Leo Shapiro Newspaper Collection

Collection

Identifier: P-929

Staff Only

View the "Leo Shapiro Newspaper Collection, P-929" Digital Collection

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains newspaper articles written by Leo Shapiro from much of his 52-year career with the Boston Globe. The collection of articles contains works on education, politics, sports, civil right, Boston life, and the arts. The bulk of the collection, though, contains Shapiro's articles written while reporting on the Jewish community in Boston, Israel, and abroad. These articles focused on everything from events and programs in the community to news about major institutions, such as synagogues and Jewish philanthropic organizations, and from Israel to Jewry in the Soviet Union. Much of the coverage of Jewish life, between 1946 and 1969, was documented through "Local Lines," a column that appeared in the Sunday Globe. "Local Lines" frequently spotlighted a major event or issue in the community, while also listing other events in the Jewish Community during the week. During the same period, Shapiro reported on sermons delivered for major Jewish holidays and the Sabbath. The holiday and Shabbat (Sabbath) sermons frequently discussed the major issues of the day, such as memorializing the holocaust or interfaith relations. The leadership within the Jewish community was also a frequent topic. The series on Israel documents the reaction of American Jewry to the formation of and life in the State of Israel.

There is a small amount of other material in the collection, including a notebook of manuscript letters to the editor, a photograph of Leo Shapiro, and typescript book reviews.

Dates

undated, 1928-1974

Creator

Shapiro, Leo (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

Leopold Shapiro was born in Paris, France, in 1907 and emigrated with his parents and brother, Jacques, to Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, when he was 8 years old. While a student at Boston English High School, Shapiro held a variety of jobs, including selling newspapers, working in a bottling plant, delivering food for a market, and working as an usher. During his sophomore year, going door to door, looking for a job, Shapiro met Leverett D.G. Bentley at the State House office of the Boston Globe. Shapiro was then introduced, by Bentley, to the Globe's managing editor, William D. Sullivan. Shapiro began his career with the Globe as a copy boy on the night shift. By 1928, Shapiro was reporting on education topics in Boston.

Through much of his career, from the 1940s through the 1970s, Shapiro wrote about the Jewish community in Boston and abroad. Although he covered many other topics, most of the articles were about Israel, Jewish life in Boston and abroad, and the local Jewish community. Between 1946 and 1969, Shapiro wrote the column "Local Lines," which documented and publicized the activities of and programs within the Boston Jewish community. Shapiro worked with Leo J. Lyons, who founded the Jewish Advocate. After a 52 year career with the Boston Globe, Shapiro retired in 1974.

Shapiro was active with B'nai B'rith. In 1942, Shapiro headed the Brighton, Massachusetts lodge. He joined the New Century Club of Boston, in 1956, an organization that promoted education and professional careers. Through his roles with B'nai B'rith, he traveled to Israel to cover the 1959 conference for the Globe. In 1968, the Brotherhood of Temple Beth Torah honored Leo Shapiro for his "role in reporting and interpreting the role of Judaism in the community via the English language press." Shapiro was an honorary member of the Brotherhoods at Temple Kehillath Israel, Temple Kadimah-Toras Moshe, and Temple B'nai Moshe. In 1969, Shapiro was honored by B'nai B'rith for "outstanding reporting of Jewish news."

Shapiro was married to Marion D. Weinstein (1918-1996), an elementary school teacher, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. They lived in Brookline and Newton, where they belonged to Temple Emanuel. Shapiro died at the Coolidge House Convalescent Center, Brookline, Mass., on February 23, 1994.

References

Long, Tom. "Leopold Shapiro, retired editor and reporter at the Globe; 87 [City Edition]" in The Boston Globe (Boston, Mass.), Feb. 24, 1994.
"Marion Shapiro, 78 Retired Belmont teacher: City Edition" in The Boston Globe (Boston, Mass.), Feb. 24, 1994.
Materials from the collection.

Extent

4 linear feet (2 document boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Leopold (Leo) Shapiro was born in Paris, France, in 1907 and emigrated with his parents and brother, Jacques, to Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, when he was 8 years old. Shapiro began his career with the Boston Globe as a copy boy on the night shift. By 1928, Shapiro was reporting on education topics in Boston. Through much of his career, from the 1940s through the 1970s, Shapiro wrote about the Jewish community in Boston and abroad. Although he covered many other topics, most of the articles were about Israel, Jewish life in Boston and abroad, and the local Jewish community. Between 1946 and 1969, Shapiro wrote the column "Local Lines," which documented and publicized the activities of and programs within the Boston Jewish community. This collection contains newspaper articles written by Leo Shapiro from much of his 52-year career with the Boston Globe. The collection of articles contains works on education, politics, sports, civil right, Boston life, the arts, and the Jewish community in Boston, Israel, and abroad.