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The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (JSO) in Jacksonville, Florida, was founded in September 1949, and its sixty-three year history since reflects its development and current standing as a significant cultural resource. The collection provides historical documentation of the musical concerts and performances, and events and activities of the JSO from 1961 to date. The core of the collection are print ephemera, including event and performance programs, subscribers' cards and invitations, and publicity and news items. Of particular interest are source materials from the Grand Opening of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in 1997, and the Jacksonville Symphony Guild Designer Showhouses from 1977.

Arthur H. Jaffe was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania and graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. degree in Classical Studies. Arthur Jaffe has had several distinguished careers. From 1942-1946 he served in World War II as an Army captain in charge of a military intelligence unit. Following WWII, Mr. Jaffe went to Palestine, where he studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. While there he began working as a Haganah officer, gathering information which was helpful in the formation of the new state of Israel. Mr. Jaffe then had a successful 30-year career as a partner in the family owned business, the House of Jaffe, a chain of department stores in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. After the death of his first wife, Lois, Jaffe moved to Pittsburgh where he began a new career as Director of Planning and Development for the Carnegie Institute. He soon became involved in fund-raising in the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, where his success brought him to the attention of the Jewish Community Foundation of South Palm Beach County. In 1984, he and second wife Mata moved to Boca Raton where Arthur served as Founding Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of South Palm Beach County.