Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project
The United Daughters of Israel began in Baltimore in 1890, creating a structure where groups of ten women would gather to undertake communal service projects of their choosing. The Esther Society began in Pittsburgh no later than 1894.
The Esther Society had 120 members by 1907 and continued meeting through the mid-1930s. It held social gatherings and raised funds for select causes. In the early years of World War I, it regularly contributed to the Pittsburgh Jewish Relief Committee.
Bibliography
- “Daughters of Israel,” American Israelite, March 5, 1891 (online).
- United Daughters of Israel charter, Allegheny County Charter Books, Vol. 14, pages 346-349.
Exhibit history
- Author: Eric Lidji
- Original: January 21, 2025
- Current: January 21, 2025