Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California

Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
BJE Jewish Community Library
1835 Ellis Street
San Francisco 94115
Free parking: enter parking garage >from Pierce Street

Isaias Wolf Hellman left Bavaria at age 16 and within 10 years
of arriving in Gold Rush-era California founded Los Angeles' first
bank. A brilliant entrepreneur and financier, he was integral to the
founding of Wells Fargo Bank, the establishment of the University of
Southern California, and the financing of the burgeoning oil industry.

Frances Dinkelspiel (Hellman's great-great-granddaughter) will talk
about Hellman's impact on early Los Angeles and his role in the
development of San Francisco as a major financial center.
Frances Dinkelspiel is an award-winning journalist. Her work has
appeared in the New York Times, People, the San Jose Mercury News, San
Francisco Magazine, and other publications. She lives in Berkeley.
This presentation is sponsored by the BJE Jewish Community Library and
cosponsored by the SFBAJGS.

Contact:
Rose Katz
(415) 567-3327 x703
http://www.bjesf.org/library.htm

Dear Anita,

Although I've already replied to you privately, I wanted to add to what Peter
Zavon wrote, for the benefit of others:

The UK did not retain (I don't know if they ever required) passenger lists
for vessels arriving >from the European continent.

The Public Record Office (as was - now the National Archives) did require these
manifests to be kept, but chose not to retain them. That decision was made made
decades ago, long before genealogy was a popular hobby.

Your great grandfather may have taken a ship directly to Liverpool >from one
of the northeastern European ports, or even >from Hamburg or Bremen. Another
route >from north Europe was to the English east coast, landing at Hull or
Grimsby and then taking the Great Northern Railway to Liverpool.

The second of these routes was by far the more popular. Ships landing at Liverpool
tended to come >from Mediterranean, African, Indian or Australasian ports. The
vast majority of the Ashkenazi immigrants came through Hull or Grimsby,
particularly if transmigrating as Peter accurately describes. Those who landed
at other east coast ports (usually Harwich or London) tended to get the train
to Southampton if going on to America. Bristol was another west coast port but
it was more of a freight (& slave) port & rarely took migrants to the west.
Glasgow in Scotland did take passengers west, & the logical explanation is that
they took the migrants who had landed at more northern east coast portsm such as
Ediburgh, Newcastle & Gateshead.

The UK collection of passenger lists for vessels departing for destinations
other than continental Europe and the Mediterranean begins in 1895 so your
1902 departure may have been preserved. The last I heard, however, they are
not on microfilm, let alone available in digital form. They are boxed at
the Public Records Office by port of departure and then roughly organized by
date of departure. However, since researchers do look through the boxes for
particular vessels and people, the order in any give box can be very rough.

I'm glad to say that, although this was still the case up until about 2007,
things have finally moved on. The series named BT27 (outgoing passenger lists)
was digitised by FindMyPast & is available at www.ancestorsonboard.com. Searches
are free but downloading images costs money. The series named BT26 (incoming
passenger lists) has now also been done & is available through Ancestry.com.

The UK departure passenger lists contain less information than the US
arrival lists for the same voyage. Unless you are a completist and want a
copy of every document created during the emigration, I see little reason to
seek the UK departure list unless you are unable to find the corresponding
US arrival list.

I wholeheartedly agree with Peter's statement here. The outgoing list usually
includes ticket number, name, age & port of destination. Sometimes, it includes
occupation. In one instance, for a 1914 transmigrant out of Liverpool, the
manifest gave the name of the port of entry into the UK (Grimsby) & name of the
ship that brought her there, so that was an added bonus. It gave no date of entry
into the UK though, & I've never seen such detail on a BT27 manifest before or
since. The only information these documents have that the US manifests often
don't is the ticket number, but that's not hugely exciting, unless you have the
original ticket with that number on it. Oh, the other thing I used to like, when
the manifests were boxed at the National Archives, was looking on the back page
& seeing the total numbers of men, women & children on board. It brought it to
life a little more.

I hope you & others find this information useful.

Regards,

Saul Marks
Liverpool

Dear Anita,

Although I've already replied to you privately, I wanted to add to what Peter
Zavon wrote, for the benefit of others:

The UK did not retain (I don't know if they ever required) passenger lists
for vessels arriving >from the European continent.

The Public Record Office (as was - now the National Archives) did require these
manifests to be kept, but chose not to retain them. That decision was made made
decades ago, long before genealogy was a popular hobby.

Your great grandfather may have taken a ship directly to Liverpool >from one
of the northeastern European ports, or even >from Hamburg or Bremen. Another
route >from north Europe was to the English east coast, landing at Hull or
Grimsby and then taking the Great Northern Railway to Liverpool.

The second of these routes was by far the more popular. Ships landing at Liverpool
tended to come >from Mediterranean, African, Indian or Australasian ports. The
vast majority of the Ashkenazi immigrants came through Hull or Grimsby,
particularly if transmigrating as Peter accurately describes. Those who landed
at other east coast ports (usually Harwich or London) tended to get the train
to Southampton if going on to America. Bristol was another west coast port but
it was more of a freight (& slave) port & rarely took migrants to the west.
Glasgow in Scotland did take passengers west, & the logical explanation is that
they took the migrants who had landed at more northern east coast portsm such as
Ediburgh, Newcastle & Gateshead.

The UK collection of passenger lists for vessels departing for destinations
other than continental Europe and the Mediterranean begins in 1895 so your
1902 departure may have been preserved. The last I heard, however, they are
not on microfilm, let alone available in digital form. They are boxed at
the Public Records Office by port of departure and then roughly organized by
date of departure. However, since researchers do look through the boxes for
particular vessels and people, the order in any give box can be very rough.

I'm glad to say that, although this was still the case up until about 2007,
things have finally moved on. The series named BT27 (outgoing passenger lists)
was digitised by FindMyPast & is available at www.ancestorsonboard.com. Searches
are free but downloading images costs money. The series named BT26 (incoming
passenger lists) has now also been done & is available through Ancestry.com.

The UK departure passenger lists contain less information than the US
arrival lists for the same voyage. Unless you are a completist and want a
copy of every document created during the emigration, I see little reason to
seek the UK departure list unless you are unable to find the corresponding
US arrival list.

I wholeheartedly agree with Peter's statement here. The outgoing list usually
includes ticket number, name, age & port of destination. Sometimes, it includes
occupation. In one instance, for a 1914 transmigrant out of Liverpool, the
manifest gave the name of the port of entry into the UK (Grimsby) & name of the
ship that brought her there, so that was an added bonus. It gave no date of entry
into the UK though, & I've never seen such detail on a BT27 manifest before or
since. The only information these documents have that the US manifests often
don't is the ticket number, but that's not hugely exciting, unless you have the
original ticket with that number on it. Oh, the other thing I used to like, when
the manifests were boxed at the National Archives, was looking on the back page
& seeing the total numbers of men, women & children on board. It brought it to
life a little more.

I hope you & others find this information useful.

Regards,

Saul Marks
Liverpool

Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California

Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
BJE Jewish Community Library
1835 Ellis Street
San Francisco 94115
Free parking: enter parking garage >from Pierce Street

Isaias Wolf Hellman left Bavaria at age 16 and within 10 years
of arriving in Gold Rush-era California founded Los Angeles' first
bank. A brilliant entrepreneur and financier, he was integral to the
founding of Wells Fargo Bank, the establishment of the University of
Southern California, and the financing of the burgeoning oil industry.

Frances Dinkelspiel (Hellman's great-great-granddaughter) will talk
about Hellman's impact on early Los Angeles and his role in the
development of San Francisco as a major financial center.
Frances Dinkelspiel is an award-winning journalist. Her work has
appeared in the New York Times, People, the San Jose Mercury News, San
Francisco Magazine, and other publications. She lives in Berkeley.
This presentation is sponsored by the BJE Jewish Community Library and
cosponsored by the SFBAJGS.

Contact:
Rose Katz
(415) 567-3327 x703
http://www.bjesf.org/library.htm

Dear Genners,

I found a manifest with the names of my grand parents, Barnet and Annie
ROSANSKY leaving >from Southampton, arriving in the USA circa July 5, 1903. It
lists Barnet, Annie and a daughter whose name is also Annie. Since we are
Ashkenazi I know that this has to be a mistake. I also know that they came with
two male children, David Samuel, born in Russia and Harry, born in the UK on
dates prior to their leaving on passage to America. The manifest shows that
the trip was paid for by Annie's father Hyman GOLDBERG and this is the name
of Annie's father. Can anyone help me with this?

Thank you,

Anita Rosan Arkin
Tarzana, California
Searching for:AGUSHEVITZ, KRUPENIA & CHEPALAPKA Slonim & Ruzany; ARKIN
Skidel, Lunna & Yezori; GOLDBERG GONIANSKY Goniadz: GROSSAK Moscow & Sweden:
ROSANSKY Bialystok; SALBERG ZUMBACH ZOMBEK Warsawa: HILLMAN Syracuse, New York

Dear Genners,

I found a manifest with the names of my grand parents, Barnet and Annie
ROSANSKY leaving >from Southampton, arriving in the USA circa July 5, 1903. It
lists Barnet, Annie and a daughter whose name is also Annie. Since we are
Ashkenazi I know that this has to be a mistake. I also know that they came with
two male children, David Samuel, born in Russia and Harry, born in the UK on
dates prior to their leaving on passage to America. The manifest shows that
the trip was paid for by Annie's father Hyman GOLDBERG and this is the name
of Annie's father. Can anyone help me with this?

Thank you,

Anita Rosan Arkin
Tarzana, California
Searching for:AGUSHEVITZ, KRUPENIA & CHEPALAPKA Slonim & Ruzany; ARKIN
Skidel, Lunna & Yezori; GOLDBERG GONIANSKY Goniadz: GROSSAK Moscow & Sweden:
ROSANSKY Bialystok; SALBERG ZUMBACH ZOMBEK Warsawa: HILLMAN Syracuse, New York

There were ten 'comprehensive' fiscal censuses (Revizskaya Skazka in
transliterated Russian) taken in Russia, the last in1858. However,
there were many supplemental (Dopolnitel'naya) censuses taken in
between and long after 1858. Numerous examples can be found in LVIA
(Lithuanian Historical Archives) fond 515, among others, some records
are >from 1905-1907. The 1897 All Russia Census started being executed
at least two years earlier (there are 1895 enumerator sheets for some
localities in the same LVIA).

A number of sources describe Russian Fiscal Census system, among them
my own 1998 article in Avotaynu which was based based on the
presentation that same year at the conference in Los Angeles (see
Russian Revision Lists [Fiscal Census]: A History on
http://www.bfcollection.net/fast/articles.html )

Boris Feldblyum

There were ten 'comprehensive' fiscal censuses (Revizskaya Skazka in
transliterated Russian) taken in Russia, the last in1858. However,
there were many supplemental (Dopolnitel'naya) censuses taken in
between and long after 1858. Numerous examples can be found in LVIA
(Lithuanian Historical Archives) fond 515, among others, some records
are >from 1905-1907. The 1897 All Russia Census started being executed
at least two years earlier (there are 1895 enumerator sheets for some
localities in the same LVIA).

A number of sources describe Russian Fiscal Census system, among them
my own 1998 article in Avotaynu which was based based on the
presentation that same year at the conference in Los Angeles (see
Russian Revision Lists [Fiscal Census]: A History on
http://www.bfcollection.net/fast/articles.html )

Boris Feldblyum

From: estherkahn21@...
To: jcr-uk@...
Subject: RE:JEWS TEMPORARY SHELTER
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:47:39 +0000



Hi Dave,

The London Metropolitan Archives ( LMA ) holds records showing lists of voyages
and passenger lists for many different years of Jewish immigrants and those who
were en route to other destinations.

In order to search, you must have a letter of permission.

There are also record cards for 'inmates', but they show records of people who
were resident for longer periods of time, rather than those who passed through
as transit pssengers, similar to your father.

I have used this to have my mother's voyage/ships list to be copied whilst in
London.

There is some information and some downloadable lists available on the website
of 'Moving Here' which is something like www.movinghere.org uk.

The shelter no longer exists and moved a few times after the war, ending up in
Willesden. I think it closed sometime in the 1970's.

I believe there may be an organistion made up of people who passed through there
and I have met English people who came out via Kindertransport who belong to
something like this.

I would suggest you try the website of the Jewish Genealogical Society Of Great
Britain JGSGB and see whether any information is available here, or perhaps try
and email them for further information .

If the transit period was short and uneventful, then you are more likely to
just find listings of those who arrived at the shelter and then proceeded on
to their final destination.

Most Australians who came through London en route would have stayed a few days
at the shelter.

Hope this assists you to move forward here.

Best wishes,

Esther Kahn Melbourne Australia

From: estherkahn21@...
To: jcr-uk@...
Subject: RE:JEWS TEMPORARY SHELTER
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:47:39 +0000



Hi Dave,

The London Metropolitan Archives ( LMA ) holds records showing lists of voyages
and passenger lists for many different years of Jewish immigrants and those who
were en route to other destinations.

In order to search, you must have a letter of permission.

There are also record cards for 'inmates', but they show records of people who
were resident for longer periods of time, rather than those who passed through
as transit pssengers, similar to your father.

I have used this to have my mother's voyage/ships list to be copied whilst in
London.

There is some information and some downloadable lists available on the website
of 'Moving Here' which is something like www.movinghere.org uk.

The shelter no longer exists and moved a few times after the war, ending up in
Willesden. I think it closed sometime in the 1970's.

I believe there may be an organistion made up of people who passed through there
and I have met English people who came out via Kindertransport who belong to
something like this.

I would suggest you try the website of the Jewish Genealogical Society Of Great
Britain JGSGB and see whether any information is available here, or perhaps try
and email them for further information .

If the transit period was short and uneventful, then you are more likely to
just find listings of those who arrived at the shelter and then proceeded on
to their final destination.

Most Australians who came through London en route would have stayed a few days
at the shelter.

Hope this assists you to move forward here.

Best wishes,

Esther Kahn Melbourne Australia

Is the EA SIG planning to meet at the IAJGS conference in August? I can't
think of a more appropriate place... [than Philadelphia].

Rachel Unkefer Central Virginia, USA

Is the EA SIG planning to meet at the IAJGS conference in August? I can't
think of a more appropriate place... [than Philadelphia].

Rachel Unkefer Central Virginia, USA

I have many articles and documents on the wrong Kurt SCHLESSINGER.

1.. I have Social Security Application for: Kurt SCHLESINGER
#109-16-0342 b. 20 April 1906 in Berlin, Germany, parents Selmar
SCHLESINGER and Adele LEVY.

2. I have Social Security Application for Kurt SCHLESINGER
#057-12-9155 b. 24 April, 1902, Berlin, Germany, parents Siegmund
SCHLESINGER and Margarethe BROH

3. I have Social Security Application for Erna (Irma)
HAMMERSCHLAG SCHLESINGER b. 5 December 1909 in Treis, Germany parents
Moses HAMMERSCHLAG and Rosa FALKENSTEIN
Numerous New York Times articles on Kurt Schlesinger, who died 11 June
1981, Whose wife was Anne

mthomasmayes@... Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Peter Zavon wrote: "The UK departure passenger lists contain less
information than the US arrival lists for the same voyage. Unless you are
a completist and want a copy of every document created during the
emigration, I see little reason to seek the UK departure list unless you
are unable to find the corresponding US arrival list."

I do not see this as a "completist" issue. I agree UK departure lists are
sparse, to say the least. However if there are *two* sources of
information, it is always wise to cross-check them in case they reveal anything
new.

I can think of a situation where perhaps a family member may have died on
the outward journey or dates of birth may differ. Or perhaps the given or
family names somehow mysteriously changed on arrival - one may be able to find
them under another name.

Yehudah ben Shlomo and I routinely tried to cross-check data he was
assiduously working on to see what we could find.

I hasten to say that ships' manifests are definitely not my primary
interest or expertise. As a scientist, I just consider the "departure-arrival"
cross-checking approach to be one of genealogical *good practice*.

Celia Male - London, U.K.

I have many articles and documents on the wrong Kurt SCHLESSINGER.

1.. I have Social Security Application for: Kurt SCHLESINGER
#109-16-0342 b. 20 April 1906 in Berlin, Germany, parents Selmar
SCHLESINGER and Adele LEVY.

2. I have Social Security Application for Kurt SCHLESINGER
#057-12-9155 b. 24 April, 1902, Berlin, Germany, parents Siegmund
SCHLESINGER and Margarethe BROH

3. I have Social Security Application for Erna (Irma)
HAMMERSCHLAG SCHLESINGER b. 5 December 1909 in Treis, Germany parents
Moses HAMMERSCHLAG and Rosa FALKENSTEIN
Numerous New York Times articles on Kurt Schlesinger, who died 11 June
1981, Whose wife was Anne

mthomasmayes@... Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Peter Zavon wrote: "The UK departure passenger lists contain less
information than the US arrival lists for the same voyage. Unless you are
a completist and want a copy of every document created during the
emigration, I see little reason to seek the UK departure list unless you
are unable to find the corresponding US arrival list."

I do not see this as a "completist" issue. I agree UK departure lists are
sparse, to say the least. However if there are *two* sources of
information, it is always wise to cross-check them in case they reveal anything
new.

I can think of a situation where perhaps a family member may have died on
the outward journey or dates of birth may differ. Or perhaps the given or
family names somehow mysteriously changed on arrival - one may be able to find
them under another name.

Yehudah ben Shlomo and I routinely tried to cross-check data he was
assiduously working on to see what we could find.

I hasten to say that ships' manifests are definitely not my primary
interest or expertise. As a scientist, I just consider the "departure-arrival"
cross-checking approach to be one of genealogical *good practice*.

Celia Male - London, U.K.

Anita Arkin asked about notations in the Census. The 1900 thru 1930 Censuses
contain citizenship status for all foreign-born: "Na" =aturalized citizen;
"Pa" =irst papers filed; "Al" =lien.
Three years after filing the Declaration of Intent (first papers) the alien
could file a Petition for Naturalization; if granted, he became a citizen and
received a certificate.
Happy Hunting!
Phyllis Kramer, NYC & PBG, Fla
PhyllisKramer1@...,
researching (mostly Galicia): STECHER, TRACHMAN,>from Zmigrod, Dukla, Krosno
KRAMER, BEIM, WISNER >from Jasienica
SCHEINER, KANDEL, SCHIMMEL >from Strzyzow, Dubiecko
LINDNER, EICHEL >from Rohatyn(also Iasi, Romania)

Anita Arkin asked about notations in the Census. The 1900 thru 1930 Censuses
contain citizenship status for all foreign-born: "Na" =aturalized citizen;
"Pa" =irst papers filed; "Al" =lien.
Three years after filing the Declaration of Intent (first papers) the alien
could file a Petition for Naturalization; if granted, he became a citizen and
received a certificate.
Happy Hunting!
Phyllis Kramer, NYC & PBG, Fla
PhyllisKramer1@...,
researching (mostly Galicia): STECHER, TRACHMAN,>from Zmigrod, Dukla, Krosno
KRAMER, BEIM, WISNER >from Jasienica
SCHEINER, KANDEL, SCHIMMEL >from Strzyzow, Dubiecko
LINDNER, EICHEL >from Rohatyn(also Iasi, Romania)

Just a thank you to all of helped me during the last year as I searched
for my first cousin, Henry ahd his mother, my aunt, Irma SCHLESINGER.
I, now, have found Henry. Unfortunately, he died January 20, 2009, but
the attorney of the estate found my letter and contacted me. I was
able to help him resolve some issues of the estate and also was
provided information that will now allow me to order SS death records
and search for birth records. Thank you again to all who gave me ideas
and provided information to me.

Melody Mayes nee Pinkus Grand Rapids, MI #292191

Just a thank you to all of helped me during the last year as I searched
for my first cousin, Henry ahd his mother, my aunt, Irma SCHLESINGER.
I, now, have found Henry. Unfortunately, he died January 20, 2009, but
the attorney of the estate found my letter and contacted me. I was
able to help him resolve some issues of the estate and also was
provided information that will now allow me to order SS death records
and search for birth records. Thank you again to all who gave me ideas
and provided information to me.

Melody Mayes nee Pinkus Grand Rapids, MI #292191