History of the Progressive Musical Benevolent Society of New York

The Progressive Musical Benevolent Society was a mutual aid and burial society in New York City which counted among its members many of the celebrities of old American klezmer music, as well as upwardly mobile musicians who left klezmer behind. Most of its members were Yiddish-speaking immigrant musicians from the Russian Empire, but many were children of immigrant klezmer musicians who were born in New York City. The PMBS changed over several eras of New York Jewish life, from its start as a labour union, to a mutual aid and social organization, to mainly being a burial society after WWII. Through an online exploration of Dan Carkner's archival research and Dave Levitt's family lore, this talk will explain how and why it was formed, what its purpose was, and who some of its notable members were.