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

Phone:
(843) 953-8016

Title: Harold Jacobs papers

Collection #: Mss 1012

Dates: 1905-1990 (bulk 1920-1980)

Size: .25 linear ft.

Biographical Note: Harold Jacobs founded Harold's Cabin, a South Carolina gourmet grocery store. From its inception in 1929 until it merged with Piggly Wiggly in 1964, the store had three Charleston locations and gained national attention for its specialty foods. Jacobs also served as president (1939) of Dan Lodge No. 593 of B'nai B'rith and as president (1980) of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim.

Scope and Content Note:

Includes correspondence, typescripts, photographs, clippings, ephemera, pamphlets, photocopies.

Papers related to Harold's Cabin include correspondence and articles (1950s-1960s), clippings (1970s-1990s), photographs (1920s-1960s), organizational history, and letters from Charleston mayors and national figures. Collection also contains personal papers: speeches (1980s) made at Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) and KKBE correspondence (1979-1981); papers (1942-1945) regarding United States Army service, including a journal kept at Ft. Jackson, S.C., and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and discharge documents.

Photographs (1905-1952) include images (1915-1948) of Harold Jacobs and his induction as B'nai B'rith president and candid family photos, (bulk 1920s.) Also available are fragments from a B'nai B'rith scrapbook (1936-1939); speeches, correspondence, clippings, and ephemera from B'nai B'rith conventions, and events. Miscellaneous includes KKBE ephemera (1970s), and Jewish interest clippings, booklets, and tour notes for Charleston's historic Jewish sites (1970s-1990s).

Inventory:

  1. Harold's Cabin

    2. History (1929-1964); also contains Harold's Cabin Catalog, Fall-Winter 1953-1954. 1/1

    Correspondence (1956-1966): thank-you letters from local, regional and national organizations and individuals including Mayors William McG. Morrison and J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr., and Adlai Stevenson. 1/2

    Photocopied clippings (1970s-1990s) and magazine articles (1953, 1966). 1/3

    Photographs (1929-1963): includes original and print images (and photocopies) of exterior and interior of first, second and third store locations, 30th anniversary celebration and balcony restaurant. 1/4

  2. Harold Jacobs Papers

    3. Speeches (1980s): given at KKBE meetings and events (dedication of KKBE's National Historic Landmark plaque) and Bar Mitzvahs. 1/5

    Correspondence (1979-1981): related to KKBE; includes letter from Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (1980). 1/6

    U.S. Army papers (1942-1945): journal (re. training at Ft. Jackson, SC), discharge papers and separation documents. 1/7

    Family Photographs (1905-1950s), includes photocopies. 1/8

      Harold Jacobs, 1915-1926

      Harold Jacobs, military service 1944-1945 (most portrait shots)

      Harold Jacobs 1927-1948; includes induction as B'nai B'rith president, 1938

      B'nai B'rith Woman's Lodge meeting, 1949

      Jewish War Vets convention, 1952

      Jacobs family, 1905-1939: portrait photos, candid snapshots (bulk 1920s.)

      Misc. images and contact sheet of prints made

    Misc. Jacobs Family (1918-1980s): certificates, correspondence, Samuel Jacobs military registration cards, 1918. 1/9

  3. Fragments of B'nai B'rith Scrapbook compiled by Harold Jacobs, 1936-1939.

    4. Speeches: (typescripts) re. B'nai B'rith 63rd District Convention; opening-closing remarks made at B'nai B'rith meetings (1939). 1/10

    Correspondence: letters from people asked to speak at B'nai B'rith functions. 1/11

    Clippings: re. national B'nai B'rith congregations and local B'nai B'rith happenings.

    Ephemera: 63rd Grand Lodge No. 5 convention program (1939); hotel receipts from conferences; invitations to events. 1/13

  4. Miscellaneous-Jewish Interest

    5. KKBE ephemera (1970s): pamphlets, invitations. 1/14

    Clippings (1979-1993, bulk 1980) Jewish exhibit in NY; 1980 Piccolo Spoleto Ernest Bloch Retrospective; articles re. KKBE becoming National Historic Landmark. 1/15

    Tour notes for Charleston's historic Jewish sites; pamphlets including 1981 Piccolo Spoleto booklet, Jewish Art and Culture in Early America. 1/16

Note: Harold and Lillian Jacobs gave a taped audio interview to the Jewish Heritage Project in October 1997.