Partners
The project consists of partners presenting holdings and expertise drawn from three continents. Recognizing the importance of preserving this history and that they could accomplish far more together than separately, they came together in 2023 to create Refuseniks and Activists. In addition to contributing relevant collections, each partner brings individual institutional strengths: some excel at public programing and outreach, others research, still others provide the digital infrastructure necessary to this endeavor. The project is a long-term venture actively seeking new partners and continuously adding new documents. The current partners include:
American Jewish Historical Society
Established in 1892, AJHS is the oldest ethnic, cultural archive in the United States, providing access to more than 30 million documents, 50,000 books, photographs, artwork, audio-visual material, and artifacts that reflect the history of the Jewish presence in the United States from 1654 to the present. The mission of the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) is to foster awareness and appreciation of American Jewish heritage and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation and dissemination of materials relating to American Jewish history. Located at the Center for Jewish History in downtown Manhattan, AJHS illuminates American Jewish history through our many archival treasures, scholarship, exhibitions, and public programs. Among the treasures of the collection are the handwritten original of Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus,” which graces the Statue of Liberty; records of the nation’s leading Jewish communal organizations; and important collections in the fields of education, philanthropy, science, sports, business, and the arts.
The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet history. The Archive was founded in 2005 by the businessman and philanthropist Len Blavatnik to reflect his commitment to cultural heritage and expand his support for primary source–based scholarship and education. Holdings continue to grow, currently over 120,000 items represent twenty four collections, with more than 18,000 items available on the Archive’s website. To ensure that the materials can reach a wide audience, the Archive has prioritized free digital access, high-resolution reproductions, user-oriented delivery, and unique information aids such as source-language transcriptions and English language translations. Furthermore, the Archive offers advanced digital tool capabilities such as cross-collection search options, curation in user-generated folders, and free source material downloads.
The Center for Jewish History in New York City illuminates history, culture, and heritage. The Center provides a collaborative home for five partner organizations: American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. The Center’s experts are leaders in unlocking archival material for a wide audience through the latest practices in digitization, library science, and public education. As one of the world’s foremost research institutions, the Center offers fellowships, a wide array of exhibitions, symposia, conferences and lectures. The Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate, and is a partner of the Google Cultural Institute.
Central Archive for the History of the Jewish People
Established in 1939 in Jerusalem, the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP) serves as the national archives of the Jewish People. It holds the archives of thousands of Jewish communities, as well as of local, national and international Jewish organizations and the private collections of many outstanding Jewish personalities. The Archives now hold the most extensive collection of documents, pinkassim (registers) and other records of Jewish history from the Middle Ages to the present day. In addition to its physical holdings, CAHJP conducts surveys in archives throughout the globe, looking for documentation on Jews, and digitizing it.
Founded in Jerusalem in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) serves as the dynamic institution of communal memory for the Jewish people worldwide, and Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths. NLI holds the world's largest collections of textual Judaica, Jewish and Israeli music, maps of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as well as world-class collections of Jewish and Islamic manuscripts, rare books, photographs, community and personal archives, and more. Along with being Israel's preeminent research library, NLI is also dedicated to encouraging audiences in Israel, and around the globe, to engage with its treasures through a range of innovative educational, cultural, and digital initiatives, as well as through its new landmark building, all of which reflect NLI's central values of democratizing knowledge by opening its collections, and resources to as broad and diverse an audience as possible. For more information: www.nli.org.il/en
Vanderbilt University is a private, nonprofit R1 research and education institution that was founded in 1873. Located 1.5 miles from the heart of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt is a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large. Vanderbilt offers internationally recognized programs and an immersive residential undergraduate experience. Namesake Cornelius Vanderbilt envisioned the importance of transdisciplinary collaborations across the university’s 10 schools as reflective of “the ties that should exist between all sections of our common country.” Vanderbilt consists of 4 undergraduate schools (Blair School of Music, School of Engineering, College of Arts & Science, Peabody College of Arts and Science) and 6 graduate schools (Divinity School, Graduate School, Law School, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Owen Graduate School of Management).
The Wende is an art museum, cultural center, and archive of the Cold War that preserves history and brings it to life through exhibitions, scholarship, education, and community engagement. Named after the German word for "turning point," it reflects the transformative era around the fall of the Berlin Wall. Established in 2002, the museum boasts a unique collection of artifacts and art from the Cold War, supporting its mission to illuminate historical and cultural shifts, engage with contemporary issues, and encourage future change. It achieves this by preserving and granting access to its diverse collections, fostering scholarship and public interest through educational programs, organizing innovative exhibitions, and facilitating collaborations. Additionally, the Wende offers community services like wellness programs and volunteer opportunities, aiming to inspire active involvement in societal transformations.
Donors
The Refuseniks & Activists project and website is made possible with the generous support of:
The Blavatnik Family Foundation supports world-renowned educational, scientific, cultural, and charitable institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and across the globe. Led by Len Blavatnik, founder of Access Industries, the Foundation advances and promotes innovation, discovery, and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Over the past decade, the Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to over 250 organizations.
Arcadia is a charitable foundation that works to protect nature, preserve cultural heritage and promote open access to knowledge. Since 2002 Arcadia has awarded more than $1.2 billion to organizations around the world.
The David Berg Foundation works to strengthen institutions, improve the quality of life for the underserved, provide greater access to cultural treasures, and increase engagement with Jewish values for wide audiences.