TABLE OF CONTENTS
Series A. Joseph Cohen. 1902-2005.
A Finding Aid to the Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers. 1902-2005.
Manuscript Collection No. 778
Introduction |
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| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | Cohen, Joseph, 1902-1974 |
| Title: | Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers |
| Dates: | 1902-2005 |
| Quantity: | 2.0 linear feet (5 Hollinger boxes) |
| Abstract: | The Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers contain personal and business papers of Joseph Cohen, a Kansas City banker and lawyer, together with papers of his son, Barton. |
| Collection Number: | MS-778 |
| Language: | Collection material in English and Yiddish. |
Biographical Sketch
Joseph Cohen
Joseph Cohen was born on March 23, 1902 in Kansas City, Missouri. After attending the University of Kansas and the University of Colorado, Cohen obtained his LLB at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, in 1924.
Prior to entering law practice, Cohen worked as a newspaper reporter for the Kansas City Star for seven years. In 1924 Cohen organized the Kansas Association of B’nai B’rith Lodges. Remaining active in B’nai B’rith, Cohen was later elected president of District Grand Lodge No. 2 and was a member of the national commission of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith for 35 years.
In the early years of his law practice, Cohen earned a reputation for winning civil case judgments on behalf of African American clients. He often spoke in favor of fair employment laws and maintained an interest in civil rights legislation throughout his career. Cohen was also a banker, being chairman of the board of Rosedale State Bank and Trust Company of Kansas City and the Metcalf State Bank of Overland Park, Kansas.
Very active in communal affairs, Cohen was a member and officer in many groups, including the American Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, and numerous other local groups. Cohen was a member of Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Kansas City, and an honorary member of the board of Congregation Ohev Sholom, Prairie Village, Kansas.
Married to Margaret Pollock, Cohen had three children: Barton, Hildred, and Miles. Following Margaret’s death, Cohen married Marjorie Blond.
Joseph Cohen died on September 2, 1974.
Barton P. Cohen
Joseph’s son, Barton P. Cohen (1930-2006) assumed control of the Metcalf State Bank upon his father’s death. Together with his wife Mary, Barton was also very involved in the Kansas City area community. Through his professional and charitable activities Barton made a lasting impact in the Jewish and non-Jewish communities of Kansas City, as his papers attest.
Scope and Content Note
The Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers contain personal and business papers of Joseph Cohen, a Kansas City banker and lawyer, together with papers of his son, Barton. Included in the collection are family photographs, medallions, and mini cassette recordings of Israeli leaders.
Series A and B of this collection have been digitized. The full contents of each file in these series are available for viewing by clicking on the link next to the folder heading. Series C, as well as the restricted files in the collection, have not been digitized.
Funding for this digitization was provided by Dr. Mary Cohen.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged in three (3) series:
- Series A. Joseph Cohen. 1902-2005.
- Series B. Barton P. Cohen. 1930-2005.
- Series C. Cohen Family.
Conditions of Access and Use
Terms of Access and Use
The Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers are open to all users with the exception of the following box/folder: 1/5, 2/5, 2/6, 3/1, 3/2, and 4/3. The original manuscript collection is available in the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.
Property and Literary Rights
Dr. Mary Cohen, by the act of donating the Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers to the American Jewish Archives, assigned all property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are retained by the Cohen heirs. Literary rights may also be retained by specific creators of materials.
Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
Related Material
Separated Material
Included with this collection was a large amount of non-print materials (photographs and audio recordings) of Joseph and Barton Cohen. More information on these items may be obtained through the online catalog of the American Jewish Archives.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:
[Description], [Date], Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers, MS-778, Box [#], Folder [#]. MS-778. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The Joseph and Barton Cohen Papers were received from Dr. Mary Cohen of Overland Park, Kansas in 2009.
Processing Information
Processed by Kevin Proffitt, December 2009.
Box Folder Listing
| Series A. Joseph Cohen. 1902-2005. [3 Hollinger boxes] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: Consisting of correspondence, business papers, personal and family items, speeches, and newsclippings, this series documents Joseph Cohen’s life from his childhood to his death. Also included are a number of files concerning the disposition of Cohen’s estate following his death and memorial tributes in his honor, including the Joseph Cohen Memorial Lecture, which was established at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, by his son, Barton. These files contain information on the creation of the lecture series together with information on the speakers from its inception in 1979 up to 2005. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. 1966, 1975. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundations. 1965. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Business papers. 1966. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Campers Bugle. 1976. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence. 1964. | |||||||||
| [Restricted to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.] | |||||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Correspondence. 1964. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Personal. 1916-1965. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Personal. 1902-1976. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Speeches and writings. 1926-1965, undated. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Speeches and writings. undated. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 70th birthday. 1972. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Condolences. 1976-1977. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Memorial. 1977. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 2 | 5-6 | Trusteeship. 1976-1982. | |||||||||
| [Restricted to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.] | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | Estate and will. 1976. | |||||||||
| [Restricted to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.] | |||||||||||
| 3 | 2 | Joseph Cohen Memorial Lecture. 1979-1991. | |||||||||
| [Restricted to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.] | |||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | Joseph Cohen Memorial Lecture. 1992-2005, undated. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 3 | 4 | Newsclippings. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 3 | 5 | Scrapbook. 1929-1951. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| Series B. Barton P. Cohen. 1930-2005. [1 Hollinger box] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: Contains files by and about Barton P. Cohen, including newsclippings, correspondence and a large file of family history compiled and collected by Barton Cohen. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 6 | Personal. 1930-2006. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Family and genealogy materials. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 | Union for Reform Judaism (Iraq war resolution). 2005. [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
| 4 | 3 | 70th and 75th birthday. 2000, 2005. | |||||||||
| [Restricted to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.] | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4-5 | Newsclippings. [2 folders] [Digital Archival Object] | |||||||||
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA Online Catalog.