Subject: Jews in the United States

This is a lunar calendar covering the years 5566-5619 Anno Mundi (1806-1859 CE), authored by Moses Lopez and recommended by Rev. Mr. Seixas. Published in Newport, Rhode Island, by the Office of the Newport Mercury in 1806, it's considered the first Hebrew Almanac published by a Jew in the USA. This particular copy belonged to Rebecca Gratz, who inscribed it in 1808 and used it to record the deaths of family members in the margins. The calendar includes a table for determining Sabbath candle-lighting times for New York City, developed by Rev. Joseph Jessuran Pinto in 1759 and widely adopted by Jewish communities.

This pamphlet contains a valedictory address delivered by Reverend Moses Marcus on February 21, 1837, at the parsonage house in North Hempstead, New York. The address reflects on Marcus's time as a minister and discusses his dismissal, which he attributes in part to antisemitism and xenophobia. An appendix details the circumstances of his departure, highlighting conflicts within the congregation. Published by the Protestant Episcopal Press, this pamphlet offers insight into the challenges faced by a Jewish minister in 19th-century America and the early development of the Episcopal Church in Nantucket.

This three-page pamphlet is a congressional document (Doc. No. 10) from the 28th Congress, 1st Session, dated December 16, 1843. It presents the arguments of booksellers, publishers, and binders in favor of international copyright law. The document lists numerous booksellers, publishers, and binders from major cities across the United States. Of particular note is the inclusion of Samuel Hart Sr. (1805-1896) of Charleston, South Carolina, a prominent figure in the Jewish community, among the signatories. Notably, Samuel Hart (1810-1885) of Philadelphia did not sign the memorial.

This reference book, published circa 1901 by the Cigar Manufacturer's Protective Association, lists most cigar dealers and manufacturers in the USA, categorized by city and state. It also includes credit limits for each business. The Association's services included bad debt collection, at a cost of $25 annually. The book contains numerous names of Jewish business owners, highlighting the significant presence of Jews in the cigar industry.

First American edition of Joshua Montefiore's groundbreaking legal work, published in Philadelphia by James Humphreys in 1803. This octavo volume contains approved forms for business transactions and an appendix on legal principles related to bills of exchange, insurance, and shipping. Montefiore, a Jewish attorney, significantly revised this edition for an American audience, incorporating notes and legal principles specific to the United States. This precedes the three-volume 1804 edition owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Buff-colored Confederate States of America envelope addressed to G. A. Myers. Postmarked Orange, VA., September 8, 1863. Features a 10-cent blue Jeff Davis stamp. Gustavus Adolphus Myers (1822-1869) was a prominent Richmond Jew, attorney, and Confederate Consul to Great Britain. He met with Abraham Lincoln and was a close friend of Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate Secretary of War. The envelope's provenance reflects Myers's significant role in the Confederacy and his post-war negotiations.

This pamphlet is a reprint of an article from the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS) publication, number 22, published in 1914. The article focuses on the life and work of Judah Monis, the first instructor of Hebrew at Harvard University. The author, Lee M. Friedman, meticulously details Monis's biography, exploring his intellectual contributions, religious background, and his unique position in early American higher education. This reprint likely served to disseminate information about Monis's significant role in the history of both Jewish life in America and the evolution of academic studies in the United States.

A single-page letter written by Judah Hays on June 30, 1797, in Boston, Massachusetts. The letter is addressed to a Captain, likely of the schooner Boston, which was unlawfully detained in a French port. Hays discusses the unlawful detainment and the infringement of rights. This letter is significant due to its creation during a period of heightened naval tensions between the United States and France.

A print showing Judah P. Benjamin, a prominent Jewish figure and Confederate statesman, alongside Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. The print is likely from the period of the American Civil War (1861-1865), given the context. The image's caption includes details suggesting Benjamin's role as a confidant and Secretary of State to Davis.

Newspaper clipping from the Providence Patriot, published in Providence, Rhode Island on November 24, 1819. This clipping reprints an editorial from the National Advocate written by Mordecai Manuel Noah, responding to Pennsylvania Governor Findlay's declaration of a state day of thanksgiving for Christians. Noah satirically questions the exclusion of Jews from the governor's proclamation.

Supplement to Volume 15 of Volume III, New Series of Niles' Weekly Register, published in Baltimore, Maryland in 1819. This newspaper measures approximately 6-1/4" x 9-5/8" and contains 192 pages. Of particular interest to American Judaica studies are five pages dedicated to debates in the Maryland legislature concerning the "Jew Bill," proposed legislation aiming to grant Jews equal rights to Christians. Included are letters from Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison to Mordecai Noah (dated 1818), expressing their views on Jewish rights and citizenship, along with speeches delivered in the Maryland House of Representatives on the matter. The newspaper covers the period from September 1818 to March 1819. Additional content includes over 50 pages on the Florida Seminole War, featuring speeches from U.S. Congress members such as Cobb and Henry Clay debating the condemnation of General Andrew Jackson's actions, including the trial and execution of British subjects, and his occupation of Pensacola and St. Marks in Spanish Florida. The front page serves as an index to the contents.

This pamphlet presents the first report of the American Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews, published in New York in May 1823. Founded in 1820, the society aimed to improve the condition of Jews through colonization and evangelization. The report details the society's activities, fundraising efforts, and its approach to achieving its goals, highlighting the involvement of key figures like John Quincy Adams, who served as the 1st Vice President. It also discusses the role of a converted Jewish agent from Germany in the society's work. This report provides valuable insights into the early 19th-century American missionary movement focused on Jewish conversion.

This is a rare first edition of Peter Still's 1856 narrative, recounting his and his wife's experiences of over forty years of slavery in Kentucky and Alabama. The book includes an introduction by Rev. Samuel J. May and an appendix by William H. Furness, D.D. It uniquely highlights the involvement of Jewish brothers, Joseph and Isaac Friedman, in assisting Still's freedom before the Civil War. This narrative was later reprinted by the Jewish Publication Society in 1954.

Issue of The New-York Journal & Patriotic Register newspaper from September 17, 1790, featuring a letter from Moses Seixas of the Newport, Rhode Island Congregation to President George Washington, along with Washington's reply. This correspondence is considered highly significant in American Jewish history. Published in New York, New York.