Meites, Hyman L., editor; David E. Hirsch, Associate Editor

HISTORY OF THE JEWS IN CHICAGO [MEMBERS’ NUMBERED EDITION] [ASSOCIATION COPY BELONGING TO THE CHICAGO COUPLE OF HENRY SCHIRESON/ROSALIE WEIN-ROBERTS OF THE 1940 CASE, UNITED STATES V. SCHIRESON]

Chicago: Jewish Historical Society of Illinois, 1924. Item #42418

1st edition. Later cloth, Folio (large), 854 pages, plus [5] leaves of plates. Members Numbered Edition, this being number 72 (of how many?). Includes bibliographical references and index. Massive detailed encyclopedic work. Contents: The Jewish Influence Upon The Colonial Development of Illinois; Early Chicago; Part I The Community Chapter I. From The First Arrival to the First Congregation; II. A Growing and Contentious Decade, 1847-1857; III. Reform and Relief, 1853-1860; IV. Civil War Days, 1861-1865; V. From the End of the Civil War to the Great Fire, 1866-1870; VI. The Great Fire, and After, 1871-1880; VII. The First Great Russian Influx, 1881-1891; VIII. The World's Fair, and After, 1892-1900; IX. The First Years of the New Century, 1900-1910; X. Continued Communal Progress, 1910-1917; XI. The World War, 1917-1918-Military Service; XII. The World War-Civilian Service; XIII. War Relief, 1914-1922; XIV. Communal Progress During and After the World War, 1917-1923. Part II The Individual: Arts; Letters; Music; Painting and Sculpture; Stage and Platform. Professions: - Architecture and Engineering; Education and Science; Law; Medicine; The Pulpit. Public Office. Industry, Commerce, And Finance. The Labor Movement. Athletics. Part III Organizations and Institutions; Synagogues and Temples; Religious, Cultural, and Educational Organizations; Welfare and Aid Organizations; Homes and Hospitals; Organizations for Palestine Aid; Fraternal and Social Organizations. Appendix: "The Beginnings of Chicago Sinai Congregation," By Dr. B. Felsenthal; The Blackstone Memorials, 1891 And 1916; Jews and the World's Parliament of Religions; Reports of the Jewish Charities of Chicago; Chicago Zionism, 1908 and 1923; Proceedings of the Jewish Historical Society Of Illinois; The Jewish Welfare Board In Illinois; The Chicago Conference of the American Jewish Relief Committee. Bears the bookplate of Rosalie Wein-roberts (1895 - 1974) and a stamp above, “In Memory Of Dr. Henry J. Schireson.” Henry J. Schireson “was convicted upon both counts of an indictment charging that he concealed assets from his trustee in bankruptcy and that he made a false oath with reference to his assets….Schireson filed his voluntary petition in bankruptcy on April 22, 1937 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania….In June of 1939, the Collector of Internal Revenue seized the safety deposit box of the bankrupt's wife in the Merchantville National Bank and Trust Company of Merchantville, N.J. With few exceptions the defendant's wife did not use her husband's name but was known as Rose or Rosalie Weinroberts, Wein-Roberts or Roberts. In the box was found property valued at approximately $130,000 consisting chiefly of securities, but including some cash, jewelry and policies insuring the life of the defendant for the benefit of his wife. In 1930 Schireson had transferred to Miss Roberts about $130,000 worth of securities. This transfer took place in Chicago where the parties then lived. Some years later Schireson came to Philadelphia and opened professional offices for the practice of plastic surgery. It seems that Miss Roberts has lived in Merchantville since 1935. The securities found in her safety deposit box were, for the most part, shown to have been acquired in exchange for the securities originally transferred to her by the defendant (or their proceeds), although about 20 per cent of the original securities still remained. The government's theory was that while ostensibly this property belonged to Miss Roberts, in reality it was that of the bankrupt, while the defendant contended that he had made a valid prenuptial gift of the property to Miss Roberts” [Summary, United States v. Schireson, 116 F.2d 881 (3d Cir. 1940)]. “When this project was called to the attention of Governor Frank O. Lowden, he gave it his most enthusiastic writing in a letter to the society: ‘I am very glad indeed that the Jewish Historical Society of Illinois proposes to publish a book entitled The Centennial History of the Jews of Illinois….The record of the hundred years is rich in achievement. The Jews have taken a conspicuous part in every activity in Illinois during that time. They have fought bravely in our wars; they have contributed largely to our commercial successes; they have won foremost places in increasing numbers in the professions of law and medicine; they have brought much to the development of our arts and letters; they have shown genius in the organization and conduct of charitable societies….’ Much valuable material had been assembled, however, including a study completed by Professor Edward Chauncey Baldwin, of the University of Illinois, on the part played by Jews in colonial times in this state….The editor takes this belated opportunity to express his gratitude for the invaluable aid given by the late Dr. Emil G. Hirsch. of revered memory, who was vice-president during the first three years of the society's existence and served as acting president when the president, Julius Rosenwald, was called to war service…. There are three sections, of which the first, Part I, comprises a narrative of the development of the local Jewish community from the arrival of the first settlers to the present year. Its fourteen chapters are intended to afford an adequate perspective of what the Chicago Jew has wrought in a communal sense. Part II contains accounts of what he has accomplished in the various fields of individual effort-the arts, the professions, industry and commerce, public service, and so forth. Part III is devoted to the leading Jewish organizations and institutions of the city, giving a separate history of each and an outline of its present-day activities….an alphabetical index is appended at the end. In all three sections the text is interspersed with the life stories of the men and women prominently mentioned therein…. While this History is primarily for Jewish readers, it is felt that our fellow-Chicagoans of other faiths will also be glad to read of what Jews have done in Chicago and for Chicago from the earliest times when the advance guard of men and women of Jewish stock and tradition, fleeing like the Pilgrim fathers from distant lands overseas, where the future held for them only continuing and cumulative oppression, cast in their lot with Chicago's other pioneer settlers….In a word, it is hoped that…the non-Jew will be furnished with an insight into Jewish life that will enable him to see into its very heart, and cause him to agree heartily with Professor Baldwin when the latter, as a true American, says: ‘To one who reads history with his eyes and not with his prejudices, the debt of America to Jewish philanthropy, to Jewish patriotism, and to Jewish energy, must become increasingly evident. And with a recognition of that obligation, the senseless prejudice against the Jew, based on lack of knowledge, must inevitably disappear and cause non-Jews to substitute for grudging tolerance, a generous respect.’ To Jews, it is hoped, the History will sound a ringing call to community loyalty and service by the examples herein given” (From the Introduction). SUBJECT(S): Jews -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History. -- Biography. -- Histoire. Juifs -- Biographies. Ethnic relations. OCLC: 869748724. OCLC-Worldcat lists 24 holdings worldwide. No appearance at major auction in the last 100 years, appears to be fairly scarce. Paper rippling to index (final section). Jewish institutional bookplate, marks on lower margin of title page and rear blank inside cover, Light wear to boards, Very Good Condition Thus. (AMR-67-36-F-'+).

Price: $700.00