Cohen family collection on the Workmen's Circle

File — Box: 1

Identifier: 2017-025

Staff Only

Content Description

Materials related to the history of the Workmen's Circle in Rochester, and to life of its founder, Harry Z. Cohen.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials related to the Rochester Workmen's Circle and its founder, Harry Z. Cohen. These materials date between 1961 and 1973, and include newspaper clippings, a typescript history of the organization, event programs and other ephemera. An immigrant to Rochester from Russia, Harry Z. Cohen spent a long career in the garment industry, working for Bonds, Hickey-Freeman and others. Mr. Cohen was a Socialist and active in the labor movement, leading to his founding Rochester's branch of the Workmen's Circle in 1911. He remained an active part of the organization until the 1960s.

Dates

Creation: 1961 - 1973

Creator

Cohen, Harry Z. (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is held by the Rochester Public Library. Copyright of the papers may be held by the authors', or authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain written permission of the holder[s] of copyright and the Rochester Public Library before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Biographical / Historical

Born in Grodno, Russia (now in Belarus) on April 15, 1883, Harry Z. Cohen emigrated to Rochester in 1904. He worked for Weiner Brothers, Bond Clothes and Hickey-Freeman over the course of a career lasting until 1950. During this period, he also operated farms, first on Canadice Hill, and then in Webster.

An active Socialist, Mr. Cohen was involved in the organization of the United Garment Workers Union in Rochester. Later absorbed into the Amalagamated Clothing Workers of America, this union was crucial to the 1914 clothing workers strike in Rochester. Mr. Cohen led efforts to feed, clothe and provide shelter for the strikers. He also led the organization of the Workmen's Circle in Rochester, a Jewish fraternal organization that played an important role in Jewish cultural life, including running a school for Yiddish, Jewish history and ethics.