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Sarah Kussy Papers (1898 - 1945)
Collection IDP-4
Size.25 linear feet
Collection Description
Sarah S. Kussy (1869-1956) was born in Newark, a daughter of Gustav and Bella (Bloch) Kussy. In 1906 she graduated from the Teachers Training School of the Jewish Theological Seminary and was involved in teaching and in the Conservative denomination for the rest of her life. She served as the honorary vice president of the Women's League of the United Synagogue of America (later renamed the Women's League for Conservative Judaism), and was the associate editor of its official organ, "The Outlook." Kussy was also a passionate Zionist and an active member of Hadassah, of which she was a founder and an honorary vice president.
Kussy was a founder, in 1898, of the Ladies' Patriotic Relief Society of Newark, an organization established to aid families left destitute by the departure and/or death of their male members in the Spanish American War. She was also active in the Miriam Auxiliary of Congregation Oheb Shalom (of which her mother and aunt were early members) and helped to establish the synagogue's religious school.
Sarah Kussy, who never married, was the author of several booklets including "A Family Chronicle: The Story of Gustav and Bella Kussy of Newark, NJ." She received the Chayil Citation for outstanding achievement in Jewish cultural pursuits in 1952, and a forest in Israel was named for her in 1950. Kussy died in Newark on October 2, 1956.
NOTE: See also, Sarah Kussy, "Reminiscences of Jewish Life in Newark" (YIVO Bleter, 29, 1947).
Kussy was a founder, in 1898, of the Ladies' Patriotic Relief Society of Newark, an organization established to aid families left destitute by the departure and/or death of their male members in the Spanish American War. She was also active in the Miriam Auxiliary of Congregation Oheb Shalom (of which her mother and aunt were early members) and helped to establish the synagogue's religious school.
Sarah Kussy, who never married, was the author of several booklets including "A Family Chronicle: The Story of Gustav and Bella Kussy of Newark, NJ." She received the Chayil Citation for outstanding achievement in Jewish cultural pursuits in 1952, and a forest in Israel was named for her in 1950. Kussy died in Newark on October 2, 1956.
NOTE: See also, Sarah Kussy, "Reminiscences of Jewish Life in Newark" (YIVO Bleter, 29, 1947).
Collection Contents
This small collection consists of the minute book (May-December 1898) and other material of the Ladies' Patriotic Relief Society of Newark, organized to assist needy families during the Spanish-American War; a diary for the War period, in which Kussy records the daily war news, her emotions, the mood of the city, the involvement of Jews in the war effort, and her work in the Ladies' Patriotic Relief Society of Newark; mimeographed copies of the Kussy family genealogy; and a history of Miriam Auxiliary of Congregation Oheb Shalom from 1880-1945.
FormatTextual materials
SubjectsJewish-American History; Military History; Poverty / Philanthropy / Charities; Religion / Churches; Women's History
Time Periods19th Century; 20th Century
LanguageEnglish
Access policyOpen for research
ProcessedYes
Finding AidYes
Finding Aid URLhttp://findingaids.cjh.org/?pID=364721