TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Finding Aid to the George Zepin Papers. 1914-1961.
Manuscript Collection No. 50
Introduction |
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| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | Zepin, George, 1878-1963. |
| Title: | George Zepin Papers. |
| Dates: | 1914-1961 |
| Quantity: | 1.6 linear feet (4 Hollinger boxes) |
| Abstract: | The George Zepin papers outline the career of Zepin as a Reform rabbi and secretary of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The collection consists of correspondence, biographical material, sermons, addresses, and miscellaneous material. |
| Collection Number: | MS-50 |
| Language: | Collection material in English. |
Biographical Sketch
George Zepin was born in Kiev, Russia on June 8, 1878, the son of Otto and Hannah Zepin. He was brought to the United States in 1882. In 1900 he graduated from the University of Cincinnati and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College.
Zepin began his rabbinical career by serving as a rabbi in Kalamazoo, Michigan from 1900 to 1903. In 1903 he was appointed to the newly-created position of Field Secretary of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). In this capacity, Zepin travelled throughout the United States bringing Reform Judaism and the UAHC to small towns and bringing information about American Jews and Jewish congregations to the UAHC. In 1905 Zepin was appointed as the first director of the UAHC Department of Synagogue and School Extension. He resigned from this position in 1906 and then spent one year as superintendent of the Jewish Social Agencies in Chicago and one year as rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Fort Worth, Texas. While in Fort Worth he also served as Commissioner of Charities for the city. In 1910 Zepin was re-appointed Director of the Department of Synagogue and School Extension. He maintained this position until 1917, when he became the secretary of the UAHC.
As UAHC secretary Zepin was a constructive worker in the fields of Jewish religion and Jewish social service. He played a vital role both in the development of the UAHC and its Department of Synagogue and School Extension. He founded, wholly or in part, many of the UAHC departments and affiliates, such as the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods and the National Federation of Temple Youth. Zepin served for a number of years as the Executive Secretary of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods and the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods.
In 1941 Zepin resigned as secretary of the UAHC. He was then appointed Honorary Secretary of the Union as well as secretary of the UAHC-CCAR Joint Committee on Rabbinical Pensions. In 1942 Hebrew Union College awarded Zepin the honorary degree of doctor of divinity.
In 1914 Zepin married Laura Lehman. Laura Zepin died in 1955. George Zepin died in 1963.
Scope and Content Note
The George Zepin papers outline Zepin's career as a Reform rabbi and secretary of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged in two (2) series:
Conditions of Access and Use
Terms of Access
The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.
Terms of Reproduction and Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use, may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information, see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the George Zepin Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-50. George Zepin Papers. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The George Zepin papers were received by the American Jewish Archives from the George Zepin estate, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1964.
Processing Information
Processed by M. Carolyn Dellenbach, January, 1979.
Box and Folder Listing
| Series A. General, 1914-1961 | |||||||||||
| Series A. consists of correspondence, biographical articles, a file concerning the UAHC-CCAR pension plan, outlines for articles, notes Zepin kept on many of his readings and miscellaneous material. Much of this material concerns Zepin's career after he resigned from the position of UAHC secretary in 1941. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence and personal memorabilia 1914-1961 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Biographical information and newspaper clippings 1915-1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Nearprint and addresses concerning the joint Central Conference of American Rabbis-Union of American Hebrew Congregations pension plan. | |||||||||
| 1 | 4-8 | Notes, outlines for articles and miscellaneous material. (5 folders) | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Union of American Hebrew Congregations 1921-1936, undated | |||||||||
| Series B. Sermons and Addresses. | |||||||||||
| Series B. is the largest segment of the George Zepin papers. It contains transcripts, manuscripts, and outlines for many of Zepin's sermons and addresses. Many are presentations to children's groups, which demonstrate Zepin's interest in children and religious education. Other sermons and addresses reflect Zepin's concern with modern life, the Jewish synagogue, and American Judaism. | |||||||||||
| The sermons and addresses are alphabetically arranged by title. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Itinerary for several of Zepin's speaking tours 1926-1947 | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Sermons and addresses, A-B | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Sermons and addresses, C-Da | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Sermons and addresses, De-Fr | |||||||||
| 2 | 6 | Funeral sermons and prayers | |||||||||
| 2 | 7 | Sermons and addresses, Fu-H | |||||||||
| 2 | 8 | Sermons and addresses, I | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | Sermons and addresses, Ja-Je | |||||||||
| 3 | 2 | Sermons and addresses, Jo-L | |||||||||
| 3 | 3 | Sermons and addresses, Ma-Marriage sermons and prayers | |||||||||
| 3 | 4 | Sermons and addresses, Mat-Mi | |||||||||
| 3 | 5 | Sermons and addresses, Mo-On L | |||||||||
| 3 | 6 | Sermons and addresses, On T-Po | |||||||||
| 3 | 7 | Sermons and addresses, Prayers, benedictions and invocations | |||||||||
| 3 | 8 | Sermons and addresses, Pre-Rel | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Sermons and addresses, Remarks... | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 | Sermons and addresses, Se-So | |||||||||
| 4 | 3 | Sermons and addresses, St-Th | |||||||||
| 4 | 4 | Sermons and addresses, Ti-Ty | |||||||||
| 4 | 5 | Sermons and addresses, U | |||||||||
| 4 | 6 | Sermons and addresses, V-We | |||||||||
| 4 | 7 | Sermons and addresses, Wha | |||||||||
| 4 | 8 | Sermons and addresses, Whe-Y | |||||||||
| 4 | 9 | Sermons and addresses, untitled | |||||||||
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.