Guide to the Mordecai family papers, undated, 1771-1907, 1980

*P-116

Processed by Marvin Rusinek

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16^th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.

Machine-readable finding aid created by Marvin Rusinek as MS Word document, July 2, 2009. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on July 2, 2009. Finding aid written in English.

Scope and Content Note

Consists of the papers of the following members of the Mordecai family: Moses Mordecai (1707-1781), a bill of exchange (1771), and letters of administration signed by Elizabeth Mordecai (1744-1804), Isaac Moses, and Barnard Gratz, and inventory of his estate, and the accounts of his administratrix (1781-1782); Jacob Mordecai (1762-1838), a discourse delivered at the consecration of Congregation Beth Shalome, Richmond, Virginia (1822) and a notebook manuscript "The Truth of Divine Revelation"; George Washington Mordecai (1801-1871), a stock certificate signed by him as president of the Bank of North Carolina (1863); Alfred Mordecai (1804-1887), four letters on military matters (1838-1859); Alfred Mordecai, Jr. (1840-1920), a commission as captain in the Ordnance Department, signed by President Abraham Lincoln (1864), and a letter of condolence (1870); Rosa Mordecai (1839-1936), three letters to Rosa Mordecai concerning Rebecca Gratz, who apparently served as the model for the Rebecca in Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe (1898-1905); Laura Mordecai (1837-1927), letters to her sister, Miriam, and brother, Alfred, about the Chicago World's Fair (1892-3); and Miriam Mordecai (1843-1923), letters to her sister, Laura, about a trip to San Francisco and Seattle for the wedding of their niece (1901), and about her trip to Europe (1907). Also includes a letter of recommendation written by Winfield Scott (1786-1866) on behalf of Capt. Alfred Mordecai, who was on his way to Paris on business.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16^th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

Related Material

Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai (P-70)

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Mordecai family papers; P-116; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

Acquisition Information

Gift, in part, of the Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation, 1979 & 1982. The Jacob Mordecai notebook was a gift of Dr. Y. H. Yerushalmi, 1980.

Note

Includes former P-282.

Access Points

• Subject Names:

  • Gratz, Bernard, 1783-1801
  • Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869
  • Lincoln, Abraham President, U.S, 1809-1863
  • Mordecai, Alfred, 1804-1887
  • Moses, Isaac, 1742-1818
  • Scott, Walter Sir, baronet 1771-1832
  • Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

• Subject Topics:

  • Dedication addresses
  • Jewish soldiers
  • Jewish theology

• Subject Places:

  • Chicago (Ill.)
  • Richmond (Va.)
  • San Francisco (Calif.)
  • United States -- Economic conditions
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1860-1865 -- Jews

• Document types:

  • Bills of exchange
  • Certificates
  • Correspondence
  • Inventories

Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.