Resources
Beyond the education gained exploring the museum's gallery space is the wealth of knowledge housed in our library and archive. Researchers of all backgrounds use these resources to learn more about Jewish history at-large and in Oklahoma, culture, art, liturgical studies, family lineage, and the Holocaust.
Both the archive and library are currently undergoing a digitization process that will make these resources more widely available. At this time, however, visitors will need to make an in-person appointment to access both collections.
Library
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art’s Library contains over 1,950 titles. The collection is open by appointment only for in-person research with a focus on The Holocaust, Jewish Religious and Family Life, Oklahoma Jewish History, Jewish Artists and Art, and Genealogy.
Livingston Archive
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art’s archival collection includes personal letters, event materials, personal and event photos, ephemera, magazine and newspaper articles, vacation photos, and objects from multiple local Jewish families and businesses. The majority of the archival material is in English and Hebrew, with minor amounts in Yiddish and German.
- National Council of Jewish Women Collection
- The Tulsa Jewish Review Collection
- Jewish Welfare Board Publications Collection
- National Council of Jewish Women Collection
- The Tulsa Jewish Review Collection
- Jewish Welfare Board Publications Collection
- B’nai Emunah Collection
- Temple Israel Collection
- Jewish Federation of Tulsa Collection
- Tulsa Jewish Community Charity Event Collection
- Ardmore Jewish Community Collection
- Enid Jewish Community Collection
- Seminole Jewish Community Collection
- Ponca City Jewish Community Collection
- Oklahoma City’s Emanuel Synagogue Collection
- Muskogee Jewish Community Collection
- Fenster Gallery Slide and Photo Collection
- Theodore Fried Collection
- Fred Strauss Collection
- Slides, photos, and documentation from SMMJA past exhibits
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa plays a prominent role in originating many of the exhibits and programs that are held both at the Sherwin Miller Museum and elsewhere in the country.
The organization was established in September 2005 and remains the only Jewish Genealogical Society in Oklahoma. Its goals are to:
- Pursue, encourage, and preserve Jewish family history and genealogical data.
- Assist and promote the research of Jewish family history while elevating the status and role of genealogy in the Community.
- Provide opportunities for sharing Jewish Genealogical information.
If you have questions or would like to join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Tulsa, please contact Phil Goldfarb, President JGS of Tulsa at: phil.goldfarb@cox.net
Education & Art Contests
The Council for Holocaust Education exists to assist and coordinate the Holocaust educational efforts of teachers and students in the greater Tulsa area and beyond.
The Council focuses on Holocaust commemoration and education through several avenues. Among these are:
- Hosting the annual Interfaith Yom HaShoah Commemoration event
- Hosting the Kristallnacht Remembrance event
- Facilitating the Kristallnacht and Yom HaShoah Art Contests
- Facilitating the White Rose Essay Contest
We take seriously our responsibility to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten. The Holocaust is more than a Jewish story. It is a pivotal event that continues to influence today’s world by addressing the consequences of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping and discrimination, and encouraging the acceptance of diversity. The poetry, art, essays, and exposure to the important lessons of the Holocaust produce benefits beyond measure.
Senate Bill 1671 requiring Oklahoma public school students in grades six through 12 to learn about the Holocaust was recently signed into law by Gov. Stitt. This Bill enhances the teaching of Holocaust Education in all Oklahoma schools by allowing students to learn about the Holocaust, not only in their Social Studies classes, but also in their English/Language Arts and Visual Arts classes. We are excited about facilitating the instruction teachers will need to provide this life-changing opportunity to their students.
Educational Opportunities
Purim Mask Invitational
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art would like to invite your school to participate in the 16th Annual Purim Mask Invitational Competition. It is the goal of the Museum to promote understanding of Jewish life and culture through learning about the Jewish holiday of Purim. Students may explore the holiday by learning about the traditions, foods, and celebration of the story of Esther and her rescue of the Jews of Persia.The winning masks will be exhibited from March 9 – May 1, 2023, at The Sherwin Miller Museum ofJewish Art. Other masks will be included in the exhibition as allowed by space and number of entries.
2023 White Rose Memorial Contest
The Tulsa Council for Holocaust Education’s Fifteenth Annual White Rose Memorial Essay Contest For Middle and High School Students
ESSAY PROMPT:
Consider the following: Moral Courage involves standing up for your beliefs and values even at the risk of your reputation, emotional anxiety, social isolation, employment or even your life. Holocaust survivor Fred Gross said of the morally courageous: “They had the moral courage to stand up…they were not bystanders; they were human beings.”
2023 Yom Hashoah (Holocaust) Art Contest
Entries in the 2023 Yom HaShoah Art Contest should represent the theme of the commemoration: Moral Courage: The Story of the World War II Ritchie Boys, with an emphasis on the Oklahoma Jewish Ritchie Boys soldiers. Student artwork should reflect a response to the courage displayed by the Ritchie Boys or any other courageous response during the Holocaust.
The exhibit will be displayed at the 2023 Yom HaShoah Commemoration held at Temple Israel, 2004 East 22nd Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 20 at 7:00 p.m. This commemoration is open to the general public and there is no charge to attend.
Press
intro copy + link to press kit
