University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Horwitz family.

Papers, 1911-1955.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DI

1.2 cubic ft. (3 archives boxes)

ABSTRACT: Papers, many in Yiddish and Hebrew, of the Milwaukee family of Isadore Horwitz, publisher of the Jewish Daily Press and the Milwaukee Wochenblat (an English and Yiddish newspaper). Most of the letters were written to Isadore and Mae Horwitz by their children, mainly from Hayim Horwitz. Also includes a scrapbook, photographs, and greeting cards kept by a daughter, Rita.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: The papers are divided into three sections: Correspondence, Miscellaneous Files, and Scrapbooks. These are arranged alphabetically and chronologically thereunder where appropriate.

The Correspondence is for the most part personal and is valuable for the insights given to a family and its everyday life and concerns. The bulk of the correspondence is letters written to Isadore and Mae from their children, mainly from Hayim. Also included are letters written by Isadore; letters written by the grandchildren, Judy, Danny, and David; and a few letters written by relatives and friends. Some of the letters are signed in Hebrew characters and one folder contains letters written in Yiddish. Some of the Yiddish letters were written by Mae's brother, Morris London, But the remainder are unidentified.

The Miscellaneous Files are incomplete and are mostly materials collected by Mae Horwitz. Included are clippings of articles by Isadore (that seem once to have been in a scrapbook) and clippings regarding Zionism, Milwaukee activities, and family matters. Some of these are in Yiddish. Materials about Jewish organizations that the family belonged to include information on Pioneer Women, Hadassah and B'nai B'rith, and a folder of certificates for trees planted in honor of various members of the family. Programs from plays and musicals in the Milwaukee area are included as is a folder of miscellany which holds citations given the Milwauker Wochenblat, a college theme written by Eleanor Auerbach (Horwitz), and Isadore's membership card in the Boy Scouts.

There are two scrapbooks. One contains newspaper clippings of articles written by Isadore. The other was kept by Rita, and contains programs for events she attended, a photographs, and various greetings cards.

The newspaper collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society Library contains on microfilm incomplete copies of the Jewish Daily Press and the Milwauker Wochenblat. The Society's Division of Archives and Manuscripts also has a biographical sketch of Isadore S. Horwitz, c. 1928, and an article written by him in 1948, "History of the Jews in Wisconsin, with special reference to Madison."

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Isadore S. Horwitz was born in Russia on April 6, 1889. He immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he became a reporter for the Milwaukee Sentinel. In 1915 Horwitz became publisher and editor of the Milwauker (Milwaukee) Wochenblat, an English and Yiddish newspaper. He was also publisher of the Jewish Daily Press and operated a printing shop. The Wochenblat ceased publication after his death in January 1959.

Mae (Masha, Marsha) London was also born in Russia in 1890. She immigrated to Milwaukee where she worked as a nurse. In 1913 she married Isadore Horwitz and they had four children: Hayim, Judah, Hersh, and Rita. Mae was a founder of the Milwaukee chapter of the Pioneer Women, an international Zionist organization. After her death in December 1959, a nurse's training program in Israel was started by the Pioneer Women in her honor.

The oldest son, Hayim (Hy) who later changed his surname to Howard, was born March 9, 1915. He married Eleanor (Elly) Auerbach in 1940 and had at least two children, Judith (Judy), born August 24, 1941 and Daniel (Danny), born in June, 1944. During the early 1940s the Howards moved to Los Angeles, where Hayim worked with his father-in-law in the clothing business.

In 1918 twin sons, Judah (James, Jimmy) and Hersh (Hershel) were born. They both served in the army during World War II. Jimmy married Sonya Beck and had at least one son, Kenneth David, born November 16, 1952. He also moved to California. Hersh also changed his surname to Howard. He married Cynthia and had at least one son, David Abraham, born November 30, 1949.

Rita Rose (Sis, Shoshano) was born in 1923. She married Morris Wattenberg, April 3, 1948 and was later divorced. On December 6, 1952, she married Joseph Harold Singer and now lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

A genealogical chart of the Horwitz Family follows the description of the papers included in this collection.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Horwitz family. Papers, 1911-1955. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection DI. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Presented by Mae L. Horwitz prior to 1958 and presented by Rabbi Joseph L. Baron, 1958. No accession numbers.

PROCESSING: Processed by L. Nauen and K. Baumann on March 25, 1974.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Jews--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--History.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION DI	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence, 1924, 1929-1939	1	1
Correspondence, 1940-1942	1	2
Correspondence, 1942-1949	1	3
Correspondence, 1950-1952	1	4
Correspondence, 1952-1955	1	5
Correspondence, undated	1	6
Correspondence, undated	1	7
Correspondence, Yiddish Letters, 1920-1930	1	8
Miscellaneous Files, Clippings, Articles Written by Isadore Horwitz, 1920-1930	2	1
Miscellaneous Files, Clippings, Miscellaneous, 1927-1951	2	2
Miscellaneous Files, Jewish Organizations, General, 1946-1952	2	3
Miscellaneous Files, Jewish Organizations, Jewish National Fund Tree Certificates, 1945-1951	2	4
Miscellaneous Files, Miscellaneous, 1928-1945	2	6
Miscellaneous Files, Programs, 1929-1941	2	5
Scrapbooks, Articles Written by Isadore Horwitz, 1911-1928	3
Scrapbooks, Rita Horwitz's Personal Scrapbook, 1944, 1946	3