TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement Note
Conditions of Access and Use
Administrative Information
Search Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Series A. Correspondence, 1871-1929
Series B. Personal, 1871-1927
Series C. Lectures and Sermons, 1885-1923
Series D. Manuscript Material, undated
Series E. Printed Material, 1881-1929
Series F. Miscellaneous 1889-1923
Series G. Additional Family Correspondence, 1914-1917
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Manuscript Collection No. 33
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| Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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| Creator: |
Heller, Maximilian H.,
1860-1929.
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| Title: |
Maximilian H. Heller Papers. |
| Dates: |
1871-1929. |
| Quantity: |
7.1 linear feet (17 Hollinger boxes) |
| Abstract: |
The Maximilian H. Heller Papers relate to the career of the
distinguished New Orleans rabbi whose interests included the Reform movement, Zionism, and
the labor movement. The collection includes correspondence, sermons, lectures, articles, and
newsclippings which reflect Heller's varied thoughts on numerous topics. Among the many
important individuals who corresponded with Max Heller were: Louis D. Brandeis, Gotthard
Deutsch, Jacob de Haas, Kaufmann Kohler, Henrietta Szold, Isaac M. Wise and Stephen S.
Wise.
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| Collection Number: |
MS-33 |
| Language: |
Collection material in English, German, French,
Hebrew, and Yiddish.
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 Maximilian H. Heller, who was born on January 31, 1860 in the Bohemian city of Prague, was
the only son and the third of five children born to Simon and Mathilde (Kassowitz) Heller.
On both sides of the family, which was of German or Ashkenasic strain of Jews, Heller was
descended from a long and distinguished line of European rabbis and scholars. Heller's early
childhood and youth were spent in the ghetto of Prague, where his father was a well-to-do
wool merchant.
In 1877, while a student at the Prague Gymnasium, Heller's father suffered such severe
financial reverses that the family decided to emigrate to the United States. In order not to
interrupt his preparation for a career in medicine, Maximilian was left behind. The family
settled in Chicago, Illinois, where the father eked out a precarious living by preparing
young boys for confirmation and by serving as a lodge secretary.
In 1879, Maximilian, hearing that his mother, who was afflicted with tuberculosis, had but
a short time to live, followed the family to the U.S. Upon his arrival in Chicago, Max saw
before him the necessity of having to help support the family and decided that his best
course was to prepare himself for the rabbinate. He therefore entered the Hebrew Union
College in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the same time enrolling for courses at the University of
Cincinnati. He received a B.L. (1882) and M.L. (1884) degrees from the University of
Cincinnati and was ordained as a rabbi from HUC in 1884.
Upon graduation, Heller was appointed associate to Rabbi Bernard Felsenthal of Chicago's
Zion Congregation, where he served for 1 1/2 years. Following this, he led the Reform Jewish
congregation in Houston, Texas for five months. In 1887 he was elected rabbi of Temple Sinai
of New Orleans, Louisiana. He remained there until 1927, when he was named rabbi
emeritus.
On March 6, 1889 Heller married Ida Annie Marks, daughter of a distinguished Portuguese
family of New Orleans, by whom he had four children.
Heller's literary work was extensive, though largely composed of published articles,
sermons, and addresses. He was a professor of Hebrew language and literature at Tulane
University and was elected vice-president (1907-1908) and president (1909-1910) of the
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Maximilian H. Heller died on March 30, 1929.
Maximilian H. Heller was one of the most respected and best loved religious leaders of New
Orleans and the South. He was known as a man who was diffident and timid in matters about
which he did not feel himself well informed, but who did not hesitate to take a determined
and courageous stand when he thought a moral principle was involved.
Heller was a leader in both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities of New Orleans. He was
active in many causes and movements, often at great risk to his welfare and reputation.
Together with Dr. Benjamin Morgan Palmer, Presbyterian divine, and state Senator (later
Chief Justice) Edward Douglas White, Heller led the bitter and historic fight which resulted
in the abolition of the Louisiana lottery. Equally characteristic was his early espousal of
Zionism at a time when support of this cause meant vilification and loss of merited
recognition. Heller was also actively engaged in promoting public education, serving from
1892-1896 as a member of the Louisiana State Board of Education.
The Heller papers document these activities, as well as his involvement in Jewish communal
and organizational life, plus his pulpit and rabbinic duties. Heller's family correspondence
deals with personal and domestic problems as well as the struggle of Bohemian immigrants who
came to Chicago in the 1870s.
The papers span the years 1871-1929 with no major gaps or lacunae. The majority of the
collection is in English with some correspondence in German, French, Hebrew and Yiddish.
This collection is arranged in six (6) series:
- Series A. Correspondence. 1871-1929.
- Series B. Personal. 1876-1923.
- Series C. Lectures and Sermons. 1885-1922.
- Series D. Manuscript Material.
- Series E. Printed Material. 1881-1929.
- Series F. Miscellaneous.
Terms of Access
Family correspondence in boxes 6, 7, 8, and 17 require permission from the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives
for access.
Terms of Reproduction and Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use,
may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address
queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information, see
the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Maximilian H. Heller Papers and
the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-33. Maximilian H. Heller Papers. American Jewish
Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Maximilian H. Heller Papers were donated by his son, James G. Heller, in January, 1952
and May, 1953. Additional family correspondence was received from the Heller family through
Bobbie Malone in August, 1993.
Processed by James W. Clasper, November,
1976.
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| Series A. Correspondence, 1871-1929 |
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The Correspondence series consists of six Hollinger boxes. Subjects relate to
congregational, rabbinic, religious, scientific, cultural, and political matters, the
Reform movement, Zionism, the labor movement, conferences, meetings, the prayer book
controversy, immigration problems, Hebrew Union College, and the careers of well-known
rabbis, scientists, and writers.
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This series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondent and
chronologically within. Unidentified correspondence is placed at the end of this
series.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
A, General 1885-1916 |
| 1 |
2 |
Adler, Cyrus1902-1909 |
| 1 |
3 |
Antin, Mary1911 |
| 1 |
4 |
B, General 1884-1926 |
| 1 |
5 |
Barnston [Barstein], Henry1903-1915 |
| 1 |
6 |
Bergman, Moise1900-1909 |
| 1 |
7 |
Berkowitz, Henry1881-1910 |
| 1 |
8 |
Bettman, Bernhard1884-1910 |
| 1 |
9 |
Bienenstok, Montefiore1904-1905 |
| 1 |
10 |
Brandeis, Louis D.1915-1922,
1927
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| 1 |
11 |
Braunfeld, Julius1894-1911 |
| 1 |
12 |
Braunscheveig, E.1887-1888 |
| 1 |
13 |
Buxbaum, E. Leopold1887;
1908
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| 1 |
14 |
C, General 1885-1925 |
| 1 |
15 |
Cahn, Edgar M.1886-1892 |
| 1 |
16 |
Calisch, Edward N.1887-1914 |
| 1 |
17 |
Cohen, Alfred M.1918-1921 |
| 1 |
18 |
Cohen, Henry1888-1917 |
| 1 |
19 |
Cohen, Oscar J.1889-1899 |
| 1 |
20 |
Cowen, Philip1901-1909;
1914
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| 1 |
21 |
Crofton, Alfred C.1914-1917 |
| 1 |
22 |
D, General 1885-1921 |
| 1 |
23 |
Dannenbaum, Henry J.1912-1914 |
| 1 |
24 |
Davidson, David1885-1900 |
| 1 |
25 |
De Sola Pool, David1907-1917 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
Deutsch, Gotthard1897-1912 |
| 2 |
2 |
Deutsch, Gotthard1913-1921;
1930
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| 2 |
3 |
E, General 1890-1915 |
| 2 |
4 |
Ehrlich, Arnold B.1900-1911 |
| 2 |
5 |
Elkin, Heiman J.1890;
1911
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| 2 |
6 |
Enelow, Hyman G.1902-1911;
1916
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| 2 |
7 |
Englander, Henry1916-1920 |
| 2 |
8 |
F, General 1878-1924 |
| 2 |
9 |
Felsenthal, Bernhard [Bernard]1884-1902 |
| 2 |
10 |
Franklin, Leo M.1913-1915 |
| 2 |
11 |
Freiberg, J. Walter1911-1915 |
| 2 |
12 |
Friedenwald, Harry1909-1917 |
| 2 |
13 |
Friedlander, Joseph1901-1916 |
| 2 |
14 |
Friedman, William S.1892-1913 |
| 2 |
15 |
Frisch, Ephraim1912-1915 |
| 2 |
16 |
G, General 1885-1920 |
| 2 |
17 |
Gaster, Moses1911-1912;
1918-1919
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| 2 |
18 |
Gittelman, H.1918-1922 |
| 2 |
19 |
Goldberg, Jeanette Miriam1878;
1908-1909; 1915
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| 2 |
20 |
Goldstein, Julius1923 |
| 2 |
21 |
Gottheil, Gustav and Gottheil, Richard1894-1911 |
| 2 |
22 |
Gries, Moses J.1892-1914 |
| 2 |
23 |
Grossmann, Louis1888-1919 |
| 2 |
24 |
Guttmacher, Adolph1889-1914 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
H, General 1882-1925 |
| 3 |
2 |
Haas, Jacob de1902-1922 |
| 3 |
3 |
Harris, Maurice1891-1924 |
| 3 |
4 |
Harrison, Leon1895-1923 |
| 3 |
5 |
Hecht, Sigmund D.1886-1897 |
| 3 |
6 |
Heinsheimer, Edward1895;
1917
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| 3 |
7 |
Hirsch, Emil G.1888-1900;
1908
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| 3 |
8 |
Hurwitz, Henry1909-1916;
1924
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| 3 |
9 |
I, General 1882-1922 |
| 3 |
10 |
J, General 1888-1918 |
| 3 |
11 |
Jacobs, Joseph1891-1915;
1920
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| 3 |
12 |
Jacobson, Moses P.1889-1917 |
| 3 |
13 |
Jasin, Joseph1907-1910 |
| 3 |
14 |
K, General 1886-1923 |
| 3 |
15 |
Kallen, Horace M.1912-1916 |
| 3 |
16 |
Kaplan, Jacob H.1909-1920 |
| 3 |
17 |
Kohler, Kaufmann1893-1916 |
| 3 |
18 |
Kohn, Annette1903 |
| 3 |
19 |
Kohut, George Alexander1876-1911 |
| 3 |
20 |
Kory, Sol L.1898-1905 |
| 3 |
21 |
Krauskopf, Joseph1882-1920 |
| 3 |
22 |
L, General 1882-1925 |
| 3 |
23 |
Lehman, Emanuel1899-1904 |
| 3 |
24 |
Lemann, Monte M.1906-1915 |
| 3 |
25 |
Leucht, Isaac L.1886-1895 |
| 3 |
26 |
Levy, J. Leonard1899;
1911-1915
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| 3 |
27 |
Levy, Lipman1885-1915 |
| 3 |
28 |
Lewinthal, Isidore1887-1905 |
| 3 |
29 |
Lipsky, Louis1904-1919;
1928
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| 3 |
30 |
Lyon, J.A.1913-1915 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 4 |
1 |
M, General 1884-1925 |
| 4 |
2 |
Magnes, Judah L.1906-1911 |
| 4 |
3 |
Mannheimer, Sigmund1884-1905 |
| 4 |
4 |
Margolis, Max1906-1908 |
| 4 |
5 |
Marshall, Louis1903-1924 |
| 4 |
6 |
Marx, David1887-1913 |
| 4 |
7 |
Marx, Salomon1886-1913 |
| 4 |
8 |
Mayer, Harry H.1898-1914 |
| 4 |
9 |
Mendes, Isaac P. and Mendes, H. Pereira1899-1914 |
| 4 |
10 |
Meyer, Martin A.1909-1917 |
| 4 |
11 |
Mielziner, Moses1884-1902 |
| 4 |
12 |
Montefiore, Claude G.1910-1914 |
| 4 |
13 |
Morgenstern, Julian1908-1917 |
| 4 |
14 |
Moses, Alfred G.1904-1907 |
| 4 |
15 |
Moses, Isaac S.1890-1904 |
| 4 |
16 |
N-O, General 1884-1924 |
| 4 |
17 |
P, General 1880-1918 |
| 4 |
18 |
Philipson, David1884-1913 |
| 4 |
19 |
Pohl, Julius1889 |
| 4 |
20 |
Pollak, Carl1881-1889 |
| 4 |
21 |
R, General 1879-1926 |
| 4 |
22 |
Raisin, Jacob S.1900-1914 |
| 4 |
23 |
Raisin, Max1905-1916 |
| 4 |
24 |
Raphael, E.1886-1899 |
| 4 |
25 |
Rauch, Blanche1885-1901 |
| 4 |
26 |
Rosenau, William1904-1915 |
| 4 |
27 |
Rosenwald, Julius1921 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 5 |
1 |
Sa-Sp, General 1871-1927 |
| 5 |
2 |
St-Su, General 1871-1925 |
| 5 |
3 |
Samfield, Max1887-1893 |
| 5 |
4 |
Schanfarber, Tobias1884-1912 |
| 5 |
5 |
Schechter, Solomon1903-1912;
1917
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| 5 |
6 |
Schulman, Samuel1909-1925 |
| 5 |
7 |
Seeman, George1897-1912 |
| 5 |
8 |
Silber, Mendel1909-1915 |
| 5 |
9 |
Silverman, Joseph1881-1910 |
| 5 |
10 |
Singer, Isidor1904-1919 |
| 5 |
11 |
Smith, William B.1894-1929 |
| 5 |
12 |
Son, Nathan A.1892 |
| 5 |
13 |
Sonneschein, Solomon H.1887-1890;
1895
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| 5 |
14 |
Steeg, A.1896-1897 |
| 5 |
15 |
Stern, S. Walter1914-1920 |
| 5 |
16 |
Sternheim, Emanuel1912-1915 |
| 5 |
17 |
Sulzberger, Mayer1902-1907 |
| 5 |
18 |
Szold, Henrietta1903-1917 |
| 5 |
19 |
T, General 1909-1923 |
| 5 |
20 |
Temple Sinai (New Orleans, La.)1898-1923 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 6 |
1 |
U-V, General 1885-1915 |
| 6 |
2 |
W, General 1883-1924 |
| 6 |
3 |
Wagenheim, Isaac E.1900 |
| 6 |
4 |
Weil, Robert1876-1881 |
| 6 |
5 |
Weis, I.1893-1897 |
| 6 |
6 |
Wise, Isaac M.1879-1896 |
| 6 |
7 |
Wise, Leo1885-1915 |
| 6 |
8 |
Wise, Stephen S.1896-1929 |
| 6 |
9 |
Wolf, Simon1898;
1905-1918
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| 6 |
10 |
Wolsey, Louis1898-1915 |
| 6 |
11 |
Z, General 1885-1923 |
| 6 |
12 |
Zangwill, Israel1900 |
| 6 |
13 |
Zepin, George1912-1923 |
| 6 |
14 |
Zielonka, Martin1900;
1909; 1911
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| 6 |
15 |
Unidentified 1878; 1881-1917; 1927 |
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| Series B. Personal, 1871-1927 |
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The Personal series consists of approximately two Hollinger boxes and has been divided
into two subseries: 1. Family correspondence and 2. Miscellaneous.
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Subseries 1. Family correspondence, 1876-1923 |
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The family correspondence subseries consists of Heller's exchanges with both
immediate and extended family members.
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See also Box 17, folders 6-14 for additional family correspondence. |
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The material is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. |
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Restriction Note: The family correspondence is restricted. Permission to view these
items must be obtained from the Executive Director of the American Jewish
Archives.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 6 |
16 |
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Cohen, George and Heller, Ruth [daughter]
1913-1921
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[Restricted] |
| 6 |
17 |
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Heller, Ernestine [sister] 1884-1915;
1923
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[Restricted] |
| 6 |
18 |
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Heller, Helen Bettman [daughter-in-law] 1916 |
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[Restricted] |
| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
1-3 |
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Heller, Ida Marks [wife] 1888-1915(3 folders) |
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[Restricted] |
| 7 |
4 |
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Heller, Isaac [son] 1916-1917 |
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[Restricted] |
| 7 |
5 |
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Heller, James Gutheim [son] 1897-1920 |
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[Restricted] |
| 7 |
6 |
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Heller, Jean Bettman [daughter-in-law] 1916-1923 |
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[Restricted] |
| 7 |
7 |
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Heller, Louise [sister?] 1883-1915 |
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[Restricted] |
| 7 |
8-9 |
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Heller, Mathilda Kassowitz and Heller,
Simon [parents] 1876-1910(2 folders)
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[Restricted] |
| Box |
Folder |
| 8 |
1 |
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Lasker, Edward and Heller, Cecile
[daughter] 1900-1920
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
2 |
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Stein, Anna1882-1889; 1910 |
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
3 |
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Stein, Carrie1889-1910 |
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
4 |
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Stein, Samuel1878-1895; 1903-1913 |
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
5 |
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Stein, Sidney1895;
1899
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
6-7 |
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Stolz, Joseph [nephew?] 1881-1929(2 folders) |
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
8 |
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Miscellaneous family correspondence 1889-1920 |
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[Restricted] |
| 8 |
9 |
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Unidentified family correspondence 1882-1913 |
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[Restricted] |
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Subseries 2. Miscellaneous, 1871-1929 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 8 |
10-11 |
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Travel diary circa 1927(2 folders) |
| 8 |
12 |
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School reports 1871-1879 |
| 8 |
13 |
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Receipts 1890-1896 |
| 8 |
14 |
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Photographs undated |
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| Series C. Lectures and Sermons, 1885-1923 |
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The Lectures and Sermons series consists of manuscript material such as sermons,
lectures, and prayers. The material spans the period 1885-1923.
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The series is organized by date and tied into individual packets that are grouped into
Friday lectures, Saturday sermons, holiday sermons, and miscellaneous.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 9 |
1-4 |
Friday lectures 1887-1922(4 folders) |
| 9 |
5-6 |
Saturday sermons 1885-1904(2 folders) |
| Box |
Folder |
| 10 |
1-3 |
Saturday sermons 1904-1922(3 folders) |
| 10 |
4-5 |
Holiday sermons 1905-1923(2 folders) |
| 10 |
6 |
Miscellaneous undated |
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| Series D. Manuscript Material, undated |
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The Manuscript Material series consists of three boxes of unorganized miscellaneous
items including sermon and lecture notes, addresses, resolutions, and prayers. Most of
this material is undated.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 11 |
1 |
Resolutions and addresses undated |
| 11 |
2-6 |
Miscellaneous undated(5 folders) |
| Box |
Folder |
| 12 |
1-6 |
Miscellaneous undated(6 folders) |
| Box |
Folder |
| 13 |
1-5 |
Miscellaneous undated(5 folders) |
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| Series E. Printed Material, 1881-1929 |
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The Printed Material series consists of three boxes of scrapbook pages of newsclippings
and articles spanning the period 1881-1929. Some material is undated. Box 16, folders
4-6, consists of memorial material for Maximilian Heller that was prepared by Ida Marks
Heller for her son James.
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The material is arranged as it was found in the scrapbooks. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 14 |
1-7 |
Scrapbooks 1881-1925(7 folders) |
| Box |
Folder |
| 15 |
1-8 |
Scrapbooks 1883-1925(8 folders) |
| Box |
Folder |
| 16 |
1-6 |
Scrapbooks 1929, undated(6 folders) |
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| Series F. Miscellaneous 1889-1923 |
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The Miscellaneous series consists of Sunday school record books, minutes of meetings,
assorted documents, picture postcards, and holiday program material. Minutes of the
Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College for 1921 and those for the Commission on
Jewish Religious Educational Literature for April 1923 are included. There is also a
Theodor Herzl chronology in Box 17, folder 5.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 17 |
1 |
Record books circa 1889-1899 |
| 17 |
2 |
Minutes of meetings. Hebrew Union College Board of
Governors Commission on Jewish Religious Educational LiteratureMarch-November 1921April
1923
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| 17 |
3 |
Holiday program material circa 1921 |
| 17 |
4 |
Picture postcards undated |
| 17 |
5 |
Documents and assorted items undated |
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| Series G. Additional Family Correspondence, 1914-1917 |
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This material is a supplement to the family correspondence contained in Series B.
Personal. This additional material was obtained from the Heller family through Bobbie
Malone in August, 1993.
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The material is arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondent. |
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Restriction Note: The family correspondence is restricted. Permission to view these
items must be obtained from the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 17 |
6 |
Heller, Cecile [daughter] to Heller, Isaac
and Heller, James Gutheim [sons] 1914-1917,
undated
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
7 |
Heller, Ida Marks [wife] to Heller, Isaac
and Heller, James Gutheim [sons] 1914-1917
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
8 |
Heller, Isaac [son] from Heller, Maximilian
H.1914-1917
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
9 |
Heller, Isaac [son] postal cards from Heller,
Maximilian H.1914-1916
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
10-11 |
Heller, Isaac and Heller, James Gutheim
[sons] from Heller, Maximilian H.1914-1917(2 folders)
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
12 |
Heller, Maximilian H. to "Dear Folks and Boys" [wife and
children] 1915-1916
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
13 |
Heller, Ruth [daughter] to Heller family1914-1915,
undated
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[Restricted] |
| 17 |
14 |
Miscellaneous and unidentified family correspondence 1916,
undated
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[Restricted] |
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
AJA's online catalog.
Persons and Families
Heller, Maximilian H. -- 1860-1929 --
Photographs
Institutions
Temple Sinai (New Orleans, La.)
Subjects
Jews -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Labor movement -- Louisiana -- New
Orleans
Reform Judaism -- Louisiana -- New
Orleans
Zionism.
Genres and Forms
Jewish sermons, American
Occupations
Rabbis -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
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