Zelchenko, Henry L.
September 4, 1891-May 21, 1973
He was born in Rososne (Rasasna), near Dubrovno, Mohilev district, where his father served as rabbi and ritual slaughterer. He studied with his father and later as an external (auditor) student. Using the party name “Spartak” (Spartacus), he participated in the social democratic movement Iskra (Spark).
He published stories and children’s tales in the provincial Russian press.
In 1913 he moved to the United States and contributed to the Russian-language publications in New York: Novy Mir (New World) and Svobodnoie Slovo (Free Word).
In Yiddish he wrote for the Philadelphia edition of the daily Di Tsayt (The Times), and later he became a contributor to Frayhayt (Freedom) for which he edited the children’s division and published children’s stories in prose and verse. In 1925 he became a contributor to Tog (Day) and Amerikaner (American).
In 1930, he published a short story in Grininke Beymelekh (Little Green Trees), a youth literature journal, "Der Signal" (The Signal) beg. p. 8, a story that takes place in the USA, near St. Louis. (See full PDF in "Further Info" sidebar box.
He later abandoned Yiddish altogether.
In book form:
Yosl, Kinder Mayse (Yosl, Children’s Story), in verse (New York: Tsvaygn, 1925), 16 pp.;
Heymloze, a Mayse fun dem Lebn fun di Heymloze Kinder in Rusland (Homeless, a Story of the Life of Homeless Children in Russia) (New York: Shpil, 1927).
He also published two volumes of children’s stories in Russian.
He was the cousin of the Yiddish writers Shmuel-Mortkhe Zeltshen (Z. Mark) in Canada and Yude Zelitsh.
Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 1; Peter Zelchenko, grandson.
Death date May 21, 1973, age 79.
REPLY FROM LEXICON - Thank you. Writing to you to check his birthdate./sry
It is written that he was born in 1891. There is no death date. As a librarian who is cataloging his book Yosl it's important to know.
RESPONSE FROM LEXICON: Yes, we are working (slowly with volunteers) to research and update all of our more than 7600 entries! If you or anyone you know wants to help, please write us at lexicon@congressforjewishculture.org Thank you for your comment! /sry 5/8/26
All wonderful, additional information. Many thanks!
One other thing of relevance: In the early 1920's Zvi-Hirsch was involved for a long time with Moyshe Nadir and the rest of Di Yunge, who tended to spend weekends at the farm. YIVO archivist Lev G. scanned some old photos on this subject, mostly taken at Nadir's farm, and these photos are in the YIVO archive.
RESPONSE FROM LEXICON: Thank you for this comment. /sry
Hey, that's my Grandpa! Thanks for translating this from Yiddish, Joshua Fogel! His aliases were Grigoriy L'vovich, Henry L., and Hirsch-Zvi. (Note: Tsvi-Hirsch was not the "younger brother" of S. Mark Selchen (Winnipeg Selchens), but a cousin. They were also cousins of Judah Zelitch (Steven Zelitch), the Philadelphia jurist. All three are listed in Reyzen's Leksikon. All collaborated on various projects, including Camp Kinderland, Camp Boiberik, YIVO, Freeland League, and a newspaper or printing company they started in New York City. All modified the original name Zelichyonok Зеличенок (Александр Зеличенко) and the family hails from around Staroye Selo and Vetka, north of Gomel.)
RESPONSE FROM LEXICON: Thank you so much for your comments! We have updated the aliases and the brother/cousin issue -- and will reread this for more details to incorporate when we can. Apologies for the delay! /sry 5/8/26