mnsss242 Katharine Asher Engel Papers, 1916-1957 Finding Aid Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Katharine Asher Engel Papers, 1916-1957 Finding Aid MS 55 2005 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Engel, Katharine Asher, 1898-1957 Katharine Asher Engel Papers1916-1957 MS 55 2 boxes (.75 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

President, National Council of Jewish Women; President, New York Council of Jewish Women; Civic leader. Papers include memorabilia, minutes, news clippings, reports, speech texts, and high school yearbook. Bulk of material dates from 1941-57 and consists of notes and texts of speeches given by Engel and material related to her tenure as President of the National Council of Jewish Women. Biographical Note

Katharine A. Engel and Irving M. Engel, probably at Smith College reunion, June 3, 1950

Katharine Idalia Asher was born 27 October 1898. She was graduated from Smith College in 1920 and did graduate work in English at Oxford University from 1923 to 1924. She was alumnae class president for thirteen years and in 1950 received an honorary degree from Smith College. Engel held many offices in the National Council of Jewish Women, and was National President from 1949 to 1955. She was on the boards of several other organizations, including Self-Help for Emigres from Central Europe, and United Service for New Americans. In 1955 she was the only woman appointed to the New York State Committee on Refugees. Among the Jewish fundraising groups benefiting from her volunteer service were the United Jewish Appeal and the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Engel was an active member of numerous other groups, including the U.S. National Committee for UNESCO and the Advisory Committee for Women's Forces in Civil Defense. Engel was married to Irving Engel, an attorney and chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Jewish Committee. They had one daughter. Katharine Engel died 30 March 1957.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Katharine Engel Papers include memorabilia, minutes, news clippings, reports, speech texts, and high school yearbook. The bulk of the material dates from 1941-57 and consists of notes and texts of speeches given by Engel and material related to her tenure as President of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Katharine Asher Engel Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Search Terms Engel, Katharine Asher, 1898-1957 National Council of Jewish Women--History--Sources Immigrants--United States--Biography--Sources Jewish women--United States--Biography--Sources Additional Information Contents List 1 1 Personal 1 2 American Jewish Committee Half-Century Banquet, New York City, 1957 1 3 Photographs National Council of Jewish Women 1 4 Articles and publications 1 5 President's reports, 1953, 1954 1 6 Reports, minutes, and miscellaneous 1 7-11 Triennial conventions, 17th-21st, 1943-55 2 Speeches 2 12 Texts, 1952-55 2 Note cards, 1941-55 2 Senior Class Book, New Haven High School, 1916