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Levinson Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: P-984

Scope and Content Note

The James Levinson Family Papers contains records relating to the activities, education, and achievement of various family members, with the bulk of the materials primarily focusing on James Levinson and his immediate relatives. There are several family artifacts, such as photographs, largely from the first half of the 20th century, a scrapbook, a photo album, awards, and a commemorative plaque. The “Scribe and Scroll” is a publication from the Temple Shalom Religious School, in Newton, Massachusetts, and showcases compilations of student work.

Dates

  • undated, circa 1900-1969

Language of Materials

The collection is in English and Hebrew.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for researcher use. Please contact us to request access or to make an appointment to view this collection at jhcreference@nehgs.org.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of this collection. For more information contact jhcreference@nehgs.org.

Biographical Note

During the second half of the 19th century, the Levinson family lived in Zidikai, Lithuania. Mendel and Ada (Medalia) Levinson had nine children, and their oldest three (Nathan, Charles, and David) emigrated from Lithuania, arriving in Boston around the turn of the 20th century. Charles and David established a chain of men’s clothing stores, Charles & David, and later brought the rest of their family, including siblings Hyman, Julius, Edward, Samuel, and Rose, to Boston.

One of their younger siblings, Hyman, managed a Charles & David store in North Station. Hyman married Mollie Sandler, whose family also originated from Eastern Europe. Mollie’s father, Jacob Sandler, had a scrap metal business based initially in Boston, then in Plymouth, which the family was forced to sell during the 1930s when Jacob died. Mollie was an active member of Hadassah and served for a term as the Roxbury Chapter’s President. With Hyman, she had three children, Sumner, Leon, and Mendel.

Hyman and Mollie’s son, Mendel, took over the management of the North Station Charles & David, where business was flagging by the 1950s. The store closed when Mendel died in an automobile accident in 1954. Leon became a doctor, specializing in internal medicine, and married Muriel Rosalie (Stone) Levinson. The Stone family had emigrated in the mid-19th century from Posen, in what was then Prussia and is now Poland. Muriel’s grandfather, Mark Stone, was a lawyer, actively involved with Temple Ohabei Shalom and the Home for Jewish Children. His son Leo, Muriel’s father, was a civil engineer whose projects included the Sumner Tunnel in the early 1930s.

Leon and Muriel had two sons, James William Levinson and Mark Leo Levinson, and were married until Leon’s death in 1955. In 1964, Muriel married her second husband, Herbert Hess. James resides in Massachusetts and works as a Development Researcher at Brandeis University. Mark lives in Herzliya, Israel. He is married to Leah (Mizrachi) Levinson and they have one son, Shakhal.

References

  1. Material from the collection

Chronology

1888
Leo Solomon Stone born
circa 1890
Hyman Saul Levinson born
1894
Mollie (Sandler) Levinson born
circa 1900
Nathan, Charles, and David Levinson immigrate to Boston, MA., and established the Charles & David clothing stores
1915
Sumner Levinson born
1919
Leon Levinson born
1920
Muriel (Stone) Levinson born
1925
Mendel Levinson born
circa 1930
Jacob Sandler dies and his scrap metal business is sold
1946
James William Levinson born
1948
Mark Leo Levinson born
1950
Julius S. Levinson dies
1954
Mendel Levinson dies in an automobile accident
1954
Charles & David closes in North Station
1955
Leon Levinson dies
1959
Hyman Levinson dies
1964
Muriel Levinson marries Herbert Hess
1967
Susan Eve Axelrod (adoptive name, daughter of Mendel Levinson) married Peter Lemkin
2009
Muriel (Stone) Levinson dies

Extent

0.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)

Abstract

The Levinson family has its origins in Eastern Europe, though the majority of its members immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Members of the family were active in Boston business, science, and law. The material in the collection includes publications, photographs, a scrapbook, a photo album, and awards.

Physical Location

Located in Boston, Mass.

Acquisition Information

Donated by James Levinson in July 2011.

Processing Information

Processed by Kora Welsh, 2014

Title
Guide to the Levinson Family Papers, P-984
Author
Processed by Kora Welsh
Date
2014
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at American Ancestors Repository

Contact:
99-101 Newbury Street
Boston MA 02116 United States
617-226-1245