Subject: Philadelphia (Pa.) -- History

One-half page autograph letter, initialed J.C., from Chicago, Illinois, dated June 24th, 1857, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia. The writer requests that the dedication of the new Kehilah Anshe Mayrif cemetery in Chicago, along with a related German news clipping from the *Deborah*, be included in Leeser's *Occident*. This letter is notable due to the rarity of early Jewish correspondence from Chicago, given losses from the Great Chicago Fire.

Broadside announcing a meeting or event of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia. Henry Phillips Jr. is listed as the Corresponding Secretary and Chairperson of the Numismatics Committee. Published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1868. Measures 9 3/4 inches x 5 3/4 inches.

One-page letter written by Jacob I. Cohen, Jr., founder of the banking house J. I. Cohen, Jr., & Brothers in Baltimore, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia on August 4, 1830. Cohen pledges to secure at least 25 additional subscribers for Leeser's forthcoming book, "Instruction in the Mosaic Religion," and promises continued support. The letter highlights the collaboration among Jewish leaders to strengthen Jewish education, with Leeser's book representing a key initiative. Background information on Jacob I. Cohen, Jr. details his family's history, his prominent role in Baltimore's Jewish community and municipal life, and his involvement in various public enterprises.

Carte-de-visite (CDV) photograph of Jacob Liebman, father of L. Liebman. The photograph was likely taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1860. This item is from the collection of Judaica Americana.

Two carte-de-visite (CDV) photographs of Abraham Sulzberger, a hazzan (cantor) and co-founder of the Jewish Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The photographs are undated, but circa 1875 based on the donor's information. They were taken by Menderoth & Co.

Carte-de-visite (CDV) portrait photograph of Leon Liebman, taken by Frederick Gutekunst at his studio located at 704 and 706 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The photograph is undated, but based on Gutekunst's career, it is estimated to be from around 1875.

Pair of sepia-toned oval cartes-de-visite portraits of Leopold and Mrs. Sulzberger. Photographs taken circa 1865 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A court brief written for the defendant in the case of *Wistar, Richard v. Nedrow, Thomas et al.*, prepared for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and signed by Moses Levy on March 7, 1795. The brief is part of a larger legal collection.

Part-printed court document from the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated January 15, 1841. The document concerns a published notice regarding Peter Parker, an insolvent debtor. It is signed "S. Hart", Prothonotary.

Printed death certificate for Jacob Solis-Cohen, a Civil War officer, lecturer at Jefferson Medical College (1867-1927), and pioneer in medicine. Issued in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1895.

Pen-and-ink parchment deed dated March 30, 1817, in which Jonah Thompson, a Philadelphia merchant, conveys a tenant warehouse and lot located on the east side of Delaware Front Street, between Walnut and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Gratz and Henry Sergeant, both merchants, for $6,250.00.

Deed from George Wescott to Jacob Weissert concerning land in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated September 1, 1785. The land description mentions property adjacent to land granted or intended for Haym Salomon.

Deed conveying land from Matthias Levy and Hugh Levy to Joseph Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated October 8, 1794. The deed describes land adjoining land granted to Hugh Levy on September 22, 1794. This is one of nine contiguous documents.

Financial record pertaining to Michael Gratz and Allen McLean in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated June 8th and June 23rd, 1773. The record includes a reference to Procter & Gamble advertising on the cover and an address: 1015 Arch Street, P.O. Box 1164. This item is part of Manuscript Collection 1410.

A stoneware jug advertising Greenberg & Dichter, wholesale dealers in importing wines and cordials. Located at 938-40 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The date is estimated to be circa 1910 based on the donor's information.

Silver Kiddush cup inscribed "Humbly Presented to the Right Honourable Benjamin Nones for his Dedicated Service to the Jewish Community of Philadelphia." This presentation piece honors Benjamin Nones (1757-1826), a significant figure in early American Jewish history and a veteran of the American Revolution. The cup has been exhibited at prominent institutions, including the Skirball Cultural Center, the American Jewish Archives, and the Museum of American Jewish Heritage. Its image was featured in the 350th-anniversary book presented at a dinner attended by President George W. Bush. The inscription reflects Nones's contributions to the Jewish community of Philadelphia and his service as an officer of the Society of Ezrath Orchim (the first organized Jewish charity in Philadelphia) and president of Congregation Mikveh Israel. The object's history also highlights Nones's political involvement and his outspoken defense against anti-Semitic attacks during the 1790s. This piece is considered an iconic object of early American Jewish life. See Sotheby's auction catalogue of October 2, 1992, in Tel Aviv, and the 350th-anniversary dinner book (September 2004).

A legal document pertaining to property owned by Rebecca and Moses Nathans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dated July 27, 1848. The document is unsigned by the Nathans.

A legal document from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated January 1, 1805. The document is a court case involving Moses Levy, and it bears the signature of J. Biddle, Esq. The document suggests connections to a prominent Philadelphia family.

A two and three-quarter page letter written by Dr. Alfred Stille to Dr. Isaac Hays on May 7, 1850, from Cincinnati, Ohio. Stille describes attending the American Medical Association (AMA) convention. This is the first of two letters from Stille chronicling the AMA convention; the AMA was founded in 1847.

A letter from Frederick Cohen, dated March 1, 1888, apologizing for the delay in installing a burglar alarm system. The letterhead features an illustration and the business information: "ELECTRICITY IN ALL ITS BRANCHES...ELECTRICAL & GAS LIGHTING.....CALL BELLS & BUGLAR ALARMS", 814 N. 21ST STREET, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A letter written by S. Valentine to Reverend Isaac Leeser from Charleston, South Carolina, on June 3, 1857. The letter forwards a preamble and resolutions, and includes a personal note expressing the writer's hope to see Leeser soon and conveying the family's wishes to be remembered.

Autograph letter signed by Samuel Judah to Isaac Leeser, dated August 12, 1856. Written from Vincennes, Indiana, the letter discusses Karaite Judaism, a book from London on the subject, and an order for a book with specific binding instructions.

Letter written by Solomon Moses to Herman Hendricks on March 3, 1828, concerning copper. Moses, active in Jewish affairs and married to Rachel Gratz (Rebecca Gratz's sister), was trained in his father Isaac Moses' counting house in New York City. The letter was sent from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to New York, New York.

A one-page, stampless letter dated May 21, 1792, written by Solomon Raphael from Philadelphia to Daniel Clymer in Reading, Pennsylvania. The letter concerns the collection of a debt owed by a Mr. Zeanley. The body of the letter is in a hand other than Raphael's, but it is signed by him. The letter includes a docket by Clymer.

Letter dated April 23, 1854, from the Board of Managers of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia to A. Hart, instructing him to call a special meeting to overturn a vote of censure against Isaac Leeser and to express appreciation for his past services. This letter reflects the complex relationship between Leeser and the congregation, marked by earlier disagreements and a subsequent reconciliation.

Levytype Company portrait of Hyman Gratz, a prominent Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist. The oval portrait shows Gratz in a seated pose, with a facsimile signature. The print measures 6" x 9", with the image itself being 3.5" x 4.5". Created circa 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Early molded glass soda bottle from the London Bottling Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The bottle features the company's address ("520 So. 3rd St.") and the message "WHEN I AM EMPTY SEND ME HOME" molded into the glass. The initials "M.S." and the name "M. SUGARMAN" are also molded into the bottle. Circa 1885.

Issue of the National Gazette and Literary Register newspaper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated August 28, 1821. This issue contains mentions of a model of an Onalashka with bow and arrows, a fragment of the temple of Minerva by Levy, a drawing by Albert Davis at the Deaf & Dumb Institute, a gold coin of Portugal by M. Furst, and other news items. The newspaper was donated to the Franklin Institute. The issue highlights the work of Moritz Furst, a Jewish Hungarian engraver and medalist who worked in Philadelphia.

A handwritten note on Continental Hotel stationary by Isaac Israel Hayes, dated March 13, 1864. The note is written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Notice to creditors regarding the estate of Michael Gratz, published in the *Legal Intelligencer* newspaper on February 22, 1850, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This notice is found within Volume C, Page 24 of the Gratz Collection.

Issue of the Occident and American Jewish Advocate, Volume XVIII, Number 32, published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 1, 1860. This newspaper includes an advertisement by S. N. Carvalho.

Newspaper clipping from the *Pennsylvania Gazette*, January 14, 1784, featuring an article concerning Joseph Cauffman, a landlord who evicted early congregants of Congregation Mikveh Israel from their Cherry Street building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The article also notes that Cauffman may not have been Jewish. A Simon Cauffman is mentioned as a donor to Rodeph Shalom in 1811.

This item is a post-Civil War trade token issued by Pfaelzer Bros. Wholesale Jewelry, located at 421 Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The obverse features the inscription "PFAELZER BROS. WHOLESALE JEWELERY, 421 MARKET ST., PHILADA." The reverse depicts a Liberty Bell and the inscription "U.S. TOKENS 1700.1900". The token's description notes a discrepancy with the listing in Rulau's book "U.S. Tokens 1700-1900", specifically mentioning a "B" instead of a "C" on the obverse. The name Pfaelzer Bros. is listed in the Philadelphia Jewish Hospital Association records. The token dates from the period between 1876 and 1900.

Printed return address envelope with the address 600-606 Chestnut Street, Ledger Building. The envelope is dated January 1, 1903. The names Albert J. Bamberger, Julius J. Bamberger, and Julius C. Levi are associated with this envelope.

A receipt for an offering of $0.78 to Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The receipt is signed by Hyman Gratz, acting as gabay (treasurer) for the congregation, and witnessed by Solomon Cohen. The date of the receipt is October 10, 1832.

This document contains the signatures of Amos and Rachel Phillips. The donor notes that the Phillips family was a large and old Jewish family in Philadelphia. The date of the deed is June 16, 1853. The document's location is M/OOS Box 1, Folder 2.

Silver Kiddush cup presented in 1825 to Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Engraved in Hebrew and hallmarked G. Greenleaf. The bottom is engraved "R. G." (Rebecca Gratz). Exhibited at various museums including the Library of Congress, the American Jewish Archives, the Skirball Museum, and the American Jewish Historical Society between 2004-2006 and at the Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia (2010-2011).

Stock certificate for one share in the Northern Liberties Gas Works, made out to David Samuel, trustee for Henry, John, Eleanor, and Clara Samuel. The certificate is dated May 14, 1847, and was issued in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The certificate is not signed by the Samuel family.

Stock transfer document for the Northern Liberties Gas Works, the first gas works in the United States. The document is signed by Gratz Joseph, Chairman of the Board, and bears the date March 1, 1845. The document consists of five transfers on a single sheet. The document notes a connection to Mikveh Israel. Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Found in Arc.MS.56, Volume B, Page 19.

Issue of *The Independent Gazetteer, or, The Chronicle of Freedom*, a newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 6, 1784. This issue includes advertisements, notably one placed by Haym Solomon for an apprentice. Moses Cohen and Benjamin Nones are mentioned as executors of Solomon's estate.

Full-page memorial to Isaac Leeser in the Jewish Messenger, published February 7, 1868, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York. The newspaper includes contributions by S.M. Isaacs.

A book detailing the first fifty years of the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Published in Philadelphia by the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia in 1928. The book includes photographs and spans 147 pages. It measures 21 cm. This copy was purchased with accession number 13.1677.

Whiskey jug with the inscription "Harry Grossman, 550 North Second Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania." The exact date of manufacture is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 1910 based on stylistic analysis and other relevant contextual clues.