Mailing Address:
Special Collections
College of Charleston Library
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424

Phone:
(843) 953-8016

Title: Rittenberg-Pearlstine family papers

Collection #: Mss 1008

Dates: 1890-1982

Size: 1 linear ft.

Biographical Note: Charleston families connected by the marriage of Samuel O. Rittenberg (1867-1932) to widow Sarah Livingstain Pearlstine (d. 1932). Honored by a named boulevard in Charleston, Rittenberg served in the South Carolina State General Assembly (1912-1914, 1924-1932) and had five children, including local attorney, Dr. Henry Rittenberg, and step-son Jack Pearlstine (1904- ).

Scope and Content Note:

Includes photographs, photograph albums, ephemera, photocopies, audio tapes, typescripts, clippings.

Papers contain material related to Samuel O. Rittenberg and include biographical information, and articles written about his life. Audio tapes, articles, and speeches document two memorial dedications in Charleston and include typed tributes given by Dr. Henry W. Rittenberg. Papers related to Dr. Rittenberg include biographical information and articles he published about his father.

Jack Pearlstine papers contain ephemera from the 1950s-70s. Also included are loose portrait photographs (1880s-1920s) of Rittenberg and Pearlstine family members and six photocopied photo albums compiled by Jack Pearlstine, ca. 1920s-1930s, which document vacations (Myrtle Beach, Niagara Falls, and the Bahamas), family outings (Azalea Festival, Hampton Park), images of baseball games, sailing excursions, South Carolina State House (1930s), airplanes, and Pearlstine's career with the U.S. Navy. Original photographs removed and retained.

Inventory:

  1. Samuel Oscar Rittenberg

    2. Biographical information, family genealogies, marriage and death announcements. 1/1

    Newspaper articles, speeches and city proclamation related to dedication of Sam Rittenberg Blvd., 1972. 1/2

    Speeches, articles, audio tape of Sam Rittenberg Tribute Night, Jewish Community Center, October 1977. 1/3

    Articles, ephemera related to unveiling of memorial marker 1982; includes 8-track tape of the ceremony. 1/4

    Misc. material related to Rittenberg?s life, death, business ventures. 1/5

  2. Henry Rittenberg papers 1930s-1990s: includes drafts of speeches made (handwritten and typescripts), biographical data, correspondence; most material related to life of Samuel O. Rittenberg. 1/6

  3. Jack Pearlstine papers 1950s-1970s: includes ephemera, newspaper mentions and work related correspondence. 1/7

  4. Loose Photographs

    5. Rittenberg family; group of children ca. 1900-1915; Sam Rittenberg, ca. 1920s. 2/1

    Pearlstine family; Fannie Linsky (mother in law of Jack Pearlstine); Jack and Milton Pearlstine with mother, ca. 1905; Sadie and Abe Pearlstine, ca. 1890s. 2/2

  5. Six photocopied photo albums compiled by Jack Pearlstine, 1920s-1930s; original images removed and retained.

    6. Photo Album No.1 (1930s): Jack Pearlstine, family and friends on vacations (Bahamas, Myrtle Beach, Niagara Falls). 2/3

    Photo Album No. 2 (1930s): group shots of Jack Pearlstine, family, friends at the beach; 1937 Chas. Azalea Festival (Pirate Pageant, 4 Corners Parade), SC State House. 2/4

    Photo Album No. 3 (1926-1928): ephemera, Jack Pearlstine and friends at the beach, Cooper River Ferry; sailing; baseball game, airplanes; US Naval ships; horse back riding; North Edisto River; New York City. 2/5

    Photo Album No. 4: contact sheets of images in other albums. 2/6

    Photo Album No. 5 (1926-1928): Naval ships; aerial views of NY City, aircraft; gravesite of Albert T. Wimberly, Savannah River, Augusta, GA. 2/7

    Photo Album No. 6 (1921-1925): misc. photographs of Jack Pearlstine friends, relatives including Henry and Alvin Rittenberg, SC State House, Rittenberg family gravestone; vacations to Asheville, Biltmore estate, Hampton Park. 2/8

Note: Dr. Henry W. Rittenberg and his wife Sarah gave taped audio interviews to the Jewish Heritage Project in 1996.