TABLE OF CONTENTS
Series A. Correspondence and papers. 1958-2005.
Series C. Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT USA. 1956-2006.
A Finding Aid to the Phyllis R. Sutker Papers. 1956-2006. (bulk 1969-2004).
Manuscript Collection No. 896
Introduction |
|
| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | Sutker, Phyllis R. |
| Title: | Phyllis R. Sutker Papers |
| Dates: | 1956-2006 |
| Bulk Dates: | 1969-2004 |
| Quantity: | 4.8 linear feet (12 Hollinger boxes) |
| Abstract: | The Phyllis R. Sutker Papers hold correspondence, speeches, writings, and other papers related to NA'AMAT USA (formerly Pioneer Women), American Zionism and Labor Zionism, as well as newspaper clippings related to her activities. |
| Collection Number: | MS-896 |
| Language: | Collection material in English and Hebrew. |
Biographical Sketch
Phyllis Sutker was born in 1923 and lived her
entire life in the Chicago area. After receiving a master's degree in Social Service
Administration from the University of Chicago, she worked at the Jewish Children's
Bureau from 1945 to 1950. After staying home with her children for a few years, she
devoted her time as a volunteer lay leader in the Jewish communal world, primarily
working with Zionist organizations and groups that worked to aid Jewish women and
children.
The bulk of Sutker's efforts were spent working with the Labor Zionist organization Pioneer Women, which was later renamed NA'AMAT USA. (NA'AMAT is a Hebrew acronym for "Movement of Working Women and Volunteers.") In her almost fifty-year association with NA'AMAT, she was involved everywhere from the local up to the global level. She served as national president from 1981 to 1985 and was Program Chairwoman of the 75th Anniversary Convention. She acted as delegate of NA'AMAT USA to the World Movement of NA'AMAT, the World Labor Zionist Movement, and the Zionist General Council.
In addition to NA'AMAT, Sutker was a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, was an elected member of the American Section of the World Zionist Executive, and a six-time delegate to the World Zionist Congress. She was Vice President and National board member of the American Zionist Movement, as well as on the board of the Chicago Region American Zionist Movement. Sutker also served as chairman of the Board for the Chicago Zionist Federation.
Other appointments she received included serving on the board of governors of the Jewish Agency and the boards of the United Jewish Appeal and United Israel Appeal. Sutker also spent time on the board of directors of the National Committee for Labor Israel, the Jewish Telegraphic Association, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the State of Israel Bonds Campaign - Chicago, and the Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations - Chicago.
In 1988, Sutker was honored as a Woman of Achievement by Israel Bonds. The World Zionist Organization named her an honorary fellow in 1996, and a year later she was an honoree of the Labor Zionist Alliance of Chicago.
She was married to Calvin Sutker, a lawyer and prominent Chicago-area politician. In addition to her own volunteer activities, she devoted a great deal of time to supporting her husband's political career, aiding in his campaigns. Phyllis Sutker died of cancer at the age of 83 in 2006.
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of correspondence, speeches, writings, and other papers concerning Sutker's career volunteering in Jewish organizations. The bulk of this collection concerns Sutker's involvement with NA'AMAT USA (formerly Pioneer Women), but it also includes items pertaining to American and Labor Zionist organizations as well as a few items concerning her husband, Calvin Sutker. The collection spans the dates 1956-2006, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1969-2004.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged in five (5) series:
- Series A. Correspondence, Speeches, and Writings. 1958-2005.
- Series B. General. 1970-2004.
- Series C. Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT. 1956-2006.
- Series D. News Clippings and Scrapbook. 1963-2005.
- Series E. Memorabilia. undated
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.
Related Material
Pamphlets have been filed under Pioneer Women (NA'AMAT USA) Nearprint Special Topics. Photographs were also removed and catalogued separately.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Phyllis R. Sutker Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:
Box #, Folder #. MS-896. Phyllis R. Sutker Papers. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The Phyllis R. Sutker Papers were received from Sharon Sutker McGowan in May 2013.
Processing Information
Processed by Joe Weber, June 2016.
Box and Folder Listing
| Series A. Correspondence and papers. 1958-2005. [2.5 Hollinger boxes] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: This series consists of speeches given by Phyllis Sutker at conventions, rallies, and other special events in which she was an invited guest. Mixed in with the speeches are essays and articles she wrote throughout her career. This series also contains both personal and professional correspondence. There are several letters that are related to NA'AMAT, but were left with the other correspondence as Sutker had it filed to maintain provenance. | |||||||||||
| Arrangement Note: Folders in this series are arranged alphabetically. Items within the folders are ordered chronologically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | General correspondence. 1967-1975. | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | General correspondence. 1980-1989. | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | General correspondence. 1991-1998. | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | General correspondence. 2001-2003, undated. | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Notes and annotations. 1970-2002, undated. | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Notes and annotations. undated. | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Speeches and writings. 1958-1969. | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Speeches and writings. 1970-1979. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Speeches and writings. 1980-1984. | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Speeches and writings. 1985-1989. | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Speeches and writings. 1990-1999. | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Speeches and writings. 2000-2005. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | Speeches and writings. undated. | |||||||||
| 3 | 2 | Speeches and writings. undated. | |||||||||
| Series B. General. 1970-2004. [1 Hollinger box] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: This series consists primarily of material detailing Sutker's involvement in various Zionist organizations throughout her career. There is also one folder included that contains the resumes of both her and her husband, Calvin Sutker. | |||||||||||
| Arrangement Note: Folders in this series are arranged alphabetically. Items within the folders are ordered chronologically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | American and Labor Zionism papers. 1971-1989. | |||||||||
| 3 | 4 | American and Labor Zionism papers. 1992-1995. | |||||||||
| 3 | 5 | American and Labor Zionism papers. 1996-2004, undated. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Founding Convention of the American Zionist Federation. 1970. | |||||||||
| 4 | 2 | Miscellaneous papers. 1972-1998, undated. | |||||||||
| 4 | 3 | Phyllis and Calvin Sutker resumes. undated. | |||||||||
| 4 | 4 | United Israel Appeal. 1989-1998. | |||||||||
| Series C. Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT USA. 1956-2006. [5.5 Hollinger boxes] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: This series is the largest in the collection and contains papers concerning NA'AMAT USA (previously Pioneer Women), its regional chapters, and its associated organizations around the world. The series contains correspondence and writings by Sutker as well as by others within NA'AMAT. There are several folders that detail the conventions of Pioneer Women and NA'AMAT. | |||||||||||
| Arrangement Note: Folders in this series are arranged alphabetically. Items within the folders are ordered chronologically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | Chicago Area NA'AMAT. 1991-1999, undated. | |||||||||
| 4 | 6 | Chicago Pioneer Women. 1967-1982. | |||||||||
| 4 | 7 | Eilat [of Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT]. 1968-2004. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | Givat Ada. 1983-1985. | |||||||||
| 5 | 2 | Jewish Agency- Moetzet Hopoalot seminar. 1963. | |||||||||
| 5 | 3 | Kadima [of Pioneer Women]. 1956-1969. | |||||||||
| 5 | 4 | Membership and organization. 1976-1985. | |||||||||
| 5 | 5 | Membership and organization. 1990-2003, undated. | |||||||||
| 5 | 6 | Mifkad campaigns. 1971-1982. | |||||||||
| 5 | 7 | Mifkad campaigns. 1986-1987. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | Miscellaneous papers. 1959-1989. | |||||||||
| 6 | 2 | Miscellaneous papers. 1990-2006. | |||||||||
| 6 | 3 | Miscellaneous papers. undated. | |||||||||
| 6 | 4 | NA'AMAT Eastern Area newsletters. 2003-2006. | |||||||||
| 6 | 5 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 1987. | |||||||||
| 6 | 6 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 1989. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 7 | 1 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 1991. | |||||||||
| 7 | 2 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 1993. | |||||||||
| 7 | 3 | NA'AMAT USA conventions. 1995-1997. | |||||||||
| 7 | 4 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 1999. | |||||||||
| 7 | 5 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 2001. | |||||||||
| 7 | 6 | NA'AMAT USA convention. 2004. | |||||||||
| 7 | 7 | NA'AMAT newsletters and press releases. 1993-2005. | |||||||||
| 7 | 8 | National Board activities. 1983-1993. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 8 | 1 | National Board activities. 1995-2004. | |||||||||
| 8 | 2 | Pioneer Women conventions. 1959-1969. | |||||||||
| 8 | 3 | Pioneer Women conventions. 1971-1973. | |||||||||
| 8 | 4 | Pioneer Women convention. 1975. | |||||||||
| 8 | 5 | Pioneer Women conventions. 1977-1981. | |||||||||
| 8 | 6 | Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT USA convention. 1983. | |||||||||
| 8 | 7 | Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT USA convention. 1985. | |||||||||
| 8 | 8 | Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT Midwestern Area newsletters . 1972-2006. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 9 | 1 | Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT newsletters and press releases. 1975-1992. | |||||||||
| 9 | 2 | Pioneer Women/NA'AMAT World Movement. 1978-2001. | |||||||||
| 9 | 3 | "President to President" letters. 1978-1981. | |||||||||
| 9 | 4 | "President to President" letters. 1981-2005. | |||||||||
| 9 | 5 | Program planning. 1979-1993. | |||||||||
| 9 | 6 | Program planning. 1994-2006. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 10 | 1 | Scripts. 1976, undated. | |||||||||
| 10 | 2 | Small Business Loan Fund. 2003-2005. | |||||||||
| Series D. News Clippings and Scrapbook. 1963-2005. [1 Hollinger box] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: This series contains clippings from newspapers and journals that concern Phyllis Sutker, her husband Calvin, and NA'AMAT USA. | |||||||||||
| Arrangement Note: Clippings are arranged chronologically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 10 | 3 | News clippings. 1963-1979. | |||||||||
| 10 | 4 | News clippings. 1980-1989. | |||||||||
| 10 | 5 | News clippings. 1991-2005, undated. | |||||||||
| 10 | 6 | NA'AMAT scrapbook. 1982. | |||||||||
| Series E. Memorabilia. undated. [2 Hollinger boxes] | |||||||||||
| Scope and Content Note: This series consists primarily of NA'AMAT pins, slides related to NA'AMAT activities, and unidentified slides. | |||||||||||
| Arrangement Note: The memorabilia items are undated and are primarily loose in the box. The slides are in original order. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 11 | 1 | Pins, life member card. undated. | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 12 | 1 | Moetzet Hapoalot - Israel slides. 1950s. | |||||||||
| 12 | 2 | NA'AMAT USA slides. undated. | |||||||||
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA Online Catalog.