Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute Records

Manuscript Collection No. 648

1952-1988. 8.4 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The records of the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute were donated by the Institute in March, 2000. The Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute by the act of donating the records to the American Jewish Archives, assigned the property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are held by the individual authors of the documents or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The records of the Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives.

INSTITUTIONAL SKETCH top

The Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI) was founded in 1952 at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. It was the first permanent Reform camp in North America. Jewish camps had, up to that time, been mainly concerned with the Americanization of immigrant children.

By the 1940s, however, there were so few recent immigrants requiring this Americanization that a change was needed in the format of the camps. Rabbi Herman E. Schaalman, the director of the Chicago Federation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) in 1949 set out to construct a Jewish camp much in the style of the Jewish Boy Scouts in Germany and also like many of the Christian summer camps in the United States. With the assistance of several rabbis and members of the UAHC board Schaalman was able to realize his goals. Rabbi Ernst M. Lorge assisted Schaalman using the Labor Day Weekend Institutes by the Chicago Federation of Temple Youth as an example.

With the aid of Johann S. Ackerman, Sidney I. Cole, Rabbi Joseph Strauss, Rabbi Karl Weiner, Bernard Sang, and Sidney Robinson, among many others, they were able to purchase land for this camp. The land around the Briar Lodge in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin was chosen for its close proximity to Chicago and affordable price. (The Briar Lodge had been a private Jewish camp beforehand.) After the camp opened Schaalman gave the UAHC the deed to the camp.

In 1952 the camp opened with 39 high school students. The founders of the camp wanted a place where Jewish children could live and learn about Judaism in a relaxed atmosphere that would cultivate a love for Jewish knowledge. Schaalman's motto for the camp was, "study, pray, work, play". Dan Kerman became the new director of the camp after Schaalman stepped down. The emphasis on education did not change however. With an initial staff almost entirely comprised of rabbis, a mood was set in which Judaism enveloped all aspects of the camp whether with songs, study, games, or food preparation. As the years progressed the camp offered many different sessions ranging from Torah study to Kibbutz HaTzofim where the children were taught to apply Judaism to all aspects of life. There were also many retreats for adults, families, congregations, parents, and teachers. OSRUI continues to offer many sessions for each new generation that attends.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute records contain camp materials from 1952-1988. Included is promotional material which was sent to Reform congregations to seek applicants and funding. The majority of the collection consists of material from the various sessions held at the camp over the years. Most of the collection is in English and Hebrew, with some Yiddish. This collection is divided into two series:

ADMINISTRATIVE

SESSION MATERIAL

ADMINISTRATIVE (1952-1970), consisting of two boxes, contains promotion and publicity for the camp as well as general guidelines pertaining to the use of the camp, the sessions that are offered, and staff information. This series is arranged in chronological order.

The SESSION MATERIAL (1959-1988), consists of nineteen boxes, contains material from the many different sessions offered at the camp from 1959-1988. This series is arranged chronologiaclly and grouped by session title. Some of the sessions included in this collection are Kallah, Junior, Intermediate I & II, High School, Torah, Tzofim, Pioneer Program, Machon, Avodah, Moshavah, Teacher's Institute, and many others. The last box (21) contains magazines used by the Chalutzim session from 1977-1983, as well as photographs of the camp and campers from the 1960s-1970s.

BOX AND FOLDER LISTING top


Box  File      Contents

SERIES A.    ADMINISTRATIVE 


1    1         Lorge, Ernst M. 1941-1960, n.d.
     2         General correspondence. 1948-1952.
     3         General correspondence. 1954-1960.
     4         Reports. 1951-1956.
     5         Reports, n.d.
     6         List of Directors and officers. 1952.
     7         Dedication of the Union Institute. 1952.
     8         Map of camp. n.d.
     9         Brochures for Olin-Sang-Ruby Institute. 1952-1968, n.d.
     10        Other camp brochures, n.d.	
	 
	  		     
2    1         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1952.
     2         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1954.
     3         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1955.
     4         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1957.
     5         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1958.
     6         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1959.
     7         Camper Promotion and Publicity. 1960.
     8         Camper and Summer Staff Promotion. 1961.
     9         Staff Recruitment and Procedure Book. 1961.
     10        Camper Recruitment Material. 1962.
     11        Program Planning. 1962.
     12        Staff Recruitment Material. 1962.
     13        Planning Manual, Teachers Institute. 1962.

3    1         Annual Statistics. 1963.
     2         Promotion. 1963-1964.
     3         Camper Information. 1963-1964.
     4         Staff Information. 1963-1964.
     5         Teacher's Institute. 1963-1964.
     6         Rabbinic Committee and Staff. 1963-1964.
     7         Board of Governors. 1963-1964.
     8         Sisterhood. 1963-1964.
     9         Finance Administration. 1963-1964.
     10        Camper Promotion. 1964-1965.
     11        Staff Information. 1964-1965.
     12        Teacher's Institute. 1964-1965.
     13        Rabbinic Committee and Faculty. 1964-1965.
     14        Winter Retreats. 1964-1965.
     15        Administration. Summer Kallah. 1964-1965.
     16        Board of Governors. 1965.
     17        Finance and Administration. 1964-1965.
     18        Camper Recruitment. 1967.
     19        Staff Information. 1967.
     20        Rabbinic Faculty. 1967.
     21        Staff Retreat. 1967.
     22        Teacher's Institute. 1967.
     23        Pioneer Camp. 1967.
     24        Winter Kallah. 1967.
     25        Tzofim. 1967.
     26        Board of Governors. 1967.
     27        Sisterhood. 1967.
     28        Contributions. 1967.
     29        Miscellaneous. 1967.
     30        Staff Information. 1970. 

SERIES B.    CAMP SESSIONS MATERIAL

4    1         Junior Session. 1959.
     2         Intermediate I Session. 1959.
     3         Intermediate II Session. 1959.
     4         High School Session. 1959.
     5         High School Session. 1959.
     6         Evaluation. 1959.
     7         Junior Session. 1960.
     8         Intermediate I Session. 1960.
     9         Intermediate II Session. 1960.
     10        High School. 1960.
     11        Torah Session. 1960.
     12        Teacher's Institute. 1960.
     13        Junior Session. 1961.
     14        Intermediate I Session. 1961.
     15        Intermediate II Session. 1961.

5    1         High School Session. 1961.
     2         Senior Torah Session. 1961.
     3         Junior Session. 1962.
     4         Intermediate I Session. 1962.
     5         Intermediate II Session. 1962.
     6         High School Session. 1962.
     7         Torah Session. 1962.
     8         Leadership Conclave. 1962.
     9         Junior Session. 1963.
     10        Intermediate I Session. 1963.
     11        Intermediate II Session. 1963.
     12        High School Session. 1963.
     13        Hebrew. 1963.
     14        Songs. 1963.
     15        Torah Session. 1963.
     
6    1         Teacher's Institute. 1963.
     2         CFTY-NoFTY Leadership Institute. 1963.
     3         Administration Testing. 1963.
     4         Junior session. 1964.
     5         Intermediate I Session. 1964.
     6         Intermediate II Session. 1964.
     7         High School Session. 1964.
     8         Pioneer Program. 1964.
     9         Torah Session. 1964.
     10        CFTY Leadership Conclave. 1964.
     11        Junior Session. 1965.
     12        Pioneer Program. 1965.

7    1         Torah Session. 1965.
     2         Teacher's Institute. 1965.
     3         Kallah Aleph. 1966.
     4         Kallah Bet. 1966.
     5         Hebrew Program. 1966.
     6         Torah Session. 1966.
     7         C.I.T. & Avodah Programs. 1966.
     8         Family Session. 1966.
     9         Kallah Aleph. 1967.
     10        Kallah Bet. 1967.
     11        Pioneer Program. 1967.

8    1         Torah Session. 1967.
     2         Teacher's Institute. 1967.
     3         CFTY Leadership Session. 1967.
     4         Family Session. 1967.
     5         Kallah Aleph. 1968.
     6         Kallah Bet. 1968.
     7         Kallah Gimmel. 1968.
     8         Tzofim Aleph. 1968.
     9         Tzofim Bet. 1968.
     10        Tzofim Gimmel. 1968.
     11        Pioneer Session. 1968.
     12        Torah Session. 1968.
     13        Teacher's Institute. 1968.
     14        Kallah Alpeh. 1969.
     15        Kallah Bet. 1969.
     16        Kallah Gimmel. 1969.
     17        Kallah Kishke. 1969.
     18        Pioneer Program. 1969.
     
9    1         Torah Session. 1969.
     2         General Material. 1970.
     3         Kallah. 1970.
     4         Tzofim. 1970.
     5         Pioneer Program. Procedures. 1970.
     6         Pioneer Program. Study Materials. 1970.
     7         Pioneer Program. Hebrew Class Material. 1970.
     8         Pioneer Program. Sicha. 1970.
     9         Pioneer Program. Services. 1970.
     10        Pioneer Program. Games. 1970.
     11        Pioneer Program. Chugim. 1970.
     12        Pioneer Program. Songs. 1970.
     13        Torah Sessions. 1970.
     14        Machon. 1970.
     15        Avodah. 1970.
     16        CFTY Leadership Session. 1970.
     17        General Material. 1970.
     18        Kallah Aleph. 1971.
     19        Kallah Bet. 1971.
     
10   1         Kallah Gimmel. 1971.
     2         Tzofim. 1971.
     3         Pioneer Program. 1971.
     4         Torah Sessions. 1971.
     5         Camp Shalom. 1971.
     6         Machon. 1971.
     7         Avodah. 1971.
     8         Chalutzim. 1971.
     9         Staff Programs. 1971.
     10        Religious Workshop. 1971.
     11        General Information. 1972.
     12        Interim sessions. 1972.
     13        Kallah Aleph. General. 1972.
     14        Kallah Aleph. Education. 1972.
     15        Kallah Aleph. T'fillot. 1972.
     16        Kallah Aleph. Chugim. 1972.
     17        Kallah Bet. General. 1972.
     18        Kallah Bet. Education. 1972.
     19        Kallah Bet. T'fillot. 1972.
     20        Kallah Bet. Chugim. 1972.
     21        Kallah Gimmel. General. 1972.
     
11   1         Kallah Gimmel. Education. 1972.
     2         Kallah Gimmel. T'fillot. 1972.
     3         Kallah Gimmel. Chugim. 1972.
     4         Tzofim Aleph. General. 1972.
     5         Tzofim Aleph. Education. 1972.
     6         Tzofim Alpeh. T'fillot. 1972.
     7         Tzofim Aleph. Chugim. 1972.
     8         Tzofim Bet. General. 1972.
     9         Tzofim Bet. Education. 1972.
     10        Tzofim Bet. T'fillot. 1972.
     11        Tzofim Bet. Chugim. 1972.
     12        Tzofim Gimmel. General. 1972.
     13        Tzofim Gimmel.  Education. 1972.
     14        Tzofim Gimmel. T'fillot. 1972.
     15        Tzofim Gimmel. Chugim. 1972.
     16        Kallah and Tzofim Hebrew. 1972.
     17        Moshava. General. 1972.
     18        Moshava. Education. 1972.
     19        Moshava. T'fillot. 1972.
     20        Moshava. Chugim. 1972.
     21        Moshava. Hebrew. 1972.
     22        Torah Session. 1972.
     23        Machon. 1972.
     24        Avodah. 1972.
     25        Avodah. Machon Limudim. 1972.
     26        Counselor-in-Training Handbook. 1972.
     27        Chavurah. 1972.
     28        Sports. 1972.
     29        Chalutzim Program Book. 1972.

12   1         Kallah Aleph. Hebrew. 1973.
     2         Kallah Aleph. Schedules. 1973.
     3         Kallah Aleph. Sichot. 1973.
     4         Kallah Aleph. Chugim. 1973.
     5         Kallah Aleph. Services. 1973.
     6         Kallah Bet. Schedules. 1973.
     7         Kallah Bet. Sichot. 1973.
     8         Kallah Bet. Chugim. 1973.
     9         Kallah Bet.  Services. 1973.
     10        Kallah Bet.  Special Programs. 1973.
     11        Kallah Gimmel. Hebrew. 1973.
     12        Kallah Gimmel. Sichot. 1973.
     13        Kallah Gimmel. Chugim. 1973.
     14        Kallah Gimmel. Services. 1973.
     15        Kallah Gimmel. Special Programs. 1973.
     16        Tzofim Aleph. Schedules. 1973.
     17        Tzofim Aleph. Sichot. 1973.
     18        Tzofim Aleph. Services. 1973.
     19        Tzofim Bet. Schedules. 1973.
     20        Tzofim Bet. Sichot. 1973.
     21        Tzofim Bet. Chugim. 1973.
     22        Tzofim Bet. Services. 1973.
     23        Tzofim Gimmel. Schedules. 1973.
     24        Tzofim Gimmel. Hebrew. 1973.
     25        Tzofim Gimmel. Sichot. 1973.
     26        Tzofim Daled. Schedules. 1973.
     27        Tzofim Daled. Sichot. 1973.
     28        Mosh. Schedules. 1973.
     29        Mosh. Hebrew. 1973.
     30        Mosh. Songs. 1973.
     31        Mosh. Special Programs. 1973.
     32        Mosh. Services. 1973.
     33        Moshava. Sichot. 1973.
     34        Machon. 1973.  

13   1         Chalutzim. General. 1973.     
     2         Chalutzim. Schedules, Rosters, and Cabin Listings. 1973.
     3         Chalutzim. Hebrew. 1973. 
     4         Chalutzim. Special Programs. 1973.
     5         Chalutzim. Songs. 1973.
     6         Chalutzim. Newspaper. 1973.
     7         Chavurah. Schedules, Rosters, and Cabin Listings. 1973.
     8         Chavurah. Hebrew. 1973.       
     9         Chavurah. Services. 1973.
     10        Chavurah. Special Programs. 1973.                 
     11        Avodah. Hebrew. 1973.
     12        Avodah. Sichot. 1973.
     13        Avodah. Services. 1973.
     14        Shiur. 1973.
     15        Kallah. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     16        Kallah. Hebrew. 1974.
     17        Kallah. Studies. 1974.
     18        Kallah. Services. 1974
     19        Kallah. Chugim. Va'ads. 1974.
     20        Tzofim Aleph. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     21        Tzofim Aleph. Hebrew. 1974.
     22        Tzofim Bet. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     23        Tzofim Bet. Studies. 1974.
     24        Tzofim Bet. Services. 1974.
     25        Tzofim Gimmel. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     26        Tzofim Gimmel. Studies. 1974.
     27        Tzofim Daled. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     28        Tzofim Daled. Studies. 1974. 
     29        Moshavah. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     30        Moshavah. General. 1974.
     31        Moshavah. Studies. 1974.

14   1         Moshavah. Services. 1974.
     2         Moshavah. Special Programs. 1974.
     3         Chavurah. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     4         Chavurah. Hebrew. 1974.
     5         Chavurah. Chugim. 1974.
     6         Chavurah. Services. 1974.
     7         Chalutzim. Schedules and Lists. 1974.
     8         Chalutzim. Hebrew. 1974.
     9         Chalutzim. Sichot. 1974.
     10        Chalutzim. Chugim. 1974.
     11        Chalutzim. Special Programs. 1974.
     12        Machaneh Kallah. Schedules and Lists. 1975.
     13        Machaneh Kallah. Services. 1975.
     14        Machaneh Kallah. Songs. 1975.
     15        Tiferet. Schedules and Lists. 1975.
     16        Tiferet. Studies. 1975.
     17        Tiferet. Services. 1975.
     18        Chavurah. Schedules and Lists. 1975.
     19        Chavurah. Hebrew. 1975.
     20        Chavurah. Studies. 1975.
     21        Chavurah. Miscellaneous. 1975.
     22        Chalutzim. Schedules and Lists. 1975.
     23        Chalutzim. Hebrew. 1975.

15   1         Chalutzim. Studies. 1975.
     2         Chalutzim. Services. 1975.
     3         Chalutzim. Miscellaneous. 1975.
     4         Staff Information and Lessons. 1976.
     5         Moshavah Aleph. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     6         Moshavah Aleph. Services. 1976.
     7         Moshavah Aleph. Chugim. 1976.
     8         Moshavah Bet. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     9         Moshavah Bet. Services. 1976.
     10        Moshavah Bet. Studies. 1976.
     11        Moshavah Bet. Chugim. 1976.        
     12        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     13        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. Chugim. 1976.
     14        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. Studies. 1976.
     15        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. Services. 1976.
     16        Machaneh Kallah Bet. Chugim. 1976.
     17        Machaneh Kallah Bet. Studies. 1976.
     18        Machaneh Kallah Bet. Services. 1976.

16   1         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     2         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. Chugim. 1976.
     3         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. Studies. 1976.
     4         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. Services. 1976.
     5         Tzofim Aleph. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     6         Tzofim Aleph. Studies. 1976.
     7         Tzofim Aleph. Services. 1976.
     8         Tzofim Bet. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     9         Tzofim Bet. Chugim. 1976.
     10        Tzofim Bet. Studies. 1976.    
     11        Tzofim Bet. Services. 1976.
     12        Tzofim Gimmel. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     13        Tzofim Gimmel. Studies. 1976.
     14        Tzofim Gimmel. Services. 1976.
     15        Chavurah Aleph. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     16        Chavurah Aleph. Shiur. Lessons. 1976.
     17        Chavurah Aleph. Hebrew. 1976.
     18        Chavurah Aleph. Chugim. 1976.
     19        Chavurah Bet. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     20        Chavurah Bet. Services. 1976.
     21        Chavurah Bet.  Chugim. 1976.
     22        Chalutzim. Schedules and Lists. 1976.
     23        Chalutzim. Services. 1976.
     24        Chalutzim. Studies. 1976.
     25        Chalutzim. Hebrew. 1976.
     26        Chalutzim. Chugim. 1976.      
     27        General Information. 1977.
     28        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. 1977.
     29        Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1977.
     30        Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. 1977.

17   1         Tzofim Aleph. 1977.
     2         Tzofim Aleph. Studies. 1977.
     3         Tzofim Aleph. Services. 1977.
     4         Tzofim Bet. 1977.
     5         Tzofim Bet. Services. 1977.
     6         Tzofim Bet. Israel. 1977.
     7         Tzofim Gimmel. 1977.
     8         Tzofim Gimmel. Services. 1977.
     9         Tzofim Gimmel. American Jewish Experience. 1977.                      
     10        Moshavah Aleph. 1977.
     11        Moshavah Bet. 1977.      
     12        Machon. 1977.
     13        Avodah. 1977.
     14        Chavurah Aleph. 1977.
     15        Chavurah Bet. 1977. 
     16        Chalutzim. 1977.                        
     17        Kallah Aleph. 1978.
     18        Kallah Bet. 1978.
     19        Kallah Gimmel. 1978.

18   1         Tzofim Aleph. 1978.
     2         Tzofim Bet. 1978.
     3         Tzofim Gimmel. 1978.
     4         Moshavat Hatevah Aleph. 1978.
     5         Moshavat Hatevah Bet. 1978.
     6         Chavurah. 1978.
     7         Machaneh Kallah Aleph. 1979.
     8         Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1979.
     9         Tzofim Aleph. 1979.
     10        Tzofim Bet. 1979.
     11        Machon. 1979.
     12        Avodah. Oral History Project: Holocaust. 1979.
     13        Moshavah Aleph. 1979.
     14        Chavurah Bet. 1979.
     
19   1         Chalutzim I. 1979.
     2         Chalutzim II. 1979.
     3         Kallah. 1980.
     4         Kibbutz Hatzofim Aleph. 1980.
     5         Kibbutz Hatzofim Bet. 1980.
     6         Kibbutz Hatzofim Gimmel. 1980.
     7         Machon. 1980.
     8         Avodah. 1980.
     9         Kallah Aleph. 1981.
     10        Kallah Bet. 1981.
     11        Kallah Gimmel. 1981.
     12        Tzofim Aleph. 1981.
     13        Tzofim Bet. 1981.
     14        Tzofim Gimmel. 1981.

20   1         Machon. 1981.
     2         Avodah. 1981.
     3         Machaneh Kallah Aleph. 1982.
     4         Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1981.
     5         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. 1982.
     6         Tzofim Aleph. 1982.
     7         Tzofim Bet. 1982.
     8         Tzofim Gimmel. 1982.
     9         Camp Shalom. 1982.
     10        Hebrew. 1982.
     11        Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1983.
     12        Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. 1983.
     13        Tzofim Gimmel. 1983.
     14        Kibbutz Hatzofim. 1983.
     15        Chavurah Bet. 1983.

21   1         Machaneh Kallah Aleph. 1984.
     2         Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1984.
     3         Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. 1984.
     4         Tzofim Aleph. 1984.
     5         Tzofim Gimmel. 1984.
     6         Kibbutz Hatzofim. 1984.
     7         Chavurah Aleph. 1984.
     8         Kallah Aleph. 1986.
     9         Kallah Bet. 1986.
     10        Kallah Gimmel. 1986.
     11        Tzofim. 1986.
     12        Machaneh Kallah Aleph. 1988.
     13        Machaneh Kallah Bet. 1988.
     14        Machaneh Kallah Gimmel. 1988. 

22   1         Chalutzim. magazines. 1977.
     2         Chalutzim. magazines. 1978.
     3         Chalutzim. magazines. 1979.
     4         Chalutzim. magazines. 1980.
     5         Chalutzim. magazines. 1981.
     6         Chalutzim. magazines. 1982-1983.
     7         Photographs. 1962.
     8         Photographs. Camp Scenes. n.d.
     9         Photographs. Pioneer. pre-1970.
     10        Photographs. 1970s.
     11        Photographs. 1980s.
     12        Photographs. 1990s.