HARRY GRAFF

HARRY GRAFF (November 17, 1882-July 1, 1968)

            This was the adopted named of Hershl Shnayder, born in Bialystok, Poland.  He studied in religious primary school, yeshiva, and with private tutors.  As a youth he was active in the Bund.  In 1902 he emigrated to England, lived for a time in London, and later left for the United States.  There he became an active leader in the Jewish socialist and trade union movement.  In more recent years he was involved in clubs for older persons connected to the Workmen’s Circle.  He began publishing in his youth and contributed pieces to Der fraynd (The friend), Byalistoker fraynd (Bialystok friend), a publication of the Workmen’s Circle Branch 88, in New York (1934-1950), Byalistoker lebn (Bialystok life), Tog-morgn-zhurnal (Day morning journal), and Byalistoker shtime (Voice of Bialystok) in New York—in the last of these, he published a variety of articles on the lives of laborers as well as feature pieces under the title “Zalts un fefer” (Salt and pepper).  He also published in Unzer heym (Our home) in New York (1946-1956), and elsewhere.  He was the author of several pamphlets on various labor issues, such as: Vos vet a cooperative bekeray far aykh oyfton? (What will a cooperative bakery accomplish for you?) (New York, 1919), 18 pp.  He used the pseudonym “Hershl Glates.”  He was living in Englewood, New Jersey.

Sources: Byalistoker shtime (New York) (January 1943); Y. Sh. Herts, 50 yor arbeter ring in yidishn lebn (Fifty years of the Workmen’s Circle in Jewish life) (New York, 1950), p. 386.