National Refugee Service

The National Refugee Service (NRS) was an American refugee-aid organization founded in New York City on May 15, 1939, during the intensification of Nazi persecution and the growing displacement of Jewish and other refugees from Europe. It emerged from the National Coordinating Committee for Aid to Refugees and Emigrants Coming from Germany, commonly known as the NCC, which had operated since 1934 as a coordinating body for refugee-assistance agencies. The NRS represented a shift from a largely umbrella-based coordination model toward a more centralized organization able to deliver services directly to refugees while also supporting a nationwide network of cooperating agencies. The NCC had coordinated approximately 20 Jewish and non-Jewish refugee and social-welfare organizations and had helped create links among committees in nearly 500 American communities. These arrangements enabled refugees arriving through New York to be resettled in smaller communities elsewhere in the United States. By 1939, however, the increasing number and complexity of refugee arrivals had placed the earlier structure under strain. The NRS consolidated and expanded the existing system, adding direct casework, national planning, community coordination, research, and specialized professional assistance. Initially located at 165 West 46th Street in New York, the organization moved in December 1941 to its own building at 139 Centre Street. Its services covered many stages of refugee adjustment. Staff helped immigrants navigate admission procedures and immigration-law requirements, represented people facing deportation risks, provided temporary financial relief, arranged medical assistance, and offered social casework. Employment programs included vocational counseling, job placement, retraining, and loans intended to help refugees establish small businesses. The organization also developed specialized assistance for rabbis, musicians, physicians, scholars, social workers, and other professionals whose qualifications often did not transfer easily to the American labor market. The NRS retained a national resettlement function. Within its first year it expanded the network of cooperating communities by approximately 200 locations and maintained field representatives who traveled and communicated with local organizations. These representatives helped resolve problems involving migration, family support, employment, retraining, loans, and local community capacity. The organization also produced statistical studies, reports, newsletters, community bulletins, and special publications concerning refugee needs, immigration rules, government regulations, and changes in the international situation. Beginning in late 1941, its Community Relations department strengthened links with lay leaders and local communities. It formed advisory committees, coordinated relationships with community organizations, managed promotional mailings, and operated a speakers bureau. Specialized committees within the NRS addressed the needs of refugee musicians, foreign physicians, and Jewish ministers. The organization also provided financial support and maintained close working relationships with outside agencies serving displaced scholars, medical scientists, social workers, children, and other groups. Funding came principally through Jewish philanthropic networks. After the United Jewish Appeal was established, it became the NRS's main fundraising channel. The organization received approximately $2.6 million from the UJA during its first six months, a significant increase compared with the roughly $3 million raised for refugee needs in the United States during the preceding five years combined. Across its approximately seven-year existence, the NRS spent more than $15 million, most of it raised through the United Jewish Appeal. The NRS remained active through the Second World War and the immediate postwar period. In August 1946 it merged with the Service for Foreign Born of the National Council of Jewish Women to create United Service for New Americans. The NRS is therefore best understood as a historical nonprofit service organization rather than a contemporary consumer brand. Its legacy lies in integrating direct aid, legal and employment assistance, professional resettlement, community coordination, research, and national fundraising into a unified refugee-support system.

The National Refugee Service developed out of the American refugee-relief infrastructure created in response to Nazi persecution and the displacement of people from Germany and other parts of Europe. Its predecessor, the National Coordinating Committee for Aid to Refugees and Emigrants Coming from Germany, had operated since 1934 as a coordinating organization for approximately 20 refugee and social-welfare agencies. The NCC also helped connect New York-based assistance efforts with committees and organizations in nearly 500 communities across the United States, allowing refugees who arrived in New York to be placed and supported in smaller communities. By 1939, the number of refugees and the range of problems they faced had grown beyond what the earlier coordinating structure could efficiently manage. The National Refugee Service was established in New York City on May 15, 1939, to consolidate services and provide a stronger national operating structure. Unlike a body concerned mainly with coordination, the NRS worked directly with refugees while continuing to support local and specialized agencies. It began at 165 West 46th Street and moved to its own premises at 139 Centre Street in December 1941. Its program was broad. Immigration specialists helped refugees satisfy legal and administrative requirements. Legal personnel represented immigrants threatened with deportation. Relief workers provided temporary financial support, while medical and social caseworkers addressed health, family, and adjustment needs. Employment services offered vocational counseling, placement, and retraining. The organization also made loans to help refugees establish small businesses. Since many refugees had held professional positions in Europe, the NRS created or supported specialized programs for physicians, musicians, rabbis, scholars, social workers, and other professionals. Resettlement remained a central institutional responsibility. During its first year the NRS added approximately 200 communities to the existing network of cooperating organizations. Field representatives maintained communication with local committees and traveled to communities to address issues involving migration, family assistance, jobs, retraining, and loans. The national office also documented the refugee situation through reports, statistical studies, newsletters, community bulletins, and special publications. These materials circulated information about immigration policy, changing government regulations, international events, and the evolving characteristics and needs of the refugee population. The organization expanded its public and community-relations work during the war. From late 1941, the Community Relations department recruited lay participation, formed advisory committees, managed local relationships, and operated promotional and speaking activities. Its work complemented the NRS's service infrastructure by encouraging communities to accept responsibility for refugee settlement and integration. The NRS operated within a dense network of Jewish and non-Jewish agencies. It gave subventions to organizations addressing education, immigration policy, refugee scholarship, professional needs, family location, youth activities, and community adjustment. Close relationships existed with groups such as the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars, the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Medical Scientists, the Committee for Displaced Foreign Social Workers, the National Council of Jewish Women, German Jewish Children's Aid, and Selfhelp of Émigrés from Central Europe. In 1944, the NRS was among the agencies involved in establishing the Central Location Index, which centralized efforts to locate relatives and acquaintances in Europe. Fundraising was increasingly centralized through the United Jewish Appeal. During the NRS's first six months, UJA allocations reportedly totaled approximately $2.6 million. Over its seven years, the NRS spent more than $15 million, with most of the money raised through UJA-associated fundraising. These resources supported both direct assistance and grants or subventions to partner organizations. The NRS continued through the Second World War and the early postwar refugee crisis. In August 1946, it merged with the Service for Foreign Born of the National Council of Jewish Women. The resulting United Service for New Americans carried forward the work of assisting refugees and immigrants in adapting to life in the United States. The NRS's historical significance rests in its combination of direct casework, resettlement coordination, professional rehabilitation, legal advocacy, research, and nationwide community organization.

• 1946

  Merged to create United Service for New Americans

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  In August, the NRS combined with the Service for Foreign Born of the National Council of Jewish Women.

• 1944

  Central Location Index established

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The NRS joined five other agencies in creating a centralized service for locating friends and relatives in Europe.

• 1941

  Dedicated headquarters opened at 139 Centre Street

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The NRS moved from 165 West 46th Street to its own building at 139 Centre Street in December.

• 1941

  Community Relations department established

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  A new department organized advisory committees, managed local relationships, and promoted public participation in refugee assistance.

• 1939

  National Refugee Service founded

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The NRS was established in New York City on May 15 as a reorganization and expansion of the earlier coordinating structure.

• 1939

  National community network expanded

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  Within its first year, the organization added approximately 200 communities to the existing refugee-resettlement network.

• 1934

  Predecessor coordinating committee begins operations

  [1]National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org

  The National Coordinating Committee for Aid to Refugees and Emigrants Coming from Germany began coordinating refugee assistance agencies and community committees in the United States.

A nationally coordinated refugee-relief and resettlement organization combining direct social services with legal, employment, professional, research, fundraising, and community-network functions.

• Refugee services · 1939

  Immigration and resettlement assistance

  The NRS helped refugees navigate immigration procedures, meet legal requirements, and move from points of arrival into communities able to provide longer-term support. It coordinated with local organizations and maintained field representatives who addressed migration, family assistance, and resettlement problems across the United States.

• Social and legal assistance · 1939

  Legal and relief services

  The organization provided legal work for immigrants at risk of deportation and temporary financial relief for refugees lacking adequate resources. These services were integrated with medical aid, social casework, and assistance with the practical requirements of establishing a new life in the United States.

• Economic integration · 1939

  Employment and small-business assistance

  Vocational counselors and placement staff helped refugees find work, retrain, and adapt previous experience to American conditions. The NRS also issued loans intended to help some refugees establish small businesses and supported specialized employment programs for people whose European credentials or occupations required additional adjustment.

• Professional resettlement · 1939

  Professional refugee committees

  Special committees addressed the needs of refugee musicians, physicians, and Jewish ministers. The NRS also worked with organizations assisting displaced scholars, medical scientists, and social workers, helping preserve professional careers and connect specialists with American institutions and employment opportunities.

• Information services · 1939

  Research and information publications

  The NRS produced reports, statistical studies, newsletters, community bulletins, and special publications. These materials documented refugee assistance, described changes in the refugee population, and informed cooperating agencies about international events, immigration legislation, and government regulations.

• 1946

  Merge with Service for Foreign BornM&A

  Background

  The postwar environment required continued assistance for refugees and other newcomers, while related service structures could be consolidated.

  Action taken

  In August 1946, the NRS merged with the Service for Foreign Born of the National Council of Jewish Women to form United Service for New Americans.

  Aftermath

  The NRS ceased to exist as an independent organization, and its refugee and immigrant-assistance work continued within the successor organization.

  Source

• 1941

  Add a national community-relations functionStrategy

  Background

  Refugee resettlement depended on sustained participation by local communities and lay leaders.

  Action taken

  The NRS created a Community Relations department that formed advisory committees, coordinated local relationships, handled promotional outreach, and maintained a speakers bureau.

  Aftermath

  The department broadened public and community involvement in refugee assistance and helped connect the national office with local agencies.

  Source

• 1939

  Replace the coordinating-committee model with an integrated service organizationStrategy

  Background

  The predecessor NCC's network had become inadequate as refugee arrivals increased and assistance needs became more varied.

  Action taken

  The NRS combined national coordination with direct refugee casework, legal support, relief, employment services, professional assistance, research, and community development.

  Aftermath

  The organization expanded the cooperating-community network and became a central American institution for refugee resettlement and adjustment during the war years.

  Source

1. 1National Refugee Serviceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Guide to the Records of the National Refugee Service, RG 248yivo.org
3. 3Guide to the Records of the National Refugee Service, I-92ajhs.org