Inventory of the Ehrlich and Rabhan Family Papers, 1896-1897, 1979

Collection Number 5129-z

unc seal
Manuscripts Department, University Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Collection Information
block Descriptive Summary
block Administrative Information
block Online Catalog Headings
block Biographical Note
block Collection Overview
plus Detailed Description of the Collection
block Items Separated
Contact Information:
Manuscripts Department
CB#3926, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890
Phone: 919/962-1345
Fax: 919/962-3594
Email: mss@email.unc.edu
URL: http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/
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Descriptive Summary

Repository
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Creator
Ehrlich family.
Rabhan family.
Title
Ehrlich and Rabhan Family Papers, 1896-1897, 1979
Call Number
5129-z
Language of Materials
Materials in Yiddish and English
Extent
Items: About 125
Abstract
Businessman Joseph Ehrlich married Rebecca Smolensky in 1897. Ehrlich owned dry goods businesses in Milledgeville and Manassas, Ga. Rebecca's parents remained in Bialystok, Poland, but corresponded with Rebecca, her sister Minnie, and her brother-in-law Louis, who owned a dry goods businesses in Swainsboro and Savannah, Ga. Frances Ehrlich, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca, married Morris Rabhan (b. 1896) of Savannah, Ga.
The Ehrlich and Rabhan Family papers consist primarily of letters in Yiddish from Joseph Ehrlich chiefly in Milledgeville, Ga., to his fiancee, Rebecca Smolensky in Savannah, Ga. Nearly 80 letters written during the span of about one year profess love, express wishes of good health and happiness, and inquire about family members. Topics of discussion also pertain to their upcoming wedding, Ehrlich's dry goods business, and travel. A smaller number of undated letters from Rebecca's parents in Bialystok (also written in Yiddish) request information about the man she is to marry, specifically about his committment to Judaism, and urge her to observe Judaism as best she can. Reproductions of nine Ehrlich family photographs are included, and a CD contains translations of several letters included in the collection. The collection also includes a book prepared by Morris Rabhan, Our Family History, 1840-1979, which extensively documents Rabhan family history and includes genealogical charts, narratives, and photographs.

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Administrative Information

Restrictions to Access
This collection has restrictions to access. Please see details below or contact the Manuscripts Department for more information.
Usage Restrictions
Use of audio materials may require production of listening copies.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Joan R. Jacobson of Raleigh, N.C., in 2003 (Acc. 99599).
Processing Information
Processed by: Jodi Berkowitz, July 2006
Encoded by: Jodi Berkowitz, July 2006
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Ehrlich and Rabhan Family Papers #5129-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings

These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.

Bialystok (Poland)--Social life and customs.
Courtship--Georgia--History--19th century.
Ehrlich family.
Ehrlich, Joseph.
Family--Georgia--Social life and customs.
Family--Poland--Social life and customs.
Genealogy.
General stores--Georgia--History--19th century.
Georgia--Commerce--History--19th century.
Georgia--Genealogy.
Jewish businesspeople--Georgia.
Jewish families--Georgia.
Jews--Poland--Bialystok.
Jews--Southern States--Social life and customs.
Jews--United States.
Judaism--Customs and practices.
Manassas (Ga.)--Social life and customs.
Marriage--Georgia.
Merchants--Georgia--History--19th century.
Milledgeville (Ga.)--Social life and customs.
Rabhan family.
Savannah (Ga.)--Social life and customs.
Smolensky family.
Swainsboro (Ga.)--Social life and customs.
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Biographical Note

Businessman Joseph Ehrlich married Rebecca Smolensky in 1897. Ehrlich owned dry goods businesses in Milledgeville, Ga., and Manassas, Ga. Rebecca's parents remained in Bialystok, Poland, but corresponded with Rebecca, her sister Minnie, and her brother-in-law Louis, who owned a dry goods businesses in Swainsboro and Savannah, Ga.

Frances Ehrlich, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca, married Morris Rabhan (b. 1896) of Savannah, Ga. Rabhan family history is extensively documented in a book prepared by Morris Rabhan, Our Family History, 1840-1979, which is included in the collection.

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Collection Overview

The Ehrlich and Rabhan family papers consist primarily of letters in Yiddish from Joseph Ehrlich, chiefly in Millidgeville, Ga., to his fiancee, Rebecca Smolensky in Savannah, Ga. Nearly 80 letters written during the span of about one year profess love, express wishes of good health and happiness, and inquire about family members. Topics of discussion also pertain to their upcoming wedding, Ehrlich's dry goods business, and travel. A smaller number of undated letters from Rebecca's parents in Bialystok, Poland (also written in Yiddish), request information about the man she is to marry, specifically about his committment to Judaism, and urge her to observe Judaism as best she can. Reproductions of nine Ehrlich family photographs are included, and a CD contains translations of several letters included in the collection. The collection also includes a book prepared by Morris Rabhan, Our Family History, 1840-1979, which extensively documents Rabhan family history and includes genealogical charts, narratives, and photographs.

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Items Separated

Photographs P-5129/1-9
Compact Disc CD-5129/1
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Detailed Description of the Collection

Ehrlich and Rabhan Family Papers, 1896-1897, 1979, and undated.
About 125 items.
Folder 1
Letters from Joseph Ehrlich, 1896-1897
Folder 2
Letters from Mr. and Mrs. Smolensky, undated
Folder 3
Our Family Story, 1840-1979
Folder 4
Translations
Partial translations of letters of 19 October 1896, 22 October 1896, 31 January 1897 by Selma Froom of Chapel Hill, N.C., in 2006; rough audio translation of a selection of letters (CD-5129/1) by Rabbi Abe Schoen of Raleigh, N.C., undated
Image P-5129/1
Joseph Ehrlich and Rebecca Smolensky
Image P-5129/2
Rebecca, Joseph, 2 store clerks, son Ben, store clerk
Image P-5129/3
Rebecca and Ben
Image P-5129/4
Rebecca and Joseph's home
Image P-5129/5
Party at Ehrlich home: Daughter Frances seated 5th from left in front row, Rebecca is last on right in back row
Image P-5129/6
Ehrlich store
Image P-5129/7
Leon Ehrlich, farmer
Image P-5129/8
Joseph and Rebecca's wedding invitation
Image P-5129/9
Rebecca

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