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Karen Diane Katz Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 989
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.

Content Description

One box containing BBYO booklets and a group photo, a JCC event program, correspondence, and a photo from the 1974 Bellaire Senior Prom document some activities Karen Diane Katz participated in from 1972 to 1974.

Dates

  • 1972 - 1974

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research. 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 Karen Diane Katz 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

Karen Diane Katz was born in Houston, Texas to Lawrence G. and Joan K. Katz (née Krupp) on December 25, 1956. The eldest of four children (younger brothers, Charles, Robert and Walter Katz), Karen was part of a family very active in the Jewish community. Her parents were part of the original founding membership of Congregation Brith Shalom, which initially convened in a church for weekly Shabbat services until enough funds were raised to build a new synagogue.

Karen attended Lovett Elementary, Johnston Junior High and Bellaire High School. She became a leader in the Jewish community soon after joining Reichman BBG (B’nai Brith Girls), chapter 643, one of the chapters under the umbrella of the Houston B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO). First elected to treasurer, she went on to become N’siah (president) of Reichman. Karen was also part of the 1973 Houston Israel Pilgrimage, a group of about 60 Jewish youth with a few adult chaperones that spent the summer exploring Israel and volunteering on an important archaeological dig. The Israeli leader of that trip, Amnon Binyaminovich, was killed a couple of months later, in October 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. Karen saved the paperwork and photographs from this period of her past, and nearly fifty years later, donated the documents to the South Texas Jewish Archives, housed at Rice University. She currently lives in southern California.

The B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) was founded in 1923. BBYO is the leading pluralistic teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For over 90 years, BBYO has provided exceptional identity enrichment and leadership development experiences for hundreds of thousands of Jewish teens. Excerpted from: https://bbyo.org/

Extent

.25 Linear Feet (1 Box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

BBYO booklets and a group photo, a JCC event program, correspondence, and a photo from the 1974 Bellaire Senior Prom document some activities Karen Diane Katz participated in from 1972 to 1974.

Arrangement

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

Series I: General

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Kaci Christian donated the papers in August 2021.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Source

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Karen Diane Katz Papers, 1972-1974
Status
Completed
Author
Traci Patterson
Date
2021
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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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