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Rabbi Jimmy Kessler Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 887
Finding aid note: Forms part of the South Texas Jewish Archives Stored off-site at the Library Service Center and requires 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

This collection is made up of two boxes containing correspondence, media, event materials, directories, and memorabilia that document part of Rabbi Jimmy Kessler's life from 1943 to 2019.

This collection forms part of the South Texas Jewish Archives.

Dates

  • 1943 - 2019

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open for research.

Stored off-site at the Library Service Center and requires 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Rabbi Jimmy Kessler Papers 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

Rabbi Kessler was born in Houston, Texas, December 10, 1945. After attending local schools including being valedictorian and president of his graduating class at San Jacinto Senior High School, he earned his BA from the University of Texas in Austin, where he was a member of Tau Delta Phi fraternity. He earned the first doctorate in Texas Jewish history, at the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where he was also ordained as a rabbi.

Rabbi Kessler first served as director of the Texas Hillel, which serves the students attending the University of Texas. While there, Kessler taught very popular courses in the Religious Studies programs at UT and served on several committees at the request of the University president. He was a counselor at a summer retreat for Jewish youth - Echo Hill Ranch. Based on his long interest in Texas Jewish history, Kessler founded the Texas Jewish Historical Society in 1980. In July 2009, Kessler became the first rabbi in the 171-year history of Texas freemasonry to be named the presiding officer of a Masonic lodge, when Harmony Lodge of Galveston installed him as its new leader. Harmony Lodge was established in 1839.

Exerpted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Kessler

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection is made up of two boxes containing correspondence, media, event materials, directories, and memorabilia that document part of Rabbi Jimmy Kessler's life from 1943 to 2019.

Arrangement

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

Series I: General; Series II: Media; Series III: Memorabilia; Series IV: Addenda

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Rabbi Jimmy Kessler donated materials in July 2019; Shelley Kessler donated materials in March 2023.

Related Materials

Although not accessioned with this donation, Rabbi Kessler previously donated a signed copy of his book: Henry Cohen - The Life of a Frontier Rabbi. The book is cataloged (BM755.C6 K47 1997) and is available at the Woodson Research Center.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Rabbi Jimmy Kessler Collection, 1943-2019
Status
Completed
Author
Katie Webber
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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

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Texas Archival Resources Online - statewide search of archival finding aids
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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