Pittsburgh Region of Women’s American ORT

The Pittsburgh Region of Women’s American ORT was established as early as May 1948 as a local affiliate of the World ORT. The international program had been founded in 1880 to provide job training for displaced and unemployed Russia Jews and expanded around the world. American ORT was founded in 1922 and the Women’s American ORT auxiliary began in 1927. The name ORT came to stand for “Organization for Rehabilitation through Training.” The Pittsburgh region expanded rapidly in the 1950s, eventually including at least 16 chapters in Pittsburgh and its eastern and southern suburbs. Pittsburgh hosted the 18th biennial national convention of Women’s American ORT in 1965. The Pittsburgh Region ran a gift shop at 5666 Northumberland St. in Squirrel Hill from 1966 into the late 1970s. The Pittsburgh Region of Women’s American ORT consolidated but continued in Pittsburgh into the early 21st century.

Chapters

Bibliography

Rauh Jewish Archives

• Women’s American ORT materials from Claire and Jerome Hahn papers and photographs [MSS 685] (catalog record).
• Women’s American ORT materials from Marga Silbermann Randall papers [MSS 543] (catalog record).
• Women’s American ORT materials from Marga Silbermann Randall photographs [MSP 543] (catalog record).
• Women’s American ORT materials from Jewish Archival Survey [MSS 196] (catalog record).
• “The ORT of Cooking—presented by the Shadyside Chapter, Women’s American ORT, Pittsburgh Region,” [Iowa Falls, IA] : [General Pub. and Binding], [1971] [TX715 .O77 1971] (catalog record).
• “The SpORT of cooking,” Cleveland : District VII, Women’s American ORT, [1975] [TX724 .S67] (catalog record).

University of Pittsburgh Archives & Special Collections

• Miriam Wolfson oral history, 1975, from National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online).

World ORT

• World ORT Archive website (online).

Exhibit history

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Original: January 27, 2025
• Current: January 27, 2025