Philip Epstein Papers
Scope and Content Note
This collection contain records relating to Epstein’s community and veterans support activities, with the materials focusing primarily on his two terms as Commander of JWV Post 656 Marblehead-Swampscott. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, announcements, and meeting minutes, though there are a few publications produced by organizations of which he was a member and photocopied newspaper clippings. The collection is arranged chronologically.
Dates
- undated, circa 1951-1994
Creator
- Epstein, Philip D., 1918-2004 (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for researcher use. Please contact us to request access or to make an appointment to view this collection at jhcreference@nehgs.org.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of this collection. For more information contact jhcreference@nehgs.org.
Biographical Note
Philip D. Epstein was born December 12, 1918 to Philip and Dora (Cohen) Epstein in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston University and Hebrew Teachers College in Boston before returning to Boston University to pursue a degree in law. He was a trial attorney from 1941 to 1999.
Epstein served with the Twelfth Air Force from 1942 to 1946 during World War II. After he was discharged from the Air Force, he participated in a variety of community and veterans support activities in the Marblehead and Lynn, Massachusetts area. He was one of the founders of Temple Sinai of Marblehead and Swampscott and Cohen-Hillel Academy in Marblehead. He served as president of the Lynn Hebrew School and was one of the first recipients of the KLAL Yisroel Excellence in Jewish Education Award given by the Bureau of Jewish Education in Boston. He also worked with organizations under the umbrella of the National Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) in a number of capacities: board member of the Jewish Community Center in Lynn; Chairman of the Armed Services USO Committee of Greater Lynn; and panelist at the 1954 biennial conference of the JWB.
In 1952, Epstein became the first commander of Post 656 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV). The post served Marblehead and Swampscott and was inducted into the JWV on January 31, 1952, with support from Lynn Post 32. Epstein was commander from 1952 to 1953 but returned for another one-year term in 1963. In the intervening years, he served in an advisory role as a Past Commander. He was also appointed as Deputy Judge Advocate for the JWV Department of Massachusetts under Department Commander William Carmen, a position he held for three years.
Epstein’s wife, Louise, died in 1999. The following year, he moved to Albany, New York. He died on June 1, 2004 after a brief illness.
References
- Material from the collection
- "Epstein, Philip D." Times Union, June 2, 2004, p. B6, Obituaries.
Chronology
- 1918
- Philip D. Epstein born
- 1941
- Begins practicing law
- 1942
- Joins the United States Air Force
- 1946
- Discharged from the Air Force
- 1952
- Serves one-year term as Commander of Post 656
- 1954
- Speaks at the JWB biennial conference
- 1954-1957
- Serves as Deputy Judge Advocate of JWV Department of Massachusetts
- 1963
- Serves one-year term as Commander of Post 656
- 1999
- Louise R. (Bender) Epstein dies
- 1999
- Retires from practicing law
- 2000
- Moves to Albany, New York
- 2004
- Philip Epstein dies
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
Abstract
Philip D. Epstein was a trial attorney from 1941 to 1999 and a veteran of World War II. He was active in the Jewish community of Marblehead, Massachusetts and worked with a number of veterans support organizations, such as the National Jewish Welfare Board and Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America. He served two terms as Commander of JWV Post 656 Marblehead-Swampscott. The material in the collection includes correspondence, announcements, meeting minutes, membership rosters, and publications primarily concerning his tenure as JMV commander.
Physical Location
Located in Boston, Mass.
Acquisition Information
Donated by the Jewish Heritage Center of the North Shore in 2013.
Processing Information
Processed by Shannon Struble, 2015
- Announcements
- Boston (Mass.)
- Correspondence
- Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Inc.
- Jewish students -- Scholarships, fellowships, etc
- Jewish veterans
- Lynn (Mass.)
- Marblehead (Mass.)
- Minutes (administrative records)
- National Jewish Welfare Board
- Publications (documents)
- Receipts (financial records)
- Swampscott (Mass.)
- Veterans Day
- Title
- Guide to the Philip Epstein Papers, P-989
- Author
- Processed by Shannon Struble
- Date
- 2015
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at American Ancestors Repository