Research Tools

Biographies and Archives ("Virtual Archive")

JWA's database of biographies and archives is a growing database of archival collections, from across the continent, documenting the lives of North American Jewish women. It offers information on hundreds of women, women's organizations, and manuscript collections.

Oral History Tools

By using oral history to record Jewish women's stories, we are documenting a vital part of our collective past. JWA's oral history resources provide tools for individuals and groups to conduct interviews with the important Jewish women in their own lives.

The American Jewess

Published between 1895 and 1899, this was the first English-language periodical targeted to American Jewish women. With its evocative range of topics, ranging from women's place in the synagogue to whether women should ride bicycles, it offers a rich portrait of the lives of American Jewish women at the end of the nineteenth century. This on-line searchable version of The American Jewess was prepared by the Jewish Women's Archive and is hosted by the University of Michigan Digital Library.

Book/Film Guides

JWA's book and film guides are designed to stimulate lively conversation about how American Jewish women are represented in literature and film. Book series include "A Place in History: Jewish Women Tell Their Stories," "Seeking Community, Creating Community," "Spiritual Journeys," "Jewish Women and the Search for Self," and "The Girls' Book Club." The film series guide addresses "Images of Jewish Women in American Film."

Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia

Edited by Paula Hyman and Dalia Ofer, this electronic encyclopedia, available only on CD-ROM, covers Jewish women's experiences to encompass three millennia and Jewish women worldwide.

Bibliography

We have created several bibliographies of interest: