How to Write the History of an American Jewish Community Page: 16
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Directories. Residential directories, such as you will find in
many banks and public institutions, are a good source for
your purpose. Fortunately, such directories go back to the
very beginnings of almost every city. If your public library
does not have all the directories, write to the Library of
Congress. It may have the missing numbers, or it will tell
you where to find them. Directories give the names, occu-
pations, and addresses of the adults in every family. Do not
forget to read and check the advertisements you will find
in them. They are rich in information dealing with the oc-
cupational life of the people in whom you are interested.
For the period beginning with the last decades of the nine-
teenth century, old telephone directories also are very help-
ful. You will find them in the telephone company's offices.
Here, too, the advertisements in the back, arranged accord-
ing to occupational or commercial or professional distribu-
tion, are invaluable for the student of economic history.
General Newspapers. Although the general (non-Jewish)
newspapers are not so rich in information for your purpose
as the local Jewish community periodical, nevertheless they
are indispensable for you. If you want to do a good job, you
will have to scan the newspapers that have been published
in your town. Go through them carefully, particularly for
notes about religious matters. The synagogue was-probably
still is-the heart of every Jewish community. Watch for
Jewish names, for meetings, for social affairs, for Jews in
politics, for honors accorded to Jews. Read the court news
carefully. Read all the advertisements. This seems like a lot
of work-and it is-but after a while you will know what
to omit, and the scanning will go more quickly than you
imagine. Try to determine to what extent Jews were pioneers
in commercial and industrial enterprises.
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Marcus, Jacob Rader, 1896-1995. How to Write the History of an American Jewish Community, pamphlet, 1964; Cincinnati, Ohio. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1436803/m1/18/?q=%22~1~1%22~1&rotate=180: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rosenberg Library.