Category Archives: Press Release

Press Release

Save DORIS – Keep NYC Records Accessible

Leave a comment

If records from New York City are important to you, or keeping the access open for everyone is important to you, then please pay attention to this notice we received from Roni Seibel Liebowitz, President of JGS New York.

NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg wants to eliminate the autonomy of NYC’s Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS), the agency responsible for the records and archival documents produced by the city government. The proposed legislation would place the currently independent agency within the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

DORIS was created in 1977 to remove archives and records services from the Municipal Services Administration, the predecessor of today’s DCAS. In 1995, Mayor Giuliani proposed to merge DORIS with the Department of General Services, but it was successfully argued against.

Now it is in danger of disappearing inside of another agency again. Downgrading the authority of DORIS potentially puts at risk its ability to preserve, protect, and make accessible the intellectual legacy of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Please sign the petition. Every signature counts.

Featured Web Site, Press Release

JDC Archives Web Site Launch

Leave a comment

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC, also called “The Joint”) has announced the launch of the JDC Archives web site at http://archives.jdc.org/. It is the culmination of a five year digitization project. The digital collection contains searchable text from collections from 1914-1932, a names index of over 500,000 names, a detailed interactive timeline, historically-themed exhibitions, over 45,000 photographs, and more.

Some highlights of the site include a Family Researcher section, the Names Database, and Inventory of what is currently searchable, and Video Tutorials.

The New York Times has an article about the launch of the web site, along with a Slideshow with eight archival images.

The official press release is available from the JDC web site.

The JDC was founded in 1914 as a distribution channel for funds from American Jews to Palestine. It is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, working in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters.

Does the JDC have a piece of your family’s history? Visit their site today to find out.