Documents
This gallery includes important documents.
Internal Passport
Russia
The original document belonged to my Great-Great-Grandfather, Kalman S. Tsyvin. It is an internal passport issued by the Czar's government in 1906. It contains detailed information about Kalman (age 37)and all the members of his family. It states everyone's age and that the family religion is Jewish. The family lived in the Mogilev province in Klimovichevsky District. He was the lease holder of a water mill at Shulivchesky Company. The document also says that Kalman served in the military, being assigned to the Home Guards in 1886 when he was 17 years old.
Everyone in Russia was required to carry identification documents. For Jewish people, this document states that they are only allowed to live in the Pale of Settlement provisionally. As of June 4, 1906, Kalman was permitted (to reside in) (or maybe travel about)in different cities and localities of the Russian Empire. The document was signed by the mayor and sealed on June 4, 1906.
This document is precious to my family because it is a very important reference to learn about my family history. For example, where we came from, what kind of work he did in Russia. Later, Kalman and his family eventually moved to New York City.
My father had the original document translated from the Russian language to English by a professor at Rutgers University.
Ellis Island Plaque
New York, NY
My Grandmother
In the early 1900's, my Great-Grandmother and her twelve other siblings all left Warsaw, Poland, in search of personal freedom and economic opportunity. They first arrived in Amsterdam where they started a catering business. Eventually, five of the oldest brothers moved to America where they started in the garment industry in New York City. Over the next several years, the remaining siblings, including my Great-Grandmother, came over to America to join their brothers and open up their own businesses and eventually started their own families.
There were three basic waves of Jewish immigration from Europe to America. First, the Sephardic Jews came during the early colonization period starting in the 1650's. Then, many German Jews came to America in the 1840's. Many stayed in the East, becoming successful and very integrated into American society. Many followed the pioneers out west and set up Jewish communities in most larger cities and towns. The largest wave of Jewish immigrants were Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe. This began in the 1880's and lasted until 1924 when stricter policies were put in place. I believe my relatives came during this last period of immigration.
The American Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island began accepting names in 1990 and this plaque honors my great-grandmother's memory.