History of the Jewish Division

The Dorot Jewish Division at The New York Public Library is the oldest public collection of Jewish research materials in America. For more than 125 years, it has both served the interests of and inspired the general public, writers, artists, and scholars from New York City and around the globe. Its collections boast unparalleled depth, richness, diversity, and inclusiveness, rivaling the finest Jewish libraries of the world, with more than 250,000 books, periodicals, manuscripts, theater and music materials, and ephemera. Moreover, the division’s treasures are enhanced and crowned by the formidable collections of the entire New York Public Library.

The history of the division is as fascinating as it is inspiring. It was formed in 1897, only two years after the consolidation of the Astor Library, Lenox Library, and Tilden Trust that laid the foundation of The New York Public Library in 1895. The Jewish Division soon became an essential reference hub and popular destination for studies of all facets of Judaism, and a center for research for major Jewish encyclopedias and dictionaries. Over the course of the division’s development, the Library has acquired many precious items that have elevated its holdings. But the history of these acquisitions differs from that of other Judaica libraries, which are often created from large donations or purchases of private collections and archives. In contrast, the Jewish Division initially obtained just a few relatively small collections, then continued to build its holdings item by item, lot by lot, while considering the evolving needs of New York City’s Jewish community.

The items in this section provide unique insight into the Jewish Division’s history. Many have recently surfaced in the Library’s archives and are available for viewing online for the first time.