Guide to the Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai collection, undated, 1823-1888
*P-70
Processed by Felicia Herman
American Jewish Historical Society
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th 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 Felicia Herman as MS Word document, August 1995. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on June 26, 2009. Finding aid written in English.
Descriptive Summary |
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| Creator: | Mordecai, Sarah Ann Hays |
|---|---|
| Title: | Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai collection |
| Dates: | undated, 1823-1888 |
| Abstract: | Consists of a commonplace book containing 102 manuscript poems (and 22 illustrations) apparently by contemporary poets, the majority of which are dedicated to Miss Sarah Ann Hays, including the work of Charles Fenno Hoffmann, Charlotte Meade Graham, and William Keating, an original water color of a view of Major Stephen Long's expedition party crossing the lower falls of the Winnipeg River by Samuel Seymour and other illustrative material; contains also 17 individual items among which are 3 original sketches, a pith drawing by Charlotte Meade Graham and a copy of an 1830 edition of Flora's dictionary. |
| Languages: | The collection is in English, French, and Latin. |
| Quantity: | .25 linear feet (1 half manuscript box) |
| Identification: | P-70 |
| Repository: | American Jewish Historical Society |
Biographical Note1
Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai (1805-1894)
Sarah Ann Hays was born on September 27, 1805 to Samuel and Richea Gratz Hays. One of her maternal aunts was Rebecca Gratz (see *P-8), the founder of the Jewish Sunday School Society, about whom Sarah published a book in 1893.
She married Alfred Mordecai, who served in the Mexican War, on June 1, 1836 in Philadelphia, and the couple had eight children, including Alfred Mordecai, Jr., an officer in the Civil War, and Laura, Miriam and Rosa Mordecai, whose papers are collected in the Mordecai family papers (*P-116).
As a member of the interconnected network of elite Jewish families of the early 19th century, Mordecai traveled in high social circles and was acquainted with many of the influential Americans - Jews and non-Jews - of the era.
Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai died on May 26, 1894, in Philadelphia.
1 Source: Malcolm Stern, First American Jewish Families.
Return to the Top of PageScope and Content Note
The papers of Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai include items relating to the life of this 19th century member of several prominent American Jewish families. Items include a commonplace book, a printed dictionary of plants and flowers, a pith drawing by Charlotte Meade Graham, several sketches, ephemera, poems, and correspondence.
The collection is valuable to researchers studying the Hays, Gratz, and Mordecai families, and Jewish women in the 19th century.
Of special interest is the commonplace book, which is visually stunning, illustrated throughout with color drawings and watercolors, and includes poems, songs, and favorite quotations, some written by Mordecai, but most written by friends, relatives, or others.
The collection contains a commonplace book, a published book, correspondence, drawings, pressed flowers, paper stencils, and slides.
The documents are in English, French and Latin.
The collection contains 19 items.
Return to the Top of PageArrangement
The collection is organized into a single series.
Return to the Top of PageRestrictions
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 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email:
reference@ajhs.org
Related Material
Material relating to the children of Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai can be found in the papers of the Mordecai family (*P-116). In the library of the American Jewish Historical Society is a copy of a volume written by Sarah Ann Mordecai, Recollections of My Aunt, Rebecca Gratz (Philadelphia, 1893), and other material relating to the Gratz family can be found in the Gratz family papers (*P-8).
Return to the Top of PagePreferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known);
Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai collection;
P-70; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.
Acquisition Information
Undetermined.
Return to the Top of PageAccess Points
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Subject Names:
- Graham, Charlotte Meade
- Hays, Sarah Ann, 1805-1894
- Hoffmann, Charles Fenno, 1806-1884
- Keating, William, 1846-1930
- Long, Stephen Harriman, 1784-1864
- Seymour, Samuel
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Subject Topics:
- American poetry
- Art
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Subject Places:
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- Winnipeg River
Container List
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
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