Paper
These artifacts are made of paper and ink, which makes them very fragile and vulnerable to the environment. Whenever possible, paper artifacts should be preserved in archival quality materials. These artifacts hold special meaning for their owners and their descendants.
Memorial Certificates and Condolence Letters
New York, Pennsylvania
These certificates/letters are just a few of the hundreds of letters, memorial cards, and certificates that my grandfather, Jay Shapiro, and his father, Joseph Shapiro, received after the death of their mother and wife, Mary Mann Shapiro. My great-grandmother died on February 7, 1952 from cancer at the age of 52. She was a very important woman who was active in several different Jewish organizations in Philadelphia, including the Union of Orthodox Congregations (where she was President of the Tri-State Chapter) and Hadassah (of which she served as the President of the Philadelphia Chapter and Chairman of the Philadelphia Junior Ball). She even traveled to Palestine before my grandfather was born and met Henrietta Szold, the founder of Hadassah, when she was there. Last year, my brother Josh presented her Travel Journal as his artifact for the Living Museum.
My grandfather, Pop Jay, was only 14 years old when his mother died, but he remembers how much she loved Judaism and how they had a Kosher home and lit Shabbat candles every Friday night. He also remembers attending many synagogue dinners as a young child. Over the years, my grandfather would read all of these notes to help remember his mother and what a special person she was. This February will be the 60th anniversary of her death. To honor my great-grandmother's memory, Pop Jay named my mom, Merri, after his mother. He also made sure that my mom and her brother went to Hebrew School and had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. My mom is now active in Jewish women's organizations like Hadassah and hopes to continue her grandmother's legacy.
The Hadassah memorial certificate was sent by my mother's great Aunt Bessie Katz, who was one of my grandmother's sisters. My mom was very close with her Aunt Betty growing up and she always told her stories about her grandmother Mary. I was named after my Aunt Betty and Aunt Ann (my grandmother's other sister) who both held a very special place in my mom's heart. We are still close with Aunt Betty's sons, Charles and Eddie. We spend all of the Jewish holidays with my cousin Charles and his wife Judy.
Wedding Siddur
Czechoslovakia
My grandmother Shari
My artifact is a Siddur, or prayerbook, that my great grandmother Annabelle used on her wedding day in June of 1938. The book is 4 3/4 inches tall by 3 1/2 inches wide. The cover of the book is made of what looks like white plastic. There is a "mother of pearl" inlaid border and intricate design on the front that shows the Ten Commandments. There is a pretty gold clasp holding the front and back covers together. The spine of the book is coming apart.
When I first opened this prayerbook, I found a white ribbon with dead flowers between the pages. Pressing flowers was a common way of trying to preserve special memories. I have a picture of my great grandmother Annabelle and her husband Stanley on their wedding day. My great grandmother is holding the Siddur in her hands. She did not use it after her wedding, she kept it safe in the box. We keep the book at my grandmother Shari's house today. It is important to our family because it helps us remember our great grandmother. Looking at these artifacts is a great way to celebrate their wedding anniversary. It shows that my great grandmother very-well respected Judaism because she appreciated it enough to carry the prayerbook on her wedding day and include it in her wedding picture.
Photos of Hat Factory
Mexico
My father, Lyle
These photos are reproductions of two pictures from my great-grandfather, Simon Brown's hat factory in Tampico, Mexico in 1928. Each black & white photo is reproduced on 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
The top photo shows the women and girls who worked in the factory. On the back wall is a sign which reads 1924-28 with the name of the factory "Fabrica." Also, the Spanish word Cachuchas, which means caps, and the names of the two owners: S. Brown and M. Caplan appear below that.
The bottom photo shows thousands of hats on shelves. My great-grandfather Simon is sitting to the right and his partner, Mr. Caplan, is sitting in the middle. They are seated at what looks like a table created from rolls of fabric. An inkwell and bottle of ink are on the table top and Mr. Caplan appears to be signing a document.
Simon Brown was my grandmother's father, on my father's side of the family. My great-grandfather owned this factory with his partner, Mr. Caplan. Mr. Caplan was Jewish as well. Local women and girls made the hats in Mexico which were exported to the United States. This was my great-grandfather's business before he immigrated to the United States. When he moved to Brooklyn, he married my great-grandmother and started a family. This artifact is significant because we have very few pictures or information about my great-grandfather and his experiences in Tampico, Mexico. The original pictures are protected in a special place where they can not be destroyed.