Archive Record

Metadata

Box / Folder

GET01

Folder Scope & Content

Gert Thaler Collection

Collection

Gert Thaler Collection

Collection Location

Special Collections & University Archives

Series

Papers, Personal

Dates of Creation

1930s - 1960s

Description

(GET) - Gert Thaler Collection - In 2008 Gert Thaler donated three scrapbooks: 1. Jolly Sixteen Scrapbook, (1930s-1960s). 2. San Diego Chapter of Hadassah Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, (September 1946 to December 5, 1947) compiled by Lillian Heiman, Publicity Chairman. 3. San Diego Chapter of Hadassah Scrapbook, (1948-1961). Thaler also donated personal photographs and biographical materials about her and her husband, Morton Thaler, including materials regarding the Women's Association of Allied Beverages Industries.
In 2010, the items from separate Jolly Sixteen donations were added to the Gert Thaler Collection. Those items consisted of a recipe book donated by Inez Jacobson and the 1927 publication of the "Daily Snooze" donated by Joyce Disraeli.
There is also a Shelley Family Tree, donated by Myron Shelley, Gert Thaler's nephew. See also Myron Shelley Collection. After Gert's death in 2012, her daughter Linda Neiman donated digital images of family photographs and documents. There are several digital interviews with Gert in the JHSSD's Oral History Collection.

Gertrude (Gert) Thaler was born in San Diego (1920-2012). She began writing her "Heart to Heart" column in the "Southwest Jewish Press Heritage" in 1934 when she was thirteen years old, which continued in that newspaper and in various other local Jewish newspapers until 2007. The daughter of George and Anna Shelley, she followed in her mother's footsteps, supporting all things Jewish in San Diego, in Israel and beyond. She was a local and regional leader of Hadassah; a founder and president of Adat Ami Synagogue (now Ohr Shalom Synagogue) and she was active in other congregations as well. Thaler worked on various committees at the Jewish Community Center, was the founder and first president of the Jewish National Fund in San Diego and was active in the United Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League. She knew about everyone and everything Jewish in San Diego, but her efforts and philanthropy did not stop there. She gave of herself to the city of San Diego, to secular organizations on the national level and to the city of Tel Aviv, Israel. She was also a Jewish Historical Society of San Diego member.

Anna Shelley, Gert Thaler's mother came to San Diego before 1916. She was married to Mr. I. (Klaskin or Klazkin) with whom she had four children. He died in 1916 and in 1919 she married George Shelley, a widower with nine children. Gert Thaler is the only child of George and Anna Shelley. Anna Shelley was a leader in the Jewish community, active in both Jewish organizations and congregations. See the Michael Naiman Collection, photos and Edith Naiman Diary, in 4/2022 still possession of JHSSD.

The Gert Thaler Collection consists of personal hardcopy photos and digital photos and genealogy documents. Scrapbook contents, photos, programs, clippings & invitations from Hadassah, the Jolly Sixteen and the Women's Association of Allied Beverages Industries.