Alice Lillie Seligsberg (August 8, 1873 – August 27, 1940) was an American

Zionist Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after ''Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...

social work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...

er, and president of

Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with nearly 300,000 members in the Uni ...

from 1921 to 1923.

Early life and education

Alice Seligsberg was born on August 8, 1873, in New York to Louis and Lillie (Wolff) Seligsberg. Her parents were affiliated with the

Ethical Culture Movement The Ethical movement, also referred to as the Ethical Culture movement, Ethical Humanism or simply Ethical Culture, is an ethical, educational, and religious movement that is usually traced back to Felix Adler (1851–1933).

, and the values of this movement guided Seligsberg throughout her life and career. She graduated from

Barnard College Barnard College of Columbia University is a private women's liberal arts college in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia ...

with a bachelor's degree in 1895 and did graduate work at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

and Friedrich Wilhelm University in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

Work with Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America

In 1918,

Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with nearly 300,000 members in the Uni ...

founded the

American Zionist Medical Unit American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, with Alice Seligsberg in charge of its administration. From 1921 to 1923, she served as Hadassah's national president. She was later an honorary associate of the national board. In 1920, Seligsberg was instrumental in founding Junior Hadassah; she served as adviser to Junior Hadassah from 1924 until her death.

References

External links

Guide to th
Executive Functions Records in the Hadassah Archives (RG 13)
at the

American Jewish Historical Society The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) was founded in 1892 with the mission to foster awareness and appreciation of American Jewish history and to serve as a national scholarly resource for research through the collection, preservation an ...

at the

Center for Jewish History The Center for Jewish History is a partnership of five Jewish history, scholarship, and art organizations in New York City: American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute New York, Yeshiva University Museum, ...

. American Zionists Barnard College alumni Zionist activists 1873 births 1940 deaths {{US-activist-stub