Strean, Lyon P.

[Scrapbook Compiled by Prominent Jewish Doctor With Section Devoted to His Visit to Israel in 1948.]

Various places: 1948-1955. 10¾” x 8¾”. Full faux leather over boards. 146 pages with 201 photographs, 42 news clippings, and 25 other items of ephemera. Most relevant photos measure around 2½” x 3½” and most are captioned. Album very good with moderate wear; photos generally very good or better.

This album was compiled by Lyon P. Strean who was originally from Montreal, and later was a resident of New Rochelle, New York. Strean was an accomplished dentist who also held a doctorate in bacteriology and published over 25 scientific papers throughout his career. He edited a medical journal in Brooklyn and wrote at least two books.

Strean was active in the Jewish community of Montreal where he was vice-president of Independent Order B’nai B’rith. Mount Royal Lodge. No. 729 and was later president of the Westchester, New York Lodge. A clipping in the album shows that he was also secretary of the New Rochelle chapter of the Zionist Organization of America. Over half the album includes family photos and news clippings which cover a brief period of Strean's career.

Importantly, a 14-page section is entitled “Remembrances From the Israeli War of Liberation May 15-Sept 1, 1948. Yomim Hazikoron,” and holds 87 photos taken in Israel. A full-page clipping in the album shared that Strean was in Israel for three months as a consultant to the Israeli government on public health. He gave a talk stateside where he described conditions in Jerusalem when the city was cut off from supplies and how he was involved in testing 24,000 refugees for sexually transmitted diseases. That article also mentioned that Strean had slides made of pictures taken in Israel to go along with his talks.

There are many images of Rehovot including birdseye views, the synagogue, a shot of people milling about in a market and one shows bomb damage. Other images of war include people rationing water, an air-raid shelter, a view of “No Man's Land,” and streets with road blocks. There's a shot of a Displaced Persons camp, one of a demolished building with the caption, “War in Israel 1948,” and another captioned, “Bus Station-Tel Aviv. Bombed at 6 p.m. 130 killed.” At least nine photos are celebratory and depict parades and rallies at a stadium for Independence Day. Other photos include several great street scenes in Haifa and a birdseye view of the city and seaport from Mt. Carmal. There are also a number of images in Jerusalem including the King David Hotel, several in Tel Aviv and several of kibbutzim.

A lively and well captioned album with many images of Israel soon after it achieved statehood. Very good. Item #7492

Price: $850.00