Children in War, 1991-2003
Drs. Roberta Apfel’s and Bennett Simon’s work with children began during their 1989-90 sabbatical year at the Hebrew University, and culminated with an international conference, “Children in War,” at the Freud Center of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In 1991, during the first Gulf War, Drs. Apfel and Simon returned to the Middle East and started interviewing a group of Israeli and a group of 8-year old Palestinian children, and then met with each group annually for ten years. The drawings included in the collection come from a children’s art studio at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, a studio founded by an art teacher Malka Haas, serving three generations of kibbutz children and still functioning. She kept the studio open for children during many wars, collected their art work and saved notes on copies of children’s drawings. Drs. Apfel’s and Simon’s recent interview about their community and humanitarian work can be watched here. A selection of drawings was on exhibit in the library in the fall of 2018. Check out this print-friendly exhibit flyer for more information. This archival collection consists of 1 manuscript box of annotated children’s drawings, photographs, slides, papers, books, and miscellaneous related materials. New photographs, newspaper clippings, and reprints have been added to the collection in July 2021.
Finding Aid for this collection is available here (viewing it requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Related BPSI Collections
Child Analysis Materials, 1926-1989
BPSI History Collections: Child Analysis Meetings, 1965-1975
Hampstead Nurseries Records, 1931-1948
Putnam Children’s Center Collection, 1942-1991
Putnam Children’s Center Photographs, 1958-1966
Related Sites
(1996). Children in the Junkyard, Childhood Education, 72:6, 345 351.
(2018). Modern pedagogy, local concerns: the Junkyard on the kibbutz kindergarten, Paedagogica Historica, 54:3, 355-370.
