The Center for Jewish History (CJH) in New York City is a treasure trove for genealogists seeking to learn more about their Jewish ancestors' experiences in World War I and its aftermath. The collections of the five partners that comprise the Center – the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, the Yeshiva University Museum, and the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research - include extensive holdings of memoirs, personal and family papers, Jewish community and organization records, newspapers, photographs, and more that bring to life the active role Jews played in all sides and aspects of the conflict.
This guide offers a selection of some of the best resources for researching your ancestors’ World War I military and civilian experiences within three of the partner collections at the Center for Jewish History (see tabs above). To locate additional relevant books, periodicals, and archival collections, you may search the Center for Jewish History’s online catalog by title, author, or subject (World War I subject heading = “World War, 1914-1918”).
Herta and Leo Leab Collection; AR 7205.
Courtesy of the Leo Baeck Institute
For more information on military history during this era and others, please visit these additional CJH Research Guides: