Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle Celebrates 40 Years of Its Existence

The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, one of the leading English-Jewish publications in this country, today marked 40 years of its existence with the issuance of a special anniversary issue composed of 11 sections carrying articles on the development of the newspaper and the pioneering role of Jews in the settlement of Wisconsin.

The special edition also carries congratulations from Senators, Congressmen, Governor Gaylord Nelson, Mayor Henry W. Maier and other state and city officials, as well as greetings from the local non-Jewish daily newspapers. Irving G. Rhodes, the publisher, was the recipient also of other messages of congratulations from various personalities and institutions. The history of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and the role played by the newspaper in helping the growth of local Jewish communal life is outlined in a lengthy article by Edwarde F. Perlson, its editor.

The newspaper was founded in 1921 by Mr. Rhodes and Nathan J. Gould, both of whom came to Milwaukee from Detroit and established the community’s first English-Jewish publication. Mr. Gould, who died 20 years ago, is eulogized by Mr. Rhodes in a full-page article relating how the “couple of aspirant newspapermen” came to Milwaukee in 1920 “with little capital but plenty of youthful energy” and how the Chronicle has developed “as a newspaper recording the events of the day and as a fearless exponent of Judaism and a stronger Jewish community.”