Plaque, 1961

The Morton Shanok Papers contain records relating to Shanok’s cantorial activities, as well as his role as assistant army chaplain in the U.S. Army. A large part of the collection consists of photographs. One group of photographs was taken between the years 1943 to 1945 when he was in the Army, and another group records the tribute ceremony held in honor of Cantor Shanok’s retirement from Temple Beth El. A separate folder contains the written documents related to the tribute ceremony, including the guest book and list of attendees, and copies of the invitation and program.

The collection includes a folder of correspondence sent to Cantor Shanok in his official capacity as Cantor, most of which consists of letters of congratulation or thanks and invitations. Another folder holds various newspaper clippings, programs, announcements, newsletters, and notes for speeches, all related to music or his cantorial role. Folders in this first box are arranged alphabetically.

An oversized folder contains awards from the Cantors Assembly and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and another box contains Shanok’s 1927 yearbook from New Haven High School and a plaque given to him by Temple Beth El in appreciation for his service there.