Esther Dobkin Vishner Papers, 1920–1977
Information, Description, and Finding Aid
Collection Information
Reference: MS-VISHNER
Dates: 1920–1977
Extent: 1.25 linear ft. across 1 archival box
Finding Aid Information
Creator(s): Steven Payne, Ph.D., Librarian and Archivist
Date created/updated: June 22, 2020
Administrative History
Esther Dobkin Vishner was born to Isaac and Jennie Dobkin in 1910 in Waterbury, Connecticut. The Dobkins eventually settled in The Bronx, where their children attended various public elementary, junior, and high schools. After earning her A.B. from Hunter College, Esther researched allergies at Mt. Sinai and Brooklyn Jewish Hospitals, becoming the first person to publish pollen counts in the New York Times. She married Joseph Vishnevetsky (later changed to “Vishner”) in 1948 and was an active member of the PTAs of P.S. 94, J.H.S. 80, and Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21 (on Bainbridge Avenue). She also served in leadership positions on Local School Board 10 and with the Sholem Aleichem Folk Institute. Indeed, Yiddish culture was vitally important to Esther, and she was accordingly involved in the Workmen’s Circle, the National Yiddish Book Center, and YIVO. Esther performed in the Kultur Gezelshaft Chorus and devoted herself to a variety of additional cultural, women’s, pacifist, and environmental causes throughout her life. She died May 22, 2000, at the age of 90 in Oxnard, California. Esther was predeceased by three of her brothers, Dr. Julius Dobkin, Solomon A. Dobkin, and Abraham Dobkin, Esq. Three of her siblings, however, were still alive at the time of her passing: one brother, Machbi Dobkin, and two sisters, Hannah Doberne and Eva Dobkin. She was also survived by her sons Mayer Jacob Vishner, J. Marcus Newman (Nonnie Morris Vishner), and Ira Vishner.
Information for this biography was obtained from the obituary for Esther Dobkin Vishner printed in the June 9, 2000, edition of The New York Times.
Description/Scope and Content
The Esther Dobkin Vishner Papers are arranged in five series:
1) Local School Board 10 and Parents Associations, 1955–1977, which documents Esther Vishner’s active participation in Local School Board 10 and various Parents Associations for Bronx public schools;
2) Public School Publications and Memorabilia, 1924–1956, which includes printed material from area public schools attended by Esther, her siblings, and her children;
3) Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21, 1959–1965, which details Esther’s involvement in Sholem Aleichem Folkshul, located at 3301 Bainbridge Avenue;
4) Miscellaneous, 1958–1959, which comprises various correspondence and other materials from Esther’s life;
5) Maps, 1920–1972, which includes maps of New York City published by various entities.
Of particular interest are materials related to the integration of New York City schools in Series 1, rare publications by Bronx public school students in Series 2, and material documenting Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21 in Series 3.
Provenance
The Esther Dobkin Vishner Papers were donated to The Bronx County Historical Society by Esther’s son, Ira Vishner, in January 1984.
Preferred Citation
[Item name or description,] Esther Dobkin Vishner papers, box _, folder _, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Points of Access
- Ethnic groups -- Jews
- Individuals -- Bushong, Ruth M. -- Moses, Robert -- Vishner, Esther Dobkin
- Jews and Judaism -- Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21 -- Yiddishkayt
- Maps -- New York City
- Neighborhoods (The Bronx, New York) -- Norwood -- Van Cortlandt Village
- Orchard Beach (The Bronx, New York)
- Schools and education -- Bronx High School of Science -- Hunter College, CUNY -- Integration and rezoning -- James Monroe High School -- J.H.S. 61 -- J.H.S. 80 -- Local School Board 10 -- Mid-Atlantic (North) and Caribbean Regional Center for Services to Deaf-Blind Children -- P.S. 23 -- P.S. 51 -- P.S. 94
Related Collections
- At Home in Utopia collection. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Dennis Coleman papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Decatur Democratic Club records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Virginia Gallagher papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Gompers High School records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Hostos Community College records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- J.H.S. 82 records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Murray Lerner papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Morris High School records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Pelham Parkway Jewish Center papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- P.S. 6 records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- P.S. 31 records. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- P.S. 58 photograph collection. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- Alexandra Vozick Hans papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
- William C. Woolfson papers. The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library.
Series
| Series | Title | Box | Folders |
| 1 | Local School Board 10 and Parents Associations | 1 | 1–26 |
| 2 | Public School Publications and Memorabilia | 1 | 27–34 |
| 3 | Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21 | 1 | 35–37 |
| 4 | Miscellaneous | 1 | 38–42 |
| 5 | New York City Maps | 1 | 43–49 |
Container List
Series 1: Local School Board 10 and Parents Associations
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
1 |
Committee on School Crossings: Honoring Ruth M. Bushong | 1958 |
|
1 |
2 |
J.H.S. 80 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1962–1963 |
|
1 |
3 |
Local School Board 10, Demographic data and reports | 1958–1977 |
|
1 |
4 |
Local School Board 10, Meeting Minutes | 1965–1975 |
|
1 |
5 |
Local School Board 10, Miscellaneous | 1966 |
|
1 |
6 |
Local School Board 10, Parents Associations | n.d. |
|
1 |
7 |
Local School Board 10, Publicity | 1966–1975 |
|
1 |
8 |
Local School Board 10, Relocation of I.S. 147/J.H.S. 147 | 1966 |
|
1 |
9 |
Local School Board 10, Reports and memos | 1966 |
|
1 |
10 |
Local School Board 10, Superintendent materials | 1966 |
|
1 |
11 |
Mid-Atlantic (North) and Caribbean Regional Center for Services to Death-Blind Children (999 Pelham Parkway), Midatlantic Caribbean Waves Newsletter | 1977 |
|
1 |
12 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, Blank stationery and empty envelopes | n.d. |
|
1 |
13 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1955 |
|
1 |
14 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1956 |
|
1 |
15 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1957 |
|
1 |
16 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1958 |
|
1 |
17 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1959 |
|
1 |
18 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1960 |
|
1 |
19 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1962 |
|
1 |
20 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1963 |
|
1 |
21 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1964 |
|
1 |
22 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, The Bulletin | 1965 |
|
1 |
23 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, By-laws | n.d. |
|
1 |
24 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, Correspondence | 1954–1959 |
|
1 |
25 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, Miscellaneous | n.d. |
|
1 |
26 |
P.S. 94 Parents Association, President materials | n.d. |
Series 2: Public School Publications and Memorabilia
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
27 |
Bronx High School of Science, Commencement | 1956 |
|
1 |
28 |
Hunter College, CUNY, German Exam | 1927 |
|
1 |
29 |
James Monroe High School, Annex 61, Crotona Star | 1931–1932 |
|
1 |
30 |
J.H.S. 61, The Beacon | 1930 |
|
1 |
31 |
J.H.S. 61, The Colleague | 1930–1931 |
|
1 |
32 |
P.S. 23 (Woodstock School), The Spirit of Our School | 1924–1926 |
|
1 |
33 |
P.S. 23 (Woodstock School), The Spirit of Our School | 1927 |
|
1 |
34 |
P.S. 51 (James K. Paulding School, The Paulding Tattler | 1924–1927 |
Series 3: Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
35 |
Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21, Curriculum | n.d. |
|
1 |
36 |
Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21, Communication | 1959–1965 |
|
1 |
37 |
Sholem Aleichem Folkshul 21 Parents Association, Shul "21" News | 1958–1960 |
Series 4: Miscellaneous
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
38 |
Correspondence, Taxicab Service at Orchard Beach | 1958 |
|
1 |
39 |
Correspondence, Art Department, New York Times | 1959 |
|
1 |
40 |
Correspondence, Miscellaneous | 1959 |
|
1 |
41 |
Phi Theta Kappa, Bronx Community College | n.d. |
|
1 |
42 |
Sentry Armored Courier Corp. | n.d. |
Series 5: New York City Maps
|
Box |
Folder |
Contents |
Date |
|
1 |
43 |
Interstate Map Company, Map of New York City | 1920 |
|
1 |
44 |
AAA, Map of New York City | 1953 |
|
1 |
45 |
Seamen's Bank, Map of New York City | 1957 |
|
1 |
46 |
New York City Transit Authority, Map of New York City | 1961 |
|
1 |
47 |
New York City Transit Authority, Map of New York City | 1963 |
|
1 |
48 |
New York City Transit Authority, Map of New York City | 1972 |
|
1 |
49 |
New York City Transit Authority, Map of New York City | n.d. |