Subject: German-Jewish community

This billhead, dated February 16, 1877, records a transaction between Cahn, Wampold & Co.'s Clothing Department and M. Rohrbaugh & Moore of Kinmundy, IL. Cahn, Wampold & Co. is identified as Manufacturers and Jobbers of Clothing & Woolens, located at 56, 58, 60 & 62 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. The document itemizes various clothing articles such as suits, vests, and pants, listing quantities and individual prices, culminating in a total amount for the goods purchased. The billhead features elegant script for the business name and transaction details, with a prominent "Clothing Department" header and disclaimers about returns and claims. The overall design reflects the sophisticated commercial stationery of the late 19th century. The item notes that the business was recovering from the Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871. **3.

This billhead documents a transaction from Kingsbacher Bros., Manufacturers and Jobbers of Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Silverware, and Optical Goods, located at 132 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA, to Mr. & Mrs. Hunt of Uniontown, PA, dated May 15, 1883. The transaction includes items such as a "Nickel Cricket" and "Gold Band Rings," with a total sum due. A handwritten note indicates receipt of 1/2 oz of "701 G.B. Rings" and describes them as "entirely new." The document specifies "Net 30 days" as terms. The billhead features an elaborate lithographic illustration of the Kingsbacher Bros. building and ornate Victorian-style lettering for the business name and product categories, presented within decorative banners. An accompanying envelope is also present, printed with the business name and address. 3.

Trade Card - Excelsior Clothiers .....Comical re: mother-in-law......,,,verso full ad for one year birthday 3/27/1884...Excelsior Clothiers was a notable retail clothing store located at 201–211 Superior Street in Cleveland, Ohio, during the late 19th century. Situated in the Rouse Block, a prominent commercial building on the northwest corner of Public Square and Superior Street. Jacob Steinfeld was a prominent member of Cleveland's German-Jewish immigrant merchant class during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His success as a retail pioneer allowed him to help shape the city's early commercial landscape while becoming a major figure in its growing Jewish communal network. Operating under the banner of Excelsior Clothiers at 201-211 Superior Street, Steinfeld earned the newspaper moniker the "Old Reliable" clothier. His business was highly regarded for introducing high-volume, affordable, ready-made clothing to Cleveland's working class. Leveraging his retail wealth, he heavily invested in local real estate, hiring the renowned architectural firm Lehman & Schmitt to construct a massive multi-story commercial building on Woodland Avenue in 1891, as well as a large personal estate and barn complex on East 55th Street in 1889. As a highly successful businessman, Steinfeld was a key early member and patron of The Excelsior Club. Founded in 1872, the institution served as the primary social and cultural epicenter for Cleveland's elite German-Jewish community during an era when they were excluded from mainstream Gentile social clubs. Beyond social circles, his philanthropy extended deep into the community; he supported early Jewish orphanages, immigrant relief funds, and welfare charities recorded in historical registries like the American Jewish Year Book. Steinfeld's commitment to his community extended to preserving its history and honoring its dead. He was actively involved in the development and maintenance of Mayfield Cemetery, a landmark Jewish cemetery established in 1887 by the Euclid Avenue Temple and Tiffereth Israel congregations. Upon his death, he was interred there alongside his peers, cementing his legacy within Cleveland's Jewish history.

This trade card advertises Fels & Co.'s toilet soaps, including Lilly's. The card features a woman holding a bar of soap and standing in front of a mirror. [The Fels family were active in the German-Jewish community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and went on to found the brand Fels-Naphtha soap.] The back of the card is blank.