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Helen Zunser Wortis collection

Call Number

1977.351

Date

1600-1976, inclusive

Creator

Wortis, Helen Zunser

Extent

0.52 Linear Feet in one manuscript box and one custom-sized box.

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The Helen Zunser Wortis collection contains research materials compiled by Wortis during the period 1943 to 1976 while researcing African American history on Long Island and Shelter Island history. The research is mostly dedicated to slavery and the African American population on Long Island.

Biographical Note

The daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Helen Zunser Wortis (1906-1976) was a humanitarian and scholar who resided in both Brooklyn and Shelter Island on Long Island, where she worked as an archivist at the Shelter Island Historical Society. She published several articles in the Long Island Forum and the Journal of Long Island History. Wortis was also actively involved in community affairs and various charities. She helped form the Brooklyn Heights Youth Center, which she served for many years until her death, and also assisted in obtaining funds for the Weeksville project, which evolved into the Weeksville Heritage Center, a significant Brooklyn cultural institution.

Scope and Contents

The Helen Zunser Wortis collection contains research materials compiled by Wortis during the period 1943 to 1976 while researcing African American history on Long Island and Shelter Island history. The research is mostly dedicated to slavery and the African American population on Long Island. Items include correspondence and photocopies of statistical records, census records, and enslaved people records dating roughly from 1600 to 1900. The collection also contains index cards on which Wortis wrote research notes; articles published by Wortis in the Journal of Long Island History and the Long Island Forum; various articles, publications, clippings, and ephemera; and a copy of Wortis's memorial service, among other materials.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to users without restriction.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Helen Zunser Wortis collection, 1977.351, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source and date of acquisition unknown. Formally accessioned in 1977.

Related Materials

Related archival collections at the Brooklyn Historical Society:

Missing Title

  1. ARC.198, Augustus Griffin papers, 1792-1902

Other Finding Aids

An earlier version of this finding aid, containing a complete inventory of the collection, is available in paper form at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Please consult library staff for more information.

Collection processed by

Nicholas Pavlik

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:19:28 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: English

Processing Information

Minimally processed to the collection level.

Oppressive descriptive language was remediated from the scope and contents note in this finding aid as part of an anti-racist descriptive language audit performed in January 2021.

Revisions to this Guide

January 2021: Revised by Amy Lau, Archivist, to remediate oppressive language from scope and contents note.

Note Statement

change to complete_collection_level

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: 1977.351 2 of 2 (Material Type: Text)
Box: 1977.351 1 of 2 (Material Type: Text)
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201