The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford (JHSGH) collects and preserves materials that document the Greater Hartford Jewish community. Through an array of publications, exhibitions and partnerships, we tell the stories of Jewish life, culture and contributions to our part of Connecticut.
Founded in 1971, JHSGH has grown from an attic closet to a respected community archival center. JHSGH is a member-supported organization and a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.
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Staff
Executive Director
Elizabeth Rose
P: (860) 727-6171
Email
Elizabeth Rose studied history at Swarthmore College, earned a Ph.D. in U.S. history from Rutgers University, and later completed an M.A. in Library Science from SCSU. She has a longstanding interest in Jewish history, as well as women’s history and public history, and has taught at several different colleges and universities. She is the author of A Mother’s Job: The History of Day Care and of The Promise of Preschool: From Head Start to Universal Pre-kindergarten. Before coming to the JHS, she served as the Library Director at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, where she helped develop the archives and worked on numerous exhibitions.
Communications & Administrative Manager
Jennifer Klau
P: (860) 727-6170
Email
Jennifer Klau holds a B. S. in Communications from Boston University’s College of Communication. She completed her Ph.D. in Kinesiology and her M.A. in Education at UCONN. Jennifer has been active in the Greater Hartford Jewish community for many years, serving in leadership roles and on the Board at Beth David Synagogue. She looks forward to helping JHS reach and engage new constituents while maintaining its core mission of preserving the stories of our Jewish past.
Archivist
Leah Early
P: (860) 727-6173
Email
Leah Early studied philosophy and religion at Reed College and earned her MS-LIS with a concentration in archives management from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.
Officers & Board
Co- Presidents: Rebecca Selig & Michael Fishman
Treasurer: Steven Kleinman
Assistant Treasurer: Sharon Kowal Freilich
- Ron Apter
- Alan Berkowitz
- Michael Cohen
- David Diamond
- Lance Goldberg
- David Harris
- Abbey Miller Kreinik
- Robin Landau
- Ellen Lescher
- Michalee Merritt
- Lisa Plavin
- Rick Robinson
- Susan Schenker
- David Silver
- Stephanie Sperber
Honorary Directors:
- Leon Chameides
- Barbara Gordon
- Arthur Nassau