Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Collection consists of typed copies of various materials relating to the history of the Jews in Barbados including: a list of taxes charged to Jewish inhabitants (1679), extracts from the minute books of Congregation Nidhe Israel, and an index of names and ages from the census of Barbados taken in 1715. Also includes 10 photos (primarily of the synagogue) and an article about the tombstone inscriptions in the cemetary from Algemeiner Journal (1995).

Contains the original of Jacob Raphael Cohen's (1810-1811) will, of and the inventory of his estate (1812). Of special note in the will are his requests regarding the manner of his burial and the furnishing of oil for the eternal light in the Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia.

Contains items pertaining to two members of the Cohen family: Elkah (1785-1875), a letter written to her by Joseph Hutchins of Barbados, mentioning the new Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia (1819); and Joseph Simon Cohen (1791-1858), manuscript of a sermon given by him at Congregation Mikveh Israel on the day of Thanksgiving called at the end of the War of 1812 (1815). Also contains Passover Hagadah of Bilah Simon, and the Ketubah of Bilah Simon and Solomon Myers-Cohen.

This collection is comprised of annual reports, meeting invitations, exhibit announcements and invitations, press releases concerning exhibits, general symposium materials, promotional fliers and pamphlets and the following publications: Calendar of Events (1982-1983), Exhibit and Events Calendars (1984), and Newsletter (1976-1994).

The collection contains materials related to various activities of the Congregation Mikveh Israel, one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. There is a variety of documents, including correspondence, annual reports, addresses, programs, printed materials, reports, and materials pertaining to the synagogue's burial ground.

This collection documents the research of Jewish historian Samuel Oppenheim (1857-1928) concerning the lives of colonial Jews in the Americas, and the early history of the United States. Included in the collection are his notes, transcripts of original works, photocopies of the records of the Dutch West India Company, correspondence relating to his research, his writings, and original documents from the Mayor’s Court of the City of New York that date from 1653-1760.

The children and descendants of Isaac Mendes and Rachel Levy Seixas included individuals who had a great impact on communal affairs and colonial Jewish life in New York, Philadelphia, Newport, and Richmond. Though this collection does not preserve the total volume of papers produced by every family member, the documents contained herein demonstrate the importance of the family in both Jewish and secular life in late 17th and early 18th century North America.

The collection is valuable to researchers studying the Seixas family; civic, mercantile, and religious contributions of Jews in the colonial era; Jewish communities in New York, Philadelphia, Newport, and Richmond; the importance of religion to Colonial Jews; Jewish participation in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and World War I; Jewish converts to Christianity; Jews as masons; and Congregation Shearith Israel of New York.

Prominent individuals in this collection include: Ephraim Hart, Grace Seixas Judah, Mrs. Jesse Judah, Israel Baer Kursheedt, Sarah Seixas Kursheedt, Hayman Levy, Nicholas Low, Isaac Moses, Naphtali Taylor Phillips, Benjamin Mendes Seixas, David G. Seixas, Gershom Mendes Seixas, Isaac Benjamin Seixas, Isaac M. Seixas, Jacob B. Seixas, Joshua Seixas, and Moses Mendes Seixas.

The collection includes: account records, books, circumcision instructions and register, correspondence, drawings, estate papers, a eulogy, family trees, legal documents, petitions, photographs, prayer books, a sermon, and shipping records.

This collection is arranged into four series: Series I: Family Papers; Series II: Moses Seixas (1744-1809); Series III: Gershom Mendes Seixas (1746-1816) and descendants; and Series IV: Benjamin Mendes Seixas (1748-1817) and descendants.

Uriah Phillips Levy rose to the rank of Commodore in the United States Navy despite religious hostility. He succeeded in abolishing corporal punishment in the Navy, and is credited for preserving Thomas Jefferson's estate, Monticello. His papers consist of correspondence, financial and legal records, publications, papers, newspaper articles, a notebook, and a book.