Chicago’s largest and most active Jewish educational and recreational center, the Jewish People’s Institute, has closed its doors to make way for a public school.
The center, which has served tens upon tens of thousands of men and women of all ages, was built in 1927 at a cost of $2,000,000. It was recently purchased by the Chicago Board of Education for $300,000. The JPI was an agency of the Jewish Federation of Chicago. At the time it was opened, the JPI was the largest and most modern center of its kind in the United States.
Over the years, the center has featured varied programs including theatrical productions, lectures, forums and a multitude of clubs. At one time during the depression, when the City of Chicago was forced to close down its junior colleges because of financial inability to operate them, a People’s Junior College was opened at the JPI and was operated until 1963 when the city was again able to assume financial sponsorship of its junior college program. The program of activities which was in operation at the JPI when it closed will be continued in other Jewish community centers in this city.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
