Subject: Texas History

This collection comprises three items: a letter dated December 8, 1876, from I. Dreyfus, a dry goods merchant in Marshall, Texas, to a law firm in Tyler, Texas; a billhead from the National Bank of Jefferson in Marshall, Texas (undated); and an envelope addressed to James Turner in Tyler, Texas, with a return address for I. Dreyfus, Robertson & Herndon in Marshall, Texas (undated). The letter details a lawsuit, mentioning Mr. Levy and D. Doppelmayer, who appears to manage Dreyfus's business. The collection also includes a cover with a blue Marshall postmark and a list of cash sent to Jefferson totaling $9,766.00. The connection to Jefferson, Arkansas, is suggested by the presence of numerous Dreyfus family members buried in Jefferson County, Arkansas.

This archival item consists of a letter dated November 30, 1876, from D. Doppelmayer, a dealer in dry goods and general merchandise in Marshall, Texas, to the law firm Robertson & Herndon in Tyler, Texas. The letter includes a $100.00 retainer for a lawsuit. An accompanying envelope, postmarked in Marshall, Texas, is also included. The envelope is undated. The letter provides insight into business practices and legal proceedings in 19th-century Texas. Note that D. Doppelmayer was later President of Adath Israel Synagogue in Marshall, Texas when it was formed in 1887.

A one and one-half page personal letter from Hannah Dyer to Isaac Leeser, written in Galveston, Texas on January 20, 1855. Dyer expresses gratitude to Leeser for publishing memorials in *The Occident*, comments on Leeser's western trip, and mentions an upcoming visit to Philadelphia. This letter represents scarce early Jewish Texicana. Hannah Dyer was the sister of Texas patriot Leon Dyer and married Henry Symonds. The Dyer siblings were early settlers of Galveston (1830) and close friends of Isaac Leeser.

This letter, dated March 14, 1898, was written by M. H. Epstein from Luling, Texas, to J. N. Nixon. Epstein acknowledges the receipt of funds to settle a claim against an estate.

A five-page letter written by Phineas DeCordova to the law firm Riker & Riker on March 5, 1879, in Austin, Texas. The letter details questionable dealings by the trustee, Fred Lewis, of the S. De Cordova estate and mentions Ada Henriques (née Cordova), the wife of S. De Cordova. DeCordova also mentions his land office, established in 1848.

Issue of the New-York American newspaper, published in New York, New York, on December 11, 1841. This issue includes a mention of 1st Lieutenant Levi C. Harby's appointment to the Revenue boat at St. Mary's, Georgia.

Pay voucher dated December 31, 1874, from Brownsville, Texas. Signed by Capt. James N. Morgan, a Buffalo Soldier, and endorsed by G.M. Raphael, who would later become Brownsville's first Jewish mayor. The voucher suggests a financial transaction between Morgan and Raphael.

This issue of *Flake's Bulletin*, a daily newspaper from Galveston, Texas, dated March 5, 1868, contains various local and telegraphic news, market reports, and numerous advertisements. Notably, it includes an announcement for a meeting of the "Hebrew congregation" at Goeppinger's Hall, which was the precursor to Congregation B'nai Israel. Advertisements from various Jewish merchants, including lawyer Henry Jacob Labatt, are also present. The newspaper is formatted with multiple columns of text, typical of mid-19th century periodicals.