Our Next Event:

Menu
Log in


Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois

Log in

Chicago Landsmanshaften - Records from the Sorkin Collection

Newly arrived Jewish immigrants to the United States created landsmanshaften (mutual aid organizations named after their cities, towns and villages of origin). Landsmanshaften sent funds oversees to help their families and communities. They held many social events. They also purchased burial sections and sold plots to their members. Landsmanshaften re-created the small, familial Jewish community and provided a safe, new home within a home.

The late Chicago educator Sidney Sorkin researched these organizations for his book “Bridges to an American City: A Guide to Chicago's Landsmanshaften, 1870-1990.”  Apparently, he and his parents were active members of landsmanshaften. Sorkin’s research papers for his book were left to the Chicago History Museum archives in a set of seven file boxes. JGSI volunteers spent hours digitizing the materials to make them more widely available.  Information to be discovered includes:

  • Family trees and family group sheets
  • Cemetery and burial plot records
  • Anniversary booklets that include memorials to departed family members
  • Individual and group photographs, often with captions identifying those pictured
  • Nonprofit incorporation documents
  • Names of officers and members
  • Newsletters
  • Newspaper clippings, including obituaries in Yiddish

We encourage you to browse the materials.


Document Title                    

Table of Contents
(with clickable links to the document)
Full PDF Document

Anshe Mizrach Cemetery

Anshe Mizrach Cemetery (ToC)
Anshe Mizrach Cemetery
Arbeiter Ring Workmen's Circle Arbeiter Ring Workmen's Circle (ToC) Arbeiter Ring Workmen's Circle
Augudath Achim Bikur Cholem Augudath Achim Bikur Cholem (ToC) Augudath Achim Bikur Cholem
Austro Hungarian Sick Verein  Austro Hungarian Sick Verein (ToC) Austro Hungarian Sick Verein
Bialystock Autobiographical Sketches Bialystock Autobiographical Sketches (ToC) Bialystock Autobiographical Sketches
Bialystock Social Club  Bialystock Social Club (ToC) Bialystock Social Club
Bnai Dena Club  Bnai Dena Club (ToC) Bnai Dena Club
Bnai Moishe Alexandrovsky Bnai Moishe Alexandrovsky(ToC) Bnai Moishe Alexandrovsky
Bransk Family Genealogy (partial report)
Bransk Family Genealogy
Bransker Ladies Aid Society Bransker Ladies Aid Society (ToC) Bransker Ladies Aid Society
Brusilover Verein Brusilover Verein(ToC) Brusilover Verein
Chomsk       Chomsk (ToC)      Chomsk
Dvinsk Progressive Verein Dvinsk Progressive Verein (ToC) Dvinsk Progressive Verein
Dvinsker Cemetery Records  Dvinsker Cemetery Records (ToC) Dvinsker Cemetery Records
Dvinsker Chicago Fish Dealers Association Dvinsker Chicago Fish Dealers Assn (ToC) Dvinsker Chicago Fish Dealers Association
Jewish Lithuanian Club Jewish Lithuanian Club (ToC) Jewish Lithuanian Club
Keidaner Association Keidaner Association (ToC) Keidaner Association
Kletsker Association Kletsker Association (ToC) Kletsker Association
Kovner Verein Kovner Verein(ToC) Kovner Verein
Kurlander Aid Society Kurlander Aid Society (ToC) Kurlander Aid Society
Landsmanshaften Landsmanshaften(ToC) Landsmanshaften
Mariampol and Clarksdale Mississippi  Mariampol and Clarksdale Mississippi (ToC) Mariampol and Clarksdale Mississippi
Mariampol Family Tree Mariampol Family Tree (ToC) Mariampol Family Tree
Mariampol Newsletter Mariampol Newsletter (ToC) Mariampol Newsletter
Mariampole Aid Society Anshe Sholom Mariampole Aid Society Anshe Sholom (ToC) Mariampole Aid Society Anshe Sholom
Mariampole awards Margosky letter Mariampole awards Margosky letter (ToC) Mariampole awards Margosky letter
Mariampole Correspondence Mariampole Correspondence(ToC) Mariampole Correspondence
Mariampole Family Group Sheets (1) 
Mariampole Family (Adelman to Kurs)
Mariampole Family Group Sheets (2) Mariampole Family (Kustner to Zuckerman)
Mariampole Kurs Fleishman Mariampole Kurs Fleishman (ToC) Mariampole Kurs Fleishman
Mariampole Lithuania maps history Mariampole Lithuania maps history (ToC) Mariampole Lithuania maps history
Mariampole minutes and financials Mariampole minutes and financials (ToC) Mariampole minutes and financials
Mariampole notes letters biographies photos Mariampole notes letters biogs photos (ToC) Mariampole notes letters biogs photos
Mariampole Yearbook    Mariampole Yearbook (ToC) Mariampole Yearbook
Midwest Chenstochower Society Midwest Chenstochower Society (ToC) Midwest Chenstochower Society
New Light Society    New Light Society (ToC) New Light Society
Nickolaever Obituaries  Nickolaever Obituaries (ToC) Nickolaever Obituaries
Nickoleyever California Correspondence Nickoleyever California Correspondence(ToC) Nickoleyever California Correspondence
Nikolayever Unterstizungs Verein Nikolayever Unterstizungs Verein (ToC) Nikolayever Unterstizungs Verein
Ostrow Rayoner Aid Society Ostrow Rayoner Aid Society (ToC) Ostrow Rayoner Aid Society
Ozraner Dubner Aid Society Ozraner Dubner Aid Society (ToC) Ozraner Dubner Aid Society
Schover-Busch   Schover-Busch(ToC)   Schover-Busch
Shaare Mizrahi  Shaare Mizrahi(ToC) Shaare Mizrahi
Sudikov Brotherhood and Sisterhood  Sudikov Brotherhood and Sisterhood (ToC)  Sudikov Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Suwalk Lomza Suwalk Lomza(ToC) Suwalk Lomza
Tiktin Aid Society   Tiktin Aid Society(ToC) Tiktin Aid Society
United Chicago Jews of Hungarian Descent   United Chicago Jews of Hungarian Descent (ToC) United Chicago Jews of Hungarian Descent
United Odessa Aid Society  United Odessa Aid Society(ToC)  United Odessa Aid Society
United Pavolitcher Society  United Pavolitcher Society (ToC) United Pavolitcher Society
Zabludover Verein  Zabludover Verein (ToC) Zabludover Verein
Zinkaver Landsmanshaften   Zinkaver Landsmanshaften(ToC) Zinkaver Landsmanshaften

Bridges to an American City : A Guide to Chicago's Landsmanshaften, 1870 to 1990
By Sidney Sorkin New York : P. Lang, ©1993)
(A browsable copy of the book is available in the Internet Archive)



© 2024 JGSI | P.O. Box 515, Northbrook, IL 60065-0515 | 312.666.0100 | info@jgsi.org
JGSI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.