" were used interchangeably throughout. Other English words that were spelled or abbreviated in Yiddish letters were Aid, Association, Auxiliary, Benevolent, Brotherly, Brothers, Center, Circle, Club, Congregation, Friends, Independent, League, Men's, Progressive, Relief, Social, United, and Young, amongst others. I left most Yiddish words as is, with the exception of the Yiddish for aid, circle, old age home, orphans, sister, united, vicinity, and youth, which I translated into English so that they would be recognizable.

With the exception of the anshei synagogues and the relief organizations, all or most of the other societies are in the book's separate English listing, but with no other details other than the name and address of the secretary. However in many cases the name of the societies are inconsistent between the Yiddish and the English. For instance, Erste Novoselitzer K.U.V. on the Yiddish list is First Novoselitzer Bessarabier S.B.S. on the English. Such inconsistencies in the society's name illustrates the difficult task that would await someone if they ever tried to compile a master list of all the Jewish landsmanshaftn that existed in New York. The only way of knowing that these two Novoselitzer societies are the same is by comparing the name and address of the secretary, and providing that there was no typographical error. In this particular case there was -- a discrepancy between 214 E. 92nd and 214 E. 93rd St., Brooklyn.

The WPA Yiddish Writers' Guild of the Federal Writers' Project is a separate survey than the Works Progress Adminstration WPA Federal Writers Project - Survey of State and Local Historical Records: Church Records Jewish - Synagogue in 1939. The former submitted a totally different questionnaire to each society than the latter. Click here to see the questionnaire used by the WPA Yiddish Writers' Guild.

For further information about the survey that is the subject of this webpage, read Jewish Hometown Associations and Family Circles in New York: The WPA Yiddish Writers' Group Study, edited with an introduction and afterword by Hannah Kliger. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1992.

Note that this list contained a fair amount of typographical errors that were in the original manuscript, such as Bertcher for Beitcher and Dzezaner for Brzezaner. I corrected as many as I could by comparing them against the English listing (and other lists of landsmanshaftn). In at least one case the spelling was wrong on both the Yiddish and English lists -- Obertyner was spelled as Abertiner. Do not accept these spellings as the definitive standard, particularly in regard to the name of your ancestral town.

Table of Contents
    Organizations - 1757 organizations
    Family Circles - 131 organizations
    Societies that did not supply information - 257 organizations
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Organizations

Name of Organization Year Org. No. of Members at Organ. No. of Members in 1938 Percent American born Percent Non- Landsleit Keyword Order No. Page No.
Bnai v'Bnoth Yehuda Anshei Akmian 1923   100 5 10 Akmian 104 253
Bnai v'Bnoth Yehuda Anshei Akmian Frauen Aux. 1928 14 75 3 10 Akmian 105 253
Erste Alexandrier Ind. Ass'n., Cherson 1920 7 72 7 7 Alexandrier 75 251
Friends of Alexandrovsk Ben. Soc. 1926 7 60 5 5 Alexandrovsker 76 251
Alexandrovsker Prog. Ben. Soc. 1908 10 80 15 50 Alexandrovsker 77 251
Alkeniker Benevolent Society 1906 15 65 15 2 Alkeniker 78 252
Erster Altshteter K.U.V. 1900 12 191 15 5 Altshteter 74 251
Amdurer Benevolent Society 1912 17 165 15 30 Amdurer 79 252
Amdurer Frauen Auxiliary 1928 20 50 30   Amdurer 80 252
Amschenover Independent Benevolent Society 1916 20 200 5 5 Amschenover 82 252
Anikster Ladies Auxiliary 1938 10 70     Anikster 85 252
Chevra Bnai Pischei Tshuvo Anshei Anikst 1887 25 80 5 10 Anikster 86 252
Anikster Benevolent Association 1898 10 175 15 5 Anikster 87 252
Antipoler Unterstützung Verein, Grodno 1904 13 70 15 2 Antipoler 83 252
Antipolier Society of Harlem 1909 23 97 10   Antipoler 84 252
Cong. Bnai Yechiel Ashkenazi 1928 7 40     Ashkenazi 117 254
Oestereicher Handwerker K.U.V. 1894 10 45 25 26 Austria 1242 327
Anshe Oestreich Ungarn, Sfard 1902 40 150     Austria 1243 327
Austrian Workers' Building Verein, Br. 42, W.C. 1903 40 360 5   Austria 1244 327
Cong. Anshe Azaritz 1928 84 150 8   Azaritz 54 250
Azheraner Prog. K.U.V. 1908 7 135 20   Azheraner 58 250
Erste Azheraner Prog. Ladies Auxiliary 1929 34 65 10   Azheraner 59 250
Erster Azipoler K.U.V. 1921 17 53   20 Azipoler 57 250
Erste Bacauer Kranken Unter. Verein 1903 52 52     Bacauer 149 256
Baku-Rumanian Ladies Benevolent Society 1915 12 60 5 30 Baku 150 256
Balbirishker Brotherhood Ben. Society, Kovna 1921 100 45 10   Balbirisher 137 255
Balter Benevolent Cong. 1898 7 260 5 5 Balter 142 256
Balter Ladies Auxiliary and Cong. 1934 40 100     Balter 143 256
Baltic Branch 33, W.C. 1911 15 120 10 5 Baltic 138 255
Baltic Ladies Club Br. 33, W.C. 1931 4 45     Baltic 139 255
Chevra Bikor Cholim Bnai Israel Anshe Baranow 1888 30 220 15 25 Baranow 151 256
Baranowitcher-Lechowitcher and Mirer Branch 260, W.C. 1909 30 100     Baranowitcher Lechowitcher 152 256
Ind. Barar Kranken Unt. Verein, Podolie 1913 12 153 20   Barar 153 256
Erste Independent Barer Ladies Auxiliary 1929 8 60 50 10 Barer 164 257
Erste Beitcher Kranken Unt. Verein 1903 8 132 10 2 Beitcher 224 261
Beitcher Ladies Auxiliary 1934 50 55 50 25 Beitcher 225 261
Erste Beitcher Sisters, Frauen Auxiliary 1932 7 60 25 40 Beitcher 226 261
First Beitcher K.U.V. 1906 20 115 3 5 Beitcher 278 265
Ind. Belchatover Young Men's Ben. Society 1911 7 100 5 35 Belchatover 252 263
Belchatover Kranken Unt. Verein 1900 40 175 5 10 Belchatover 253 263
Erste Belizerka Volyner Ben. Society 1921 11 95 30 10 Belizerka 234 262
Erster Belzer Bessarabier Kranken Unt. Verein 1900 28 180     Belzer 249 263
Ladies Auxiliary of Belzer Bessarabier Benevolent Society 1930 15 60     Belzer 250 263
Erster Belzycer Unterstützung Verein 1913 15 55 30   Belzycer 251 263
Ind. Benderer Ben. Ass'n. 1908 14 154 5 3 Benderer 256 263
Benderer Prog. Ladies Auxiliary 1932 8 40 12 4 Benderer 257 263
Fraternal Order of Bendiner Sosnowicer Society, Inc. 1928 25 125   50 Bendiner Sosnowiczer 254 263
Bendiner-Sosnowicer-Dombrower Patronat 1933         Bendiner Sosnowiczer Dombrower 255 263
Berditchever Ben. Ass'n., Kiev 1905 12 160 9 10 Berditchever 269 264
Berditchever Young Men's Soc., Inc., Kiev 1902 25 250 25 4 Berditchever 270 264
Independent Berditchever Ladies Society 1914 12 60 10   Berditchever 271 264
Berditchever Young Ladies Auxiliary 1937 15 55     Berditchever 272 264
Berditchever Ladies Society of Brooklyn 1915 8 65 20   Berditchever 273 264
Berditchever Branch 84, W.C. 1908 25 350 5 10 Berditchever 274 264
Berditchever Frauen Club Branch 84, W.C. 1935 30 130 5 10 Berditchever 275 264
Berditchever Branch 4, I.W.O. 1930 60 310 10 80 Berditchever 276 264
Erster Bereg Munkascer K.U.V. 1901 6 900 10 40 Bereg 282 265
Bereziner Aid Society 1896 7 400 5   Bereziner 283 265
Bereziner K.U.V., Minsk 1902 17 350 6 5 Bereziner 284 265
Berlader Chevra Anshei Rumania 1908 10 50     Berlader 280 265
Berlader Chevra Anshei Rumania Frauen Auxiliary 1928 12 50     Berlader 281 265
Berlander Anshei Rumania 1908 20 40     Berlander 279 265
Bershader Benevolent Society 1912 10 150 7 2 Bershader 285 265
Bershader Ladies Auxiliary 1928 12 45     Bershader 286 265
Bertcher Young Men's Ben. Soc. 1897 30 80 6 25 Bertcher 277 265
Independent New-Bessarabier Ben. Society 1908 30 90 20   Bessarabier 258 263
Bessarabier Young Men's Ben. Educational Club 1903 12 311   10 Bessarabier 259 263
Bessarabier Ladies Ben. Society 1897 20 30   33 Bessarabier 260 263
Agudas Tipheres Israel Anshe Bessarabia 1921 80 22   10 Bessarabier 261 263
Bessarabier Branch 440, J.N.W.A. 1935 7 60 10 40 Bessarabier 262 264
Ladies Club of Bessarabier Branch 440, J.N.W.A. 1937 5 28     Bessarabier 263 264
Bessarabier Branch 2, I.W.O. 1930 130 300 5 25 Bessarabier 264 264
Bessarabier Branch 402, I.W.O. 1938 120 130 10 35 Bessarabier 265 264
Bronx Bessarabier Branch 302, I.W.O. 1930 500 650 10   Bessarabier 266 264
Prospect Bessarabier Branch 102, I.W.O. 1929 173 300 5 10 Bessarabier 267 264
Bessarabier Frauen Circle of Branch 402, I.W.O. 1938 18 32     Bessarabier 268 264
Bialer Prog. Frauen Society 1936 12 50     Bialer 218 261
Bialer Ladies Auxiliary 1936 15 40     Bialer 219 261
Bialer-Mezeritcher Branch 226, W.C. 1910 27 235   18 Bialer 220 261
Bialer Branch 106, I.W.O. 1931 25 195 30 25 Bialer 221 261
Bialer Aid Committee 1931 6 74 6   Bialer 222 261
Bialer Unterstützung Verein 1913 25 130 5 2 Bialer 223 261
Erste Bialykamin Aid Society 1898 7 175 15 6 Bialykamin 217 261
Benevolent Ind. Ahavath Achim Soc., Inc., Bialystok 1934 110 85 5   Bialystoker 190 259
Bialystoker Bikurer Cholim of Brooklyn 1886 11 473 40   Bialystoker 191 259
Bialystoker Cutters Club 1898 15 300 20   Bialystoker 192 259
Bialystoker Young Men's Association 1936 63 286 28 10 Bialystoker 193 259
Bialystoker Unterstützung Verein Somach Noflim 1906 22 500 32 20 Bialystoker 194 259
Bialystoker League of the Bronx 1937 62 200 17 5 Bialystoker 195 259
Bialystoker Center and Bikur Cholim 1897 300 3000 33   Bialystoker 196 259
Ahavath Achim Anshei Bialystok 1886 9 100 25   Bialystoker 197 259
Beth Haknesses Anshei Bialystok 1877 25 210 25 40 Bialystoker 198 259
Bialystoker Moshev Zkenim 1927   2500 45 5 Bialystoker 199 259
Bialystoker Painters Club 1935 22 118 12   Bialystoker 200 259
Bialystoker Cloaks Operators 1935 85 300 5 5 Bialystoker 201 260
Bialystoker Unt. Verein of Brooklyn 1902 17 210 35 15 Bialystoker 202 260
Bialystoker Brotherly Love Association 1890 35 318 35 15 Bialystoker 203 260
Bialystoker Bricklayer's Association 1905 11 233 20 10 Bialystoker 204 260
Young Women's League of Bialystoker Center 1936 30 155     Bialystoker 205 260
Ladies Aux. of Bialystoker Bikur Cholim of Brooklyn 1902 15 350 15 10 Bialystoker 206 260
Bialystoker Ladies Aux. of Boro Park 1937 18 120 45 10 Bialystoker 207 260
Bialystoker Ladies Auxiliary 1923 23 1500 18   Bialystoker 208 260
Ladies Aux. of Bialystoker Young Men's 1934 72 400 25 50 Bialystoker 209 260
Bialystoker Ladies Aid Soc. of Harlem and Bronx 1909 40 210 25   Bialystoker 210 260
Bialystoker Branch 88, W.C. 1905 25 620 18 35 Bialystoker 211 260
Bialystoker Young Circle Branch 1088, W.C. 1931 50 60     Bialystoker 212 260
Bialystoker Relief Committee 1938   150 25   Bialystoker 213 260
Bialystoker Relief Com. for Political Prisoners 1932 7       Bialystoker 214 260
Bialystoker Relief Ladies Aux. 1935 7 75   12 Bialystoker 215 260
Independent Bialystoker Unterstützung Verein 1910 25 170 10 10 Bialystoker 216 260
Bichover Society, Inc., Mohilev 1920 12 105 5 5 Bichover 227 261
Independent Bichover Verein 1916 14   3 15 Bichover 228 261
Ind. Belotzerkower Young Men's K.U. Verein 1915 12 70 15 2 Bielotzerkower 237 262
Bielotzerkower Ladies Auxiliary 1933 15 30     Bielotzerkower 238 262
Bielotzerkower Branch 417, W.C. 1912   100 5 10 Bielotzerkower 239 262
Bielotzerkower Branch 17, I.W.O. 1930 30 215 5 60 Bielotzerkower 240 262
Bielsker Bruderlicher Unterstützung Verein 1888 12 300 20   Bielsker 241 262
Bielsker Ladies Auxiliary of Bielsker Unterstützung Verein 1936 60 80 5   Bielsker 242 262
Chevra Ahavath Achim Misilath Israel Anshei Bielsk 1890 40 75     Bielsker 243 262
Bielsker Branch 338, W.C. 1909 25 150 4   Bielsker 244 262
Bielsker Frauen Club Branch 338, W.C. 1936 7 35 11   Bielsker 245 262
Bieshenkowich-Chashniker Branch 423, W.C. 1910 28 131 10 10 Bieshenkowich Chasniker 246 262
Bieshenkowich-Chashniker Frauen Club Branch 423, W.C. 1936 15 50     Bieshenkowich Chasniker 247 263
Independent Bilader Society 1908 9 100 40 25 Bilader 229 261
Erste Ind. Bilgorayer Ben. Soc. 1900 25 120 5 7 Bilgorayer 230 261
Bilgorayer Prog. Young Men's Branch 570, W.C. 1915 12 32 1 3 Bilgorayer 231 261
Bilgorayer Ladies Auxiliary 1936 50 55   5 Bilgorayer 232 262
Ind. Bilgorayer Aid Verein, Inc. 1915 15 125 18 25 Bilgorayer 233 262
Bisker Bnai Brith Kranken Unt. Verein 1911 10 110 15 10 Bisker 235 262
Bisker Relief Committee 1916 7 250     Bisker 236 262
Erste Prog. Bloyner Society 1926 20 45 10 3 Bloyner 248 263
Bobrker Young Men's Benevolent Society 1908 12 120 10 10 Bobrker 126 255
Erste Bobrker Ladies Relief Auxiliary 1938 8 49     Bobrker 127 255
Congregation Anshe Bobruisk 1899 17 315 15 50 Bobruisker 121 254
Ladies Aux. Anshe Bobruisk 1927 3 40     Bobruisker 122 254
Bobroisker Prog. Branch 471, W.C. 1910 25 88 20 75 Bobruisker 123 254
Bobroisker Branch 206, W.C. 1908 25 400   3 Bobruisker 124 254
Bobroisker Ladies Club Br. 206, W.C. 1930 40 90   10 Bobruisker 125 255
Bodker Young Men's Aid Association 1906 7 90 15   Bodker 129 255
Bogopolier Unterstützung Verein 1893 7 400 10 10 Bogopolier 128 255
Bohorotchaner Kranken Unt. Verein 1901 40 300 10   Bohorotchaner 130 255
Bohorotchaner Frauen Kranken Unt. Verein 1922 12 80     Bohorotchaner 131 255
Chevra Rodfei Zedek Anshei Bolshowce 1891 15 180 5 2 Bolshowce 144 256
Bolshweczer Kranken Unterstützung Verein 1909 25 80 30   Bolshweczer 145 256
Erster Bonilover-Uspaser, Bukoviner K.U.V. 1914 25 100 5 5 Bonilover Uspaser 146 256
Erste Borislaver Young Ladies Kranken Unt. Verein 1906 100 32     Borislaver 162 257
Borislaver Branch 49, W.C. 1904 33 230 7 50 Borislaver 163 257
Independent Borisover Benevolent Ass'n. 1916 90 120 5 25 Borisover 154 256
Borisover Young Friends Ben. Ass'n., Minsk 1914 25 120 10 10 Borisover 155 256
Independent Borisover Young Men's Benevolent Association 1908 10 140 20 25 Borisover 156 256
Cong. Anshei Borisov of the Bronx 1924 18 65 3 30 Borisover 157 257
Cong. Anshei Borisov of the Bronx 1910 45 23     Borisover 158 257
Borisover Progressive Society Branch 183, W.C. 1907 27 170 10 25 Borisover 159 257
Borisover-Kaliboloter Branch 354, W.C. 1910 75 84   6 Borisover 160 257
Borisover Ladies Branch 183, W.C. 1930 25 50   25 Borisover 161 257
Boslover Benevolent Ass'n. 1900 15 400 25 5 Boslover 147 256
Boslover Ladies Auxiliary 1935 3 80     Boslover 148 256
Botko Unterstützung Verein 1890 12 166 25 10 Botko 136 255
United Botoshaner American Bros. Ben. Ass'n. 1904 10 171 17 10 Botoshaner 132 255
Erster Botoshaner K.U.V. 1900 50 250 10   Botoshaner 133 255
United Botoshaner Frauen Auxiliary 1929 10 45 10   Botoshaner 134 255
Botoshaner Young Ben's Benevolent Ass'n. 1909 10 150 15 25 Botoshaner 135 255
Brainsker Young Men's Ben. Ass'n. 1904 10 225 8 15 Brainsker 298 266
Brainsker Young Men's Ben. Ass'n., Grodno 1910 20 85 10 60 Brainsker 299 266
Brainsker Brothers Aid Society 1894 10 135 15   Brainsker 303 266
Brainsker Ladies Auxiliary 1937 14 78 50 50 Brainsker 304 266
Brainsker Rodef Sholom Cong. 1890 25 50 40 5 Brainsker 305 266
Erster Bratslawer-Podolier K.U.V. 1914 7 155 7 2 Bratslawer 291 265
Erste Bratslawer-Podolier Frauen Auxiliary 1931 25 100 5 20 Bratslawer 292 265
Brecher Relief 1934 10 60     Brecher 319 267
Anshei Brezower-Brok Kranken U.V. 1900 20 150 10 20 Brezower Brok 317 267
Erster Briczaner Unterstützung Verein 1895 15 300 5 33 Briczaner 301 266
Brisker Unt. Verein 1890 10 500 10 3 Brisker 306 266
Brisker Ladies Ben. Ass'n. 1901 10 45   30 Brisker 307 266
Brisker Branch 87, W.C. 1905 28 100   50<