Subject: Family History

Volume 1 of Bereishith, a Hebrew text with manuscript annotations. This book contains a family tree and Tikun Sophrim corrections. It belonged to Jacob I. Cohen, whose signature appears on folios 49, 50, 75, and 77, with further manuscript entries about his family on the free rear endpapers. The book was printed in Amsterdam circa 1760 and is from the library of Jacob I. Cohen, described by Max Whiteman as "one of the most important early US libraries to survive". Cohen (1744-1823) immigrated to the US in 1773, settling initially in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, then living intermittently in Richmond, Virginia (1781-1799) and Philadelphia. He was a founding member of Beth Shalom in Richmond and president of Mikveh Israel (1810-1811) in Philadelphia. He was a Revolutionary War veteran and conducted business dealings with notable figures like James Madison and Daniel Boone. In Richmond, he partnered with Isaiah Isacks (Isaacs) in merchandising, real estate, and slave trading.

Business card of Samuel Hart, listing addresses in Philadelphia (416 South 13th St.) and New York City (307 Broadway), and indicating a possible connection to Mikveh Israel Congregation. The card mentions a 'Club House Card' and notes a family relationship ('cousin of Isaac Levy/nephew of Lewis I. Cohen'). The card is dated circa 1858 based on the archival collection's context.

Certificate awarded to Gertrude Gottheil for completing a Music Gymnastics class on December 15, 1876. Accompanying the certificate is a handwritten note from Richard James Horatio Gottheil, dated May 13, 1903, to Gilbert Rich. The note indicates the certificate came from the library of Rabbi Gustav Gottheil, the grandfather of Gilbert Rich.

Original charcoal portrait of Frances Noah Hart, executed on October 16, 1840, by Alex Edouard. The 11 x 14 inch portrait depicts a seated Hart at age 82, her shawl and bonnet highlighted with silver. The artist's signature, "ALEX. EDOUART, Fecit OCT. 16'th, 1840," appears in the corner. A label affixed to the back of the frame identifies Hart as the aunt of Major M. M. Noah of New York, wife of Ephraim Hart of New York, and mother of Harriet Judith (wife of Benjamin Hart of Montreal). It notes her death in Montreal in 1843 at age 85 and mentions her as an aunt of Commander Uriah P. Levy, U.S.N. The portrait is housed in its original 15 x 18 bird's-eye maple frame. Accompanying materials include photostats of biographical sketches of Alex Edouard and Ephraim Hart.

Deed settling the estate of Michael Gratz. Dated October 25, 1819, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Signed by Rachael Gratz, Hyman Gratz, Benjamin Gratz, Joseph Gratz, Jacob Gratz, Simon Gratz, Ruben & Francis Etting, Samuel & Richea Hays, Sol. & Rachel Moses, and witnessed by Ellen Hays, Isaac Prince, and Abraham Myer Cohen.

Handwritten deed on vellum, conveying property from Abraham Hart and his wife, Rebecca C. Hart, to their son, Clarence A. Hart, for one dollar. Dated June 27, 1876, sealed, and notarized by Rudolph Smith.

Genealogical note detailing family connections among the Hart, Levy, and Cohen families. Mentions addresses in Philadelphia (236 South 36th St.) and New York City (No. 1 Barclay St.). Notes a merger in 1871 and a possible connection to Mikveh Israel. The date is estimated as 1850 based on the available information.

Manuscript genealogical research on the Lyons, Hart, and Cohen families, spanning the mid-1700s to the early 1820s. The document lists names, birth and death dates, and grave locations of family members. Compiled circa 1860-1880s.

Family register containing 36 entries recording genealogical information for the Simon, Moses, Gratz, Etting, Hays, and Phillips families. The register is inscribed within an 1802 Philadelphia edition of Matthew Carey's *The Holy Bible*. The first entry records the death of Joseph Simon in 1804. Many entries are in the handwriting of Rebecca Gratz, who owned the Bible. After her death in 1869, the inscription "We ne'er shall look upon her like again" was added, likely by her nephew, Horace Moses (1820-1893). The Bible's large format suggests it was intended for home use. Given that Jewish Bibles weren't printed in America at the time, Rebecca Gratz used this Christian Bible for recording family history. Numerous documents were tipped into the Bible. This bible and related materials came from the Nathan family archive in Canada. In the mid-20th century, a Philadelphia relative requested these items to write a book, but this was never completed. The items were donated to the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, with some items remaining in this collection.

Printed document detailing the final estate settlement for Jacob Florance and his wife, Mrs. Jacob Levy Florance. The 163-page document, dated January 24, 1872, in New Orleans, Louisiana, lists numerous claimants from around the world and includes references to the Florance, Minis, Cohen, and Levy families.

Five-page letter from Abraham Joseph in London, England to T.I. Tobias in New York, New York, dated December 20, 1820. The letter details economic conditions in Europe and family news from England, France, Ireland, and Jamaica. It also mentions the release of Nathan Joseph from prison after clearing debts.

A letter written by Catanach & Co. of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on June 15, 1881, to Don Felipe Chavez. The letter inquires about the price of a large quantity of sheep. The accompanying donor notes mention a family history involving the marriage of Marie Fresquez and the raising of their children in the Catholic faith. A family ancestor is noted to have written about merging Jewish and Christian traditions in relation to this marriage, and is possibly the same individual from Philadelphia who fought in the Civil War and was associated with a Jewish "Church."

A letter written by Edward Johnson Etting to D. C. Collins on November 21, 1835, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter discusses iron and axes and mentions Etting's family history, including his father, Reuben Etting (a Revolutionary War veteran), and his sons, Reuben (1842-1911) and Charles (1844-1910).

Three-page letter written by L. J. Sylvester in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Tobias I. Tobias in New York City, New York on November 17, 1854. The letter contains personal news and gossip about mutual friends and family, including a mention of Charles Tobias' illness. Sylvester discusses his plans to return to New York City by Christmas.

A letter from Rabbi Sabato Morais to an unknown recipient, dated circa 1885. The letter contains extensive genealogical documentation pertaining to Bamford Samuel. The letter is part of the Saul Wahl and Samuel Bunford family papers and was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Notarized Document – This document (10/29/1836), prepared and signed by the Consul for the Netherlands in NYC, deals with the claim of the children of the late Abraham Solomons Schoyers legatees under the will of Nathan Solomons (Schoyers?)of Amsterdam deceased. Rika Anderson (signed), as the Aunt of the children, swears that she is familiar with the family since the children's infancy and that there are no other living children other Raphael, Solomon, Jacob, David and Sarah.

Two playing cards: the Queen of Diamonds and the Jack of Clubs. The Queen of Diamonds card indicates an address of 236 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, while the Jack of Clubs card shows an address of No. 1 Barclay Street, New York City. Additional notes mention a cousin of Isaac Levy and nephew of Lewis I. Cohen, indicating a potential family connection and merging of entities in 1871. The cards are described as being made of brass. Miller PA-197A is also noted.

A set of two playing cards: the Queen of Diamonds and the Jack of Clubs. The Queen of Diamonds card is marked '236 SOUTH 36TH ST., PHILA.', and the Jack of Clubs card is marked 'NO. 1 BARCLAY ST., NYC'. Additional notations indicate a familial connection: 'COUSIN OF ISAAC LEVY/NEPHEW OF LEWIS I. COHEN...MERGED IN 1871'. The cards are described as being made of silvered brass. Circa 1855.

A collection of two playing cards: the Queen of Diamonds and the Jack of Clubs. The Queen of Diamonds card indicates an address of 236 South 36th Street, Philadelphia. The Jack of Clubs card indicates an address of No. 1 Barclay Street, New York City. The cards also contain a reference to a family relationship, noting a cousin of Isaac Levy and a nephew of Lewis I. Cohen who merged in 1871. The cards are made of brass. Circa 1854.

This is the ninth edition of Donald G. Mitchell's *Reveries of a Bachelor; or, A Book of the Heart*, published in 1851 by Baker & Scribner. This particular copy belonged to Israel Cohen (1820-1875) of Baltimore, who inscribed and dated it in 1851. In 1882, his daughter Eleanor Septima Cohen (1858-1937) added her bookplate, which incorporates Hebrew lettering and the Kohanim symbol, and inscribed the book as a gift to Dr. Julius Friedenwald. Dr. Friedenwald received the book after 1890.

Large silver wedding wine cup inscribed with the initials 'A.B. Maertz' and the dedication 'Seinen geliebten Eltern Fur silbernen Hochzeit, Jany 1st 1867' (To his beloved parents for their silver wedding). The cup lacks a hallmark. This piece comes from a collection passed down through a family of Jewish settlers who arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio around 1840. Cincinnati's Jewish community is notable for being the oldest west of the Appalachian Mountains. The current owners include the president of an international literary society, who has since retired from New Jersey to central Florida. The family and society's identities are being withheld at their request.

Watercolor painting depicting a genealogical chart of the Lippman, Elkin, and Levin families. The chart includes two monuments, one with a cross and the other without a symbol. It was discovered in the attic of a Pennsylvania German family in Lititz, Pennsylvania, circa 1850.