Special-Focus Oral History Collections
In collaboration with special interest groups and organizations, the BC Jewish Community Archives will occasionally record oral histories that focus on distinct Jewish narratives within other social and/or political communities. These thematic collections highlight and preserve the personal stories and unique perspectives that BC's Jews contribute to the broader provincial history.
The BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project
The BC Jewish Queer and Trans Oral History Project is an initiative undertaken by JQT Vancouver, a Jewish Queer and Trans non-profit, in partnership with the JMABC.
We were pleased to work together to collect interviews between May 25, 2020 and July 14, 2021.
Innovations in Health Collection
The JMABC team interviewed 26 Jewish BC health care professionals for Medical Innovators and Pioneers, the 2019 edition of our annual journal, The Scribe, celebrating more than a century of pioneering work in diverse fields of medicine. Other contributors include Sydney Israels and Bill Seidelman.
Browse Here
The Southern African Diaspora Oral History Project
The JMABC launched the Southern African Diaspora Oral History Project in 2016 to document the numerous contributions of Jewish immigrants from South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and beyond.
This ongoing project aims to collect and preserve their stories of migration, community, and identity. Contact us
The Culinary Collection
In 2017/2018, the JMABC public programming and publications focused on Feeding Community. Through interviews with more than 50 community members, we explored the vital role of food in preserving Jewish culture in BC.
The Chosen Food Supper Club dining series, Nourishing Tradition event series, Kitchen Stories podcast, and the 2018 edition of The Scribe, all celebrated Jewish culinary traditions and the deep connections between food, history, and heritage.
The Fashion Collection
The JMABC explores the history of the Jewish entrepreneurs who shaped the BC clothing industry over nearly 100 years. This collection of 28 interviews highlights the Jewish community's multi-generational fashion and business legacy, from manufacturing to iconic retail stores to modern boutiques.
These memories were recorded as part of the 2016 issue of The Scribe.
