Mendelsohn family papers
Collection Overview
The collection consists primarily of photographs of the Mendelsohn family and the related Bluestein family. The majority of images picture Harry Mendelsohn, his wife Dorothy Bluestein Mendelsohn, and Moses J. Mendelson and his wife Florence Goldberg Mendelsohn. Photographs also include other family members at weddings or events, such as the 10th anniversary of the Castle Pickney Motel and the 200th anniversary of the Hebrew Orphan Society. The collection also contains an interview recorded in 1947 by Charleston's radio station WCSC in which Fay Mendelsohn describes her immigration to the United States and the opening of her hat and dress store, the Bandbox; a typescript of Fay's eulogy; and clippings featuring Jane Mendelsohn and Bessie Bluestein.
Dates
- Creation: 1920-1968, 2001
Creator
Language of Material
Materials in English
Access Restrictions
This collection is 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
Benjamin Mendelsohn (1877-1921) was born to Charlotte and Mendel Shlomo Mendelsohn in Gmina Grajewo, Poland. He married Fay Zamler Mendelsohn (1883-1967) and the couple had three children: Hannah Mendelsohn Berkman (1905-1972), Harry Mendelsohn (1906-1985), and Moses Joseph Mendelsohn (1907-1992). Benjamin immigrated to the United States sometime between 1906 and 1907 and Fay followed in 1907 with their three children. The couple settled in Charleston, South Carolina, where Benjamin opened a tailor shop at 298 King Street, making uniforms for Citadel cadets. After her husband's death in 1921, Fay remarried Sam Jaffe and in 1931 opened a small shop called the Bandbox that sold hats and dresses.
Hannah Mendelsohn married Nathan Berkman (1901-1978). Harry Mendelsohn married Dorothy Bluestein (1911-1986) and the couple had two children, Burnet Mendelsohn (1934- ) and Joseph Mendelsohn. Moses Joseph Mendelsohn married Florence Goldberg (1911-1973).
Extent
2.25 linear feet (1 slim document box,1 oversize flat box, 1 audiocassette)
Abstract
Photographs, eulogies, audio interview, and clippings relating to the Mendelsohn family of Charleston, South Carolina. Benjamin Mendelsohn and his wife, Fay Zamler Mendelsohn, settled in Charleston in 1907 where Benjamin operated a tailor shop on King Street and Fay later opened her own store, the Bandbox, selling women's hats and dresses. The collection also includes images of the related Bluestein family.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the folder level.
Acquisitions Information
Materials donated in 2012 by Burnet and Jane Mendelsohn.
Processing Information
Processed by Amy Lazarus, November 2015.
Subject
- Mendelsohn, Benjamin (Person)
- Mendelsohn, Fay (Person)
- Mendelssohn family (Family)
- Bluestein family (Family)
Source
- Mendelsohn, Burnet (Donor, Person)
- Mendelsohn, Jane (Donor, Person)
Genre / Form
- Audiocassettes
- Black-and-white photographs
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Color photographs
- Eulogies (documents)
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Inventory of the Mendelsohn Family Papers, 1920-1968, 2001
- Author
- Processed by: Amy Lazarus; machine-readable finding aid created by: Amy Lazarus
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)