2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Almost all on printed letterheads. Majority neatly penned by and with signature of “Joseph Ehrlich” who was both agent of the “Association of Jewish Immigrants” and employed as an “interpreter” (of Yiddish / Hebrew) by the U.S. Commissioner of Immigration at the Dept. of Commerce and Labor. Most are addressed to Louis Levy, inventor of famous printing process “Levytype,” editor of Phila. “Evening Herald” and director of “Ass’n for the Protection of Jewish Immigrants.” Includes two penned multi-page reports in the hand of and signed by Ehrlich dated 1905 and 1906 “To the president and Board of Directors: Association for Protection Jewish Immigrants.” Contains fascinating information all in narrative form of numbers of arrivals from various European countries of Jewish immigrations; age groups and even tracing of missing luggage ! Especially gripping is the story he relates of two teenage girls who were “…enticed by two Italians while on a streetcar on way to the depot…taken to a house for immoral purposes…Italians were arrested…” and how the culprits found guilty and imprisoned. Five letters by Ehrlich on letterhead of “Department of Commerce and Labor” to Levy regarding matters handled by the gov’t Jewish immigrants who were refused entry and reasons; typed letter from “Commissioner General” of the Dept to Levy regarding organized immigration bureaus of the South and “…there is no federal supervision required…over state institutions engaged in securing colonists…;” typed letter 1906 to Levy from “Central Committee of the Baron De Hirsch Fund” about immigration statistics, about: “…figures showing destination of immigrants [by] states…and amount of money [they] bring with them…” Another letter by Ehrlich; letterhead “Ass’n for Protection of Jewish Immigrants” Dec., 1905 to Levy regarding his report to Mr. Fels about the Halifax (Jews): “…we in Phila. have enough to tend to. Fels desires me to say that he would assist any deserving case…but believes that the family in question should be assisted by the Halifax Jews even if there are only two [cases] in Halifax…and not call on other communities…” …Two short typed letters on letterhead “Federated Jewish Charities of Baltimore” both 1907 to Levy regarding immigration matters and mention of Ehrlich; lengthy penned 3 page letter from Ehrlich to Levy about signing agents at the “Landing Wharf…to help immigrants destined to other points then Phila…when they arrive they require small sum to purchase R. R. fares”…and much more about problems they encounter with bad addresses, tickets and other misfortunes; a few case histories described. Letter fading, but all readable. Plus few miscellaneous small documents pertaining to same matters. (With short bio sketches of Levy and Ehrlich.)
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