Ida Benderson earned a certificate in Library Science from Syracuse University, where she was employed as a librarian for next nineteen years. In addition to her initial career as a librarian, she held many other positions throughout her life including executive director of the Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, chair of the city of Syracuse Housing Authority, member and vice president of the board of trustees of the Foundation of New York State Nurses, and president of the New York State Region and Syracuse Section of the National Board of the Council of Jewish Women. Benderson was also passionate about education, politics, and services for the elderly. The Ida Benderson Senior Center was named for her in 1975. The center remained in operation until 2011 when it was closed due to lack of funding. Benderson received numerous awards and other recognitions for her work.
Index code: MC74
Finding Guide:
Finding Aid for the Ida Benderson Collection, 1960-1999
| VOLUME: | 3.0 cubic feet |
| ACQUISITION: | The items in this collection were donated to the Foundation of New York State Nurses Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History by Eric Benderson (son of Ida Benderson) in 2006. |
| ACCESS: | This collection is open to the public by appointment. |
| COPYRIGHT: | Please consult the repository for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection. |
| PREFERRED CITATION: |
Ida Benderson Collection, 1960-1999 (MC74), Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Foundation of New York State Nurses, Guilderland, NY. |
Table of Contents
- Biographical Sketch
- Scope and Contents Note
- Box and Folder List
Biographical Sketch
Ida Benderson was born (Ida Mae Olsen) in Russia to Philip and Sarah (Caplan) Olsen1 in 19032. Her family immigrated to the US in 19053, and she grew up in Camden, NY2. In 1923 Benderson earned a certificate in Library Science from Syracuse University1, where she was employed as a librarian for the next nineteen years2. She married lawyer Jacob Benderson in 1933 and had two sons, Bruce and Eric. Ida Benderson died in 2002 at the age of 982.
Scope and Contents Note
The Ida Benderson Collection (MC74) consists of a variety of awards and other achievements received by Benderson between 1960 and 1999. Most are in the form of framed certificates or plaques although there are also bowls and other three dimensional objects. Many of Benderson’s awards are in recognition of her work with the Syracuse Jewish Community Center. There are several awards from the Syracuse newspaper The Post-Standard.
Arrangement of the collection is chronological by box (and roughly chronological by folder within each box) with the exceptions of the first two folders in box 3. All dates found on the items have been recorded in the box and folder list below. When possible, award dates include both dates of service as well as presentation of the award.
Box and Folder List
Box 1:
Folder:
1. Syracuse Post-Standard Woman of Achievement in Politics silver bowl and framed award (2 pieces), 1960, 1961 February 9
2. Jewish Community Center president’s award, 1960-1961
3. New York State delegate ribbon and medal, Democratic Convention, Atlantic City, New Jersey (2 pieces), 1964, 1964 September 1
4. Arthritis Victory Campaign New York Chapter Vice Chairman Outstanding Service award, 1966, 1967 April 10
5. United State of America Department of Housing and Urban Development commemorating the groundbreaking of Ross Towers, 1972 September 15
6. Hannah G. Solomon Award, 1973
7. United Way of Central New York Community Service Citation, 1974
8. Jewish War Veterans of the United States Onondaga Post 131 Outstanding Citizen Award for Community Service, 1974, 1975 March 22
9. Center for Nursing dedication ceremony invitation, 1977 June 18
10. Sculpture/award from “The J.C.C. Family,” (Jewish Community Center?), 1978
Box 2:
Folder:
1. Poem written on her “retirement” from The Center (Jewish Community Center?), 1980 July 20
2. Syracuse Jewish Community Center painting in appreciation, 1980
3. Metropolitan Commission on Aging proclamation, 1981 May
4. New York State Fair Woman’s Day Tribute, 1981
5. Syracuse Post-Standard Woman of Achievement in All-Time, 1980, 1981 February 12
6. New York State Nurses Association convention badge with Foundation of NYSNA pin and award ribbon, 1984
7. New York State Nurses Association Honorary Recognition, 1984 October
8. Jewish Home of Central New York 75th anniversary celebration honor, 1987 June 23
9. New York State Assembly Citation, 1987 August 15
10. Arthritis Foundation Honorary Life Board Members, 1988
11. New York State Office for the Aging Advisory Committee Appointment, 1989
12. Syracuse Jewish Federation Inc. certificate of recognition, 1989 June 22
13. Jewish Community Center of Syracuse donor award, 1993 May 16
14. Plaza Nursing Home Company, Inc. Board Member recognition for dedicated service, 1986-1994
15. Ida Benderson Senior Center 20th Anniversary, 1995 August 22
16. New York State Assembly Citation upon the occasion of her receipt of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Plaza Health Center, 1996
17. Plaza (Health Center) Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996 November 7
Box 3:
Folder:
1. Who’s Who of American Women, 5th edition, The A. N. Marquís Company, 1968-1969 (includes entry on Benderson, pg. 96)
2. Syracuse Jewish Federation Women’s Division Campaign Chairwoman ceramic plate mounted on wooden plaque and Ester and Joseph Roth Award (2 pieces), 1983-1984, 1984 June 14
3. City of Syracuse Day to Honor Ida Benderson proclamation, 1974-1999, 1999 April 7
4. Alpha Omicron Pi celebration, undated.
5. Arthritis Foundation Distinguished Service Award, undated.
6. Jim Hanley M.C. autographed photograph, undated.
7. Key to the City of Buffalo, NY, undated.
8. National Council of Jewish Women- One Woman Can Make a Difference article, undated.
9. New York State Office for the Aging certificate of appreciation, undated.
10. Women’s Executive Council-New York State Fair badge, undated.
_________________
Footnotes
1. Who’s Who of American Women, 5th ed. (Chicago: A. N. Marquís Co., 1969), 96.
2. Jennifer Jacobs, “Advocate Ida Benderson, 98, Dies,” Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Jan. 23, 2002.
3. Obituary of Ida O. Benderson, Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Jan. 25, 2002.
4. Emily Kulkus, “Final day at Syracuse’s Ida Benderson Senior Center is upbeat, bittersweet,” Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), Oct. 1, 2011.
© 2001-2006 Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association, Inc.
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