Jane Kessler Buchsbaum, b. 1937

Jane Buchsbaum began her work in New Orleans as a member of an interracial coalition to desegregate public schools called Save Our Schools. She counts Helen Mervis as a primary mentor. Mervis engaged Buchsbaum in work modeled on a Kansas City program, The Panel of American Women. Buchsbaum toured churches and clubs with African American women, two of whom were Blanche Francis and Eileen St. Julian. The group discussed personal experiences of discrimination. Buchsbaum also worked in another interracial coalition, the Community Relations Council (CRC) that integrated Audubon Park and the State Science Fair. Buchsbaum cites her association with African American activist Olga Jackson in support of a Men’s and Boys’ club in the Lower 9 Neighborhood as an important part of her NCJW presidency, which was from 1972-1974. As the first woman director of the Jewish Federation, Buchsbaum helped bring Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jewish communities together under the Federation banner. She was a member of the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism, an interfaith, bipartisan coalition to turn back neo-Nazi David Duke’s electoral bid for national and statewide office.

For more information about Jane Buchsbaum, see the Kim Lacy Rogers Collection, 1961-1996 and the Louisiana Coalition Against Racism and Nazism records 2015 and 2016 addendum,1952 – 1996 and 1988-1999, Amistad Research Center.

Jane Buchsbaum: Judaism