TABLE OF CONTENTS
Series A. Correspondence. 1847-1900
A Finding Aid to the Isaac Mayer Wise Papers. 1838-1931.
Manuscript Collection No. 436
Introduction |
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| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | Wise, Isaac Mayer, 1819-1900. |
| Title: | Isaac Mayer Wise Papers. |
| Dates: | 1838-1931 |
| Quantity: | 1.2 linear feet (2 Hollinger boxes, 25 folders). |
| Abstract: | The Isaac Mayer Wise Papers (1840-1933) describe the rabbinic and professional activities of Isaac Mayer Wise, organizer of Reform Judaism and founder of the Hebrew Union College. He also served as a rabbi in both Albany, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio. |
| Collection Number: | MS-436 |
| Language: | Collection material in English. |
Biographical Sketch
Isaac Mayer Wise was born in Steingrub, Bohemia in 1819. After studying in various yeshivot in Prague, Czechoslovakia and Vienna, Austria he became a rabbi in Radnitz, Bohemia. Because of the poor prospects in Europe at the time, Wise immigrated in 1846 to New York. He shortly thereafter became the rabbi at Congregation Beth El in Albany. There he became an advocate for reforms such as confirmation, choral singing and mixed pews.
Wise's reforms were not popular with his Albany congregation. He broke off in the early 1850s to form Anshe Emeth Congregation in Albany. Wise considered taking a pulpit in Charleston, South Carolina but in 1854 moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He remained at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in that city for the remainder of his life.
Wise remained actively involved in the creation of an "American Judaism." Shortly after his arrival in Cincinnati, he created the weekly paper known as The Israelite and a German supplement titled Die Deborah . He also started the Zion College- a school for Hebrew and secular studies. It folded a short time later.
In 1855, Wise was a leader at a conference in Cleveland, Ohio that drew fire from both Orthodox communities and the reform radicals. They were discussing a possible union of American Jewish congregations.
Isaac Mayer Wise is known as the founder of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1875. This was one part of his larger goal of establishing a union of congregations. Wise was president of HUC until his death- ordaining more than 60 rabbis and outgrowing their first campus. He was involved in the formation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
Wise died in 1900. He was married to Therese Bloch by whom he had 10 children. She died in 1874. He then married Selma Bondi, by whom he had four children, among them Rabbi Jonah B. Wise.
Scope and Content Note
The Isaac Mayer Wise Papers (1840-1933) describe the rabbinic and professional activities of Isaac Mayer Wise, organizer of Reform Judaism and founder of the Hebrew Union College. He also served as a rabbi in both Albany, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Arrangement
The papers are divided into four series:
- A. Correspondence
- B. Sermons and Writings
- C. Nearprint
- D. Photographs
Conditions of Access and Use
Terms of Access
The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.
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.
Administrative Information
Alternative Forms of Collection
The Isaac Mayer Wise Papers are on microfilm (MF-2827 to MF-2841) and are available through interlibrary loan. A finding aid to the microfilm collection is available.
Preferred Citation
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Isaac Mayer Wise Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-436. Isaac Mayer Wise Papers. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Provenance
The Isaac Mayer Wise Papers were received from various donors.
Processing Information
Processed by Melinda McMartin, December, 2000
Box and Folder Listing
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.