Collection Summary

Title

Krauskopf, Joseph Papers

Dates
1858-1925      

Collection ID
Acc. 98

Creator
Krauskopf, Joseph, 1858-1923

Quantity
25 linear feet (43 boxes)

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English

           

Detailed Collection Information

Biographical Note

Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf was one of the most prominent American rabbis of his day. Noted for his dynamic preaching and his firm stance on social justice, Krauskopf was a very well-known figure in the Jewish community.

Krauskopf was born in Ostrowo, Poland in 1858, and came to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1862. In 1875, he entered the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati as a member of its first class, and was ordained in 1883. Upon ordination, Krauskopf accepted the call to Reform Congregation B'nai Jehuda in Kansas City, Missouri. He remained there until 1887 when he accepted the pulpit of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel of Philadelphia.

At Keneseth Israel, Krauskopf reorganized the religious school, reinstituted Sunday services and further reformed the religious practices of the already liberal congregation. Krauskopf also wrote a prayer book and a service hymnal, and was a major figure in building a new Temple building for Keneseth Israel, which was dedicated in 1892.

Krauskopf was committed to a back-to-the-land ethic, and in 1894 he travelled to Russia to propose to the Russian government to colonize Jews on farms in the Pale. In 1896 Krauskopf founded the National Farm School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, which is now known as the Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture.

In addition to the National Farm School, Krauskopf was involved in a great many other pursuits. He was instrumental in establishing the Jewish Publication Society, the Model Housing Society, and the Keneseth Israel Free Library. A devoted patriot, Krauskopf founded the Patriotic Society of Philadelphia in 1910. Rabbi Krauskopf also was a spokesman for Reform Judaism, and often was called upon to be a representative of the Jewish community in local and national events.

Many assistant rabbis served with Joseph Krauskopf, and most went on to distinguished careers. Krauskopf's assistant rabbis included: Abraham Feldman, James Heller, Isaac Landman, J. Leonard Levy, and Eli Mayer.

Rabbi Krauskopf died on June 12, 1923, after a short illness. David Philipson, a classmate of Krauskopf in the first class at Hebrew Union College, was the principal speaker at the Memorial Services.

Description of Collection

The collection consists primarily of Krauskopf's personal correspondence. Outgoing correspondence is arranged by date, incoming correspondence is arranged by correspondent. In addition, the collection includes sermons, pamphlets, reports, photographs, postcards, and related material.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is organized into 3 series:

Series 1: Krauskopf's outgoing letters, 1884-1907, undated
Series 2: Krauskopf's incoming letters, 1858-1923
Series 3: Miscellaneous materials, 1859-1925, undated

Patron Information

Alternate Form Available

Microfilm of incoming correspondence (A-Halle) is available.

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: http://diamond.temple.edu/record=b1631812~S12

Research Access

Collection is open for research.

Collections Stored Off-Site

This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.

Publication and Copyright Information

The Joseph Krauskopf Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Temple University holds literary rights only for material created by university employees and to material given to the university with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Joseph Krauskopf Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Related Material

Additional papers of Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf are located at the Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel Archives, Old York Road and Township Line, Elkins Park, PA 19117.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by Rabbi Benjamin Korn, December 1971.

Processing Information

Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in February 2014 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services. Collection reprocessed and inventory revised in July 2017 by Brenda Galloway-Wright, Associate Archivist.

        

Index Terms

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

Personal/Family Names:
Krauskopf, Joseph, 1858-1923

Corporate Names:
Congregation B'nai Jehudah (Kansas City, Mo.)
Delaware Valley College
Hebrew Union College
Jewish Publication Society
Keneseth Israel Free Library (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Model Housing Society
National Farm School (Doylestown, Pa.)
Patriotic Society of Philadelphia
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (Elkins Park, Pa.)

Subjects:
Immigrant--Ethnic Communities
Jewish leadership—Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Jews--Religious life and customs—Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Reform Judaism—Pennsylvania--Philadelphia

Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)

Material Types:
Correspondence
Diaries
Manuscripts
Pamphlets
Photographs
Reports
Sermons