I don't recall seeing anyone mention the Spertus Museum in Chicago.  In addition, most large cities have some kind of small Jewish history museum that would hold artifacts of local interest.  Synagogues, too, often hold collections of ritual objects, garments, tefillin, Torahs and their covers, plates, etc.  Look for the oldest synagogues in older cities, especially port towns and river trade communities (for example, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation was founded in the 1850s but Cincinnati's synagogues are much older, and the Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI is the oldest synagogue still extant-dates from the early 18th century).  Sephardic congregations have the loveliest things.  Finally, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum chronicles the history of the tenants of one particular building, most of whom seem to have been Jewish.  Not much material culture there, but family history.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Malia Baron [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Thursday, March 23, 2000 4:03 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: Jewish Material Culture

In addition to the much larger institutions, please don't overlook the Judah
L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley.  The Magnes houses a unique collection of
Judaica primarily, although not exclusively, related to Jewish history in the
West.  They also happen to house the Western Jewish History Center, a
wonderful archival resource with an accompanying library.  I do believe they
have a web-site.
-Malia Baron

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