Most of the material in the collection dates from the second half of Freehof's life, the 1950s to the 1970s. The collection does include a copy of The Chronicles of Temple Emanu-El (1900) and a few other items dated prior to 1950 or after 1980. The majority of the collection, photographs and papers, was housed in 3-ring binders and photo albums that Freehof had arranged by organization or subject area. Freehof had labeled these binders Pioneer Women, Sol's Halacha, Shaare Zedek, and Sinai Memorial Chapel, and these titles were kept to identify some of the series. The material in the Dance and Music series was found, for the most part, in photo albums. The collection filled three boxes when it was donated but removing the photographs and papers from the binders and albums condensed it to fit into two boxes.

Florence Freehof was born on August 27, 1909 in Nebraska. Originally named Florence Goldblum, she also used Florence Barlow as a stage name, according to an interview done with her husband in 1976 (WJHC Collection 76-6, Eastern European Jews in San Francisco, 1/3). At 27, Florence married Louis J. Freehof, an attorney practicing and teaching at the University of Chicago and the University of Denver. In 1945 (1946?), Temple Emanu-El offered Louis Freehof the newly created position of Executive Director and the couple relocated to San Francisco.

Publication Rights It is the responsibility of the user to obtain copyright or publishing authorization from The Western Jewish History Center.

Access Collection is open for research by appointment only every Monday-Thursday, except for those Jewish and Federal holidays when it is closed.