Scope and Provenance

THE SELMA S. LEWIS COLLECTION Memphis and Shelby County Room Memphis & Shelby County Public Library & Information Center 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111 Collection Processed by Krystle Savage University of Memphis 2002 1 SCOPE AND PROVENANCE The Selma Lewis Collection was given to the Memphis and Shelby County Public Library and Information Center by her daughter, Jane Lewis Ross in April of 2000. The collection includes a wide range of newspaper clippings and correspondence, with some photographs and publications. The greater portion of the collection is composed of local Jewish history and biographies. Also included are manuscript copies of The Angel of Beale Street: a Biography of Julia Ann Hooks; A Biblical People in the Bible Belt: the Jewish Community of Memphis, Tennessee, 1840s-1960s; and Lewis’ dissertation “Social Religion and the Sanitation Strike.” She also wrote “Diversification and Unity, MIFA, 1968- 1988,” a study of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. Also of importance are the transcripts of oral interviews with representative members of the African American community, which were conducted by Selma Lewis and Marjean Kremer in 1978 as part of the research for the Pink Palace Museum exhibit “Historic Black Memphians.” These transcripts were given to the Library by Mrs. Lewis during her lifetime. In summary, the collection provides significant information pertaining to the history and life of the Jewish and African American communities of Memphis. 2 SELMA SELIGMAN LEWIS 1922- 2000 Selma Seligman Lewis, a woman who enriched the lives of all she knew, grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She later earned a Master’s and PhD in American History at the University of Memphis. In 1942, Selma and her husband Marshall Lewis moved to Memphis where they reared three children. After years of working to raise public awareness of social issues, Lewis became the first female president of Jewish Family Services in 1962. She was a Vista volunteer for the Metropolitan Inter- Faith Association (MIFA) and a coordinator of the Memphis Coalition for the Homeless in 1972. Mrs. Lewis also worked with Myra Dreifus and others in Memphis to organize the Fund for Needy School Children, which she chaired from 1972-1974. This program helped to provide free or reduced cost lunches for many area school children. Over the years, Mrs. Lewis served on numerous boards, including the Memphis College of Art, the Memphis Literacy Council, the Mental Health Society of Memphis and Shelby County, Theatre Memphis, and Facing History 3 and Ourselves. She was also president of the Jewish Historical Society of Memphis and the Mid-South. In 1993, Mrs. Lewis was the recipient of the Women of Achievement Steadfastness Award. She wrote two books, as well as articles for scholarly publications. Her books include The Angel of Beale Street: a Biography of Julia Ann Hooks, co- authored with Marjean Kremer, and A Biblical People in the Bible Belt: The Jewish Community of Memphis, Tennessee, 1840’s-1960’s. Selma Lewis died March 2, 2002, the result of an automobile accident. She was mourned by family and her many friends who described Selma as a courageous woman who made the city a better place. She is survived by two daughters, Susan Lewis and Jane Lewis Ross; a son, James Marshall Lewis Jr.; a sister, Sally Gilbert, a brother, Ewing Seligman, and three grandchildren. Her husband predeceased her in 1996. 4 SELMA SELIGMAN LEWIS COLLECTION Box I Folder Items Subject 1 1 Evaluation of Historic Black Memphians Exhibit 5 /15/1980--An evaluation of the “Historic Black Memphians” exhibit. Prepared for the Tennessee Committee for the Humanities, Inc. 2 3 Jewish Biographies-General 1980—A Biography of the Campol Family 1989—“The Federal Tyrant at Memphis: General Stephen A. Hurlburt and the Union Occupation of West Tennessee, 1862-64.” 12/1/1991—The Links That Bind: A Family History n.d.—personal biography related by Joseph Exellulad 3 20 Jewish Biography- Local (A-K) Rabbi Arie Becker Philp Belz Nat Buring Josephine Burson Sam Cooper Eric Cornell Myra Dreifus Abe Fortas Elmer Gattan William Gerber Leo Goldberger Jacob Goldsmith Maximillian Goltman Rabbi Micah Greenstein Marcus Haase Birdie Higgins 5 Nina Katz Alan Kraut 4 21 Jewish Biography- Local (L-Z) Rabbi Mark Levin Dr. Louis Levy William Lowenberg Elias Lowenstein Sam Margolin Nathan Menken Louis Morris Isaac Myers Judy Peiser Peres Family Abe Plough Rabbi Max Samfield Henry Sessel Leo Seligman Dr. and Mrs. Neuton Stern Rabbi James Wax Sam Weintraub Frederick Wolf 5 3 Jewish Biography–Halle Family Notes on first, second, and third generations of the Halle family. Family tree of the Halle family. Brief history of Oak Hall (Halle family business). 6 Angel of Beale Street-Correspondence pertaining to relationship between Julia Hooks and Robert Church, Sr. 5/14/1984 – From Ernest Williams III, Attorney for the Church family. Discusses the fictionalized relationship between Hooks and Church that is offensive to both families. 6 5/16/1984 – From Phyllis Tickle, Senior Editor at St. Luke’s Press. Reassures Mr. Williams that subject of the fictionalized relationship will be handled before it is blown out of proportion. 5/21/1984--From Ernest Williams III, Attorney representing the Church family. Thanks Selma for her willingness to delete the fictionalized romance between Hooks and Church. 6/5/1984—From Phyllis Tickle, Senior Editor at St. Luke’s Press. Expresses her regards to the Hooks family about the re-writing of the Hooks and Church relationship in the autobiography. Reassures the family that the matter has been corrected. 6/5/1984--From Ernest Williams III, Attorney representing the Church family. Again, this letter thanks Selma Lewis for willingness to delete the offensive material. 6/5/1984—From Phyllis Tickle, Senior Editor at St. Luke’s Press. Explains to Mr. Williams that the authors have no intent to include capricious events in any book. Also explains that Lewis and Kremer are very skilled researchers who are accurate in their work. Wants Roberta Church to be reassured so the autobiography can be published. 6/25/1984-- From Ernest Williams III, Attorney representing the Church family. Outlines the entire problem and how the authors have decided to resolve the matter. 7 7 Jewish History-Bonds & Deeds 10/1/1866—Shows the amount of money that was taken up during offering at the Congregation Beth El Emeth. 12/3/1866—On this day, Mr. Frank was appointed administrator of the estate of Jacob Goetz. 7 2/4/1866—Congregation Beth El Emeth is due $100.00 for the burial of Jacob Goetz. 3/10/1867—States that Nathan Marcus paid $41.12 to the now deceased Jacob Goetz who was acting as an agent for Langsdorf and Rosenstein. 11/12/1867—A marble headstone was purchased by Mr. Frank for the deceased Jacob Goetz. 10/1/1868—Concerning the estate of Louis Levy, $400.00 was to be paid by the executors of the estate. 10/1/1868—Gives title of a barber shop located on Adams Avenue to L. Levy. 8 40 Jewish History-Correspondence 5/10/1933—From Charles Haase to Don McKellar. He requests the assistance of McKellar to assist an immigrant from Germany to come to the United States. 5/15/1933—From Don McKellar. Replies to Mr. Haase stating that he will look into the matter about assisting the immigrant. 12/13/1934—From Mr. Blumenfield to the American Consul in Germany. Explains that he is financially able to support Mr. Loeb if Loeb is given his visa. 4/6/1935—From Hardwig Peres to Don McKellar. Requests McKellar to send a copy of his letter to the American Cousul in Germany to facilitate Mr. Loeb’s departure. 4/29/1935—From Samuel Honaker, American Consul General. Explains to McKellar why Mr. Loeb was denied his visa. 8 5/20/1935—From Hardwig Peres. Thanks McKellar for his letter of the 15th. 5/22/1935—From Hardwig Peres. Explains to McKellar that the Blumenfields are capable of helping Mr. Loeb financially if he is allowed to come to the United States. 5/25/1935—From Don McKellar. Advises Peres to have sworn statements made by the Blumenfields stating that they are financially able to support and assist Mr. Loeb. 11/16/1935-- From Samuel Honaker, American Consul General. Advises McKellar that even though he is still trying to help Mr. Loeb, Loeb will not be granted a visa. 12/19/1935-- From Samuel Honaker, American Consul General. Writes McKellar that the denial of Mr. Loeb’s visa will not be reversed. 5/26/1936—From Don McKellar. Advises Mr. Peres that there is nothing that more that he can do in the matter concerning Mr. Loeb. 5/13/1940—From unknown writer to Bertrand Cohn. Affirms that he will do everything in his power to help Dr. Schirokauer to obtain a lucrative position. 7/12/1941—From Dr. Schirokauer. Expresses his gratitude to Dr. Charles Diehl for his kindness while Schirokauer was working on his apprenticeship at Southwestern College in Memphis. 7/24/1941—From Dr. Diehl. Expresses his pleasure in working with Dr. Schirokauer during his short time at Southwestern. 3/26/1965—From unknown to a Mr. Warren. Letter describes what happened in Montgomery, Alabama during a Civil Rights demonstration. 9 10/18/1987—From Nathan Kaganoff of the American Jewish Historical Society. Informs Mrs. Harriet Stern that they do have the records she is looking for and refers her to someone else who may be of help with her research. 12/16/1987—From Nathan Kaganoff of the American Jewish Historical Society. Informs Mrs.

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