Harry Scherman family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Harry Scherman family papers
Creator: Scherman family
Inclusive Dates: 1893-1972
Language(s): English
Extent: 1.6 Linear Feet 4 document boxes
Collection Number: ms2836
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Harry Scherman (1887-1969) was born in Canada, but soon moved to the United States and lived in many places with his family. After his parents separated, Harry and his brothers Louis and William were placed in the Jewish Orphanage Home in Atlanta, Georgia. His sister Rita and baby brother Teddy stayed with their mother. Teddy died soon afterward and Louis died while in the orphanage. The boys lived in the orphanage from February 12, 1893 until June 14, 1899. They were placed in the orphanage using the last name Scheinman (see folder 1:1 and correspondence dated 1 November 1896). In August of 1893 Rita went to England to stay with her grandparents for about three years. Harry later attended public schools in Philadelphia and college at the University of Pennsylvania. His first jobs included working for Louis Lipsky with "The American Hebrew" newspaper, Ruthrauff and Ryan advertising firm, and J. Walter Thompson Company. In 1916 he established the Little Leather Library and in 1926 the Book-of-the-Month Club.

Scope and Content

This collection includes correspondence, diaries, and photographs. The correspondence contains letters written by Harry, Louis, and William to their mother and sister while the boys were living at the Jewish Orphanage Home in Atlanta, Georgia. Other correspondence consists of letters between Harry Scherman and Bernardine Kielty both before and after their marriage discussing family news and Sherman's work with the J. Walter Thompson Company selling books and magazines to stores, letters from Rita regarding her writings, and letters written to Rita by the Scherman family. Diaries, written by Rita, detail her stay in England with her grandparents, memoir-style entries regarding her early life, and describing a trip to England. The collection also contains materials relating to "Educational Playthings", an educational toy and furniture company, founded by Rita Scherman Berman.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Harry Scherman family papers, ms2836, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Harry Scherman Papers were purchased by the University of Georgia's Hargrett Library on January 7, 1993. There were numerous handwritten notes included with the collection. These were initialed BKS and KSR, and were apparently written by Harry Scherman's wife, Bernardine Kielty Scherman, and daughter, Katherine Scherman Rosin, as they passed the letters back and forth. These notes were removed from the collection and placed in the accession folder.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 November 13.

General Notes

Typescripts of some correspondence available.

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Biographical material and diaries
box	folder
Request box
1	1	Biographical Information
1	2	Diary-Rita Scherman, 1894
1	3	Diary and Typescript-Rita Scherman, 1898-1899
1	4	Diary-Odds and Ends Club, 1902
1	5	Diary-Rita Scherman, 1903 1908
1	6	Diary-Rita Scherman, July 1905
1	7	Diary-Bernardine Scherman, 1954
1	8	Diary-Harry Scherman, Undated
1	9	Personal Items
1	10	School Items
1	11	Business Items
1	12	"Educational Playthings" Materials-Rita Scherman

 

2. Correspondence, 1893-1972
box	folder
Request box
2	1	Correspondence, 1893-1896
2	2	Correspondence, 1893-1896 (Typescript)
2	3	Correspondence, 1897-1899
2	4	Correspondence, 1897-1899 (Typescript)
2	5	Correspondence, 1894-1897 (Not in Typescript)
2	6	Correspondence, 1902-1904
2	7	Correspondence, 1902-1905 (Typescript Only)
2	8	Correspondence, 1905
2	9	Correspondence, 1906-1911
2	10	Correspondence, 1912-1913
2	11	Correspondence, 1914
box	folder
Request box
3	1	Correspondence, 1915-1916
3	2	Correspondence and Other Items-Chapin Howard, 1918-1921 1938
3	3	Correspondence, 1921-1922
3	4	Correspondence, 1924-1929
3	5	Correspondence, 1930-1936
3	6	Correspondence, 1942-1944
3	7	Correspondence, 1947-1972
3	8	Correspondence - undated
3	9	Correspondence-Empty Envelopes

 

3. Photographs
box	folder
Request box
4	1	Photographs-Identified
4	2	Photographs-People, Unidentified
4	3	Photographs-People, Unidentified
4	4	Photographs-Places, Unidentified
4	5	Photographs-Places, Unidentified
4	6	Photographs-Negatives