Samuel Korus Papers

Collection — Oversize-box: 1

Identifier: MS-0200-0035

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The scrapbook compiled by Samuel Korus includes posters, cards, raffle tickets, dance memorabilia, World War II memorabilia and correspondence among members of the independent fraternity in both letter and card formats. This item is a window into local Jewish youth culture dating during the 1940s. Photographs of the religious school at the Jewish Community Building on the East Side of Buffalo include identifications and complement similar materials in the Jewish Community Center collection (MS 204).

Dates

1942-2004

Creator

Korus, Samuel (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The personal papers of Samuel Korus, 1942-2004, are open for research. There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this collection.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

The Jewish Community Building on Jefferson Avenue maintained an active religious Sunday school during the 1940s that was used by Jewish residents of the East Side of Buffalo who also attended cheder (Hebrew: lit., room, meaning, school) at the Talmud Torah throughout the rest of the week. While the cheder had a strong emphasis on Hebrew, the Jewish Community building Religious School focused its own curriculum on Jewish ethics and Jewish history. The Jewish Community Building was also a meeting place for many groups including Jewish boy scouts and social and fraternal groups such as the Woodcrafters. During the 1940s it was the meeting place of Omega Kappa Zeta, an independent social youth organization created by a group of teenage boys. Samuel Korus was the founding member. Through the 1940s he maintained a scrapbook, which documented the lives of its teenage members, and followed them as young men, as they served in the Armed Services in various capacities. The fraternity organized dances, held raffles and maintained ties with each other through an active correspondence during World War II. Harold "Polly" Polakov was also an active member and has a complementary and related collection (MS 200.14).

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1 oversize flat box)

Additional Description

Abstract

Personal photographs and scrapbook of a Jewish Youth group, Omega Kappa Zeta, and photographs relating to the youth of Samuel Korus in Buffalo, NY.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series as follows:

Personal Materials

Acquisition Information

Samuel Korus donated this collection in 2014. The collection was arranged in February 2016 and deposited at the University Archives, Special Collections by the Jewish Buffalo Archives Project in February 2016. The Jewish Buffalo Archives Project was founded in late 2007 under the auspices of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Buffalo with a seed grant from the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies. The Archives Project collects mainly 20th century documentation relating to the diverse histories, religious traditions and cultures of Jewish communities within the Greater Buffalo area of Western New York, encompassing the geographic areas of Erie and Niagara Counties and partners with the University Archives at the University at Buffalo to make these records accessible.

The arrangement and description of the papers of Samuel Korus was made possible by funding obtained through the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.