Welcome to the Southern Jewish Historical Society website! Here you will find in words and pictures a reflection of the society and its goals and activities. Simply stated, we are here to discover, interpret, preserve and disseminate information concerning the varied experiences of Jews who have lived in the southern United States. In an effort to encourage and support research into southern Jewish history, the society has developed a number of programs and activities. Nonetheless, its strongest asset is its members, the people involved in making the society work and who create a collegial, intellectual community.
Discovering the experiences of southern Jewry is among the most exciting and fundamental endeavors undertaken by our members. Working as both professional historians and qualified, highly motivated non-professionals, our membership represents the leading edge of research in this field. There is much that we do not know about the lives and experiences of Jews who lived in the American South, but those engaged in this research are constantly adding to our knowledge and understanding. Among their many efforts, these people spend hours sifting through aging records, letters, photographs and the like, exploring places such as forgotten cemeteries and tombstones, and pursuing many tantalizing clues left behind by those from the past. The thrill of these activities is reflected in what one researcher once told me: “You can pay someone else to do your research, but that is like paying someone to eat for you.” Beyond enjoyment, however, this discovery provides a very important service—without it, our understanding of the past would be greatly diminished and in some cases, lost. The society supports the efforts of both members and non-members in a variety of ways, including offering the Kawaler Research/Travel Grant and providing a network for guidance and discussion.
Our understanding of history needs more than discovery; historical artifacts have to be put in context and interpreted. In this regard, our members use their own research and that of others to develop a broad picture of southern Jewish life. This process welcomes insightful debate and even challenges our understanding as new information and evaluations unfold. The society facilitates this through its annual, peer-reviewed journal, Southern Jewish History, its newsletter, The Rambler, and the annual conference, where members gather each year to hear gifted researchers, and visit significant local places of interest. In addition, the society provides the Project Completion Grant to help projects through their last stages of development. Every four years, the society presents an award for the outstanding book published in the field and the outstanding article published in the journal. What's more, the Society is excited to launch the Bornblum Scholars Program in Southern Jewish History. This program promises to advance the field significantly by supporting and stimulating outstanding scholarship in southern Jewish History.
Just as important as researching and interpreting historical data is preserving it. Our understanding of southern Jewish history would be greatly diminished without these documents, items, and experiences being safeguarded. Here, we—as well as future generations—owe a great debt to archives of all types and sizes that work to preserve the artifacts left by past generations. A number of our members are archivists, and they provide valuable advice to individuals and communities who have undertaken this task. The society also seeks to help with preservation through its Lowenstein Archival Grant. I encourage any of you who have or know of letters, photographs, or other documents, as well as interesting and important life experiences related to southern Jews, to take steps to preserve them. They are invaluable.
As you browse the society’s website, I hope you will find the information about our activities and programs helpful. I also hope you will see the society as more than simply activities and programs, but as people working toward discovering, interpreting, preserving, and disseminating southern Jewish history. If you are not a member, please consider joining. If you are, thank you for your interest and service.
To all, I invite you to take advantage of and contribute to the society’s resources, and by all means, come to our annual meeting. Our meeting offers the single best concentration of knowledgeable, interested people in southern Jewish history. Plus, we have a good time.
Welcome to the lively world of southern Jewish history,
Scott Langston
President
