The Collection

The October 27 Archive currently contains 1333 objects and is regularly being expanded with more material. The archive includes flyers and programs from community gatherings held since the October 27 attack, a comprehensive collection of news coverage about the day of the event, oral history recordings reflecting a diverse array of experiences, and historical documentation about the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania.

Using this archive

You can view all the materials currently included in the archive using the browser below. Each object has been described and cataloged to help you discover materials, learn about these materials, understand the context in which these materials were created, and draw connections between different materials. You can refine the browsing experience using various filters, including creator, type, and subject. Some of these filters have already been used to create preset galleries, each organized around specific aspects of the archive. You can also look for specific words and phrase found in the archive using a keyword search.

 

View the collection

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Photograph showing selection of archival materials
Photo Credit
Photograph by Carly Lough

The Archive

The October 27 Archive currently contains 1333 objects and is regularly being expanded with more material. The archive includes flyers and programs from community gatherings held since the October 27 attack, a comprehensive collection of news coverage about the day of the event, oral history recordings reflecting a diverse array of experiences, and historical documentation about the Jewish experience in Western Pennsylvania.

Using this archive

You can view all the materials currently included in the archive using the browser below. Each object has been described and cataloged to help you discover materials, learn about these materials, understand the context in which these materials were created, and draw connections between different materials. You can refine the browsing experience using various filters, including creator, type, and subject. Some of these filters have already been used to create preset galleries, each organized around specific aspects of the archive. You can also look for specific words and phrase found in the archive using a keyword search.

Galleries

Galleries are pre-selected filters that provide a glimpse into the depth and breadth of the October 27 collection.
  • Oral Histories

    Western Pennsylvanians share their life stories and reflect on the impact of an antisemitic attack in a beloved Jewish neighborhood.

  • Breaking News

    Documentation of the October 27 attack as it was unfolding, told through news articles and oral histories.

Show filters

Primary Type – Cards

Secondary Type - Cards

Language – Cards

Date – Cards

Group – Cards

Location – Cards

Event – Cards

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (15)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote attributed to O.G. Mandino: "Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." Illustrated with the image of two stick figures, labeled "strength" and "failure" respectively standing on either side of a wall. The inside reads: "Dear Congregation of the Tree of Life, I am sorry for what happened and I hope everything gets better.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (16)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover features a large Star of David and contains the following quote attributed to Albert Einstein: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am sorry for your loss, and violence. I am a student from all the way from Denver, Colorado. So from all of us from Colorado we give you good wishes. Sincerely, Will [last name redacted]."

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (04)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. Front cover contains the following quote: "Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness and bad days give you experience." Shows three small Stars of David on the far left and a cartoonish illustration of a stick figure pushing a pull with a Star of David on top of a heart up a hill on the center right. Inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life Congregation, My name is Yahir [last named redacted] and we heard what happened and we want you to [k]now that we pray for you.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (20)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The cover contains a quote attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius: "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" in the upper left corner. The cover features a full-length illustration of a mountainous landscape with a deer at the center as the sun sets. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am sorry that someone would ever do that. We're thinking about you all the way in Colorado. I'm a student in middle school. My name is Erin.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (07)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover features the following quote: "Let your smile change the world but don't let the world change your smile." The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life Congregation, I am very sorry for the bad news. I am a social studies student in Goddard Middle School. I know the feeling of losing someone, and it must be a very hard time for you guys. just so you know we'll be there for you guys and you'll always be in our thoughts. Sincerely, Evangeline."

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (13)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote: "Let your smile change the world. But don't let the world change your smile." Illustrated with a Star of David below. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am sorry for the antisemitic attack on your place of worship. I hope this letter will you get through these hard times. I also hope the victims' families are doing well. We can get through this. - Sincerely, Goddard Middle School Student, Littleton, Colorado."

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (17)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front and back cover features the following quote: "Everyday may not be a good day BUT." The quote continues on the inside: "There is good in Every DAY!!" The card reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffr[e]y Myers, I am very sorry to hear about the shooting that has occurred. My best wishes for you all. -7th grade student from Littleton, Colorado." The message is accompanied by a large Star of David in the upper center.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (11)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover features the following quote attributed to the great ancient Roman orator, Cicero: "While there's life, there's hope. -Marcus Tullius Cicero." An illustration of a large Star of David appears below. The quote and illustration are outlined with a repeating pattern of blue and white lines. The inside reads: "Dear L'Simcha Congregation, My name is Olivia [last named redacted]. I live in Littleton, Colorado. I am Jewish.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (21)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front and back cover reads: "One of the happiest moments ever is when you find the courage to let go of what you can change." The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life Congregation, I am so very, very sorry for your loss (losses). I know what it's like to lose someone. I am Camden. I am a student at Goddard Middle School. I am 13. I think that what happened with the shooting was not ok. Just because people have beliefs that are different it doesn't give people the right to do something that.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (10)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. Front cover features a quote attributed to the fictional Sesame Street character, Cookie Monster: "Sometimes me think, what is friend? And then me say, friend is someone to share the last cookie with." Illustration of a smiling face with a long nose and blond hair appears below. Signed: "Fernando." The inside reads: "Dear Congregation, I am sorry for your losses. We are here for you all the way from Colorado. Sincerely, Fernando Littleton, CO." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (14)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote: "All stars are in the dark and darkness dies in the light." The quote is accompanied by two illustrated five-pointed stars. Inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am so sorry for your loss. Just know that people all the way from Colorado support you and are helping you through this. With love -Josh [last name redacted], Littleton, Colorado."

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (19)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front and back cover contains the following quote attributed to the medieval Persian poet, Rumi: "Don't grieve, anything you lose comes around in another form." The words in the quote are overlaid with red, green, and blue shading. A large Star of David enclosed by three circles appears below. The upper flap inside reads: "Just because the light stopped shining, doesn't mean we're stuck in darkness. The moon comes out, but the sun still comes up every day.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (09)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote: "The secret of CHANGE is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." An illustration of three flowers flanked by trees on either side, and a Star of David, appear below. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am a 7th grade student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Colorado. I am sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Josie [redacted], Littleton, Colorado." The signature is accompanied by a heart.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (24)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover contains the following quote attributed to the movie star, James Dean: "Dream as you'll live forever, live as you'll die today." A Star of David appears below. Another quote, attributed to the author, August [middle initial and last name redacted] appears on the bottom right: "An empty box in an empty room is hard to fill, but over time it fills slowly..." An open, empty box appears above.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (06)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. Cover features an illustration of an American flag and Israeli flag flanking a budding plant in the lower center, and a bilingual quote in English and Hebrew attributed to Ghandi in the upper center. In English, the quote reads: "Be the change you want to see in the world." The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I am so sorry for your loss. It breaks my hear to hear about acts of Anti-Semitism. I am keeping you and your congregation in my heart and prayers.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (08)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover features the following quote: "No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted." An illustration of a rainbow appears below. The inside reads: "Dear Tree of Life Congregation, I am sorry for your loss. I am writing to you from Colorado. I would like you to know people far away care for you. I may not believe in Judaism but I believe your heart is in the right place. Sincerely, Uyen [last name redacted], Littleton, Colorado."

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (23)

Handwritten card from a student at Goddard Middle School in Littleton, Co. The front cover reads: "F.e.a.r. has two meanings- Forget everything and run OR Face everything and rise. The choice is yours." A star of David and cartoonish illustration of a smiling boy wearing a red baseball cap appear below; a shining sun in the upper right corner. The inside reads: "Dear Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, We are sorry for your loss and we hope you are recovering well. -Aiden G. Littleton, Colorado." Spelling errors corrected for clarity.

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Gifts

Goddard Middle School (Littleton, Co.) card (02)

Envelope addressed to Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life. Front cover of the enclosed Hallmark card features floral imagery and says "Thinking of You." Inside reads: "My only connection to each of you is that of a fellow caring, loving human spirit that has the incredible gift of being able to learn and exist with all other living beings on this Earth. Even though that is my only tie to each of you, it is strong enough to share in your sadness and loss..." Continues on the back: "As a community and as a fellow human. May love always conquer hat and fear.