Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai collection
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai 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 filled with poems, songs, and quotations, some written by Mordecai, but most written by friends, relatives, or others.
The collection also includes a published book, correspondence, drawings, pressed flowers, paper stencils, and slides.
The contents are in English, French, and Latin.
Dates
- undated, 1823-1888
Creator
- Mordecai, Sarah Ann Hays (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English, French, and Latin.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.
Use Restrictions
No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.
For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org
Biographical Note
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.
Sarah married Alfred Mordecai, who served in the Mexican War, on June 1, 1836 in Philadelphia. The couple had eight children, including Alfred Mordecai, Jr., an officer in the Civil War; and Laura, Miriam, and Rosa Mordecai, whose papers are included in the Mordecai family papers (Collection P-116).
As a member of the interconnected network of elite Jewish families of the early 19th century, Mordecai traveled in elite 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.
Extent
.25 Linear Feet (1 half manuscript box)
Abstract
Collection 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. It also includes 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; 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.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into a single series.
Acquisition Information
Undetermined.
- Title
- Guide to the Sarah Ann Hays Mordecai collection, undated, 1823-1888 *P-70
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Felicia Herman
- Date
- © 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- April, June 2020: EHyman: post-ASpace migration cleanup.
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository
