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Cohen family collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0251.4

Abstract

The Cohen family collection contains correspondence between several family members regarding several topics including civil rights, genealogy, and Fort McHenry. The materials in the collection are dated from 1818 to 1945.

Dates

  • 1818-1945

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open to the public without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Biographical / Historical

The Cohen family has long been prominent in the business and artistic affairs of Baltimore, Maryland. Originally descended from Meyer Cohen (born circa 1700) who lived in Oberdorf, Germany, the first Cohen to arrive in the United States was Jacob I. Cohen (1744-1823). He lived and worked in several locations, including Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, where he became a prominent civil servant.

Jacob's brother, Israel I. Cohen (1751-1803) was also a respected citizen of Richmond, Virginia. He served in several posts, including as a juryman, a volunteer constable, a subscriber for shares in the Academy of Arts and Sciences of the United States of America, and as a trustee of the Franklin Street Cemetery.

Five years after Israel's death, his widow Judith Solomon Cohen moved to Baltimore with seven children: Jacob I., Philip I., Maria I., Mendes I., Benjamin I., David I., and Joshua I. Several of the children established themselves as respectable figures in society.

Extent

0.834 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Related Materials

MS 0251, MS 0251.1, MS 0251.2, MS 0251.3

Scope and Contents

The Cohen family collection contains correspondence of Eleanor S. Cohen, Jacob I. Cohen, Dr. Joshua I. Cohen, Mendes Cohen, and Mendes I. Cohen. The collection also includes information relating to Jewish civil rights in Maryland, genealogical materials, Mendes. I. Cohen's reminiscences of the bombardment of Fort McHenry, materials on Mendes Cohen's position as Chairman of the Committee on Car Fenders in Baltimore, an 1894 poem titled "Address to the Children of Israel in Maryland," materials related to the Maryland Historical Society, and a few miscellaneous materials.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Cohen family correspondence
Status
Under Revision
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Revision Statements

  • 2019-8-1: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Micah Connor.

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750