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Lot 379

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He occupied a conspicuous place in the Jewish comm

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is how his lengthy bio sketch opens in "The Jews of Phila." (Morais, 1894). ABRAHAM SIMON WOLF (born Va 1809) merchant, land ventures, coal mining and banking. Influential in numerous major Jewish communal societies/associations; active in Cong. Mickve Israel. Among founders of Phila. Jewish Hospital. 8 PAGE LETTER (penned) with full signature as PRESIDENT of the hospital. Phila. Dec. 12, 1872 in response to letter (which accompanies it) from president of the "Board of Public Charities" Oct. 10, 1872, asking Wolf to furnish that board "…with a sketch of origin and present circumstances of the Jewish Hospital for [their] record and for future notice in the report of this board." 8 page reply is obviously Wolf's first response to that request, complete with his signature, but obviously never mailed and filled many corrections, deleted words, etc. all in Wolf's hand, indicating he had second thoughts about initial response. His history of background and organization of the Hospital (formed 1865) describes location, buildings and: "It was organized exclusively by persons of the Jewish faith [but funded by] individuals of other persuasions. There are two dept's…one a hospital for the sick; the other a home for the aged and infirm…in the hospital we admit without exception persons of any or no creed, nor permit them to be questioned…on the subject in any manner…the home for the aged we admit none but Israelites…[with much more about its history since formation; also details / costs of new buildings and expansion which "…have been defrayed exclusively by Israelites by… a subscription fund…" Also describes how they keep records of admissions (with some interesting deletions and corrections) and method by which they seek public aid "…should such assistance [be necessary] to relieve us from embarrassment"… Especially interesting to read his corrections. Both letters Exc. (with fine Photostat of his bio sketch)………

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