Descriptive Summary
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel Collection1861-1976RG.I.0003
12.25 Linear feet,
5 boxes
Materials are in English.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Scope and Contents
The records of Congregation Beth Israel are in two locations; the earliest are at HMRC while the more recent are located in the Congregation's archive. The earliest records were placed with HMRC on permanent loan and consist of all extant items from its nineteenth century origins generally through World War I. Beth Israel, formed in 1854, is the oldest Jewish Congregation in Texas. The earliest material, however, dates from the 1860's. The material at HMRC consists mainly of minute and financial ledgers of the assembly, its cemetery, its Board of Trustees, early B'nai B'rith Lodges and Sisterhood, various publications, clippings, cemetery plat map, and correspondence relative to the congregation. These records provide insight into Houston's social, economic, and religious history as well as serving as a basis for the study of Houston's Jewish community in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The other section of the congregational records remains in the Temple's archive. This material dates from the 1920's to the present.
The Board of Trustees of Congregation Beth Israel transferred the nineteenth and early twentieth century records to HMRC in August 1977.
Arrangement
The first six pages of the inventory list the material at HMRC. The ledgers as well as the material in folders in Box 5 are arranged chronologically by topic. The material in Box 5 generally had been loose between the pages of the ledgers. It was removed and placed in folders for better preservation. When appropriate, the ledger is indicated from which the folder material came.
The remainder of the inventory lists and briefly describes the material still in Beth Israel's archive. This part is generally arranged chronologically by topic. Arrangements for examination of this material must be made through HMRC.
Access Restrictions
Arrangements for use of materials still in Beth Israel's archive must be made through HMRC.
Use Restrictions
None.
Preferred Citation
Congregation Beth Israel. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Processing Information
Processed by Thomas H. Kreneck and Doris Glasser, Jan. 12, 1978
Index Terms
B'nai B'rith. Houston Lodge No. 434 (Houston, Tex.)
B'nai B'rith. Lone Star Lodge No. 210 (Houston, Tex.)
Barnston, Henry
Bayland Orphans' Home
Boy Scouts of America. Sam Houston Area Council
Congregation Beth Israel (Houston, Tex.). Sisterhood
Congregation Beth Israel (Houston, Tex.)
Lazarus, Abraham
Cemeteries--Texas--Houston
Jewish religious schools--Texas-Houston
Jewish soldiers--Texas--Houston
Jewish women--Texas--Houston--Societies, etc.
Jews--Texas--Houston
Orphanages--Texas--Houston
Rabbis--Texas--Houston
Zionism--Texas--Houston
Material at HMRC
1
1
"Settlement Book No. 1 Hebr. Congr. Beth Israel,"
8″×12½″×1× ledger
(August, 1869-January, 1892).
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, male heads of households, dues, seat-rents, fines, holiday offerings, expenses of congregation, burials, and marriages. Not Indexed. Fair condition.
1
2
[No Title] Coverless "Settlement Book" continuation.
8″×12½″×3/4″ ledger
(Aug., 1892-April, 1903)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, cemetery fund, offering, marriages, burials, lodges, storm relief (1901), Young Men's Hebrew Society. Not Indexed. Fair condition. 268 p.
1
3
[No Title] Financial Records of Congr. Beth Israel.
8½″×13″×1″ ledger
(1868-1872),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, contributions, Treasurers' Accounts, itemized expenses and income, non-members and offerings, marriages and deaths. Indexed. Fair condition.
1
4
"Ledger A," Financial Records of Congr. Beth Israel.
9″×14″×1½″ ledger
(1872-1884),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members and contributions, Treasurers' Accounts, itemized income and expenses of Congregation, non-members and offerings, marriages, deaths, and burials. Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
"Ledger B," Financial Records of Congregation Beth Israel.
10½″×16″×1 3/4″ ledger
(1884-1894),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, subscriptions, suspensions, resignations, cemetery funds, Treasurers' Accounts, deaths and burial locations in some cases. Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Fragment of Financial records of Congr. Beth Israel, pp. 205-228.
10″×16″×¼″ ledger
(1896-1903)
Scope and Contents note
Includes membership, Treasurers' Accounts, expenditures, and receipts. Not Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial Records of Congr. Beth Israel.
10″×16″×1½″ ledger,
(1902-1907),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, offerings, seat rent, suspensions, resignations, Treasurers' Accounts, cemetery funds, and offerings. Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
"Ledger," Financial records of Congr. Beth Israel.
11″×16″×2″ ledger
(1907-1911),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, Collectors' reports, dues, seat rent, cemetery lot payments, Treasurers' Reports, offerings, resignations, suspensions, and deaths. Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial records of Congr. Beth Israel.
11″×16″×2″ ledger
(1910-1919),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, collection reports, marriage permits, offerings (in whose honor), religious school fund, Treasurers' Accounts, resignations, suspensions, and non-members. Indexed. Fair condition.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial records of Congr. Beth Israel.
12″×16″×2½″ ledger
(1919-1923),
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues collection, Victory Bonds, Tornado Insurance owned, Religious school, offerings, marriage permits. Indexed. Poor condition.
2
1
"Records" Minutes of Regular and Annual Meetings of Congr. Beth Israel.
8½″×13″×1 3/4″ ledger
(1861-1889),
Scope and Contents note
Includes Congr. activities, procedures, membership, properties, by-laws, Ladies seats, immigration information, Secretaries' receipts and disbursements. Indexed. Good condition. 496pp.
2
2
[No Title] Minutes and Reports of Annual and Regular Meetings of Congr. Beth Israel.
9″×14″×1½″ ledger
(1890-1907),
Scope and Contents note
Includes Presidential addresses, membership, activities, procedures, clippings, and information on Rabbis. Not Indexed. Fair condition. 132pp.
2
3
[No Title] Coverless, Minutes of Regular meetings of Board of Trustees of Congr. Beth Israel.
8½″×14″×3/4″ ledger
(1866-1884)
Scope and Contents note
Includes meeting procedures, congregational activities, members, committee work, social events, various publications, and finances. Not Indexed. Fair condition. 282pp.
(on shelf)
Minutes of Annual Assemblies and Regular Board Meetings of Congr. Beth Israel.
10″×16″×1 3/4″ ledger
1907-1922
Scope and Contents note
Includes material regarding Congr. procedures, financial, Presidential messages, committee work, officers, membership lists, resolutions, buildings, memorials, deaths, cemetery, schools, social organizations and social events. Not Indexed. Good condition. 288pp.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Minutes of Regular and Special Meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Congr. Beth Israel.
10″×15½″×1½″ ledger
(1884-1907)
Scope and Contents note
Includes material regarding activities of the Congr., membership, meeting procedures, important correspondence by and to Congregation, and various publications. Not Indexed. Good condition. 364pp.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Trustees of Congr. Beth Israel.
8″×13″×½″ ledger
(Dec. 1920-Dec. 1921),
Scope and Contents note
Includes material regarding activities of Congregation. Sketchy. Not Indexed. Good condition. 7pp.
(on shelf)
"Endowment Book, Lone Star Lodge No. 210, I.O.B.B., Houston, Texas"
8½″×13½ front cover of ledger.
(19th century?)
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial records of Lone Star Lodge #210, I.0.B.B. of Congr. Beth Israel.
8″×9½″×1 3/4″ ledger
(1974-1889)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, Treasurers' Accounts, Reserve Funds, Deaths, widows' and orphans' Funds, funeral notices, fines, and secretaries' accounts. Indexed. Good condition. 407 pp.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Minutes of Regular and Quarterly Meetings of Lone Star Lodge No. 210, I.O.B.B. of Congr. Beth Israel.
10″×15″×1½″ ledger
(1884-1909)
Scope and Contents note
Includes funeral notices, members, wives, memoriums, Lodge activities, and misc. newsclippings. Not Indexed. Fair condition. 378 pp.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial records of Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B. of Congr. Beth Israel.
9″×14″×1″ ledger
(1890-1902)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, funeral notices, suspensions, clippings, secretaries' Accounts, and Treasurers' Accounts. Indexed. Good condition. 269 pp.
(on shelf)
[No Title] Financial records and Minutes of meetings of Lone Star Lodge #434, I.O.B.B. of Congr. Beth Israel.
12″×17″×2½″ ledger
(1893-1900)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, dues, and activities and organization of the Lodge. Indexed. Fair condition. 470 pp.
(on shelf)
"Ledger," Financial records of Lone Star Lodge #434, I.O.B.B.
9″×14″×1″ ledger
(1903-1906)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, Treasurers' Accounts, suspensions, resignations, and deaths. Not Indexed. Fair condition. 137 pp.
3
1
[No Title] Minutes of the Meetings of the sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel.
8″×10″×1″ ledger
(1926-1931)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, officers, committees, and activities in community. Not Indexed. Good condition. 264 pp.
3
2
[No Title] Record of finances and supplies of the sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel.
7½″×12″×½″ ledger
(1936)
Scope and Contents note
Not Indexed. Good condition. 88 pp.
3
3
[No Title] Financial records of sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel.
10″×12½″×3/4″ ledger
(1938-1939)
Scope and Contents note
Includes members, receipts, donations, and expenses. Not Indexed. Good condition. 58 pp.
3
4
"Levy Memorial Hall,
1924" Record of all activities and dates of activities in Levy Hall.
8″×13″×3/4″ Ledger
(1924-1933)
Scope and Contents note
Includes material regarding community activity. Not Indexed. Good condition. 177 pp.
3
5
"Record Book,
May 1933 to
May 1934." Record of all activities in Levy Memorial Hall for these years.
7½″×12″×½″ ledger
(1933-1935)
Scope and Contents note
Includes material regarding community activity. Not Indexed. Good condition. 100 pp.
4
1
[No Title] Death Record of Congr. Beth Israel.
9″×14″×½″ ledger
(1898-1900)
Scope and Contents note
Includes nearest Kin in many cases. Indexed. Fair condition. 152 pp.
4
2
[No Title] Record of marriages, Births, Deaths, and Confirmations.
9″×14″×½″ ledger
(1900-1903)
Scope and Contents note
Includes Rabbis involved. Indexed. Good condition. 10 pp.
4
3
"Ledger" Cemetery Record Book.
8″×12″×1½″ ledger
(19th Cent. - 1930's).
Scope and Contents note
Lists persons in lots by number, birth date, and death date. Indexed. Good condition. 100 pp.
(on shelf)
"Register of Burials in Graves, For Burial in Lots See Ledger." Lists date of death.
9½″×15½″×¼″ ledger
(late 19th cent. - Early 20th cent.)
Scope and Contents note
Indexed. Good condition. 30 pp.
(on shelf)
"Plat of Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery" (Linen). Cemetery bordered by Saulnier and San Felipe streets.
36″×45″
(Not Dated).
Scope and Contents note
Good condition.
5
1
Barnston, Rabbi Henry, "The Jews of Houston,"
[191?] and Letter of Resignation,
April 21, 1920.
5
2
Board of Trustees: Misc. Documents and Dues Correspondence,
1884-1907 (From [No Title] Minutes of Regular and Special Meetings of the Board.)
10″×15½″×1½″ ledger
5
3
Board of Trustees: Misc. Documents and Dues Correspondence,
1920's (From [No Title] Minutes of Regular and Special meetings of the Board.)
10″×15½″×1½″ ledger
1884-1907,
5
4
Cemetery: Reports and Financial Statements,
1913-1917.
5
5
Cemetery: Misc. Documents, 1920's (From [No Title] 12"x16"x2 1/2" Ledger, 1919-1923, Financial Records and "Ledger,",
19th cent. - 1930's, Cemetery Record Book.)
8″×12″×1½″ Ledger
1919-1923,
1890's-1922. (From [No Title] 9″×14″×1½″ Ledger,
1890-1907; "Minutes,
General Assembly of Congr. Beth Israel: Misc. Documents,
1907-1922," 10″×16″×1 3/4″ Ledger; and "Ledger," 11″×16″×2″ Ledger,
1907-1911, Financial Records of Congr. Beth Israel.)
5
6
5
7
General Assembly of Congr. Beth Israel: Disarmament Resolution,
July 1921.
5
8
Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B.: Misc. Dues Correspondence,
1880's (From [No Title]
1874-1889, Financial Records of Lone Star Lodge #210.)
8″×9½″×1 3/4″ Ledger
5
9
Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B.: Dues Correspondence and Funeral Notice,
1890-1891 (From [No Title]
1890-1902, Financial Records of Lone Star Lodge #210)
9″×14″×1″ Ledger
1890's and Rabbi Abraham Lazarus,
1890's; Death Notice on Louis M. Rich,
Lone Star Lodge #210: Biographical Obituary clipping on Leo N. Levi,
1908 (From [No Title]
1884-1909, Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #210.)
5
10
10″×15″×1½″ Ledger
5
11
Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B.: Golden Jubilee,
1843-1893 I.O.B.B. Letterhead (From [No Title]
1884-1909, Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #210, p. 203.)
10″×15″×1½″ Ledger
5
12
Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B.: Clipping and Letter regarding Celebration of Hannukkah,
1898. (From [No Title]
1884-1909, Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #210.)
10″×15″×1½″ Ledger
5
13
Lone Star Lodge #210, I.O.B.B.: Annual Report of Lodge,
1906 (from [No Title]
1874-1889, Financial Records of Lone Star Lodge #210.)
8″×9½″ ×1 3/4″ Ledger
5
14
Lone Star Lodge. #434, I.O.B.B. Biographical Death Notices, Obituary, and Memoriums,
1890's. (From [No Title]
1893-1900, Financial Records and Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #434.)
12″×17″×2½″ Ledger
5
15
Lone Star Lodge #434, I.O.B.B.: Organizational Documents, Correspondence, and Membership Lists,
1893-1900 (From [No Title]
1893-1900, Financial Records and Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #434.)
12″×17″×2½″ Ledger
5
16
Lone Star Lodge #434. I.O.B.B.: Membership Lists and Invoices,
1890's-1904 (From [Title]
1893-1900, Financial Records, and Minutes of Meetings of Lone Star Lodge #434.)
12″× 17″× 2½″ Ledger
5
17
Officers' Roll,
1879-1907 (18 pp. listing all officers for each year, and sick committee Roll.)
5
18
Religious School, Congr. Beth Israel: Application Form,
1890's.
5
19
Sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel: Office Reports,
1938-1939.
5
20
Sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel: Receipts,
1938-1939.
5
21
Sisterhood of Congr. Beth Israel: Reports and Correspondence
1930's.