The material in the collection, which documents the story of Hadassah, dates from approximately 1900 and includes over 600 linear feet of documents, publications, microfilm and audiotape, as well as an extensive collection of photographs. The original idea for a women's Zionist fundraising organization came during a trip to Palestine that Henrietta Szold took with her mother in 1909. Upon seeing the poor living conditions in Palestine, particularly among women and children, Henrietta's mother Sophie suggested to Henrietta that her study group in New York do something to improve the living conditions they had seen firsthand in Palestine. Thus, the idea for Hadassah was born. The two-fold mission, which Hadassah still embodies, was included on the invitation to the first Hadassah meeting on February 24, 1912: "The propagation of Zionism in America, and the establishment of health and welfare for women and children in Palestine." Thirty-eight women met on February 24, 1912, during the season of Purim, at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. Many of the women who met that night were members of a Zionist study group, the Hadassah Study Circle. At that first meeting, they decided to name this new organization, "The Hadassah Chapter of the Daughters of Zion." The name "Hadassah" was retained because it was the Hebrew name for Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story. It is also the Hebrew name for the myrtle, a hardy plant, which has remained an integral part of the Hadassah logo. By 1916, the name of the organization had officially changed to, simply, HADASSAH.