Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston, Mass.) records, undated, 1865-1989 (bulk 1942-1979)

The Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) of Boston, Massachusetts is the oldest federated Jewish philanthropy in the United States. The current incarnation of CJP was formed in 1960, when two separate federated philanthropies – the Combined Jewish Appeal and Associated Jewish Philanthropies – merged to create a single organization dedicated to serving the needs of Boston’s Jewish community. CJP’s records contain the history of several other organizations, from the forerunners of the current Federation to the Jewish institutions supported by CJP. Their beginnings can be traced to the founding of the United Hebrew Benevolent Association (UHBA) in 1864 at the Pleasant Street Synagogue (now Temple Israel.) This collection contains meeting minutes, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, financial documents and ledgers, appeal information, publicity, programs, brochures and other written documents relating CJP’s history.

Portrait of Benjamin Liebermann

This large ambitious painting is one of Liebermann's earliest. His uncle, the Geheime Kommerzienrat (Privy Councillor) Benjamin Liebermann (1847-1935), is elderly and slim, but erect and proudly wearing his honorary business medals, has his left hand on his hip, while his right hand rests on the back of a red velvet chair. He is wearing long sideburns and whiskers. The background is plain. The style is tight and painstaking, but already exhibits Liebermann's preference for visible, impasto brushstrokes. The emphasis is on the face, with no attempt at idealization of the akward, but strong features. The colors are mainly black and brown.