Subject: Ships

Broadside in Form of Currency - 1860's-70's Benjamin Shuman Advertising Facsimile Currency Patriotic Boy Flag & a Side wheeler with sails...21 South Main St., Providence, Rhode Island...Manufactuer/Wholesaler and Retailer of Clothing....successor to Louis Lewinson. Benjamin Shuman was Jewish, and his commercial and religious presence in mid-19th-century Providence is well-preserved in regional historical records. During the 1850s and 1860s, the bustling commercial district on South Main Street in Providence hosted several pioneering Jewish merchants. Benjamin Shuman operated a prominent retail clothing establishment here known as the "Clothing Bazaar". Historical documentation from Small State Big History reveals that Shuman purchased this store directly from Louis Lewisson, another foundational Jewish entrepreneur in Rhode Island. Under Lewisson, the shop became famous for issuing "advertising currency"-scrip designed to look like real bank notes to draw in customers. When Shuman bought the business, he modified the shop's original advertising woodcuts to explicitly feature Benjamin Shuman's name on the promotional handbills. He ran the shop successfully until selling it to Elisha W. Frank in the early 1860s. ] Benjamin Shuman belongs to the earliest wave of organized Jewish life in Providence. Rather than keeping his faith private, he was a vocal leader trying to build permanent communal infrastructure. His most notable documented actions include the 1857 Touro Fund Petition. On April 12, 1857, Benjamin Shuman and fellow merchant Abraham Wormser co-authored and sent a historic letter to Rabbi Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia. Leeser was the premier traditional Jewish leader in the United States and editor of the prominent Jewish monthly The Occident. In the letter, Shuman and Wormser formally inquired if the late philanthropist Judah Touro had left any bequeathed funds to assist small, emerging congregations in building a permanent house of Jewish worship. Furthermore, regarding his involvement in the founding community circle, Shuman is explicitly named in the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes on the exclusive ledger of the original "ten heads of families". These individuals were the primary Jewish residents who established the secular and religious footprint for the Providence Jewish community before the massive late-19th-century migrations

Bill of sale document dated July 5, 1845, detailing the sale of the brig ship J. Cohen Jr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The seller was J. Fifield, and the buyer was Andrew Crouse. The brig, built in 1837, was named for Jacob I. Cohen Jr., a prominent businessman, banker, and politician in Baltimore, Maryland. The document provides details about the ship's sale and includes biographical information about Jacob I. Cohen Jr., highlighting his career in banking, railroads, insurance, and politics, as well as his contributions to the Jewish community in Baltimore. The ship was lost in 1847 near Brazos, Santiago. Additional biographical information on Jacob I. Cohen Jr. details his birth in Richmond, Virginia (September 30, 1789), his family background (parents Judith Solomon and Israel I. Cohen; nine siblings), his career as a lottery broker, and his role in advocating for the removal of religious restrictions on elected officials in Maryland.

Invoice from I. Bartlett, a family grocery and feed store in Honolulu, Hawaii, dated November 23, 1868. The bill lists items purchased by “Europa Bank & Owners” for “Ship, Plantation, Family and Passenger Stores, &c.,” including: 1/2 lb. “Soup Prunes,” 1 lb. “S. Peas,” 1 lb. “Ion Salt,” 1 lb. “Y. Powder,” 3-1/4 lbs. “East. Gr. Apples,” 1/2 lb. “Jago,” 2 doz. “Baye,” 1 jar “Ion Pickles,” 1 doz. “Roast Turkey,” 1/2 lb. “12. Sts. Chocolate,” and 1/2 lb. “C. Tarlte.” The billhead features a decorative shield with a figure carrying a teacup. The text is printed in a neat and legible script.

Seventeenth-century broadside auction poster advertising the sale of the galleon Stadt Sant Malo. The auction, overseen by brokers Claas Dancer and Jacob Abrabanel, took place in Amsterdam in 1699. The broadside details the ship's construction and prior use, highlighting its robust build. The poster is significant for showcasing Jewish mercantile participation in the Dutch maritime empire. The broadside measures approximately 34.5 x 21 cm.

Die-cut paper design depicting a ship adorned with flowers. The die-cut dates from approximately 1905. The item is part of the Ms. Coll. 1410 collection, housed in Box 7, Folder 3.

A greeting card booklet featuring a celluloid cover depicting a ship with the inscription "GOOD LUCK." The inside contains two pages of greetings written by "FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHER & SISTERS," though no names are provided. Published circa 1900.

Salted paper print photograph depicting the steamship Lady Elgin and the warehouse of Selig & Cohen, clothing manufacturers, importers, and jobbers, located at 104 Lake Street in Urbana, Illinois. The photograph was likely taken sometime before 1860, the year the Lady Elgin sank. The photographer is identified as Samuel Alschuler, a Jewish photographer known for his 1857 ambrotype of Abraham Lincoln.

Bookplate depicting a sailing ship. The bookplate's creation date is estimated to be around 1910 based on contextual clues. The bookplate is associated with Max Levy.

Shipping record detailing the arrival of the ship Amity from Liverpool, England to New York, New York, on April 9, 1817. The record indicates Samuel I. Tobias and Tobias I. Tobias as consignees.

A stereoscopic photograph depicting the luxurious interior of the SS Great Republic's cabin. The image shows a long, grand hall with an arched ceiling, illuminated by multiple ornate chandeliers. Rows of elegant chairs and tables extend into the distance, suggesting a dining area or salon. The reverse side of the photograph features an ornate decorative frame with text identifying the photographer, Theo. Lilienthal, and stating "Series of Stereoscopic Views of New Orleans and Vicinity." The SS Great Republic was a sidewheel steamship, launched in 1866, and was the largest passenger liner on the US west coast, and the largest ship of any kind built in the United States for commercial purposes at that date.

This trade card advertises A. Baumgarten, a clothier in East Saginaw, Michigan. The front of the card features a whimsical illustration of a boy sailing in a boot-shaped boat, with a lighthouse and other ships in the background. The design is rendered in blue, with the sea and sky blending together. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises S. Nathan, a tailor and boot manufacturer located at 9 Graces Alley, opposite the Sailor's Home. The card indicates that Nathan cashed seamen's advance notes. The front of the card features an illustration of a clipper ship, a type of fast sailing ship popular in the 19th century. The card has a red border.

This trade card features a divided design. The front of the card depicts a drawing of a sailboat at sea. The back of the card contains text in both English and German. In English, it clearly states "Kosher Dinner." The German text is described by the donor as possibly an anti-semitic comical song, however this requires further research. The imagery suggests a possible connection to the food trade or a business that caters to kosher dietary laws, though this needs further investigation.

This trade card advertises the Lancaster Bazaar, owned by Astrich Brothers. The front of the card features a circular design.  In the center of the circle is a sailboat, and it is surrounded by various musical instruments. The text "LANCASTER BAZAAR" is prominently displayed, along with the street address: 13 EAST KING STREET. The style suggests it was created sometime in the late 19th century. The back of the card is blank.

This trade card advertises E. Nunes, a clothing merchant in Philadelphia. The front of the card depicts a charming illustration of a child playing a drum aboard a ship. The image is likely meant to evoke a sense of childhood fun and adventure, possibly connecting the clothing sold to youthful energy and playfulness. The style of the illustration, along with the overall aesthetic of the card, suggests it dates from the late 19th century. The back of the card lists clothing items with prices and includes the address: Cor. 5th, Montgomery & Germantown Aves. A handwritten note on the back indicates, "Slightly damaged by last storm."

One of two trade cards depicting a Swedish girl holding a toy ship. The card is circa 1885 and likely associated with the mercantile business, Moses, N.A. & Co. This item is part of Arc.MS.56, Volume 14, Page 11.