Wyner Family Papers

Collection

Identifier: P-803

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The Wyner Family Papers documents the personal, professional, organizational and philanthropic activities of three generations of a prominent Boston Jewish family. The documents describe the operations of the family knitting and textile businesses chronicling the companies' shift in manufacturing over most of the 20^th century, from the manufacture of clothing and knitwear during the first half of the century, to the manufacture of medical and automobile materials later on.

Other documents record the building and management of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel of Boston and the development and operations of Beth Israel Hospital, a respected Boston institution. The documents also reflect the activities of various family members and their involvement in a variety of other civic, religious and professional organizations on a local, national and international level. Among these are materials describing the activities of the Brookline, Massachusetts Town Meeting, Harvard Hillel, Temple Israel of Boston, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston, the Jewish community Relations Council of Boston, the Hebrew Free Loan Society, the American Jewish Historical Society, Hebrew College, Hebrew Union College and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations to name a few.

In addition, the collection also contains documents from several family trusts, in particular the George Wyner Trust, which describes family ownership of real estate properties in the Greater Boston area. The collection contains a large volume of correspondence that includes letters to and from local and national political figures. Although most of the material is in English, some is in Hebrew and Yiddish, especially early correspondence to and from family members.

The Wyner Family Collection is valuable to researchers interested in the history of New England mills of the 20^th century, particularly as the Wyner family's Shawmut Mills succeeded in transitioning and expanding their enterprises and remains a viable operation into the 21^st century.

Also of particular interest to researchers, especially those studying Boston Jewish history, are documents describing Temple Israel, Beth Israel Hospital, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, which chronicle much of the Boston Jewish organizational community from 1940-2000.

In addition to being arranged into six series, each series is arranged into sub-series. Minimal original order existed with the exception of the business papers and photographs, which had some original order that was followed as closely as possible in those parts of the collection. All other documents were filed either alphabetically or chronologically and in many cases both systems were used, filing first alphabetically by subject and then chronologically by date within the subject areas. It is important when looking for materials concerning a particular subject to check the subject area as well in Series IV, V and VI which contains photographs, artifacts and oversized materials related to the first three series.

Dates

undated, 1863-2004

Language of Materials

The collection is in English, with some early correspondence in Hebrew and Yiddish.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for researcher use. Series III: Business (Boxes 70-96) is partially restricted. Reserchers who are interested in viewing these restricted materials must obtain permission for JHC archivists.

Please contact us to request access or to make an appointment to view this collection at jhcreference@nehgs.org.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of this collection. For more information contact jhcreference@nehgs.org.

Biographical Note

George Wyner was born in Vilna, Lithuania in 1862 to Yehudah Leib and Rachel Wyner. George immigrated to Malmesbury, South Africa circa 1877 via London, England, at the age of 15, joining his brother Henry who had immigrated earlier. The brothers were in business together for some period of time after George's arrival, but eventually he had a grain warehouse and wholesaling business of his own as well as an ostrich Farm. In 1891 he traveled to the United States, per his father's request, to marry Henry's sister-in-law Masha Potruch, who was living in Boston, Massachusetts. Before traveling to Boston, George stopped in New York to visit his sister and brother-in-law, Annie and Judge Snitkin. It was through his sister Annie that George met Gussie Edelman. After Yehuda Leib came to New York to approve the marriage, George and Gertrude (Gussie) Edelman married in New York in August 31, 1891. Gussie agreed to immigrate to South Africa on the condition that after ten years if she did not like it there they would return permanently to the United States. The Wyner family did return to the United States in 1899, via London to New York, one year shy of the ten-year agreement. In 1902, the family moved to Boston, residing in a house bought by George at 22 Gaston Street in the Roxbury section of the city. Before leaving New York, George Wyner filed his Declaration of Intention to become a United States citizen, becoming a citizen on January 27, 1908 in Boston.

George Wyner became a real estate dealer in the greater Boston area where, along with his real estate holdings, he also built the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in 1926, and became Chairman of the Board and President of the Ritz Arlington Trust Company. A supporter of many philanthropic ventures, he was also treasurer of Shawmut Woolen Mills and served as the Director of Robison Processing Company, a subsidiary of Shawmut.

George Wyner died on January 2, 1943 at his apartment at the Ritz-Carlton, 15 Arlington Street, Boston, and was buried in Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Gertrude (Gussie) Edelman Wyner, one of six children, was born in Minsk, Russia in 1870 to Rabbi Abraham and Esther (Plotkins) Edelman. In the 1880s the Edelman family immigrated to New York where young Gussie eventually managed a home-based garment manufacturing business. As stated above, Gussie married George Wyner in New York on August 27, 1891. George and Gussie were the parents of the following five children: Frances Rose, born in 1893 in South Africa; Isadore Alfred (I.A.), born 1894 in South Africa; Rudolph Harold (R.H.), born 1895 in South Africa; Edward, born in 1898 in South Africa; and Maurice E., born in 1900 in New York.

While raising her children, Gussie Wyner became involved in the Boston Jewish community through the women's Zionist movement where she was an early officer of the Boston chapter of Hadassah. Through her connection to this local organization, Gussie became active in raising funds for the first Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and as a result, developed a friendship with its leader, Henrietta Szold. She was also an officer of the Women's Auxiliary of the Beth Israel Hospital of Boston (BI). Both George and Gussie were part of the founding group for the BI Hospital. In 1927, she became treasurer of the Women's Auxiliary at the Beth Israel where she proposed the creation of the new concept of the Life Membership Fund, a concept now used by many charitable organizations throughout the United States.

Gussie Wyner died on April 17, 1949 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where she resided at the time of her death, and was buried with her husband, George, in the Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

On April 28, 1895, Rudolph Harold Wyner (RH) was born to George and Gussie Wyner in Malmesbury, South Africa. He was the third of their five children. As mentioned above, the Wyner family immigrated to the United States in 1899, first settling briefly in New York before moving to Boston. Rudolph attended the Roxbury Latin School, West Roxbury, MA and Harvard College of Boston, graduating cum laude in 1915.

After his graduation from college, Rudolph first went into the real estate business like his father, George, but by 1916 he had entered the knitting business. His first mill, Shawmut Woolen Mills, Inc., was located in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where he began operations with the purchase of the French and Ward Mills, the oldest knitting mill in the United States, dating back to 1795.

In 1917 Rudolph joined the United States Navy, serving during World War I and earning the rank of Ensign. While Rudolph served in the navy, George Wyner took his son's place at Shawmut until Rudolph was discharged from the Navy in 1919 at which time he again resumed his duties at the mill.

On December 4, 1923 Rudolph married Sara Goldberg of Boston, they had two children, Justin Lawrence Wyner (Jerry), born on August 6, 1925 and Elizabeth Wyner (Mark), born on March 15, 1931. The R.H. Wyner family resided at 237 Dean Road in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Rudolph Wyner founded the New England Outerwear Association, heading this group for 25 years. He also served as president of the National Knitted Outerwear Association from 1941-1944 and was the industry's spokesman in Washington, D.C. during World War II. Rudolph was president of Beth Israel Hospital in Boston from 1959-1961, continuing another generation of his family's service to the hospital. Under his direction, the hospital's physical plant was improved and it began its affiliation with the Harvard Medical School, one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country. In addition, Rudolph served for many years on Beth Israel's Executive Committee and on its Board of Managers. The following are other organizations for which Rudolph served as Trustee: Temple Israel of Boston (where he also served as Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Managers); Hebrew College; the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and Harvard Hillel.

Rudolph H. Wyner died on May 21, 1984 at the age of 89 and was buried in the Adath Jeshurun Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Sara Goldberg (Wyner) was born on February 1, 1899 to Samuel U. and Gertrude K. Finkelstein Goldberg in Boston, Massachusetts. The Goldberg family immigrated to Boston from Russia, where Samuel Goldberg, a watchmaker, eventually owned and operated the Studio Jewelry Store on Tremont Street. Later, he acquired real estate properties in and around the Boston area. Sara Goldberg graduated from Boston University in 1922 and went on to Radcliffe College. Sara was a member of Hadassah and the founder and first president of the Boston Junior Hadassah. She was also involved with the Temple Israel Sisterhood and served as an honorary Director of Beth Israel Hospital's Women's Auxiliary for many years.

Sara Goldberg Wyner died on December 1, 1965 at the age of 66. She was buried in the Adath Jeshurun Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

On August 6, 1925, Justin Lawrence Wyner (Jerry) was born to Rudolph and Sara Goldberg Wyner in Boston, Massachusetts. Justin first attended the Runkle School and then the Rivers School both in Brookline, transferring to the Roxbury Latin School, which he left in December of his senior year after being accepted at Tufts University in Boston. At Tufts, Justin was the Editor-in-Chief of the college newspaper, The Tufts Weekly. He graduated cum laude in 1946, with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, and in 1948 he earned an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. After graduating from Harvard, he became Manager of the Vanta Corporation, a subsidiary of Shawmut. From 1949-1960, Justin was the director of the New England Knitting Outerwear Association, and from 1950-1968 he was Chairman of the Standards Committee of the National Knitwear Manufacturers' Association, serving as the Association's director in 1955.

On July 3, 1955, Justin married Genevieve Gloria Geller in New Rochelle, New York. Justin and Genevieve became the parents of three sons: George Michael, born February 18, 1958; Daniel Mark, born September 23, 1959; and James Henry, born February 18, 1962. The Wyner family resided first at 33 Martha's Lane and then at 830 Newton Street, both of Brookline, and later at 20 Rowes Wharf, Boston.

In 1967 Justin became President of Shawmut, taking over the position from Raymond Franks, the original owner of Robison Rayon Company, a company that had merged with Shawmut in 1933. Franks stayed on as Shawmut's Vice President, while Rudolph Wyner held the position of Chairman of the Board. In addition to the Shawmut enterprises, the family also owned and operated the Chestnut Hill Boat Company, Stoughton, Massachusetts, from the late 1950s to the 1980s.

Justin remained president of Shawmut until 1985 handing over the reins to his sons Daniel and James Wyner, becoming Chairman of the Board of R.H. Wyner Associates, including the Shawmut Mills Division.

Justin has been very involved in many Jewish and civic activities over the years and was twice named Man of the Year, in 1982 by the Brookline Rotary Club and in 1991 by the New England Chassidic Center. Amongst his many activities, he was the elected Town Moderator of Brookline for a total of 15 years and President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston. (See Chronology for Justin Wyner's extensive organizational work.)

Genevieve Gloria Geller Wyner was born in New York, the youngest of three daughters and one son born to Max and Ida Wachstein Geller. Max Geller founded and was President of the New York City advertising agency of Weiss & Geller and President of the Yoo Hoo Chocolate Company and the Waltham Watch Company. The Geller family resided at 168 Bon Air Avenue, New Rochelle, New York.

Genevieve graduated from New Rochelle High School in 1948, and in the fall of that year she entered Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. At Wellesley, Genevieve became Editor-in-Chief of The Wellesley College News, and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical History. It was while at Wellesley that Genevieve met Justin Wyner. Later, she went on to earn an Ed.M Degree from Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, where her concentration was in Human Development (1982.) Other educational activities included attending Brandeis University's School of Contemporary Jewish Studies as a special student in Jewish Education (1972-1973); Hebrew College Ulpan (1980); Dartmouth's one-week "Computer College" (1988); and the Zimmerman Conference at Hebrew Union College (1989-1990.) After graduating from Wellesley, Genevieve accepted a job as a news reporter for The Daily Times of Mamaroneck, New York, and in 1954 she took a position as a writer with the Norman A. Schorr Public Relations firm of New York City. She left the firm in 1955 when she moved to Boston after her marriage.

After raising three sons, Genevieve served as the Director of the Sudbury Skating and Tennis Club, Sudbury, Massachusetts, and was also a counselor for the Cambridgeport Problem Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1982, Genevieve joined the family business as Director of Human Resources and Treasurer of Shawmut Corporation. While employed at Shawmut, she was responsible for all advertising and public relations for the company. As a National Certified Counselor, Genevieve was a member of the American Association for Counseling and Development and the American Mental Health Counseling Association.

Along with her various employment positions over the years, Genevieve participated in a variety of community organizations, including Town Meeting Member, Brookline, Massachusetts; Member of the Brookline Bicentennial Commission; Marriage Encounter-Jewish Expression member; Member of the Oral History Committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Member of Midbar Steering Committee; Contributing Editor of The Tennis Journal; Staff Writer for A Guide to Jewish Boston volume 5, number 1; and the following activities and positions at Temple Israel, Boston: President, Parent Teachers Association; Chair, Public Relations Committee; Vice President; Assistant Treasurer; Member, Board of Trustees; Member of the Temple Israel singers; speaker, Slichot Service (1990); participant, High Holy Day services; member of the Maintenance Committee; and substitute teacher at the Temple's religious school.

Genevieve Wyner died on October 17, 2019 at the age of 88.

Shawmut Corporation (1916-2003) was founded in 1916 by Rudolph Wyner and began operations with the purchase of the French and Ward Company's manufacturing plant in Stoughton, Massachusetts. The French and Ward mill was the oldest knitting mill in the United States, dating back to 1795. After its purchase by Rudolph Wyner, the mill renamed to the Shawmut Woolen Mills. The building was expanded over the years until 1984, when the company moved to its present West Bridgewater headquarters. For many years Shawmut manufactured knitted fabrics and laminated products, setting new standards in the industry and maintaining plants in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia, Puerto Rico, with sales offices in New York, Los Angeles and other major cities. For decades, it held a leadership position in the knitted fabric world. In the early 1920s, Shawmut acquired an apparel manufacturer and in 1933 a yarn mill, and by the 1940s the company was manufacturing and distributing its own line of braided fabric and branded knitted children's apparel, as well as synthetic yarns. Most of Shawmut's production during World War II was supplying the military with yarns for parachute shroudlines, knitted blankets, field jackets and bomb parachutes. After the war, and until the late 1950s, Shawmut continued to manufacture and sell yarns, knitted fabric and finished apparel.

In 1958, the company became one of the first to license a newly developed European process, known as flame laminating, to use with its jersey cloth. The process became so successful that a few years later the company made the decision to divest itself of its other operations and concentrate entirely on bonding and laminating. Due to this concentration, as well as the purchase of the Brooklyn Products Company in 2003, Shawmut is now considered a major source for automotive materials and one of the largest independent providers of fabricated and engineered textile components in the industry. Shawmut, a privately held company and a family owned business for four generations, is also a major supplier of materials for the medical field and shoe industry. Along with its headquarters in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, the company has facilities in Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Tennessee.

References

Materials in the collection.
Hyman, Paula E. and Deborah Dash Moore, editors; 1998. Jewish Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia, Vol. II M-Z, pgs 1514-1515.

Chronology

1862
: George Wyner born in Vilna, Lithuania.
1870
: Gertrude (Gussie) Edelman born in Minsk, Russia to Rabbi Abraham and Esther Edelman.
1878
: George Wyner emigrates from Vilna to Malmesbury, South Africa.
1880s
: The Edelman family immigrates to New York.
1891
: George Wynger and Gussie Edelman marry in New York, then return to South Africa.
1895
: Rudolph Wyner, the third child of George and Gussie Wyner, born on April 28 in Malmesbury, South Africa.
1898
: Ida Wachstein, mother of Genevieve (Geller) Wyner, born on September 12.
1899
: Max Geller, father of Genevieve (Geller) Wyner, born on May 1 in Austro-Poland to Aziel and Zipporah Regenbogen Geller.
1899
: George and Gussie Wyner, along with their four children, immigrate to America.
1899
: Sara Goldberg, future wife of Rudolph Wyner, born in Boston, Massachusetts.
1904
: The George Wyner family moves to Boston, Massachusetts.
1908
: Rudolph Wyner enters Roxbury Latin School, class of 1912, but leaves at the end of his junior year to attend Harvard College.
1915
: Rudolph Wyner graduates cum laude from Harvard College.
1916
: Rudolph Wyner enters knitting business, his first mill, Shawmut Woolen Mills, Inc. is located in Stoughton, Massachusetts. The company begins operation with the purchase of the French and Ward knitting mill, the oldest knitting mill in the United States (circa 1795.)
1917
: Rudolph Wyner enters the United States Navy as an Ensign during World War I. George Wyner assumes operations at the Shawmut Woolen Mills during Rudolph's service.
1919
: Rudolph Wyner is discharged from the United States Navy and returns to Shawmut Woolen Mills.
1922
: Sara Goldberg graduates from Boston University, later attending graduate school at Radcliffe College.
1923
: Rudolph Wyner and Sara Goldberg marry in Boston.
1925
: Max Geller and Ida Wachstein marry in New York.
1925
: Justin Lawrence Wyner is born on August 6^th to Rudolph and Sara Wyner.
1926
: George Wyner builds the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts.
1927
: The Ritz-Carlton Boston opens on May 18^th. Edward Wyner, son of George Wyner, manages the hotel.
1927
: Abraham Edelman, father of Gussie Wyner, dies and is buried in Palestine.
1927-1949
: Gussie Wyner is treasurer of the Women's Auxiliary of Boston's Beth Israel Hospital. While in this position, she proposes the creation of the "Life Membership Fund."
1930
: Genevieve Geller is born on November 28 in New York, to Max and Ida Geller.
1931
: Elizabeth Wyner born in Boston on March 15 to Rudolph and Sara Wyner.
1933
: Robison Rayon of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, owned by Raymond G. Franks, merges with Shawmut to become Shawmut Robison Processing Company.
1933
: Shawmut Woolen Mills purchases 105 to 129 Porter Street, Stoughton, MA, from its previous owner, Stretton and Sons.
1941
: Max Geller founds Weiss and Geller, Inc., a New York City advertising agency, where he is President until he closes the agency in 1986.
1941-1943
: Rudolph serves as president of the National Outerwear Association.
1942
: Gussie Wyner becomes a member of the Board of Trustees, Jewish Memorial Hospital.
1943
: George Wyner dies on January 2 in Boston, Massachusetts.
1943
: Justin Wyner attends Roxbury Latin School but leaves in December of his senior year to attend Tufts College.
1946
: Justin Wyner graduates cum laude from Tufts College with a BS degree in Chemistry.
1948
: Shawmut Woolen Mills becomes Shawmut, Inc.
1948
: Justin Wyner graduates with an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business.
1948
: Vanta Corporation becomes a subsidiary of Shawmut, Inc.
1948
: Justin Wyner becomes manager of the company.
1948
: Genevieve Wyner graduates from New Rochelle High School.
1948
: Genevieve Wyner enters Wellesley College.
1948-1971
: Justin Wyner is Director of Communications, Brookline Civil Defense.
1949
: Gussie Wyner dies on April 17 in Boston, Massachusetts.
1949-1960
: Justin Wyner is Director of the New England Knitting Outerwear Association.
1950-1968
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of Standards Committee, National Knitwear Manufacturer's Association.
1950
: Justin Wyner becomes Director/Honorary Life Director, National Knitwear Manufacturer's Association.
1950-1984
: Justin Wyner is Brookline Town Meeting Member.
1950-1952
: Justin Wyner is Class Agent, Tufts College.
1951-1954
: Rudolph Wyner is President, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
1952
: Genevieve Geller graduates from Wellesley College with a BA in Biblical History.
1953-1954
: Genevieve Geller is a news reporter for The Daily Times, Mamaroneck, New York
1954-1955
: Genevieve Geller is a writer for Norman A. Schorr Public Relations, New York, New York.
1955
: Justin Wyner and Genevieve Geller marry on July 3 in New Rochelle, New York.
1955
: Raymond G. Franks succeeds Rudolph Wyner as president of Shawmut.
1955
: Rudolph Wyner becomes Chairman of the Board.
1956-1957
: Justin Wyner is Chairman, Knit Goods Industry Campaign, Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1957-1961
: Justin Wyner is Director, Brookline Community Council.
1958-1961
: Justin Wyner is Director, Brookline Taxpayer's Association.
1958
: George Michael Wyner is born on February 18 to Justin and Genevieve Wyner.
1958
: Shawmut becomes one of the first companies in the United States to license a newly developed European process known as flame laminating for use with jersey cloth.
1959
: Daniel Mark Wyner is born on September 23 to Justin and Genevieve Wyner.
1959
: Shawmut, Inc. employs 1,200 workers and has facilities in Stoughton, MA, Pawtucket, RI, Montezuma, GA and Puerto Rico.
Late 1950s
: Justin Wyner founds the Chestnut Hill Boat Company, Inc.
1960
: Justin Wyner becomes Chairman of the Brookline United Fund Campaign.
1960-1965
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Board, American Jewish Committee.
1960-1978
: Justin Wyner is Founder and Director of the National Fabric Laminations Association.
1961-1964
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of Advisory Committee, Town of Brookline.
1961-1964
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Social Planning and Allocations Committee, Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1962
: James Henry Wyner is born on February 18 to Justin and Genevieve Wyner.
1963
: Rudolph and Justin Wyner buy out other family members for joint ownership of the company and go into the laminating business.
1964
: Justin Wyner becomes Treasurer, Adath Jeshurun Cemetery Association, Inc.
1964
: Justin Wyner becomes a member of the Republican Town Committee.
1964
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1964
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of Temple Israel.
1965
: Sara Wyner dies on December 1^st.
1965
: Shawmut sells the facility at Porter Street as an operating business to the Ames Textile Division of Lawrence Manufacturing Company.
1966
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of Beth Israel Hospital.
1966-1968
: Justin Wyner is President of Harvard Hillel.
1967
: Shawmut, Inc. changes its name to R.H. Wyner Associates, Inc.
1967
: R.H. Wyner Associates, Inc. sells its Shawmut laminating business and all of its physical assets in Stoughton to the Duplan Corporation, where it continues its operations as the Shawmut Mills Division of the Duplan Corporation.
1967
: Justin Wyner succeeds Mr. Franks as President of Shawmut. Franks remains with the company as Vice President, with Rudolph Wyner Chairman of the Board.
1967
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of Hebrew College.
1967
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of Temple Kehillath Israel.
1967-1971
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Advisory Council, American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Greater Boston section.
1967-1977
: Justin Wyner is Director of the Yoo Hoo Chocolate Beverage Company.
1968
: Justin Wyner is National Chairman of the Republicans for Eugene McCarthy for President.
1968-1969
: Justin Wyner is Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee to consider future support of Greater Boston Hillels, Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1968-1971
: Justin Wyner is President of the Hillel Council of Metropolitan Boston.
1970-1973
: Justin Wyner is on the National Board of Governors, American Association for Textile Technology.
1970-1974
: Genevieve Wyner is Director of Public Relations of Radin, Inc.
1970-1982
: Justin Wyner is Town Moderator, Brookline Town Meeting, Brookline, MA
1971-1972
: Justin Wyner is on the Board of Directors, Action for Boston Community Development.
1971-1973
: Genevieve Wyner attends Brandeis University, School of Contemporary Jewish Studies Special Student, concentrating on Jewish Education.
1972-1978
: Justin Wyner is on the scholarship committee of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1972-1980
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Finance Committee, Beth Israel Hospital.
1974-1977
: Genevieve Wyner is the Director of the Sudbury Skating and Tennis Club, Sudbury, MA.
1976-1980
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Board, Brookline High School PTA.
1977
: Genevieve Wyner becomes a contributing editor of The Tennis Journal.
1977
: Genevieve Wyner is a staff writer for the Guide to Jewish Boston Vol. 5, No. 1.
1977
: Genevieve Wyner is a founding member and past president of the Young Women's Division, Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
1977
: R.H. Wyner Associates, Inc. repurchases from the Duplan Corporation its Shawmut Mills Division, which consists of the laminating business and machinery and building on Canton Street in Stoughton, Massachusetts. This business then continues its operations under the name of Shawmut Mills, Division of R.H. Wyner Associates, Inc.
1977-1978
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Committee, Hebrew College.
1979-1982
: Justin Wyner is President of Temple Israel.
1979-1982
: Justin Wyner is Director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
1979-1982
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Maintenance of Union Membership, Committee of Presidents of Large Corporations Biennial Delegate, and Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
1980
: Genevieve Wyner attends Hebrew College Ulpan.
1981
: Daniel Wyner graduates from Dartmouth College.
1981
: George Wyner graduates from Harvard College.
1981-1990
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of the MASCO Garage Committee, Temple Israel.
1982
: Genevieve Wyner graduates with an Ed.M degree from Harvard University, Graduate School of Education.
1982
: Justin Wyner is Man of the Year, Brookline Rotary Club.
1982
: Ida Geller dies in New York on June 15^th.
1983
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of the Board of Managers, Temple Israel.
1983-1989
: Genevieve Wyner is a member of the Brookline Community Cable Commission.
1983-1990
: Genevieve Wyner is a counselor at Cambridgeport Problem Center in Cambridge, MA.
1984
: Rudolph Wyner dies in Boston on May 21^st.
1984
: Shawmut Mills moves its headquarters to its present location on Manley Street in West Bridgewater, MA.
1984
: Justin Wyner becomes a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Division, Major Gifts Committee, Professional Committee, American Cancer Society.
1984
: Genevieve Wyner has her Bat Mitzvah at Temple Israel, Boston, MA.
1984
: James Wyner graduates from Yale University.
1985-1989
: Justin Wyner is a trustee of the Roxbury Latin School.
1985-1989
: Justin Wyner is a trustee and Chairman of the Committee to Select Audit Firm, Roxbury Latin School.
1986-1992
: Justin Wyner is Chairman, ROFEH Annual Dinners.
1987
: Daniel Mark Wyner marries Lorna Douglas Stokes on May 3^rd.
1987
: Justin Wyner becomes governor of the Board of Governors, Hebrew Union College.
1987
: Justin Wyner becomes Director of the American Cancer Society, Massachusetts Division.
1987
: Justin Wyner becomes a Trustee of the American Jewish Historical Society.
1988
: Genevieve Wyner attends Dartmouth Computer College one-week intensive course.
1988
: Genevieve Wyner is Chair of the Brookline Community Cable Commission.
1988
: Max Geller dies in New York on August 14^th.
1988
: Justin Wyner becomes a public member of corporation, United Way of Massachusetts Bay.
1988-1991
: Justin Wyner is Director, Brookline Civic Association.
1988-1993
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of the Library and Archives Committee of the American Jewish Historical Society.
1989-1990
: Genevieve Wyner attends Zimmerman Conference, Hebrew Union College.
1990
: Justin Wyner is the Chairman of the Campaign, Jody Dow for Governor's Council.
1990
: George Michael Wyner marries Barbara Perkins in Vermont on June 3rd.
1990
: Genevieve Wyner is a speaker at the Slichot Service at Temple Israel.
1991
: Justin Wyner becomes a member of the Governor's Committee on Juvenile Justice.
1991
: Justin Wyner is Man of the Year, New England Chassidic Center.
1991
: Justin Wyner is a Jewish Expression Delegate, World Congress of Marriage Encounter.
1991-1992
: Genevieve Wyner is on the Board of Directors for the Boston Jewish Film Festival.
1992
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Major Gifts Committee, New Israel Fund.
1992
: Justin Wyner is Chairman of the Implementation Committee for "Restoring Preeminence" at the American Jewish Historical Society.
1992
: Genevieve Wyner volunteers for the Chaplaincy Pastoral Visitors Program at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
1992-1993
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Capital Campaign Cabinet, Tufts University Hillel.
1992-1993
: Justin Wyner is a member of the Campaign Cabinet, Israel Bonds.
1993
: Justin Wyner is on the 45^th Reunion Committee, Harvard Business School.
1993-1998
: Justin Wyner is President of the American Jewish Historical Society.
1998
: Justin Wyner is Delegate to Massachusetts Republican Convention.
1999
: Justin Wyner becomes a member of the Board of Managers at Rowes Wharf Residences.
1999
: Justin Wyner becomes a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Governance Committee for Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
2002
: Justin Wyner becomes President of the Board of Managers at Rowes Wharf Residences.
2003
: Shawmut Corporation completes acquisition of the assets of Brooklyn Products, Inc. of Brooklyn, Michigan. Brooklyn Products is a leading provider of die cut and formed soft material inserts used in the production of automobile door panels, sunshades, kick panels and specialty seating components.
2004
: Justin Wyner receives the K'lal Yisrael Award from the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts.
October 17, 2019
: Genevieve Wyner dies.

Extent

148.5 linear feet (117 document boxes, 17 oversized boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

The Wyner Family Papers document the personal, professional, organizational and philanthropic activities of three generations of a prominent Boston Jewish family. The documents describe the operations of the family knitting and textile businesses, the building and management of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel of Boston and the development and operations of the Beth Israel Hospital of Boston (1926-2001.) This collection describes the Wyner family's involvement in a wide variety of organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and spans almost a century of involvement in community affairs and includes such organizations as the American Jewish Historical Society (1962-2005), the Brookline Town Meeting (1960-1995), Adath Jeshurun Synagogue and Cemetery Association (1956-1995), Temple Israel of Boston (1960-1999), Combined Jewish Philanthropies (1969-1999), Jewish Community Relations Council (1970-1990) Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1980-1995) and both the National and New England Knitted Outerwear Association (1977-1992.) There is extensive material documenting the operations of the Wyner Mills, financial statements and legal papers concerning various family trusts, correspondence, governance and financial reports documenting Justin Wyner's Presidency of the American Jewish Historical Society and the involvement of several of the family members with the Beth Israel Hospital, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Jewish Community Relations Council. Included in these organizational papers are meeting minutes, reports, correspondence and financial statements.