Races, Jews: United States. New Jersey. Woodbine. Baron de Hirsch Agricultural and Industrial School: Woodbine Settlement 1891 - 1904: Exhibit VI: Baron de Hirsch Agricultural and Industrial School. Dairy Department. Separator Work. Possibly 22 - 24

Curator: At first glance, this document seems like a simple form, but it opens a window into a fascinating history. It's a dairy report made by Marcus Smulyan at the Baron de Hirsch Agricultural and Industrial School in Woodbine, New Jersey, dated January 22, 1904. Editor: The handwritten script gives it an intimate feel, like a personal record of daily life. The columns and figures—temperature, fat content—it feels almost like an attempt to bring order to the natural world. Curator: Indeed. This school was part of a larger effort to integrate Jewish immigrants into American society through agricultural training. The dairy, and this report, are symbolic of that transition, of rooting oneself in a new land. Editor: So, the meticulous record-keeping reflects a cultural value—perhaps a desire for control in an unfamiliar environment, or even a testament to the potential for renewal. Curator: Precisely. Smulyan's report, beyond just data, becomes a symbol of resilience and adaptation. The separator work, converting milk to cream, is transformative. Editor: Seeing the form presented this way really shifts my understanding of it. It’s about more than just milk; it's about transformation, community, and the making of a new home.