Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Abraham Shnitka fonds
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- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of the fonds.
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Fonds
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Dates of creation area
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Physical description area
Physical description
20 cm of textual records. -- 6 photographs
Publisher's series area
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Abraham Shnitka was born in Libau, Courland- Latvia (Russia) in 1894. During his youth in Libau, Mr. Shnitka trained as a printer's apprentice before immigrating to Canada and settling in Calgary with his family in 1911. After working in the printing trade in Calgary for two years, in 1913 he started Franklin Press, the first Jewish Job Printing Shop in Western Canada, with a full range of hand and linotype machine-set Hebrew alphabet type. Jewish institutions and organizations that were his clients included the Peretz Institute, Calgary Jewish Literary Club, Calgary Talmud Torah and others. In 1935, Mr. Shnitka sold the Franklin Press and became the King's and later Queen's Printer for the Province of Alberta from 1935 until his retirement in 1958. In 1939, he founded and was named director of the Alberta Government Purchasing Department, a position he held until 1942. In 1951, he was the organizer and Chairman of the Queen's Printers' Association of Canada. Upon his retirement in 1957, Mr. Shnitka resigned as director of the association and was named an honourary president. Upon retirement, Mr. Shnitka worked as a sales representative for printing equipment for Sydney R. Stone Ltd., Toronto. He was also an active member of several Jewish organizations and was a passionate supporter of Zionist causes. Mr. Shnitka and his wife Pearl (nee Friefeld) had one son, Theodore, a doctor in Edmonton. Mr. Shnitka passed away in 1972.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of materials created by Abraham Shnitka of Calgary from 1910- 1959. The fonds consists of these series: 1. Franklin Press (ca. 1915- ca.1935). The series consists of pamphlets, handbills, publications and other materials published by or relating to Franklin Press. Most of the materials relate to meetings of Jewish and Zionist Organizations in Western Canada. 2. King's (Queen's) Printer (1935- 1957) The series consists of publications, brochures and other materials related to Abraham Shnitka's operations of the King's Printers' of Alberta. 3. Miscellaneous (1910- 1959) The series consists of correspondence, photographs, and other materials.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Donated by Theodor Shnitka in 2002.
Arrangement
A portion of the material was donated to JAHSENA as a scrapbook. For preservation reasons the scrapbook was dismantled and the materials placed in an oversized acid-free box in the same approximate order.
Language of material
- The material is in English, Yiddish, and Hebrew.
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Due to the fragile nature of some of the material, restrictions may apply. Please contact the archivist for further details.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Preliminary inventory available in accession register.
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected but not scheduled.
General note
JAHSENA also holds the records of Abraham Shnitka's son, Dr. Theodor Shnitka. Additional material may be found in the First Century of Jewish Life Editorial Committee fonds held by JAHSENA.<br><br>Record No. SHN.02.1<br><br>
Alternative identifier(s)
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Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Shnitka, Abraham (Subject)