Kronsberg family papers

Abraham Kronsberg (18??-1918) and Lena Jacobson Kronsberg (1880-1962), both from Baltimore, moved in 1895 to Tilghman Island, Maryland, where they owned and operated a general merchandise store. The couple had four sons: Edward (1903-1985), Meyer (1905-1983), Milton (1909-1997), and Macey (1911-2001). After Abraham died in 1918, the Kronsbergs moved to Baltimore to be near the Jacobson family.

Edward Kronsberg relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1920 to work in his uncle Joseph Bluestein's clothing store. In 1926, he opened Edward's 5c-10c-$1 Store on King Street and continued to establish discount department stores throughout the Lowcountry region. He was also responsible for the development of Pinehaven Shopping Center, the first suburban mall in the Charleston area. An avid fundraiser and philanthropist, Kronsberg served on over forty boards, commissions, and committees regarding commerce, culture, education, charity, religion, and fraternity. He married Hattie Barshay (of Charleston) in 1934. The couple had two sons, Avram (1936-2010) and Jonathan, and attended Brith Sholom and Synagogue Emanu-El.

Milton Kronsberg graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1932 and moved to Charleston the following year to work as a store manager for Edward's, Inc. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946, mostly at a German POW camp in West Ashley. After his honorable discharge, he resumed work at Edward's, Inc. as general manager of the distribution warehouse. In 1969, he was promoted to executive vice-president and transportation director. Kronsberg was involved in several organizations, including the Charleston Jewish Community Center, the Charleston Welfare Fund, Charleston Traffic Club, and the Charleston Exchange Club. He married Frederica "Freddie" Weinberg (1910-2002) of Staunton, Virginia, and they had two daughters and one son: Regina, Mickey, and Abram.

Macey Kronsberg graduated from John Hopkins University in 1933 and was employed as a social worker for Associated Jewish Charities in Baltimore, where he met Adele Jules (1909-2002). They were married in 1935 and a year later moved to Charleston, where Macey worked for Edwards, Inc. The couple had three daughters: Rachel Rose Kronsberg Levin (1936- ), Peggy Kronsberg Pearlstein (1942- ), and Sandra Kronsberg (1949- ). A staunch Zionist, Kronsberg joined Charleston's Orthodox synagogue Brith Sholom and was a member of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Sons of Zion Society, and founded the Charleston district of the American Zionist Emergency Council. In 1947, he played an instrumental role in establishing Synagogue Emanu-El, Charleston's first Conservative congregation. The family left Charleston circa 1950 so Kronsberg could pursue a graduate degree in business administration. Macey and Adele Kronsberg retired in 1975 to Israel.