Judith Shanks and Henry A. Alexander research files
Collection Overview
The collection consists of the research files of Judith Alexander Weil Shanks, including primary sources created or compiled by Henry A. Alexander, articles, book chapters, census records, family trees, and research notes related to Rebecca I. Moses and her relations in the Solomon, Joseph, and Alexander families. The collection contains contextual articles on southern Jewish life and the roles of women in the 19th century, articles and records containing references to members of the Solomon, Joseph, and Alexander families, correspondence between Shanks and various scholars, and drafts of Old Family Things: An Affectionate Look Back, published by Judith Shanks in 2011. A significant amount of correspondence also relates to the writing of that book. Also included are a Book of Deuteronomy owned by H.A. Alexander, a lunar calendar owned by Lizar Joseph dated 1806; and a wallet owned by Israel Solomons.
Dates
- Creation: 1806-2009
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1998-2009
Creator
- Shanks, Judith W. (Person)
- Alexander, Henry A. (Henry Aaron), 1874-1967 (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in English and Hebrew.
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
Judith Alexander Weil Shanks (1941-), an editor at Time-Life Books, investigated the life of her great-great-great-grandmother Rebecca I. Moses (1792-1872) and relations of Rebecca, particularly Eleanor Solomons, Charlotte Joseph, and Rebecca E. Alexander, focusing on the roles southern women played during the 19th century. She served as associate curator of A Portion of the People, a museum exhibition on southern Jewish life that opened in 2002 and traveled nationally for two years. In 2011, Shanks published a family memoir, Old Family Things: An Affectionate Look Back.
Henry A. Alexander Sr. (1874-1967) was a prominent Atlanta, Georgia, attorney, scholar, and religious leader who was part of the legal team defending lynching victim Leo M. Frank. Alexander was a member of the Georgia State House of Representatives and a veteran of World War I. He was also a president of the Atlanta Historical Society and had an interest in genealogy.
Extent
3.0 linear feet (3 cartons, 1 oversize paper folder)
Abstract
Research files of Judith Alexander Weil Shanks, including primary sources created or compiled by her uncle Henry A. Alexander, articles, copies of census records, family trees, research notes, and photographs. Materials relate primarily to Rebecca I. Moses and several of her relations in the Solomons, Joseph, and Alexander families, particularly Eleanor Solomons, Charlotte Joseph, and Rebecca E. Alexander. Also includes drafts of Old Family Things: An Affectionate Look Back, published by Judith Shanks in 2011, and related correspondence.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the folder level.
Acquisitions Information
Materials donated 2011 by Judith Shanks.
Separated Material
Published books from the collection of Henry A. Alexander Sr. originally with the collection have been removed and cataloged separately.
Processing Information
Processed by Amy Lazarus, 2015 and Lauren Bickel, September 2022.
Source
- Shanks, Judith W. (Donor, Person)
Subject
- Shanks, Judith W. -- Old family things : an affectionate look back (Person)
- Moses, Rebecca Isaiah, 1792-1872 (Person)
- Moses family (Family)
- Alexander, Rebecca Ella Solomons, 1854-1938 (Person)
- Joseph, Charlotte, 1803-1883 (Person)
- Solomons, Eleanor Israel, 1794-1856 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Judith Shanks and Henry A. Alexander Research Files, 1806-2009 (bulk 1998-2009)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Amy Lazarus; finding aid created by: Amy Lazarus and Lauren Bickel
- Date
- 2022
- 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)