Skip to main content

Robert M. Beren Academy records

 Collection
Identifier: MS 821
Finding aid note: Forms part of the Houston Jewish History Archive. Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Scope and Contents

One box of invitations, journals, parent handbooks, marketing pamphlets, news clippings, newsletters, photographs and negatives, a scrapbook and yearbook, and meeting materials documents part of the history of Houston's Robert M. Beren Academy from its inception in 1969 as the South Texas Hebrew Academy up to 2010 and two class photos from 1960 of unknown origin are included in the collection. Of particular interest are over 300 photographs of students participating in a variety of activities at the school.

Dates

  • 1960 - 2010

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research with restrictions. Personal information/restricted material in Box 1, folders 13, 15, and 17, inside envelopes -- restricted until January 2049.

Stored off-site at the Library Service Center. Please request this material via woodson@rice.edu or call 713-348-2586.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Robert M. Beren Academy must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.

Biographical / Historical

The school was founded in 1969, by a dedicated group of families who valued the importance of a Jewish day school education. Originally named South Texas Hebrew Academy, the school was housed in United Orthodox Synagogues for its first five years. When it outgrew those facilities in 1975, the school moved to South Braeswood near Chimney Rock. Its location in the heart of Meyerland put the young school right in the center of Jewish Houston.

In 1976, with the school facing serious financial challenges and a student body of 70, lay leadership regrouped and redoubled fundraising efforts to ensure the stability of the Academy. The funds were used to renovate and update the school’s facilities, adding the Katz Lower School wing and a learning center dedicated to the memory of Larry Marc Rosen. In recognition of its high educational standards, the school received accreditation by the Texas Education Agency and by the prestigious Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1977-78. In celebration of these achievements, and to mark a new beginning, the name of the school was changed to the Hebrew Academy and a high school program was added. Soon the Hebrew Academy needed additional space. The expanding programs required more classrooms, laboratories, a Beit Midrash, performance/meeting space and facilities for indoor and outdoor athletic pursuits. Lay leadership found and purchased a large tract of previously unused land from a railroad company. Robert M. Beren’s naming gift anchored the major capital campaign that was launched to build the three wing academic building, gymnasium and outdoor fields, The Hebrew Academy became Robert M. Beren Academy, and in the fall of 2000, Robert M. Beren Academy moved just a couple of miles south to its new 52-acre campus.

The addition of a Day Camp in 2007 was a logical move to utilize the campus throughout the summer. Now known as Camp Moshava Houston, the Camp attracts close to 200 campers throughout the summer to be immersed in art, athletics and strong Judaic programming in an atmosphere committed to Torah and Israel. A four year high school program was incorporated beginning in 2008. Before that time, Robert M. Beren Academy concluded at 11th grade, allowing students to finish all necessary course work in 3 years.

Excerpted from: https://www.berenacademy.org/

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection consists of one box containing invitations, journals, parent handbooks, marketing pamphlets, news clippings, newsletters, photographs and negatives, a scrapbook and yearbook, and meeting materials that include minutes, correspondence, and budget information which documents part of the history of the Robert M. Beren Academy from 1969 to 2010 and two class photos of unknown origin from 1960.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection have been arranged in seven series as follows:

Series I: Invitations; Series II: Handbooks/Journals; Series III: Marketing; Series IV: Meeting Minutes; Serries V: News Clips/Newsletters; Series VI: Photographic Materials; Series VII: Scrapbooks/Yearbooks

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Barry Diner signed the deed of gift for the papers in October 2018.

Subjects

Record Groups

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Robert M. Beren Academy records, 1969-2010
Status
Completed
Author
Emma Siegel, Traci Patterson
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

Broaden your search:
Texas Archival Resources Online - statewide search of archival finding aids
ArchiveGrid - international search of archival finding aids
Scholarship.rice.edu - Rice University digital content

Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892