Papers of Iyda Hirsh Levitt
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Mrs. Iyda Hirsh Levitt are made up of a collection of 17 folders, containing a combination of notes and agendae which she collected from her work as a Secretary for Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York and a collection of genealogical research which she developed while working for Shearith Israel. The notes include rough drafts of lectures and papers, mainly produced by Shearith Israel’s distinguished Rabbi, Rev. David de Sola Pool. Other papers include pamphlets from Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, pamphlets about the Jewish Cemeteries in South Carolina, as well as writings about the Montreal Spanish and Portuguese synagogue. Finally, the contents include genealogies of a number of families, including the Meyers/Mears Family, the Philips family, and the Israel Jacobs family.
Dates
- 1864-1950
- Majority of material found within 1935-1945
Creator
- Levitt, Iyda Hirsh (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
American Sephardi Federation, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: ASFinquiries@cjh.org
Biographical Note
Iyda Hirsh was the first of three children of Benjamin Hirsh and Dora Strauss Hirsh. She grew up in North Adams, Mass. where she attended school, probably through graduation from high school. We do not know when she left North Adams, but do know that she served as a secretary to Rabbi David de Sola Pool. That is where she did most of the work included in these papers. She was a "classy" beautiful and poised woman. She was a writer of prose and of poetry. Included among her work, she has three published poems in a book of American poetry which has yet to be located. She had no children of her own but raised those of Charles Levitt. Betty and Gene Levitt. He can be found on google, as a writer, director and producer.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
The papers of Iyda Hirsh Levitt are composed of two sections: (1) Notes derived from Ms. Hirsh Levitt’s work serving as the secretary for Rev. Dr. David de Sola Pool and (2) genealogical family trees for five families dating back to the colonial period, prior to the Revolutionary War. Dr. Pool served as the spiritual leader for Congregation Shearith Israel-the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York from 1907 till his death in 1970. Ms. Hirsh Levitt worked as his secretary from 1935 till 1945.
Arrangement
The collection consists of a single series and divided into 17 folders arranged as they were received:
- Iyda Hirsh Levitt Collection
Other Finding Aid
The Papers of Abraham Lopes Cardozo
Acquisition Information
Donated in 2010 by Michael Hirsh.
- Cohen family
- Congregation Shearith Israel (New York, N.Y.)
- Genealogy
- Hamilton, Andrew
- Jacobs, Israel, 1726-1796
- Jewish cemeteries
- Levitt, Iyda Hirsh
- Mears family
- Meyers family
- Montréal (Québec)
- New York (N.Y.)
- Pedigrees
- Phillips family
- Pool, David de Sola, 1885-1970
- Seixas, Gershom Mendes, 1745-1816
- South Carolina
- Strutt, Michael
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Iyda Hirsh Levitt 1864-1950 bulk 1935-1945 ASF AR 65
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Randall C. Belinfante
- Date
- © 2013
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Repository Details
Part of the American Sephardi Federation Repository
