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Bloom family papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 1118

Collection Overview

The collection consists of photographs, correspondence, school records, certificates, and clippings that document the Bloom family of Greenville, South Carolina, as well as a small number of materials relating to the Chernoff, Cohen, and Shatenstein families. Materials focus mainly on Julius and Jennie Bloom and their son, Jack. The largest portion of the collection consists of photographs, featuring mainly Jennie and Julius Bloom, their son Jack, and daughter, Shirley. Several photograph albums contain images of later generations of the Chernoff family. Paper documents pertain primarily to Jack Bloom's correspondence, education, military career, and involvement in the Jewish community, with a smaller number of items documenting the education and career of his wife, Lillian Chernoff Bloom. The collection also contains research files, drafts, and the final manuscript for A History of the Jewish Community of Greenville, South Carolina by Jack Bloom.

Additions consist of 4 photo scrapbooks containing photographs, documents, and ephemera pertaining to the Chernoff family from the collection of Lillian Chernoff Bloom and assorted photographs, genealogical materials, memoirs, memorials, family histories, Hunter College yearbook of Lillian Chernoff, correspondence, clippings, and certificates mainly pertaining to members of the Chernoff family.

Dates

  • 1900s-2011
  • Majority of material found within 1943-1980

Creator

Language of Material

Materials in English and Yiddish.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research. Additions to this collection have been minimally processed, but are open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical Note

Julius Harry Bloom (1894-1973) was born in Poland to Amelia and Harris Bloom. The family immigrated to the United States in 1905, and in 1910 settled in Greenville, South Carolina, where Harris opened Bloom's Department Store. In 1917 Julius left to fight in World War I, serving in France with the 118th infantry. He was severely injured and recovered in multiple hospitals in France and Britain before returning home in 1919. Once home, Julius took over Bloom's Department Store and married Jennie Shatenstein. The couple had their first child, Jack, in 1920, followed by a second son, Melvin, and a daughter, Shirley. Julius ran Bloom's Department Store until his retirement in 1966, when he closed the store.

Jack Bloom attended Furman University, and in 1941 began studying law at Duke University. He interrupted his studies to serve in the army during World War II. From 1943 to 1945, he was stationed at Camp Shanks in New York. After the war, Jack completed his law degree at Duke, graduating and passing the bar in 1947. His younger brother, Melvin, received a Ph.D. in chemistry, and his sister, Shirley, married Jack Cohen in 1952 and had two children, Mark and Stacy.

Jack married his wife Lillian Chernoff in 1956, and settled in Greenville, where Jack worked as an attorney. Apart from his career as a lawyer, he dedicated himself to research and writing, and, in 2005, published "A History of the Jewish Community of Greenville, South Carolina" in The Proceedings and Papers of the Greenville County Historical Society. Both Jack and his father were active members of the local Jewish community. Julius served as president of Congregation Beth Israel in Greenville for 21 years and Jack was involved with the South Carolina Association of B'nai B'rith Lodges. Lillian Bloom was an active member of numerous civic associations and organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Mental Health Association of Greenville County. Jack and Lillian Bloom died in 2010.

Extent

6.0 linear feet (6 document boxes, 1 slim document box, 1 carton, 2 flat boxes, 2 oversize folders, 5 compact discs)

Abstract

Photographs, scrapbooks, correspondence, clippings, school records, and other materials relating to the Bloom family of Greenville, South Carolina. The majority of records document the education, military service, and community involvement of Jack Bloom, with a smaller quantity of materials pertaining to his parents, Julius and Jennie Shatenstein Bloom, and his wife, Lillian Chernoff Bloom, as well as items relating to the Chernoff, Cohen, and Shatenstein families.

Collection Arrangement

Materials are described at the folder level.

Acquisitions Information

Materials donated in 2010, 2016, and 2019 by Miriam Chernoff.

Related Material

Julius H. Bloom papers (Mss 1034-012), an oral history interview with Jack L. Bloom (Mss 1035-126), and the South Carolina Association of B'nai B'rith Lodges records (Mss 1037).

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Lazarus, April 2015. Accruals processed by Josh Minor, November 2022.

Source

Title
Inventory of the Bloom Family Papers, 1900s-2011
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Amy Lazarus; machine-readable finding aid created by: Amy Lazarus; accruals processed by: Josh Minor
Date
2015
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)