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HE WAS A FOUNDER (1897) AND LONG TIME EDITOR-IN-CH

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JEWISH DAILY FORWARD AND NOTED AUTHOR (BOTH ENGLISH AND YIDDISH) AND INSTRUMENTAL (CIRCA 1880's) FOR ORGANIZING IMMIGRANT JEWISH WORKERS. "ABRAHAM CAHAN (1860-1951)"; among his many published works (novels and non-fiction) was the classic American novel of urban immigrant experience "The Rise of David Levinsky" (1917). These three letters entirely in his hand, each with full signature are likely his beginnings of the exploration to write such a work. All have printed mastheads of "THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER" (N.Y.). All written in 1901 during the short period he left the "FORWARD" become a police reporter with Lincoln Steffens' "ADVERTISER" to returning to FORWARD in 1902. All to Judge Mayer Sulzberger, president of the J.P.S. and all concern what is apparently Cahan's decision by the J.P.S. to write a fictional novel and suggestion the J.P.S. publish it. (No. 1 April 3, 1901) single sheet 8 ½ x 11; acknowledges J.P.S. letter: "I have been thinking of a novel…story of a life in the fast dwindling world of Talmudic Judaism…not sure fiction would be acceptable…story to be laid partly in N.Y. [describes plot further and asks terms J.P.S. might offer]." (No. 2 April 10, 1901) Two sheets answering J.P.S.; describes proposed novel in further detail and how it might suit the needs of J.P.S. "…That's why you favored me by asking whether I would write a book for J.P.S. [and] I told you of my proposed novel…the book is not the sort I should write for any Gentile publisher…" (No. 3 May 2, 1901) Single page following meeting with J.P.S.: "I do not expect to have anything in form of synopsis for a book which might be acceptable to J.P.S. It would give me pleasure to submit any manuscript…to you personally in your private capacity…the gulf between the tastes and views [of J.P.S.] and my own seem impassable." (all exc.) With two fine bio sketches of Cahan. He wrote numerous articles for both the popular and Jewish Press and had no peer in the annals of Yiddish journalism

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