Alpha Zeta Omega. Lambda Chapter (Ky.) Records, 1983-2015
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Alpha Zeta Omega. Lambda Chapter (Ky.)
Title: Records, 1983-2015
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 0.50 cu. ft.
Location Number: Mss. BD A456
Historical Note
The Alpha Zeta Omega pharmaceutical fraternity was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1919 as the “Dead Men’s Club.” It changed its name to Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) Fraternity at its first official gathering, held at the home of Abe M. Bernstein. In the 1920s, the fraternity expanded with the addition of both undergraduate and alumni chapters, and the central office was established in Cleveland. Throughout much of its history, AZO was a fraternal organization for Jewish pharmacists. The organization began admitting non-Jewish members in 1980. In the early 1970s, women were admitted to regular fraternity membership for the first time.
According to the donor of the collection, Jacob “Jake” Wishnia, the Kentucky Lambda Chapter of AZO started at the Louisville College of Pharmacy, which was absorbed by the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1956-1957. Wishnia graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1959 and later served as President of AZO Lambda Chapter.
The following history was written by Wishnia in January 2016, when the Lambda Chapter was closing:
“The Lambda Chapter of Alpha Zeta Omega Pharmaceutical Fraternity is closing its era. The Fraternity has 13 active remaining members. These are the ones who have continued to pay their dues till the end. They are Bill Klein, Sid Bederman, Donald Gordon, Leon Figa, Sid Figa, Merle Kaplin, Gene Miller, Charlie Rosenberg, Aron Schwartz, Sonny Steinberg, Jacob Wishnia, Simon Wolf and Arnold Zegart.
When the Pharmacy School moved its location from First and Chestnut in Louisville to the brand new school in Lexington, KY, the Alumni Chapter of Lambda was formed in Louisville. There were approximately 10 fraternity members to make that move. After that time, there were fewer Jewish students going into Pharmacy at the UK Pharmacy School. The fraternity was known for its Yom Kippur Break the Fast affairs, New Year’s Eve dances and many stag affairs.
Many local fraternity members held national offices, including Jake Chitlik, who served as national president. At that time, Yale Kessel attended many national conventions; Bob Goodman held the office of chaplain for many, many years; and I attended a national convention held at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills, of which I have fond memories to this day.
Our AZO chapter was able to contribute to many charities and scholarships over the years. Bob Goodman would order prescription empty vials and bottles in large quantities, store them in his basement and we would help distribute these by either fraternity members picking them up during meetings or helping deliver them to the many stores in many instances. This was probably our largest, continuing fundraiser.
Back in the early years, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, many AZO fraternity members owned their own pharmacies throughout Jefferson County and southern Indiana. Many of them were in close proximity to one another and yet they all made a living while being in competition with one another.
It would not be fair if we did not mention the wonderful, active AZO Auxiliary to which our wives belonged – some of whom were also pharmacists. They held many social activities and contributed to many charities as well.
So as our era of existence is ending, after awarding $5,000 to the University of Kentucky Pharmacy School and making small donations in honor of and in memory of our fraters and their families, we have chosen to make our last donation to the Jewish Community of Louisville’s Federation Campaign. At this time our donation of $649.58 will be matched by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Double Your Impact Challenge. We feel that we would like to make our last contribution for the welfare of the community.”
Sources:
Jacob Wishnia, “AZO Fraternity Is Disbanding,” 26 Jan. 2016, https://jewishlouisville.org/jewish-heritage-fund-for-excellence-federation-campaign-double-your-impact/
“The History of AZO from 1919,” https://www.azo.org/history
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of late-twentieth- and early-twenty-first-century records documenting the Kentucky Lambda Chapter of Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO), a national fraternal organization for Jewish pharmacists.
Folders 1-5 hold various AZO National and Lambda Chapter records. There are AZO manuals and handbooks (folder 1), a Lambda Chapter membership ledger (folder 2), and financial records (folder 5). A small amount of miscellaneous correspondence includes a letter to Lambda Chapter members from President Jacob “Jake” Wishnia in late 2015, when the Chapter was closing. The letter suggests donating the remaining money from the chapter’s bank accounts to the Jewish Federation of Louisville (folder 3). Miscellaneous records include a few meeting agendas and newsletters from 1996, directories for AZO chapter officers, and information from 2013 about a University of Kentucky scholarship sponsored by the AZO Lambda Chapter (folder 4).
Folder 6 is a research file compiled by Jake Wishnia and Harold Gordon (both Jewish pharmacists from Louisville, Kentucky), consisting primarily of copies of twentieth-century photographs of Jewish-owned drugstores in the area. Among the drugstores represented are Wish’s Drugs (owned by the Wishnia family), Gordon Drug, Simon’s Pharmacy, Model Drugs, Post Office Drugs (owned by the Waldman family), and 8 Mile Pharmacy (owned by Carolyn and David Kreitman).
Related collections:
Alpha Zeta Omega. Lambda Chapter (Kentucky) photograph collection [024PC9].
Folder List
Box 1
Folder 1: AZO manuals and handbooks, 1983-2007
Folder 2: Membership ledger, 1990-1997, 2001-2002
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence, 1996-2015, undated
Folder 4: Miscellaneous records, ca. 1994-2013
Folder 5: Financial records, 2001-2011
Folder 6: Research file on Louisville Jewish pharmacies, 1992 and undated
Subject Headings
Alpha Zeta Omega.
Drugstores – Kentucky – Louisville.
Family-owned business enterprises – Kentucky – Louisville.
Greek letter societies – United States.
Jefferson County (Ky.)
Jewish pharmacists – Kentucky – Louisville.
Jews – Kentucky – Louisville.
Louisville (Ky.)
Pharmacists – Kentucky – Louisville.
University of Kentucky.
