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Series I: Correspondence, 1932-1957 Series II: Collected Plays, 1930s-1950s Series III: Writings and Translations, 1915-1942 Series IV: Production and Director's Materials, undated, 1940-1958 Series V: Miscellaneous Theater Materials, 1934-1945 Series VI: Clippings, undated, 1920-1957 Series VII: Personal Materials, 1910-1958 Series VIII: The Papers of Sarah Kindman-Mestel, 1932-1957 Series IX: Photographs, 1920s-1950s

Guide to the Papers of Jacob Mestel (1884-1958)
1910-1958

RG 280

Processed by Solomon Rabinowitz and Itzik Gottesman

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

Phone: (212) 246-6080

Fax: (212) 292-1892

URL: http://www.yivoinstitute.org

© 2005 YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. All rights reserved.

Center for Jewish History, Publisher.

Machine-readable finding aid was created by Donna Gallers as MS Word file in October 2002. Electronic finding aid was converted to EAD 2002 by Dianne Ritchey Oummia in January 2004. Description is in English.


Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Mestel, Jacob (1884-1958)
Title:	Jacob Mestel Papers
Dates:	1910-1958
Abstract:	The collection of Jacob Mestel consists of the general, professional and personal correspondence of Jacob Mestel, manuscripts of plays by other authors, manuscripts of poetry, essays and plays by Jacob Mestel, translations of plays into Yiddish, production material, clippings, theater programs, personal documents, and theater photographs.
Languages:	The collection is in Yiddish, English, German, and Polish.
Quantity:	14.6 linear feet
Identification:	RG 280
Repository:	YIVO Archives

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Jacob Mestel was born in Złoczów (then Galicia; now Zolochiv, Ukraine) on February 25, 1884. He attended kheyder (religious day school) and from age fourteen, the Teachers' Seminary in Lemberg (then Galicia; now L'viv, Ukraine). For a time he worked as a teacher and studied philosophy at the University of Lemberg. He later moved to Vienna and graduated from a military academy. In 1910, Mestel traveled with the Vienna Yiddish theater performing throughout Austria, Galicia, and in Germany.

During World War I, Jacob Mestel served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army. He was wounded several times, awarded medals, and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. Upon his return to Vienna in 1918, Mestel studied directing and dramaturgy at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Akademie für Musik und Darstellende Kunst) in Vienna. He helped organize Der Fraye Yidishe Folksbine (Freie Jüdische Volksbühne – The Free Jewish People's Theater) and the first Yiddish drama school in Vienna.

After the Habsburg Empire disintegrated in 1918, Jacob Mestel was forced to leave the Austrian Republic and emigrated to the United States in 1920. He was hired as an actor and director by the Philadelphia Arch Street Theater. Beginning in 1923, he acted and directed in Maurice Schwartz's Yiddish Art Theater and Jacob Ben-Ami's Folks Teater (People's Theater). He toured Europe, North America, and South America with these troupes.

In 1925, Jacob Mestel became the director of the Frayhayt Dramatishe Studio (Freedom Dramatic Studio), which later became the drama school of the Artef (Arbeter Teater Farband – Workers' Theater Association). For a few years, he devoted himself strictly to this institution.

Throughout the 1930s, Jacob Mestel continued to work with Maurice Schwartz and Jacob Ben-Ami, as well as with other theater companies, including the experimental Nit Gedayget! (Don't Worry!) in New York. He also acted, directed and adapted for Yiddish film and radio. Jacob Mestel acted on television (The Goldbergs, 1952-1954) and on the English-language stage in Arnold Shulman's Hole in the Head (1957).

Jacob Mestel began his writing career in 1903 by publishing critical essays in Varhayt. Beginning in 1906 he published poems in the Lemberg togblat, Yidishe folkskalendar, and other European publications. In the United States, Jacob Mestel wrote theater criticism for New York Yiddish daily newspapers and was an editor of the Yidishe kultur (New York).

Jacob Mestel attained a measure of success as a poet and has been included in several poetry anthologies. His books of poems include Farkholemte shoen (Dreamy Hours), Lemberg, 1909; A libes lid (A Love Song), Cracow (Kraków, Poland), 1911; Vita khayzed, Cracow, 1913; Dimyoynes (Imaginings), Vienna, 1921; and Soldatn un payatsn lider (Soldier and Clown Poems), Warsaw, 1928. He stopped writing poetry in the 1920s.

Jacob Mestel's prose works include: Milkhome notitsn fun a yidishn ofitsir (War Notes of a Jewish Military Officer), 2 vols., Warsaw, 1924, 1927; Lukretsyas toyt (Lucretia's Death), Warsaw, 1936; Undzer teater (Our Theater), YKUF, New York, 1943; 70 yor teater repertuar (70 Years of Theater Repertoire), YKUF, New York, 1954; Literatur un teater (Literature and Theater), YKUF, New York, 1962.

As a historian of Yiddish theater, Jacob Mestel contributed to YIVO bleter (YIVO Pages) and Arkhiv tsu der geshikhte fun yidishn teater in amerike (Archive of the History of Yiddish Theater in America), both published in Vilna. Most notably, Jacob Mestel was co-editor with Zalmen Zylberzweig of the first three volumes of the Leksikon fun yidishn teater (Lexicon of the Yiddish Theater), New York, 1931, Warsaw, 1934. He also translated many important American and European theatrical works into Yiddish, among them Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.

Jacob Mestel was married to Sarah Kindman-Mestel (1901-1974), an actress and poet, whose collection of personal and professional materials is included in this collection.

Jacob Mestel died in New York in 1958.

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Scope and Content Note

The Jacob Mestel Papers (1910-1958) are arranged in nine series, including correspondence, collected plays, Jacob Mestel's writings and translations, production and director's materials, miscellaneous theater materials, clippings, personal materials, Sarah Kindman-Mestel's papers, and photographs.

The papers reflect the diversified nature of Jacob Mestel's life in the theater as actor, director, stage manager, instructor, writer, translator, adapter and historian/researcher. The bulk of the materials date from the 1930s and 1940s and focus on Yiddish theater in New York. Of particular interest are the materials of the Artef Studio, the drama school of the Artef (Arbeter Teater Farband – Workers' Theater Association), which Jacob Mestel directed and helped found (folders 323-335). Virtually none of the materials, except for a few documents and translations, cover Mestel's early theater career in Vienna and Eastern Europe.

Because Mestel was involved in so many aspects of the Yiddish theater and because he collected such a quantity of theater materials, his papers offer an insight into the history and daily workings of the Yiddish theater, especially in New York. Noteworthy are Mestel's writings about theater (folders 236-268) and the series of theatrical production materials and director's notes (folders 323-350).

The papers contain Jacob Mestel's extensive collection of over 100 Yiddish play scripts in Series II. Most are plays originally written in Yiddish, although a few are translations into Yiddish from other languages. Many of the scripts contain director's notes. In addition, Series IV, which holds production and director's materials, contains notes on scripts found in Series II. Also in the papers is Jacob Mestel's collection of 301 photographs of Yiddish theater performances and personalities, mostly from New York in the 1930s-1950s (Series IX, also indexed in YIVO's Stagepix database).

Jacob Mestel's commitment to the Yiddish culture and art is manifest in the correspondence, which includes Kalman Marmor and Nachman Meisel, as well as theater personalities Jacob Ben-Ami and Osip Dimov of the United States and Osvei (Yeshue) Liubomirskii of Moscow, the Soviet Union. Jacob Mestel's organizational correspondents include many theater and Yiddish cultural groups around the world, including the Proletarisher Teater Kolektiv (Proletarian Theater Collective) in Montevideo (Uruguay), the Dramatishe Klub (Drama Club) in Złoczów (then Poland, now Zlochiv, Ukraine) and Di post (The Post) in Cracow (Kraków, Poland).

Because Jacob Mestel maintained regular contact with the European Jewish artistic community throughout his life, his later correspondence also provides a glimpse of activities and thinking about the arts in the Yiddish theater world after World War II. Of particular interest is Jacob Mestel's lengthy correspondence with director Michael Weichert of Warsaw (Poland), which includes some materials on Michael Weichert's arrest and imprisonment (later reversed) on the grounds of Nazi collaboration.

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Arrangement

The papers are arranged in nine series according to type of document, except for the personal materials of Jacob Mestel and the papers of Sarah Kindman-Mestel, which include a mixture of types. Within most series, the materials are arranged alphabetically according to the Yiddish alphabet.

Series I: Correspondence, 1932-1957
Series II: Collected Plays, 1930s-1950s
Series III: Writings and Translations, 1915-1918, 1928, 1943
Series IV: Production and Director's Materials, 1940-1941
Series V: Miscellaneous Theater Materials, 1934-1945
Series VI: Clippings, 1920-1957
Series VII Personal Materials, 1910-1958
Series VIII: The Papers of Sarah Kindman-Mestel, 1932-1957
Series IX: Photographs, 1930s-1950s

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers by appointment with a YIVO archivist.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information users should contact:

Chief Archivist, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: archives@yivo.cjh.org

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Other Finding Aids

There are two other finding aids which were created after the collection was processed in 1982, and in 1983 respectively; one is in English, the other one in Yiddish.

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Custodial History

The papers of Jacob Mestel were donated to YIVO by Jacob Mestel and his wife Sarah Kindman-Mestel. In 1952 Jacob Mestel gave YIVO materials consisting of correspondence and manuscripts. In 1967, Sarah Kindman-Mestel donated the remaining materials.

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); YIVO Archives, Collection title, Collection number, folder number.

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Processing Information

This finding aid was processed by Solomon Rabinowitz and Itzik Gottesman in 1982 with the assistance of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In 2002 the finding aid was revised by Donna Gallers. The romanized spelling of Yiddish names has been corrected according to original documents found in the collection. The romanized spellings of the proper names were cross-checked with the YIVO Names Authority File, Library of Congress, and Encyclopedia Judaica. Other Yiddish names for which there was no reference for romanization have been transliterated according to the YIVO standard published in Modern English-Yiddish Yiddish-English Dictionary by Uriel Weinreich in 1968. Yiddish titles of plays have also been transliterated according to the YIVO transliteration standard. Alternative spelling appears in the brackets.

Chana Mlotek and Fruma Mohrer proofread, verified, and corrected the final version of this finding aid.

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Access Points

Subject Names:
- Ben-Ami, Jacob, 1890-1977
- Dymov, Ossip, 1878-1959
- Lyubomirski, Yehoshua
- Marmor, Kalman, 1879-1956
- Mayzel, Nachman, 1887-1966
- Meisel, Nakhman, 1887-1966
- Mestel, Sarah Kindman
- Ravitch, Melech, 1893-
- Sadan, Dov, 1902-
- Weichert, Michael, 1890-1967
- Zylbercweig, Zalman, 1894-1972
Subject Organizations:
- Artef
- Hebrew Actors Union (U.S.)
- Ikuf (Association)
- YKUF (Association)Yivo Institute for Jewish Research
- Yivo Institute for Jewish Research
Subject Topics:
- Actors, Yiddish
- Jewish theater
- Dramatists
- Jewish historians
- Jewish authors
- Performing arts
- Poets, Yiddish
- Theater -- Production and direction
- Theater critics
- Theater, Yiddish
- Theaters -- Stage-setting and scenery
- Theatrical producers and directors
- Yiddish drama
- Yiddish language
Document Types
- Photographic prints
- Poems
- Prompt books
- Scripts

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I: Correspondence, 1932-1957.
The bulk of the series is in Yiddish, with a substantial number of letters inEnglish. There are a few letters in German, and Polish.
3.6 linear feet (folders 1-131)
Arrangement: The correspondence is divided into four parts: A) Personal and general correspondence with individuals (folders 1-64); B) Correspondence with organizations (folders 65-78); C) Correspondence of Sarah Kindman-Mestel (folders 79-108); and D) Family Correspondence (folders 109-131). The first three sections are arranged alphabetically according to the Yiddish alphabet. The family correspondence is arranged chronologically and by family member. The original Yiddish finding aid from 1983 reflects this arrangement. This English finding aid, also arranged alphabetically, lists the romanized transliterations of Yiddish names.
Scope and Content: Personal and professional correspondence between Jacob Mestel and individuals or organizations in the United States, South America, Canada and Europe. Prominent individual correspondents include Jacob Ben-Ami, Jacob Botoshansky, Osip Dimov, Osvei (Yeshua) Liubomirskii, Kalman Marmor, Nachman Meisel, Melech Ravitch, Dov Sadan, Moyshe Zigler, and Zalmen Zilberzweig. Notable is a 26-year correspondence with Michael Weichert, including letters from the post-war period regarding Michael Weichert's imprisonment and accusations of his collaboration with the Nazis. The correspondence of Sarah Kindman-Mestel will also be found here, including her correspondence with individuals, among them Michael Weichert, as well as correspondence with YKUF leyenkrayzn (reading groups). Included among the organizational correspondents are: The Hebrew Actor's Union, YKUF, YIVO, Dramatic Club in Złoczów. Family correspondence of the Mestels is also located here, and is comprised of letters between Jacob and Sarah in addition to correspondence between them and their parents, siblings, or other family members.
A) Personal and General Correspondence with Individuals
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	א (A, Id, O, U) Correspondence	1937-1952
1	2	Unger, Menashe	1944-1955
1	3	Alkon, Joshua	1946-1947
1	4	ב (Ba-Bi) Correspondence	1935-1956
1	5	ב (Bl-Br) Correspondence	1933-1956
1	6	Botoshansky, Jacob	1934-1940
1	7	Backall, Moshe	1951-1955
1	7a	Goldfaden, Abraham: Ni be ni me ni kukeriku - Manuscript	1884
1	8	Buchwald, Natan	1943-1946
1	9	Ben-Ami, Jacob	1939-1954
1	10	Berger, Abraham	1944-1955
1	11	Bercovich, L.	1955, 1958
1	12	Bronstein, Ezekiel [Brownstone]	1954-1957
1	13	ג (G) Correspondence	1932-1953
1	14	Goldstraj, Juan, Letter with Manuscript	1951-1952
1	15	Guiser, M.D.	1936-1952
1	16	Gershman, I.	1943-1953
1	17	ד (D) Correspondence	1938-1955
1	18	Dimov, Osip	1938-1939
1	19	ה (H) Correspondence	1939-1956
1	20	Hirshbein, Peretz	1937
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	21	וו, ו (V, W) Correspondence	1940-1953
2	22	Weichert, Michael	1932, 1935-1938
Box	Folder	Title	Date
2	23	Weichert, Michael	1946-1948
2	24	Weichert, Michael	1950-1958
2	25	Weichert, Michael	1946
		Materials regarding the accusation again Michael Weichert that he collaborated with the Nazis
2	26	Weinper, Zishe	1946-1953
2	27	Vipmans, Volf	1936, 1941-1942
2	28	ז (Z) Correspondence	1935-1957
2	29	Zigler, Moyshe	1938-1950
2	30	Zigler, Moyshe	1951-1953
2	31	Zigler, Moyshe	1954-1958
2	32	Zilberzweig, Zalmen	1933-1944
2	33	Zilberzweig, Zalmen	1945-1958
2	34	Zhitinsky, L.	1941-1957
2	35	ט (T) Correspondence	1922, 1935-1953
2	36	Toronto Yiddish Folk Choir	1944-1950
		Included are letters from Max Burstyn
2	36a	Teitelbaum, Abraham	1935-1947
2	37	Turkow, Zygmunt	1941-1949
Box	Folder	Title	Date
3	38	י (I, J, Y) Correspondence	1939, 1943, 1955-1956
3	39	כ (Kh/Ch) Correspondence	1938, 1952-1955
3	40	ל (L) Correspondence	1932, 1936-1957
3	41	Liubomirskii, Ovsei (Yeshue), Moscow	1945-1948
3	42	מ (M) Correspondence	1929, 1934-1958
3	43	Margolin, Avreml	1949-1954
3	44	Meisel, Nachman	1938-1958
Box	Folder	Title	Date
3	45	Minkoff, N.B.	1935-1950
3	46	Marmor, Kalman	1945-1951, 1954
3	47	נ (N) Correspondence	1938, 1941-1949
3	48	ס (S) Correspondence	1912, 1938-1949, 1956
3	49	ע (E) Correspondence	1938-1952
Box	Folder	Title	Date
4	50	פ (P) Correspondence	1923, 1935-1954
4	51	Posner, Ralph	1943, 1952-1954
4	52	פֿ (F) Correspondence	1937-1953
4	53	Feffer, Itsik (unsigned)	undated
4	54	צ (Ts/Z) Correspondence	1938, 1955
4	55	Zucker, Nehemiah	1934-1946
4	56	ק (Ca/Ka) Correspondence	1936-1937, 1943-1958
4	57	ק (Cu/Ku-Cr/Kr) Correspondence	1921-1922, 1941-1956
4	58	ר (R) Correspondence	1935-1957
4	59	Ravitch, Melech	1940-1954
4	60	Ressler, Benjamin	1935-1946
4	61	ש (Sha/Scha-Shu/Schu) Correspondence	1931, 1939, 1946-1958
4	62	ש (Sht-Shr) Correspondence	1926, 1934-1954
4	63	Shtok (Sadan), Dov	1948
4	64	Stern, Sholem	1944-1958
4	64a	Unidentified writers	1930-1954
B) Correspondence with Organizations
Box	Folder	Title	Date
5	65	א (A, I, O, U) Correspondence	1929, 1943-1955
		Af der vakh Oyfs nay Eynikayt Institut far Yidisher Bildung (School of Jewish Studies) Internatsyonaler Arbeter Ordn (International Workers' Order) Algemeyner entsiklopedie (Yiddish Encyclopedia) Ambidjan (Ambijan, American Birobidjan Committee) American Jewish Literary Association American Federation for Aid to Polish Jews American Russian Institute American Committee of Jewish Writers and Scientists Artef (Arbeiter Theater Association)
Box	Folder	Title	Date
5	66	Yiddisher Kultur Farband (YKUF)	1944, 1947-1950
5	67	Yiddisher Kultur Farband (YKUF)	1951-1952, 1954-1948
5	68	Yiddisher Kultur Farband (YKUF) (Argentina; Montreal, Canada)	1946-1953
5	69	Argentiner Yidish Folks Teater "Ipt"	1937-1957
5	70	ז ,וו ,ו ,ה ,ד ,ג ,ב (B, G, D/J, H, Z) Correspondence	1936, 1943-1955
		Beverly Fairfax Jewish Community Center Bessarabian Federation of American Jews Bronx Workers' Center Pinchas Gingold Memorial Foundation Groyser verterbukh fun der yidisher shprakh (Yiddish Dictionary Committee) Jewish Community Council (Cleveland, Ohio) Jewish Council for Russian War Relief New School for Social Research (New York, N.Y.). Dramatic Workshop Haynt (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Histadrut Hamilton Jewish Choral Group (Ontario, Canada) Rubin Saltzman 60th Anniversary Committee Związek Autorów i Kompozytorów Scenicznych, ZAiKS (Union of Theater Writers and Composers) (Warsaw, Poland)
5	71	י (Y, U) Correspondence	1925-1957
		United Committee of Jewish Societies (Landsmanshaft Federation) Yidishe Arbeter Universitet (Jewish Workers' University) Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Yidisher Artistn Fareyn in Poyln Yidishe Brazilier Bibliotek (Biblioteca Iraelita Brasileira) Yidishe Brazilier Folks Universitet Yidisher Brazilier Kultur Institut (Instituto Israelita Brasileiro de Cultura e Educacao) Yidisher Brazilier Kultur Farband (Instituto Cultural Israelita-brasileiro) Yidisher Dikhter Klub fun Amerike (Jewish Poets' Club of America) Yidisher Dertsiung Byuoro fun Amerike (Service Bureau of Jewish Education of America) Yidisher Dramatisher Klub "S. Anski" (Złoczów, Poland, now Zlochiv, Ukraine) Jewish Dramatic Club of Winnipeg (Canada) Dos yidishe vort ( La Palabra israelita) (Santiago, Chile) Yidisher Teater Ansambl (Yiddish Theatre Ensemble) Yidishe Teater Gezelshaft Yidisher Muzik Farband (Jewish Music Alliance) Yidisher Melukhe Teater (Bucharest, Romania) Yidish Natsyonal Farband (Jewish National Workers' Alliance) Yidish Poylish Fareyn (Sociedad Israelita de Polonia) (Rosario, Bolivia) Yidisher PEN Klub (New York Yiddish P.E.N. Club) Yidisher Filharmonisher Folks Khor (Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus) Yidishe Folks Shul (Escuela Popular Israelita) (Sarmiento, Argentina) Yidisher Folks Tsenter in Kuba (Centro Popular Hebreo de Cuba) (Yidishe) Kultur Gezelshaft (Chicago, Ill.) Yidisher Kultur Tsenter (Santos, Brazil) Yidishe Shul in Meksike (Colegio Israelita de Mexico) Yidisher Shrayber Fareyn H.D. Nomberg (Sociedad de Escritores Israelitas), Argentina
5	72	Hebrew Actors' Union (New York, N.Y.)	1935-1958
5	73	YIVO Institute for Jewish Research	1943-1958
5	74	מ ,ל (L, M) Correspondence	1942-1954
		Landslayt Fareyn fun Varshe "Landsmanshaftn" Argentina Los Angeles Sanatorium Louis Lamed Foundation (Detroit, Mich.) Literarishe heftn Library of Congress Morgn frayhayt (Morning Freiheit) (New York, N.Y.)
5	75	נ-צ (N-Ts) Correspondence	1938-1939, 1943-1955
		New American Theater New Star Films National Jewish Welfare Board Neumann and Company (Prague, Czechoslovakia) New Life Magazine Actors' Equity Association Tsentral Komitet fun Yidn in Poyln
5	76	פ (P) Correspondence	1936-1938, 1953-1957
		Di post (Kraków, Poland) Parizer tsaytung (Paris, France) Poylish Yidisher Farband in Argentine (Union Israelita Residente de Polonia) Proletarisher Teater Kolektiv (Montevideo, Uruguay) Di prese ( La Prensa israelita) (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
5	77	פֿ (F) Correspondence	1937-1941, 1947, 1954
		Folksbiene Theater (New York, N.Y.) Fareyn fun Yidishe Shrayber in Montreal (Jewish Writers' Association) Vereinigte Bühnenvertriebe (Berlin, Germany) Fareynikter Yidisher Folks Ordn (United Jewish People's Order) Fareynikter Komitet Varshever Geto Oyfshtand (United Committee to Commemorate the Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising) Federal Theater Project (WPA) Federatsie far Poylishe Yidn (American Federation for Aid to Polish Jews) Farband fun Galitsyaner Yidn (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Fraynd fun Yidishn Kunst Teater (Friends of the Yiddish Art Theater) Komitet fun Progresiver Yidisher Dertsiung (Committee for Progressive Jewish Education) Fraynd fun Progresivn Yisroel (Americans for Progressive Israel) Freie Arbeiter Stimme (Free Voice of Labor)
5	78	ק (C, K) Correspondence	1946, 1948, 1956
		Kaganowski Jubilee Committee (Paris, France) Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe Kultur Hoyz (Santos, Brazil) Kultur Hoyz I.L. Peretz (Centro Cultural Escuela Laica Israelita I.L. Peretz) (Villa Lynch, Cuba) Kultur Hoyz Sholem Aleichem (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Kultur Konferents fun di Yidishe Yeshuvim in Eyrope (Conférence Européenne de la Culture Juive) (Paris, France)
C) Correspondence of Sarah Kindman-Mestel
Box	Folder	Title	Date
6	79	א (A, Id, O) Correspondence	1933-1960
6	80	ב (B) Correspondence	1932-1961
6	81	Berkovich, Leah	1958-1960
6	82	ג (G) Correspondence	1945-1949, 1954-1957
6	83	ד (D) Correspondence	undated, 1950
6	84	ה (H) Correspondence	1932, 1940, 1947-1959
6	85	וו, ו (U, V, W) Correspondence	1929, 1932, 1947-1954
6	86	Weichert, Michael	1958-1966
6	87	ז (Z) Correspondence	1930, 1945, 1953-1959
6	88	ט (T) Correspondence	1948, 1959
6	89	י (I, J, Y) Correspondence	1943-1958
6	90	כ (Kh/Ch) Correspondence	1928, 1949
6	91	ל (L) Correspondence	1941-1959
6	92	YKUF leyenkrayzn (reading groups)	1947-1948, 1951, 1957
6	93	מ (M) Correspondence	1935-1962
6	94	נ (N) Correspondence	1941-1947, 1959
Box	Folder	Title	Date
7	95	ס (S) Correspondence	1943, 1945, 1957, 1961
7	96	Solow, Annie (Khane)	1950-1962
7	97	Serdatski, Yenta	1953-1961
7	98	ע (E) Correspondence	undated, 1951
7	99	פ (P) Correspondence	1940-1962
7	100	פֿ (F) Correspondence	1947, 1954
7	101	צ (Ts) Correspondence	1950-1951
7	102	ק (C/K) Correspondence	1926-1958
7	103	Kliger, Kehos	1942, 1945, 1951-1953
7	104	ר (R) Correspondence	1932, 1942-1951, 1957-1958
7	105	Rivin, J. (Yehoshua)	1960-1962
7	106	ש (Sh) Correspondence	1942-1961
7	107	Stein, Ben	1951-1959
7	108	Unidentified Correspondents	1951, 1957-1959
D) Family Correspondence
Correspondence of Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel
Box	Folder	Title	Date
8	109	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1929-1930, 1931
8	110	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1932
8	111	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1933
Box	Folder	Title	Date
8	112	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1935
8	113	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1936
8	114	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1937-1938
8	115	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1940-1941
8	116	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1942-1943
8	117	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1944-1945
8	118	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1946
8	119	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1947, 1949
8	120	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1950-1951, 1952-1953
8	121	Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel	1957
Correspondence of Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel
Box	Folder	Title	Date
9	122	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel	1942-1949
9	123	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel	1942-1949
9	124	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel	1942-1949
9	125	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel	1942-1949
9	126	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel	1942-1949
9	127	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel's parents	undated
9	128	Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel's brother	1938-1945, 1948
9	129	Letters from Jacob Mestel's cousins	1929, 1941, 1950-1958
9	130	Letters from Sarah Kindman-Mestel's mother	1930, 1942-1951
		Included are letters from Sarah Kindman-Mestel to her mother, and a letter from Sarah Kindman-Mestel's sister
9	131	Letters from Sarah Kindman-Mestel's other relatives	1939-1958

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Series II: Collected Plays, 1930s-1950s.
This series is in Yiddish, English, and German.
2.4 linear feet (folders 132-235)
Arrangement: Yiddish alphabetical order by author. This folder list reflects the romanization of the original Yiddish finding aid and is thus not consistent with English alphabetical order.
Scope and Content: Manuscripts, typed originals, copies, and mimeographed copies of plays and television scripts collected by Jacob Mestel. These are mostly Yiddish plays that he was involved with but did not write. Some are adapted by him. Some are translations not done by Jacob Mestel. Most of the plays are in Yiddish, with a few in English and German. Most of the manuscripts and copies are undated.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
10	132	Eybels, V.I., Eyner fun di vikhtikste (One of the Most Important). Play in 3 acts	1935
		Translated by G.R. Don. Editorial Commission of the Jewish Workers' Clubs of the USA, New York. Includes Jacob Mestel's directing notes and corrections. Mimeographed, 13 pp.
10	133	Alkon, Joshua, Dokter – ratevet! (Doctor – Save Me!). Comedy in 2 acts	undated
		Typed copy, 109 pp.
10	134	Arge, A. and Sita, P., Zayt ruik (Remain Calm). A vaudeville in one act	undated
		Typed copy, 16 pp.
10	135	Bikels, Tsvi, Der goyel (The Savior). Tragedy in 3 acts	1932
		Typed copy, 64 pp.
10	136	Blum, M., Der goylem (The Golem)	undated
		Satire based on the legend, adapted by B. Blik Typed copy, 13 pp.
10	137	Blankfort, Michael, Blum, M., Farblendete heldn (Deluded Heroes). One act	undated
		Typed copy, 13 pp.
10	138	Berg, Gertrude, The Goldbergs	1952
		Television scripts (in English) of programs in which Jacob Mestel performed Mimeographed copies of 3 different scripts, 14 pp., 11 pp., 15 pp.
10	139	Berg, Gertrude, The Goldbergs	1953
		Television scripts (in English) of programs in which Jacob Mestel performed 40 pp.
10	140	Berg, Gertrude, The Goldbergs	1954
		Television scripts (in English) of programs in which Jacob Mestel performed 26 pp.
10	141	Bergelson, David, In yidishn gerikht (In The Jewish Court)	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed copy, 10 pp. with supplemental manuscript, 18 pp.
10	142	Bergelson, David, In yidishn gerikht (In The Jewish Court) - Second version	undated
		Typed copy with notes and corrections by Jacob Mestel, 30 pp.
10	143	Bergelson, David, Baym telefon (At the Telephone)	undated
		Typed copy, 17 pp.
10	144	Bergelson, David, Loy omus ki ekhye (Never Say Die)	undated
		Play in three acts, adapted by Yankev Rotboym Typed copy, 142 pp.
10	145	Brecht, Berthold, 'Der shpyon' oder 'Der meser' ('The Spy' or 'The Knife')	undated
		Translated by Martin Birnbaum Handwritten manuscript with director's notes by Jacob Mestel, 19 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
11	146	Gottesfeld, Khone, Amerikaner khasidim (American Hasidim). Comedy in three acts	undated
		Typed copy, includes 3 unidentified pages, 90 pp.
11	147	Gottesfeld, Khone, Mekhutonim (In-laws). Comedy in three acts	undated
		Typed copy, 122 pp.
11	148	Gottesfeld, Khone, Farzorgt di bonim (Take Care of the Sons)	undated
		Manuscript, 10 pp.
11	149	Goldfaden, Abraham, Goldfaden spektakl (Goldfaden Spectacle)	undated
		Text and music by Abraham Goldfaden; montage by Jacob Mestel; music arranged by Emil Gartner Two typed copies, each 17 pp.
11	150	Goldfaden, Abraham, Goldfaden spektakl (Goldfaden Spectacle)	undated
		This version by Moyshe Shifres; notes by Jacob Mestel Typed, 43 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
11	151	Goldfaden, Abraham, Goldfaden revi (Goldfaden Revue)	undated
		Put together by Chaver-Paver (Gershon Einbinder) and B. Fenster Typed, two versions 13 pp. and 14 pp.
11	152	Gershman, M. [Gersman], Polkovnik Hirshl (Colonel Hirshl). Adapted by M. Blum. One act play	undated
		Typed copy, 6 pp.
11	153	Dobrushin, Yekheskel, Koptsenzon un hungerman (Koptsenson and Hungerman)	undated
		Based on text by Abraham Goldfaden, this variation as performed by the Moscow Jewish State Theater Typed, 24 pp.
11	154	Dorman, Felix and Engel, Alex, Der zegl (The Sail)	undated
		Comedic pageant, translated from German. Notebook includes manuscript with notes for In di hoykhe fentster (Among High Society) by Zalmen Lordo, a play in 4 acts Notebook, manuscript, 120 pp.
11	155	Dimov, Osip, Der ist sayd profesor (The East Side Professor). Drama in seven scenes	undated
		Typed copy, 85 pp.
11	156	Dimov, Osip and Boyrn, Yosef, Mirele Efros	undated
		Film script. Original typed manuscript with direction and costume notes in English, 162 pp.
11	157	Dimov, Osip, Sweepstakes. One act comedy	undated
		Typed copy, 34 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
12	158	Holdes, Oyzer, Lilian Berger. Comedy in four acts	undated
		Typed, 83 pp.
12	159	Hirshbein, Peretz, Grine felder (Green Fields)	undated
		Idyll in one act, adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed copy, 13 pp.
12	160	Hernberg, Izak, Der Seelenspiegel (Mirror of the Soul)	undated
		Family drama in four acts, in German Typed copy, 42 pp.
12	161	Walters, William [Wilhelm], Zayn alibay (His Alibi). Translator unknown	1917
		Notebook, manuscript, 77 pp.
12	162	Wolf, Friedrich, Mother's Day. Play in English translated by S.N. Brainin.	1935
		Typed copy, 64 pp.
12	163	Zech, Paul, Das trunkene schiff (The Drunken Ship)	undated
		Dramatic ballad for stage and radio, in German. Includes English synopsis and director's materials, typed, 41 pp. and 22 pp. Typed, 46 pp.
12	164	Tunkel, Joseph [Der Tunkeler], Brilyantn (Jewels)	undated
		Comedy in one act. Includes director's notes Typed, 9 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
12	165	Tunkel, Joseph [Der Tunkeler], Der redakter (The Editor)	undated
		Dramatization by J. Blank Typed, 2 pp.
12	166	Yevreyinov, N.I., Der redakter (The Editor)	undated
		Dramatization by J. Blank Typed, 2 pp.
12	167	Chaver-Paver [Gershon Einbinder], Di shif fun tsadikim (The Ship of Saints).	undated
		Translation by Perlman. Also included is " Der goldener barg" (The Golden Mountain). Typed with notes, 12 pp. Typed copy with director's notes, 116 pp.
12	168	Chaver-Paver [Gershon Einbinder], Der shklaf (The Slave). One act	undated
		Typed copy with notes and program, 15 pp.
12	169	Chanukoff, Leon, A Scab	undated
		Story dramatized by Louis Stillman Typed with notes, 14 pp.
12	170	Khasmal, Sher un ayzn (Shears and Iron)	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed copy, 12 pp., plus two mimeographed copies
12	171	Langer, František, Perifer – Untervelt (Periphery – The Underworld).	undated
		Manuscript in three notebooks, including notes, 169 pp. and typed role script, 6 pp.
12	172	Langer, František, Perifer – Untervelt (Periphery – The Underworld)	undated
		Typed original, 67 pp.
12	173	Langer, František, Perifer – Untervelt (Periphery – The Underworld)	undated
		Revised version in ten scenes Two typed copies, 37 pp.
12	174	Langer, František, Periphery	undated
		Play in English, from the Czech television production adapted by Charles Cooper and Jacob Mestel Typed copy, 42 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
13	175	Leivick, H., Bankrot (Bankrupt)	undated, 1957
		Directed by Jacob Mestel Typed copy with notes, 88 pp.
13	176	Leivick, H., Der nes in geto (The Miracle in the Ghetto)	undated
		Play in three acts Typed copy, 126 pp.; included are three role scripts and notes
13	177	Leivick, H., Der poet iz gevorn blind (The Poet Became Blind)	undated
		Play based on the life of labor poet Morris Rosenfeld Typed copy, 28 pp.; role script for Boris; and manuscript in the handwriting of Jacob Ben-Ami
13	178	Liptzin, Samuel, Tanken (Tanks)	undated
		Galley proofs
13	179	Lifschitz, Samuel, Boarders	1935
		Mimeographed copy, with director's notes by Jacob Mestel, 17 pp. Jewish Workers' Club (YAC), No. 92.
13	180	Lifschitz, Samuel, Shlangen (Snakes)	1934
		Mimeographed copy, 10 pp. Jewish Workers' Club (YAC)
13	181	Levit, Morris, A groyser sukses (A Great Success). Comedy in four acts	undated
		Manuscript, 54 pp. and letter from author to Sarah Kindman
13	182	McCall, Frank and Almut, Eksponent ershter grad (First Class Exponent)	1935
		Translated by David Knap Mimeographed copy, 9 pp. Jewish Workers' Club (YAC)
13	183	Maltz, Albert, Soldat Hiks (Soldier Hicks)	1936
		Translated by Sam Smolowitz Mimeographed copy, 19 pp.
13	184	Masenzon, Yigal, In di zamdn fun negev (In the Sands of the Negev)	1948
		Three acts, five scenes. Translated by Shimon Vintselberg and Jacob Mestel Typed original, 91 pp.
13	185	Masenzon, Yigal, In di zamdn fun negev (In the Sands of the Negev)	1948
		Second copy
13	186	Miller, Baruch, Idealizm (Idealism)	undated
		Mimeographed copy with director's notes
13	187	Miller, Baruch, In nomen fun gezets (In The Name of the Law)	1934
		Mimeographed copy with director's notes, 9 pp. (Jewish Workers' Club, YAC)
13	188	Miller, Baruch, Gevorn a komunist (Became A Communist)	1934
		Mimeographed copy with corrections by Jacob Mestel, including a 3-page fragment. (Jewish Workers' Club,YAC)
13	189	Miller, Baruch, Gots farzorger (God's Provider)	1935
		Mimeographed copy, 11 pp.
13	190	Miller, Baruch, A tayer kind (A Cherished Child)	1933
		Mimeographed copy, 6 pp. (Jewish Workers' Club,YAC)
13	191	Miller, L., Shtil lebn (Still Life)	undated
		Typed copy, 9 pp.
13	192	Nadir, Moshe, Oyf yener velt (In The World To Come)	undated
		Typed, 6 pp. and second copy
13	193	Nadir, Moshe, Benyomin Kikhot (Benjamin Quixote). .	undated
		Adapted from texts by Mendele Typed, 47 pp., including director's notes and cut materials, 8 pp.
13	194	Nadir, Moshe, Benyomin Kikhot (Benjamin Quixote)	undated
		Mimeographed copy with notes, 15 pp., inluding 5 papes of musical notes and songs by Ben Yomen
13	195	Nadir, Moshe, Meshiakh in amerike (Messiah in America)	undated
		Typed copy with notes by Jacob Mestel, 36 pp.
13	196	Nadir, Moshe, Der nayer Eliyahu Hanovi (The New Prophet Elijah)	undated
		A Passover play, typed, with notes by Jacob Mestel
13	197	Nadir, Moshe, Dos shpil on a nomen (The Play Without A Name).	undated
		Typed copy, 7 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
14	198	Slovès, Henri [Chaim], Homens mapole (Hamen's Downfall)	undated
		Mimeographed copy, 47 pp.
14	199	Elboym, B., Gerangl (Struggle)	undated
		Play in three acts Typed, 47 pp.
14	200	Pinsky, David, Shloyme Malkho	undated
		Typed copy, with stage directions by Jacob Mestel, 10 pp.
14	201	Feinberg, L.I., 1917	undated
		Typed, 5 pp., second copy
14	202	Feldman, M., Yemakh – shmoy – vezikhroy (May His Name and Remembrance Be Erased)	undated
		Scenes and vignettes adapted from poems by Itsik Feffer; stage direction by Jacob Mestel Typed, 7 pp. and 4 pp.
14	203	Feldman, M., Undzer shvue (Our Oath)	undated
		Revision of previous play Typed and glued into a notebook
14	204	Fenster, B., Yankev Sheyfer	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed, 6 pp., second copy
Box	Folder	Title	Date
14	205	Feffer, Itsik, Shotns fun varshever geto (Shadows from the Warsaw Ghetto)	1945
		Poem adapted for the stage by Jacob Mestel and retitled Di naye hagode (The New Haggadah). Manuscript, notes on printed text of Feffer's book, director's notes
14	206	Feffer, Itsik, Shotns fun varshever geto (Shadows from the Warsaw Ghetto)	1945
		Poem adapted for the stage by Jacob Mestel and retitled Di naye hagode (The New Haggadah). Manuscript, notes on printed text of Feffer's book, director's notes Manuscript and typed copy, revised, 25 pp.
14	207	Feffer, Itsik, Shotns fun varshever geto (Shadows from the Warsaw Ghetto)	undated
		Poem adapted for the stage by Jacob Mestel and retitled Di naye hagode (The New Haggadah) Typed version with director's notes, 16 pp.
14	208	Feffer, Itsik, Shotns fun varshever geto (Shadows from the Warsaw Ghetto)	undated
		Poem adapted for the stage by Jacob Mestel and retitled Di naye hagode (The New Haggadah) Typed version, 10 pp.
14	209	Feffer, Itsik, Shotns fun varshever geto (Shadows from the Warsaw Ghetto)	undated
		Poem adapted for the stage by Jacob Mestel and retitled Di naye hagode (The New Haggadah) Mimeographed version; 2 copies; and several pages for actors
14	210	Friedman, Bezalel, Amol iz geven… un s'iz gevorn andersh (Once Upon A Time… but It Has Changed)	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed, 9 pp.
14	211	Friedman, Bezalel, Fun nekhtn biz birobidzhan (From Yesterday to Birobidjan)	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Mestel Typed, 12 pp. and a director's copy with notes
14	212	Friedman, Bezalel, No pasaron (No pasarán).	undated
		Two copies, 13 pp.
14	213	Priestley, J.B., Di shtot fun morgn (The City of Tomorrow)	undated
		Translated and abridged by Natan Buchwald Typed, 18 pp.
14	214	Peretz, I.L., In polish af der keyt (Chained in the Synagogue's Anteroom)	undated
		Dramatic poem in one act, adapted for the stage by Jacob Ben-Ami Typed copy, 13 pp.
14	215	Peretz, I.L., In polish af der keyt (Chained in the Synagogue's Anteroom)	undated
		Director's copies with notes by Jacob Mestel
Box	Folder	Title	Date
15	216	Kobrin, Leon, Zayn maysterverk: Yisroels hofenung (His Masterpiece: Israel's Hope). Drama in three acts	undated
15	217	Kobrin, Leon, Tsurik tsu zayn folk (Back To His People). Adapted by Jacob Mestel	undated
		Typed copy, 36 pp., second copy
15	218	Caldwell, Erskine, Natsi bestyes (Nazi Beasts)	undated
		Typed copy, 7 pp.
15	219	Kurtz, Aaron Samuel, Automat	undated
		Typed copy, with director's notes, 10 pp.
15	220	Kushnirov, Aaron, Der urteyl kumt (The Sentence Is On Its Way)	undated
		Directed by Jacob Mestel Typed, with director's notes and corrections, 24 pp.
15	221	Rachlin, Ben, Dawn	undated
		Play in English. Typed, 4 pp.
15	222	Shapiro, Jack, In a nayes fabrikl (In A News Factory)	1935
		Mimeographed copy, with director's notes, 8 pp. (Jewish Workers' Clubs, YAC)
15	223	Shinyak, K.I., Dervakhung (Awakening)	1934
		Mimeographed copy, 3 pp.
15	224	Shinyak, K.I., Kultur a la Hitler (Culture a la Hitler).	1933
		Mimeographed copy, 3 pp.
15	225	Sholem Aleichem, A khasene af elis ayland (A Wedding at Ellis Island)	undated
		One act comedy based on Motl Peysi dem khazns (Motl Peysi the Cantor's Son), adapted by Chaver-Paver (Gershon Einbinder). Typed director's copy, 28 pp. and Motl Peysi dem khazns (Motl Peysi the Cantor's Son). Adapted by Chaver-Paver (Gershon Einbinder). Typed, 20 pp.
15	226	Sholem Aleichem, Hodl	undated
		Adapted by B. Fenster Typed, 13 pp.; second copy
15	227	Sholem Aleichem, Vakhlakhlakes	undated
		Typed 7 pp., two copies
Box	Folder	Title	Date
15	228	Sholem Aleichem, Kasrilevke restoranen (Kasrilevke Restaurants)	undated
		Dramatized by Z. Zilberzweig Typed manuscript, 5 pp. and a second version, 7 pp.
15	229	Unknown Author, Ot iz der yid ayerer (Here Is Your Jew)	1934
		Anti-Nazi play Typed, 17 pp.
15	230	Unknown Authors, Madam Gold and A kleyn shtetldiker khasene (A Provincial Wedding)	undated
		Fragment, typed copy, 13 pp. and typed, 5 p.
15	231	Unknown Authors, Teater af der provints (Theater in the Provinces)	undated
		Typed, 4 pp.
15	232	Unknown Authors, A muster fun a nit gelungenem brentsh miting (A Sample of an Unsuccessful Branch Meeting) and A gelungener miting (A Successful Meeting)	undated
		Typed, with director's notes, 9 pp. and typed, 7 pp.
15	233	Unknown Authors, Miners and Tempo, tempo	undated
		Manuscript, 5 pp. and fragment
15	234	Unknown Authors, Perish Judah and Banen (Trains).	undated
		Play in English. Mimeographed copy, 5 pp. and manuscript, 3 pp.
15	235	Unknown Authors, Untitled plays	undated
		Untitled play, manuscript, 25 pp.; Fragments of an untitled play, manuscript, 21 pp.; Untitled play, manuscript, 8 pp.; Anti-Nazi, pro-Birobidjan scene. Typed, 3 pp.

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Series III: Writings and Translations, 1915-1942.
This series is in Yiddish, English, and German.
1.8 linear feet (folders 236-286)
Arrangement: Series III is separated into five parts: A) Poetry; B) Plays; C) Essays and Articles; D) Poetry Translations; and E) Play Translations. Most materials are arranged alphabetically according to the Yiddish alphabet.
Scope and Content: Published and unpublished collections of poetry by Jacob Mestel. Plays by Jacob Mestel, including original dramas, musicals, and dramatizations of literary works by other authors. Essays, speeches and articles by Jacob Mestel, mostly about Yiddish theater or theatrical personalities. Includes several notebooks with Jacob Mestel's notes and thoughts about theater, plays and productions. Translations into Yiddish by Jacob Mestel include poetry from a variety of other languages, as well as plays, mostly from English and German. Among the plays translated are The Blossoming Peach Tree and Golden Boy by Clifford Odets and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Most of the manuscripts are undated.
A) Poetry
Box	Folder	Title	Date
16	236	Soldatn un payatsn (Soldiers and Clowns)	1928
		Poetry book, 217 pp., Farlag Bzhoshe, Warsaw
16	237	Lider (Poems)	undated
		Given to the Morgn frayhayt in 1960 by Sarah Kindman-Mestel Typed manuscript, 6 pp.
B) Plays
Box	Folder	Title	Date
16	238	Yiftakh's tokhter (Jephthah's Daughter)	1918
		Notebook also contains manuscript dramatization of Rabindranath Tagore's Der gertner (The Gardener), 11 pp. Manuscript in a notebook, 78 pp.
16	239	Der shabes goy (The Sabbath Gentile)	1938
		Notebook also includes music and stage directions for Der shtumer (The Mute) and Der dorfsyung (The Village Lad), both by Leon Kobrin Manuscript in a notebook, 20 pp.
16	240	Frade fort kyn kanade (Frade Travels to Canada)	undated
		Montage, typed, 47 pp., plus incomplete second copy
16	241	Frade fort kyn kanade (Frade Travels to Canada)	undated
		Early version Scattered pages, typed; and version with corrections
16	242	A bisl plezhur (A Little Pleasure)	undated
		Musical farce Typed, 84 pp.
C) Essays and Articles
Box	Folder	Title	Date
17	243	Di debatn fun undzer teater (Debates of Our Theater), Der galitsyaner Bismark (The Galician Bismark), and Di kultur fun shoyshpiler (The Culture of Actors)	1920s
		Three essays written by Jacob Mestel in the 1920s and rewritten at a later date by Sarah Kindman-Mestel. Di debatn fun undzer teater. Typed and handwritten manuscript, 3 pp.; Der galitsyaner Bismark. Typed manuscript, 2 pp., plus handwritten manuscript, 3 pp.; Di kultur fun shoyshpiler. Manuscript., 3 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
17	244	Yom kipur in feld (Yom Kippur in the Field) and Tsvishn poylish litvishe yidn (Between Polish-Lithuanian Jews)	undated
		Two essays from Jacob Mestel's book Milkhome notitsn fun a yidishn ofitsir (War Notes of a Jewish Military Officer) Typed, 2 pp. and 6 pp.
17	245	Yankev Adler, der nesher hagodl (Jacob Adler, The Great Eagle)	undated
		Included are also: Tsu Yankev Adler (To Jacob Adler). Typed, 1 p.; Der aktyor Yulius Adler, a ben shivim (The Actor Julius Adler, 70 years old). Typed, 2 pp. Typed, 7 pp.
17	246	Dina Halpern	undated
		Typed, 2 pp.
17	247	Di bine drame (The Stage Drama)	undated
		Also contains Konspekt vegn yidish teater (Outline 'On Yiddish Theater'). 6 pp. Typed, 31 pp.
17	248	Teater kritik (Theater Criticism)	undated
		Typed, 11 pp.
17	249	Propagande in teater (Propaganda in Theater) and Teater literatur af yidish (Theater Literature In Yiddish)	undated
		Typed, 10 pp. and typed, 11 pp.
17	250	Di naye star kombinatsies, a groyser derfolg (The New Star Combinations. A Great Success)	undated
		Typed, 2 pp.
17	251	Fuftsik yor moskver yidisher melukhe teater (Fifty Years of the Moscow Yiddish State Theater)	undated
		Typed, 8 pp.
17	252	Natan Buchvald: teater (Natan Buchwald: Theater)	undated
		Typed, 6 pp.
17	253	Tsum 10tn yortsayt nokh Perets Hirshbeyn (On the Tenth Anniversary of the Death of Peretz Hirshbein)	undated
		Typed, 9 pp.
17	254	Etlekhe shtrikhn fun Z. Vaynper (Several Characteristics of Z. Weinper)	undated
		Typed and manuscript, 6 pp.
17	255	An anglo yidishe tsaytshrift in london (An Anglo-Jewish Periodical in London)	undated
		Typed, 5 pp.
17	256	Osip Dimov iz alt gevorn 80 yor (Osip Dimov Has Turned Eighty)	undated
		Additional text by Sarah Kindman-Mestel, typed and manuscript Manuscript, 20 pp. and two typed versions
17	257	Vos iz khanike? (What Is Hanukah?)	undated
		Manuscript, 10 pp.
17	258	Speeches	undated, 1943
		Speech about Yiddish Theater. Typed, 5 pp. Speech about the Montreal Jewish People's Choir, 5 pp.
17	259	Seven radio speeches	undated
17	260	Synopses	undated
		Contains synopses of following works: Mirage (Fata Morgana) by Ernst Veyde. Typed, 1 p. Der lebediker mes (The Living Corpse) by Leo Tolstoy. Typed, 1 p. Der garde ofitsir (The Guardsman) by Franz Molnar. Typed, 1 p. Shimshon un Delile (Samson and Delilah) by Lange. Typed, 1 p.
17	261	Outline for a play about Heinrich Heine	undated
		Manuscript, 17 pp. and typed copy, 12 pp.
17	262	Der veg tsu yisroel (The Path to Israel).	undated
		A handwritten outline, 4 pp. and a typed copy, 2 pp.
17	263	Tsu der Yankev Gordin bibliografie (Addition to the Jacob Gordin Bibliography in the Lexicon of the Yiddish Theater)	undated
		A typed list, 11 pp., plus a table of contents to a book about Jacob Gordin, typed, 3 pp.
17	264	Notes and memoirs, fragmentary pages	undated
17	265	Notes on theater	undated
		Material in this folder continued in Box 18 A notebook and loose pages
17	266	Topics for articles and lectures on theater	undated
		Bundle of notes arranged by Sarah Kindman-Mestel
17	267	Leksikon fun yidishn teater (Lexicon of the Yiddish Theater)	undated
17	268	Manuscript in Polish, by Jacob Mestel.	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
18	265	Notes on theater	undated
		Continuation of Folder 265
18	265a	Lectures and notes for lecture on theater - Addendum	undated
18	265b	Lectures and notes for lecture on theater - Addendum	undated
18	265c	Lectures on theater - Addendum	undated
D) Poetry Translations
Box	Folder	Title	Date
19	269	Gedikhte oys fremde shprakhn (Poetry From Other Languages)	before 1914
		Notebook with two sections: Jewish motifs, 40 pp. and general themes, 32 pp.
19	270	Poems	undated
		Notebook, manuscript
19	271	Poems	undated
		Notebook, manuscript, including 8 loose pages
19	272	Poems	undated
		18 pp., plus 2 loose pages
E) Play Translations
Box	Folder	Title	Date
19	273	Volbehr, Lu, Drosselbart	undated
		Manuscript, 10 pp.
19	274	Odets, Clifford, Der bliendiker mandlboym (The Blossoming Peach Tree)	undated
		Typed, 131 pp.
19	275	Odets, Clifford, A goldener bokher (Golden Boy)	undated
		Typed, 104 pp.
19	276	Wolfson, Victor, Der biterer shtrom (The Bitter Stream)	undated
		Based on the novel Fantamoro by Ignatis Silana Typed, 135 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
19	277	Miller, Arthur, Der toyt fun a seylsman ( Death of a Salesman).	undated
		Typed, 201 pp., several pages missing
19	278	Miller, Arthur, Der toyt fun a seylsman (Death of a Salesman)	undated
		Second copy, entitled Der toyt fun a rayznder, 123 pp.
19	279	Levi, Melvin, Der gold odler (Gold Eagle Guy)	undated
		Typed, 126 pp.
19	280	Krutshkovski, Leon, Di familye Zonenbrukh (The Zonenbrukh Family)	undated
		Translated from German
Box	Folder	Title	Date
20	281	Regan, Sylvia, Der morgn shtern (The Morning Star)	undated
		Typed, 88 pp., with notes
Box	Folder	Title	Date
20	282	Kingsley, Sidney. Detective Story	undated
		Typed copy, 143 pp.
20	283	Sherwood, Robert A. Abe Lincoln In Illinois	undated
		Typed copy with notes, 140 pp.
20	284	Zweig, Arnold, Dem sotns shlikhes (Satan's Errand)	undated
		Manuscript, 94 pp.
20	285	Zweig, Arnold, Dem sotns shlikhes (Satan's Errand)	undated
		Revised copy for the Federal Theater Project, WPA. Translated as The Calling of Samaels, 60 pp.
20	286	Zweig, Stefan, Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah)	1915-1918
		Includes lists of plays Manuscript in notebook, 23 pp.

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Series IV: Production and Director's Materials, undated, 1940-1958.
This series is in Yiddish.
1.2 linear feet (folders 287-322)
Arrangement: Alphabetical by Yiddish title of the play.
Scope and Content: This series includes scripts with Jacob Mestel's stage direction notes, prop and set design notes, and role scripts for individual parts. Many scripts refer to plays mentioned in Series II. Most of the materials in this series are undated.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
21	287	Der oytser (The Treasure), by David Pinsky	undated
		Stage script, manuscript not in Jacob Mestel's handwriting, 22 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
21	288	Der oytser (The Treasure), by David Pinsky	undated
		Role scripts, typed
21	289	Der oytser (The Treasure), by David Pinsky	undated
		Role scripts, manuscript
21	290	Der oytser (The Treasure), by David Pinsky.	undated
		Role scripts, transliterated, manuscript
21	291	Der oytser (The Treasure), by David Pinsky	undated
		Role scripts, typed copies with cues
21	292	Abraham Lincoln by Khaykovski	1941
		Manuscript, notebook, 16 pp.
21	293	Abraham Lincoln by Khaykovski	1941
		Role scripts, typed and manuscript, plus one notebook manuscript
21	294	Oyf di zamdn in negev (In the Sands of the Negev), by Yigal Masenzon	undated
		Stage designs, props and directions for English language production (in English) and a Yiddish clipping from the newspaper Der tog about the play
21	295	Oyf di zamdn in negev (In the Sands of the Negev), by Yigal Masenzon	undated
		Yiddish role scripts, typed, with cues
21	296	Der ashmeday (Asmodeus), by Leonid Andreyev	undated
		Translated by M. Katz, New York, 1909 Printed play with director's notes and corrections, 130 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
22	297	Bam toyer (At The Gate)	undated
		Based on Beynish Shteyman's plays Bam toyer, Meshiakh ben Yoysef and Dos royte kind Manuscript, notebook, director's copy, stage designs and directions, 45 pp.
22	298	Beser nisht geborn vern (Better Not To Be Born), by David Pinsky	undated
		Consists of pages 157-218 of Pinsky's book Dramen (Dramas), NY, 1918 Manuscript with notes, directions and corrections by Jacob Mestel
22	299	Goldfaden spektakl (Goldfaden Spectacle)	undated
		Montage by Jacob Mestel Stage scenario. Two notebooks, manuscript
22	300	Goldfaden revi (Goldfaden Revue)	undated
		Montage put together by Jacob Mestel and Moyshe Shifrin Stage text, director's copy, manuscript and typed, 13 pp.
22	301	Goldfaden revi (Goldfaden Revue)	undated
		Role scripts, program notes, manuscript
22	302	Goldfaden revi (Goldfaden Revue)	undated
		Mimeographed songs in English transliteration, 7 pp.
22	303	Goldfaden revi (Goldfaden Revue). Music for piano (from Shulamis and Di kishefmakhern (The Witch), manuscript.	undated
22	304	A khasene af elis ayland (A Wedding on Ellis Island)	undated
		Adapted by Chaver-Paver (Gershon Einbinder) from Sholem Aleichem's Motl Peysi dem khazns (Motl Peysi the Cantor's Son) Role scripts, stage directions, director's notes
Box	Folder	Title	Date
22	305	Di takse (The Meat Tax)	undated
		Adapted by Jacob Metsel from Mendele Manuscript stage directions, typed director's copy, 51 pp.
22	306	Tur program (Tour Program)	undated
		Stage directions, manuscript
Box	Folder	Title	Date
22	307	Yid Zis (Jud Suss), based on the novel by L. Feuchtwanger	undated
		Stage scenario by Jacob Mestel Manuscript, notebook, 14 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
23	308	Der nes in geto (The Miracle in the Ghetto), by H. Leivick	undated
		Radio play, includes an introduction and radio interview Role scripts in Yiddish, stage directions in English
23	309	Frade fort in kanade (Frade Travels to Canada)	undated
		Montage by Jacob Mestel Scenario, manuscript, 2 notebooks
23	310	Frade fort in kanade (Frade Travels to Canada)	undated
		Director's text
23	311	Frade fort in kanade (Frade Travels to Canada) - Second version	undated
23	312	Frade fort in kanade (Frade Travels to Canada) - Songs for the choir	undated
		Transliterated into English
23	313	Frade fort in Kanade (Frade Travels to Canada) - Props and costume notes	undated
23	314	Der farkishefter nign (The Enchanted Melody), by I. Kalmanovitch	undated
		Scenario, manuscript, notebook, 40 pp.
23	315	Der farkishefter nign (The Enchanted Melody), by I. Kalmanovitch - Director's notes	undated
23	316	Der farkishefter nign (The Enchanted Melody), by I. Kalmanovitch	undated
		Role script, two versions, typed
23	317	Frayhayt yubiley (Freedom Celebration). By Adolf Wolf (Itche Goldberg)	1940
		Performed in Carnegie Hall Working script in Yiddish, typed; director's notes in English, typed, 7 pp.
23	318	Frayhayt yubiley (Freedom Celebration, here called "Frayhayt spektakl")	undated
		Three script copies, mimeographed; stage directions in English; and transliterated songs for choir
23	319	Kleyner yid: Borukh (The Unimportant Jew: Borukh), by Jacob Mestel (?)	undated
		Notebook manuscript, 20 pp.
23	320	Kristi strit, ist brodvey, yunyon skver (Christie Street, East Broadway, Union Square)	undated
		Scenes from the Frayhayt editorial offices Working script, manuscript. 12 pp., typed 9 pp.
23	321	Romants af di pipl (Romance of the People) - Director's copy	undated
		Notebook, manuscript, 36 pp.
23	322	Role scripts	undated
		Various role scripts from theatrical roles that Jacob Mestel played: On a heym - Yakov Alkhonen, Filip Weiss Der dibuk, Tsveyter batlen Hershele Ostropolyer: First little Jewish man Yosele Solovey: Isaac Shadkhen Yoshe Kalb: Reb Meyerl, Mekhele Sukses: Dr. Hirik Pritshet A farvorfn vinkl: Tudrim Shaylak un zayn tokhter: Stefano 3 unknown roles

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Series V: Miscellaneous Theater Materials, 1934-1945.
This series is in Yiddish and English.
0.4 linear feet (folders 323-350)
Arrangement: Most materials are arranged alphabetically according to the Yiddish alphabet.
Scope and Content: This series includes primarily materials from Jacob Mestel's years as director and instructor of the Artef Studio in the 1920s and 1930s in New York. Materials include course notes and outlines for classes in dramatics, makeup, diction, directing, and other topics. Folder 323 contains an article about Artef clipped from an unnamed English-language theater magazine (1934). Also included in this series are various theater programs and announcements, mostly from New York theaters, with a few programs from Canada and South America.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
24	323	Artef materials	undated, 1934-1937
		Includes circulars, clippings and announcements. Noteworthy is a 1934 article about Artef in an English-language theater magazine
24	324	Artef Studio	1935-1936
		Student rosters
24	325	Artef Studio	1936-1937
		Student rosters in Yiddish and English
24	326	Artef Studio	1944
		Notes for courses on diction and recitation by Jacob Mestel Typed, 19 pp.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
24	327	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes for recitation Typed, 25 pp.
24	328	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes for diction, introduction by Jacob Mestel Typed, 30 pp.
24	329	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes for makeup by Jacob Mestel Typed, 19 pp., two copies
24	330	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes for dramatics by Jacob Mestel Manuscript, two notebooks, 28 pp.
24	331	Artef Studio	1937
		Notes for dramatics Notebook, manuscript, 16 pp.
24	332	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes for dramatics Typed, 6 pp., manuscript, 8 pp.
24	333	Artef Studio	undated
		Notes on the basic principles of the Stanislavski system Manuscript, 2 pp.
24	334	Artef Studio	1934
		Outline for directing class. Jacob Mestel, instructor Mimeographed, 6 pp.
24	335	Artef Studio	undated
		Miscellaneous materials, including music manuscript
24	336	Theater projects	undated
		Plan to organize a people's theater Resolutions of the theater panel Outline on Yiddish theater by Jacob Mestel Three memoranda on the WPA Jewish theater project Mimeographed, 8 pp.
24	337	Leksikon fun yidishn teater (Lexicon of the Yiddish Theater) - Financial reports and materials for the third volume	1943-1945
24	338	National concert tour, under the sponsorship of the Jewish Fraternal People's Order	undated
		Time plan and receipts
24	339	Theaters in New York and Connecticut - Theater programs	undated
24	340	South American theater - Theater programs	undated
24	341	Yidish Folks Teater (Jewish People's Theater) - Theater programs	undated
24	342	Yidisher Kunst Teater (Yiddish Art Theater), New York - Theater programs	undated
24	343	Neighborhood Playhouse, New York - Theater programs	undated
24	344	English language theaters - Theater programs	undated
24	345	Carnegie Hall - Theater programs	undated
24	346	Canadian Yiddish theaters - Theater programs	undated
24	347	Theater flyers and cards	undated
24	348	Lists of Yiddish actors	undated
24	349	Lists of theater articles by Jacob Mestel	undated
		Manuscript by Sarah Kindman-Mestel
24	350	Lists of plays in Jacob Mestel's possession	undated
		Manuscript and typed

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Series VI: Clippings, undated, 1920-1957.
This series is in Yiddish. Some documents are in Portuguese.
2.4 linear feet (folders 351-430)
Arrangement: This series is organized into four parts: A) Notebooks , B) Writings, C) About Jacob Mestel, D) Theater, and E) Reviews of Specific Theater Performances. The original Yiddish finding aid (1983) arranged clippings about Mestel's writings alphabetically by title of publication, according to the Yiddish alphabet. This English finding aid reflects this arrangement and lists the romanized transliterations of Yiddish titles.
Scope and Content: Series VI: Clippings holds newspaper and journal clippings about Jacob Mestel and his work. It includes clippings concerning Jacob Mestel's writings, biographical clippings about him, clippings about the theater, and about specific theater performances. In addition, it holds two notebooks filled with clippings of Jacob Mestel's writings and articles about him.
A) Notebooks
Box	Folder	Title	Date
25	351	Newspaper clippings	1909-1917
		Notebook with glued-in of Jacob Mestel's writings printed in newspapers and journals, including: Lemberger togblat, Yidisher folkskalendar, Yunge klangen (New York, N.Y.), Beys yisroel. Clippings include poems, essays and articles published under Mestel's own name as well as under the pen name Y.M. Kamilo. 99 pp.
25	352	Newspaper clippings	1906-1910
		Includes poems and essays by Jacob Mestel as well as articles about him as a poet Notebook with glued-in clippings from newspapers and journals, 74 pp.
B) Writings
Box	Folder	Title	Date
25	353	O Reflexo (São Paolo, Brazil) No. 10, December 1949, p. 10	1949
		Jewish journal published in Portuguese
25	354	Af der vakh (Israel) October 3, 1955, p. 6	1955
25	355	Undzer vort	1945-1947
25	356	Undzer fraynd July 18, 1939.	1939
25	357	Eynikayt September-October 1946	1946
25	358	Der aktyor (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	undated
25	359	Haynt (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	1948-1949
25	360	Vokhnblat (Toronto, Canada)	1944
25	361	Der veg (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	1947-1948
25	362	Togblat No. 63	undated
25	363	Lemberger togblat	undated
25	364	Yidishe prese (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)	1931
Box	Folder	Title	Date
26	365	Yidishe kultur	undated
26	366	Yidisher rekord	1920
26	367	Los angeles yidisher buletin	undated
26	368	Literarishe bleter (Warsaw, Poland) Nos. 1, 3, 35, 50, 71, 134	1925-1936
26	369	Morgn zhurnal [MISSING FROM FOLDER]	1944
Box	Folder	Title	Date
26	370	Morgn frayhayt	1925-1953
26	371	Nyu yorker vokhnblat	1935
26	372	Nay lebn	1941-1942
26	373	Naye tsaytn (Vienna, Austria)	1924
26	374	Nayer morgn	undated
26	375	Di prese (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	1937-1957
26	376	Der forverts	1920-1925
26	377	Di feder	undated
26	378	Frayvelt (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	1949
26	379	Kultur	1925-1926
26	380	Keneder odler (Montreal, Canada)	undated
26	381	Der shpigl (Buenos Aires, Argentina)	1936
26	382	Various clippings	undated
C) About Jacob Mestel
Box	Folder	Title	Date
27	383	Biographical materials	1923-1953
27	384	Jubilee materials	1954
27	385	Undzer teater - Reviews	1943-1944
27	386	Ot geyt a mentsh- Review translated from German by Jacob Mestel	undated
27	387	Dimyoynes - Reviews	1923
27	388	Vita khayved - Reviews	undated
27	389	Lukretsyas toyt - Reviews	1936-1942
27	390	Milkhome notitsn fun a yidishn ofitsir - Reviews	1925-1938
27	391	Soldatn un payatsn - Reviews	1931
27	392	Reviews in the South American press	1931-1936
27	393	Various clippings	undated
D) Theater
Box	Folder	Title	Date
28	394	Argentina - Articles about Jacob Mestel's performances	1931-1942
Box	Folder	Title	Date
28	395	Artef - Scrapbook	undated, 1937
28	396	Yidisher Teater Ansemble	1957
28	397	Yidish Ordn Trupe	1953
28	398	Yiddish Films	undated, 1933-1949
28	399	Yiddish Art Theater	undated, 1929-1930
28	400	Leksikon fun yidishn teater	1931-1935
28	401	Performances in English-language theater and films	undated, 1953-1957
28	402	Canada - Performances
Box	Folder	Title	Date
29	403	Buenos Aires and South America - Performances	1931-1934
Box	Folder	Title	Date
29	404	Buenos Aires and South America - Performances	1930s
29	405	Buenos Aires and South America - Performances	1930s
29	406	Buenos Aires and South America - Performances	1930s
E) Reviews of Specific Theater Performances
Box	Folder	Title	Date
30	407	Der oytser (The Treasure), David Pinsky	1936
30	408	Der urteyl (The Judgement), Sophia Levitina	1934
30	409	Der opgenarter khosn (The Fooled Bridegroom), Osip Dimov	1932
30	410	Ba tate mames tish (At Mom and Dad's Table), Nachum Stutchkov	1938
30	411	Di goldgrebers (The Gold Diggers), Sholem Aleichem	undated
30	412	Goldfaden spektakl (Goldfaden Spectacle)	1944
30	413	Gerekhtikayt (Justice), John Galsworthy	1927
30	414	Detektiv stori (Detective Story), Sidney Kingsley	1952
30	415	Vakh oyf un zing (Wake Up and Sing), Clifford Odets	1939
30	416	Khaver Nakhman (Friend Nakhman), I.J. Singer	1939
30	417	Zekhtsik toyznt giboyrim (Sixty Thousand Heroes), Benjamin Ressler	1935
30	418	Yosele Solovey (Joseph the Nightingale), Sholem Aleichem	1949
30	419	Di kishefmakhern fun kastilye (The Witch of Castilia), Sholem Asch	1930
30	420	Der luftmentsh (Unemployed), S. Yushkovitsh	1925
30	421	Dos lebn geyt on (Life Goes On), H. Kalmanovitch	1940
30	422	Der man mitn portfel (The Man with the Portfolio), Alexei Fiako	1931
30	423	Mekhutonim (In-Laws), Chana Gottesfeld	1935
30	424	Nes fun geto (The Miracle in the Ghetto), H. Leivick	1944
30	425	Dem tsadiks nesie (The Rabbi's Journey), H. Seckler	1926
30	426	Parnose (A Living), Chana Gottesfeld	1935
30	427	Di familye Zolenbrik (The Family Zolenbrik), Leon Krichcovski	1950
30	428	Der farkishefter nign (The Enchanted Melody), H. Kalmanovitch	1951
30	429	Kol Yisroel (The Voice of Israel), A. Gitner	1948
30	430	Shap (Shop), H. Leivick	1926

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Series VII: Personal Materials, 1910-1958.
This series is in Yiddish and English.
0.3 linear feet (folders 431-447)
Scope and Content: Personal documents, membership cards, greeting cards, financial papers, condolences.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
31	431	Correspondence	undated, 1911, 1916, 1955
		Includes postcards; notebook; and typed biography of Jacob Mestel for Who's Who in World Jewry
31	432	Correspondence and military documents	1914-1918
31	433	Identity documents and other official papers	1919-1920
31	434	Documents - Austria	1924
31	435	Documents - United States	1930, 1938, 1944-1955
31	436	Documents - Employment	1924-1957
31	437	Documents - Enemployment	1946-1953
31	438	Works Progress Administration (WPA)	1938-1939
		Application for employment with the WPA and documents relating to WPA projects
31	439	Production and performance contracts	1924-1954
		Yiddish Art Theatre to perform in Vienna, 1924 Jacob Mestel directs Toronto Jewish Folk Choir, 1948 Jacob Mestel's television appearances on The Goldbergs, 1952 Actors' Equity Association contract for Sands in the Negev
31	440	Membership cards	1910-1950
31	441	Receipts	1924-1947
		Includes receipts from hotel, clothing store; and also a certificate of investment in Jewish National Fund (Vienna, Austria)
31	442	Travel documents	1931, 1936, 1941-1944
		Passports, official permissions to travel, ship papers for trips to Argentina and Canada
31	443	Greeting cards	1950s
31	444	Get well cards	1956-1957
31	445	Telegrams and greetings for theatrical openings	1938-1957
31	446	Greeting letters and telegrams	1954
		Jacob Mestel's 70th birthday and 50 years of theatrical activity
31	447	Obituaries for Jacob Mestel and condolence letters	1958

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Series VIII: The Papers of Sarah Kindman-Mestel, 1932-1957.
Most of this series is in Yiddish.
0.1 linear feet (folders 448-449a)
Scope and Content: This series includes Sarah Kindman-Mestel's personal and professional documents, manuscripts and writings, theater programs and articles about Jacob Mestel. Sarah Kindman-Mestel's personal documents include professionally-related items as membership cards and contracts. Among her writings are poems, essays, and translations.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
31	448	Membership cards, contracts	1932-1952
31	449	Manuscripts and writings	undated
		Poems, essays, translations; handwritten and typed
31	449a	Theatre programs and articles about Jacob Mestel	undated, 1943, 1957
		Contains list of Jacob Mestel's correspondence prepared by Sarah Kindman-Mestel

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Series IX: Photographs, 1920s-1950s.
This Series is in Yiddish.
1.6 linear feet (folders 450-540)
Arrangement: Each photograph has been assigned a sub-series number, from #1-#301, shown here in parantheses. The original 1982 finding aid included photos #1-#226, and the rest of the photos were added to the catalog. The series is arranged by category as follows: A) Prominent actors in scenes from plays (#1-#116); B) Troupes and ensembles (#117-#141); C) Scenes from performances (#142-#198); D) Miscellaneous group photos and unidentified scenes (#199-#226); E) Portraits of actors, playwrights, and other theater figures (#227-#279); F) Additional photos of actors in scenes from plays (#280-#301). This series is also indexed in YIVO's Stagepix database.
Scope and Content: Includes 301 photographs collected by Jacob Mestel, with his Yiddish language descriptions on the back of each photograph, usually undated. Most of the photos are of the New York Yiddish theater in the 1930s-1950s, though there are a few photos which may date from the 1920s. Few photographs include Jacob Mestel. The bulk of the photos feature actors and ensembles performing scenes from plays. Folder 523 contains over 40 portraits or 'headshots' of actors and other theater figures, including playwrights Jacob Gordin and Abraham Goldfaden.
A) Photographs of Actors in Performances
Box	Folder	Title	Date
32	450	Moyshe Oysher	undated
		in unidentified performances (#1-4) in the film Dem khazns zandl (The Cantor's Son) (#5)
32	451	Alexander Olshenetsky and Bella Meisel (#6)	undated
32	452	Joseph Buloff and Luba Kadison in Yoshke fort avek (Yoshke Is Leaving) (#7)	undated
32	453	Pesach (Paul) Burstein (#8-9)	undated
32	454	Leon Blank and Betty Frank in Mayn meydele (My Little Girl) (#10)	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
32	455	Yehuda Bleich and Max Rosenthal (#11)	undated
32	456	Nathan Goldberg (#12)	undated
		with Lucy Finkel (#13) with Lucy Finkel, Rose Goldberg (#14) with Rose Goldberg, David Rogow, M. Bloch (#15)
32	457	Rose Goldberg in Mirele Efros (#16)	undated
32	458	Jenny Goldstein (#17-21)	undated
		with Max Gabel (#22)
32	459	J. Gladstone (Izak) in Bond Baker's Troubadours (advertisement) (#23)	undated
32	460	Max Gabel	undated
		in Der goylem (The Golem) (#24) in Mamon der gelt got (Mamon The Money God) (#25) in Der kenig (The King) (#26) Max Gabel (#27)
32	461	Lucy Gehrman	undated
		in Tsipke (#28) in Di shtifmame (The Stepmother) (#29)
32	462	Chayele Grober (#30)	undated
32	463	George Jessel	undated
		with Shirley Booth in War Song (#31) with Shirley Booth in War Song (#32) with Tom McClay in War Song (#33) with Clara Lingener in War Song (#34) with Mayor Mackey of Philadelphia pose with American flags (#35)
32	464	Jennie Valliere in Di tentserin (The Dancer) (#36)	undated
32	465	Lilian Lux (#37-38)	undated
32	466	Aaron Lebedeff	undated
		with Itzchok Feld in A khasene af der istsayd (A Wedding on the Lower East Side) (#39-41) with Leon Blank in Dem tatns zandele (The Father's Son) (#42) in Mendl in Yapan (#43) with various actors (#44-51)
32	467	Aaron Lebedeff and Molly Picon (#52-53)	undated
32	468	Mikhel Mikhalesko	undated
		in Zayn letster tants (His Last Dance) (#54) with Bella Meisel (#55) with various actors (#56-57)
32	469	Mikhel Mikhalesko	undated
		in Ikh vil a kind (I Want A Child) (#58-59) with Bella Meisel and other performers (#60-62)
32	470	Jacob Mestel	undated, 1953
		in A hoyz af grend strit (A House On Grand Street) (#63) with Jacob Ben-Ami and Berta Gerstein in Yegor Bulitshev (#63a)
32	471	Julius Nathanson	undated
		in Der kleyner mazik (The Little Brat) (#64) with Goldie Eisman (#65)
32	472	Sholom Secunda (#66-68)	undated
32	473	Muni Serebrov (#69-70)	undated
32	474	Menashe Skulnick	undated
		in Fishl der gerotener (Fishl the Talented) (#71-73) in unidentified roles (#74-76) with Mikhel Mikhalesko (#77) with others (#78-83)
32	475	Molly Picon	undated
		in Dos fidele (The Little Fiddle) (#84) in Emese libe (True Love) (#85) Molly Picon (#86-87) in Dos tsirk meydl (The Circus Girl) (#88-89) in Tsigaynerin (Gypsy Woman) (#90) in Khoristkes (Chorus Girls) (#91) Molly Picon (#92-93)
32	476	Molly Picon and Muni Serebrov in Dos radio meydl (Radio Girl) (#94)	undated
32	477	Fayvil Finkel (#95)	undated
32	478	Itzchok Feld (#96)	undated
		with Dina Halpern in Lebn zol amerike (Long Live America) (#97) with Henrietta Jacobson (#98)
32	479	Betty Frank (#99)	undated
32	480	Miriam Kressyn (#100)	undated
32	481	Samuel Rosenstein (#102)	undated
32	482	Jack Rechtzeit in Goldene glikn (Golden Fortunes) (#103)	undated
32	483	Maurice Schwartz	undated, 1930
		in Uncle Moses(#104) in Esterke(#105) in Blondzhende shtern (Vagabond Stars) (#106) in Dr. Hertsl (#107) in Shaylak (#108-112) in unidentified play (#113) with Mirele Gruber (#114) in Di mishpokhe Karnovski (The Family Carnovsky) (#115)
32	484	Sadie Sheyngold in Di kabaretn tentser (The Cabaret Dancer) (#116)	undated
B) Photographs of Theatre Troupes
Box	Folder	Title	Date
32	485	Gabel's Public Theater	1929-1930, 1952
		Gabel's Public Theater - Season 1929-1930 (#117) Yidishe Lilipyutn Teater (Yiddish Midget Theater), Haifa, Palestine Includes explanatory letter from R. Brownstein (1952) (#118-119) Lyric Theater Group, includes Max Wilner, Annie Lieben, Misha Fishman, Chana Hollander, Isidore Hollander (#120)
32	486	Second Avenue Theater Troupe in Tsigayner meydl (Gypsy Girl) (#121)	undated
32	487	Folksbiene Theater, NY:	undated
		Yosl der fidler (Joel The Fiddler) on a postcard (#122) Active members, including David Licht and Chairman D. Levin (#123) Kampf farn negev (The Battle for Negev) (1953) (#124) Khasene in fernvald (Wedding in Fernwald) (#125) Khasene in fernvald with Morris Adler (#126) Khasene in fernvald with Morris Adler and Shimon Luks (#127) Khasene in fernvald with Morris Adler and Chaim Zayner (#128) Khasene in fernvald with Chaim Zayner (#129) Khasene in fernvald with B. Fayvlovitch and others (#130) Khasene in fernvald with Rini Spector (#131-132)
32	488	Frayhayt Dramatishe Studio (Frayhayt Dramatic Studio) (#133)	undated
32	489	Aktyorn Kolektiv (Actors' Collective) (Bucharest, Romania)	undated
		Cast of Goldfadens kholem (Goldfaden's Dream), with composer Haim Schwartzman, director Iso Schapira, director Franz Auerbach and Israel Bercovici (#134)
32	490	Bukarester Yidisher Teater (Bucharest Jewish Theater) (Bucharest, Romania)	undated
		Includes actors Moishe Zigler and Sevilla Pastor (#135-141)
C) Photographs of Theatrical Performances
Box	Folder	Title	Date
33	491	Di untervelt (The Underworld) with Nathan Goldberg, Rose Goldberg, Julius Michaelson (Mayklson) (#142)	undated
Box	Folder	Title	Date
33	492	Urteyl (The Judgement)	undated
		Jacob Ben-Ami and Berta Gerstein (#143) Berta Gerstein and S. Bodin (#144) Berta Gerstein and others (#145) Red Army group (#146)
33	493	Goldele dem beykers (Golde the Baker's) with Bella Meisel and troupe (#147)	undated
33	494	The Diary of Anne Frank	undated
		Joseph Schildkraut (#148) Joseph Schildkraut and Susan Strassberg (#149) Susan Strassberg (#150)
33	495	Death of A Salesman with Arthur Kennedy and others (#151-152)	undated
33	496	Dray neytorins (Three Seamstresses) by I.L. Peretz with Luba Kadison, Nadya Neroslawska, Rose Zhelazo (#153)	undated
33	497	Dray kales (Three Brides) with Leon Blank and others (#154)	undated
33	498	Ver iz shuldik (Who Is Guilty)	undated
		Pesach Burstein and others (#155-156) The Hopkinson Theater Troupe (#157)
33	499	Der zeygermakher fun pariz (The Watchmaker from Paris) by Shalom Schwarzbard	undated
		Performance in Łodż with Alexander Granach and others (#158-159) Alexander Granach and Henreich (#160)
33	500	Bay tate mames tish (At The Parents' Table) (#161)	undated
33	501	Yoshe Kalb with Boris Weiner and Uri Kagan (#162)	undated
33	502	Yoshke muzikant (Yoshke the Musician) by Osip Dimov	1924-1930
		Vilna Troupe with Luba Kadison, Joseph Buloff, Leah Nemi (#163)
33	503	Der yidisher general (The Jewish General) - Group photo (#164)	undated
33	504	Di yidishe shikse (The Jewish Gentile Girl)	undated
		Group photo with Vera Rosanka and Yisroel Rozenberg (#165)
33	505	Di kale fun sofolk strit (The Bride from Suffolk Street)	undated
		Rose Goldberg (#166) Henrietta Jacobson (#167) Rosa Halpern and Bella Segal (#168) Moyshe Ber Solomon (#169) Yetta Tsverling (#170) Jacob Jacobs (#171) Abraham Teitelbaum and Rose Goldberg (#172)
33	506	Khelemer khakhomim (The Wise Men of Chelm) by Aaron Zeitlin. Yiddish Art Theater (#173)	undated
33	507	Der nes fun geto (The Miracle in the Warsaw Ghetto) by H. Leivick	undated
		with Jacob Ben-Ami (#174)
33	508	Farlangt a khosn (Desires A Husband) by Samuel Kahn	undated
		Nathan Goldberg and Lucy Finkel (#181) Peter Graf and Mildred Block (#182) Peter Graf and group (#183) Pesach Burstein and group (#184) Peter Graf, Pesach Burstein and group (#185) Nathan Goldberg, Peter Graf and group (#186) Group scenes (#187-188)
33	509	Tsvey hertser (Two Hearts) by Chaim Tauber	undated
		Rosa Valenshteyn and Micky Marks (#189) Chaim Tauber and Hershl Bernardi (#190) Rosa Valenshteyn, Chaim Tauber and others (#191) Finale (#192)
33	510	Tsvey Shvester (Two Sisters) by Leon Kobrin
		with Boris Tomashevsky, Bessie Tomashevsky, Leon Kobrin, Bina Abramovitch and others (#193)
33	511	Der kamf far a mamen (The Struggle for a Mother)	undated
		Jenny Goldstein and others (#194-195) Penny Labritsky, Yoysef Teyngold and others (#196)
33	512	Der tilim yid (Salvation) by Sholem Asch	undated
		Isidore Keshir, Gustav Shakht, and a dog (#197) Isidore Keshir, Leon Fuchs, Chana Apel, Mark Schweid (#198)
D) Miscellaneous Photos
Box	Folder	Title	Date
33	513	Artef "tuer" (activists),	1926
		Including Natan Buchwald, Jacob Mestel, Moyshe Nadir (#199)
33	514	Group photos	undated
		Nathan Goldberg, Jacob Jacobson, Samuel Goldenburg, Louis Freiman, Isidore Lash (#200) Nathan Goldberg, Samuel Goldenburg, Jacob Jacobson (#201) Ilya Trilling, Louis Freiman, Louis Markovitch (#202) Sholom Secunda, Louis Freiman (#203) Menashe Skulnick, Lili Liliana, Miriam Kressyn, Yetta Tsverling (#204) Louis Freiman, Lilian Lux (#205)
33	515	Unidentified scenes	undated
		Includes Florence Weiss, Boris Rosenthal (#206) Florence Weiss, Moyshe Feder (#207) Samuel Steinberg, Nellie Casman, Florence Weiss (#208) Louis Weiss, Florence Weiss, Henrietta Jacobson (#209)
33	516	Unidentified scenes	undated
		Includes Max Wilner and Eti Libin (#210) Jenny Goldstein (#211) Irving Grossman (#212) Dave Lugritsky (#213) Jacob Jacobson, Yetta Tsverling (#214)
33	517	Unidentified scenes with Molly Picon, Lucy Levine, Mikhel Mikhalesko, and chorus line (#215-217)	undated
33	518	Unidentified scene	undated
		Includes Wolf Barzel and Sholem Tanen (#218) The Vilna Troupe in revue Yidl mitn fidl (Yidl with the Fiddle). Includes Sholem Tanen, Leyb Kadison, Moyshe Feffer, Boris Weiner, Noyekh Nakhbush (#219)
33	519	Unidentified scenes and actors (#220-221)	undated
33	520	Advertisement for an unidentified Yiddish film, with comedy team Smith & Dale and George Sidney (#222)	undated
33	521	Interiors of the Public Theater, NY (#223-226)	undated
E) Portraits of Actors, Playwrights, and Other Theater Figures
Box	Folder	Title	Date
34	522	Molly Picon	undated
		in Yidl mitn fidl (Yidl With His Fiddle) (1936) (#227) Molly Picon (tinted) (#228)
34	523	Portraits of actors, playwrights and other theater personalities	undated
		Samuel Rotafdel (Roxy) (#233) Michael Saks (#234) Morris Simonoff (#229) Sholem Shmulowitz (#230) Joseph Shengold (#231) Jacob Hochstein (#232) Edwin Relkin, producer and manager of the Yiddish Art Theater (#235) Haim-Mayer Segalescu and his unidentified bride (#236) Zaydel Helman (#239) Jacob Mestel, 1916-1944 including one in uniform of the Austro-Hungarian army (#241-246) Sore Skulnik (#247) M.B. Samuylow (#248) Elias Rothstein (#249) Sally Weisenfreund (#250) Charles Nathanson (#251) Max Rosenthal (#252) Jacob Kalich and Molly Picon (husband and wife) (#253) Solomon Krause (#254) Joseph Kessler (#255) Lucy Levine (#256) Samuel Steinberg (#257) Wolf Shumsky (#258) Boris Rosenthal (#259) David Belasco (#260) Louis Goldberg (#261) Sam Goldberg (#262) David Baratz (#263) Joseph Buloff (#264) Misha Gehrman (#265) Itsikl Goldenberg (#266) Leon Blank (#267) Max Bulman (#268) Lucy Finkel (#269) Abraham Goldfaden, playwright (#270) Yekhiel Goldshmit (#271) Jacob Goldstein (#272) Wolf Goldfaden (#273) Jacob Gordin, playwright (#274) Misha Fishzon (#275) Alexander Granach (#276-279)
F) Additional Photos of Actors in Scenes from Plays
Box	Folder	Title	Date
34	524	Abraham Teitelbaum in Di kale fun sofolk strit(#280)	undated
34	525	Jacob Ben-Ami, Jacob Mestel and Abraham Teitelbaum in scenes from the film Der vanderer yid (The Wandering Jew) [missing] (#281-282)	1933
34	526	Jacob Mestel in the Yiddish film Uncle Moses (#283)	1930
34	527	Lazar Freed in Yoshe Kalb (#284); Maurice Schwartz in Yoshe Kalb (#285)	1932-1933
34	528	Maurice Schwartz in Shaylak (#286)	1920-1921
34	529	Maurice Schwartz and other performers in Shabse tsvi (Shabbetai Zvi) (#287-290)	1923
34	530	Maurice Schwartz in Kidush hashem (#291)
34	531	Maurice Schwartz in Shver tsu zayn a yid (Hard To Be A Jew) (#292)	1953
34	532	Maurice Schwartz in Khelemer khakhomim (The Wise Men of Chelm) (#293)	1933-1934
34	533	Maurice Schwartz in Di brider ashkenazi (The Brothers Ashkenazi). Reproduction of a pencil portrait by A. Bilis. (#294)	1937
34	534	Jacob Mestel in Der tayster (The Purse) (#295)	1931
34	535	Jacob Mestel in Jud Suss (Jew Suss) (#296)	1929-1930
34	536	Ludwig Satz, Edmund Zayenda, Ola Lilith in Ven di zun geyt oyf (When the Sun Rises) (#297)	undated
34	537	Maurice Schwartz, Samuel Goldenburg, Jacob Ben-Ami in Ver is ver (Who is Who) (#298)	1938-1939
34	539	Cast portrait of the cast of Der tilim yid (Salvation), Yiddish Art Theater (#299)	1939
34	538	Morris Feder, Rose Zhelazo (#300)	undated
34	540	Maurice Schwartz (#301)	undated

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Guide to the Papers of Jacob Mestel (1884-1958)1910-1958RG 280

Processed by Solomon Rabinowitz and Itzik Gottesman

YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

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Center for Jewish History, Publisher.

Machine-readable finding aid was created by Donna Gallers as MS Word file in October 2002. Electronic finding aid was converted to EAD 2002 by Dianne Ritchey Oummia in January 2004. Description is in English.

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Series I: Correspondence, 1932-1957.

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Correspondence of Jacob Mestel to Sarah Kindman-Mestel

Correspondence of Sarah Kindman-Mestel to Jacob Mestel

Series II: Collected Plays, 1930s-1950s.

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Series III: Writings and Translations, 1915-1942.

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Series IV: Production and Director's Materials, undated, 1940-1958.

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Series V: Miscellaneous Theater Materials, 1934-1945.

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Series VI: Clippings, undated, 1920-1957.

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A) Notebooks

B) Writings

C) About Jacob Mestel

D) Theater

E) Reviews of Specific Theater Performances

Series VII: Personal Materials, 1910-1958.

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Series VIII: The Papers of Sarah Kindman-Mestel, 1932-1957.

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Series IX: Photographs, 1920s-1950s.

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Guide to the Papers of Jacob Mestel (1884-1958)
1910-1958

RG 280