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

Phone:
(843) 953-8016

Title: Moïse family letters

Collection #: Mss 1060

Dates: 1897-1907

Size: .875 linear ft.

Biographical Note:

Edwin Warren Moïse was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1832. As a young man, Moïse embarked on a small mercantile business, ran a flour mill in Columbus, Georgia, and finally settled on a career in law. He married Esther Lyon (1837-1917) of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1854. Moïse fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War and later settled in Sumter, South Carolina, where he continued to practice law. He served as South Carolina's Adjutant and Inspector General (1876-1880) under Governor Wade Hampton. Moïse died Dec. 12, 1903.

Edwin and Esther Moïse's children include Marion, Rebecca, Caroline, Georgie, Agnes, Charles, Edwin Warren, Jr., Albert, Penina, Jessica, and Lucius. Marion Moïse (1855-1909), known as Major Marion Moïse, married Isabel Nones DeLeon and made a career as a lawyer and politician; he had one son, Davis DeLeon Moïse (1880-1931). Albert Luria Moïse (1872-1940) also a lawyer, married Eva May Nathans. Penina Moïse Solomons Phelps (b.1874), known by many as "Miss Nina," married Dr. Edward Alva Solomons in 1898; the couple had one child, Edward Alva (b.1899). Dr. Solomons died in Oct. 1899, and Penina married Aaron C. Phelps in 1924.

Scope and Content Note:

Collection contains letters (1897-1940) to and from members of the Edwin Warren Moïse family. Majority of correspondence (1897-1899) is to Penina Moïse Solomons Phelps from her first husband, Dr. Edward Alva Solomons; other letters (most undated) to Penina from siblings, friends and other relatives. Letters refer to health issues, social activities, relatives and friends. Collection includes condolence letters (1902) sent to Esther Lyon Moïse upon the death of her husband, Edward Warren Moïse.

Miscellaneous correspondence includes a letter between Edward Warren Moïse and son, Marion Moïse; postcards (1907) sent to Esther Lyon Moïse from Nina Moïse Solomons during a trip to Quebec; condolence letter to Davis Moïse upon the death of his father, Marion Moïse. Misc. material includes an original poem, "Truth in Parenthesis," and a genealogical chart tracking the descendants of Benjamin A. Nones (1757-1826) and Miriam Marks (1764-1822).

Inventory:

 

   

 

Box#/Folder#

I.

 

Correspondence to Nina Moïse Solomons from her husband, Dr. E. Alva Solomons (1897-1899)

   
         
 

A.

June 16, 1897: letter details his activities in Sumter, SC (she is on Sullivan’s Island); mentions his dental practice and social appointments; refers to her recent visit to Sumter.

 

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B.

July 3, 1897: Expresses his desire to see her; details a dance in Sumter and inquires about her activities.

   
         
 

C.

July 25th 1897: Solomons laments about a cancelled trip to visit Nina; complains about the mosquitoes in his room; writes about planning a visit to Sullivan’s Island; mentions his poor health and mutual acquaintances.

   
         
 

D.

Sept. 3, 1897: Letter contains poetic verses (not Solomons) that reminded him of time spent with Nina on Sullivan’s Island; mentions he has selected "the rings" wants to finalize plans for an upcoming visit.

   
         
 

E.

June 11, 1899: (Nina and Solomons are now married); expresses how much he misses her (after six days apart); describes the towns and landscape of Arizona (where he may be recuperating from an illness); mentions visiting with a friend (Nones?)

   
         
 

F.

Undated: Solomons describes having stitches taken out of a wound (in his neck?); mentions an upcoming operation he will need (for enlarged glands in his neck); writes that his sister is taking care of him.

   
   

   

II.

 

Correspondence to Nina Moïse Solomons from her mother sisters and brother (all undated)

 

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A.

From Esther Lion Moïse (mother): thanks Nina for a Mother’s Day letter; mentions the horrors reported in the newspaper and writes, "Sodom and Gomorrah was no worse than these times"; general updates about relatives and social activities.

   
         
 

B.

From Albert Lion Moïse (brother): he extends birthday wishes to his sister and compliments her on her character; discusses how great men are the sons of great mothers, and hopes that her husband will prove to be a good man ; written on letterhead of "Sharp/Alleman and Moïse/Attorneys and Councilors at Law"

   
         
 

C.

From Agnes Moïse Bogin (sister): writes about a mutual acquaintance having a tooth pulled; discusses the activities of friends and other relatives; mentions her work and desire to make money.

   
         
 

D.

From Georgie Moïse Davis (sister): refers to a letter she received from Nina (who was in California); mentions visiting Nina more in the future; recounts her social engagements and mentions her children; description of a university banquet held each February.

   
   

   
 

E.

From Rebecca Moïse Davis (sister): describes saying good-bye to her children before embarking on an ocean voyage (letter written on Quebec Steamship Company Limited stationary); extends birthday wishes to Nina.

   
         

III.

 

Correspondence to Nina Moïse Solomons from misc. others:

 

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A.

From E.U. (Lela) Dick, Jan. 6, 1897: extends birthday wishes and remembers their past; recounts her experience assisting a poor family consumed with typhoid fever.

   
         
 

B.

From Miss Leila Dick, 1906: thanks Nina for information on mountain resorts; discusses health issues.

   
         
 

C.

From Nina Robinson, June 29, 1897: (a cousin of NMS) letter contains Robinson’s practical tips for being organized and on-time; includes comments about Nina’s brother, Albert, and updates about her own family.

   
         
 

D.

From Harry J. Mikell: Sewanee, TN; (a former boyfriend?); letter contains Mikell’s best wishes on her engagement to Alva Solomons.

   
         

IV.

 

Misc. correspondence

 

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A.

General Edwin Warren Moïse to son, Marion Moïse, Dec. 25, 1892: writes that he will present Marion with his entire law library (as a Christmas gift?); mentions that Albert will receive the Encyclopedia Britannica set.

   
         
 

B.

Mabel Davis Lewis to her aunt, Nina Moïse Solomons Phelps, ca. 1940: from Greenwich, CT; mentions being shocked by the war; talks about her mother’s bout with pneumonia; a second letter asks that "mother" not be told of Albert Moïse’s passing until she is well and mentions matters of Albert’s estate.

   
         
 

C.

Postcards to Esther Lion Moïse from Nina Moïse and Alma Davis Baer, July-August 1907: sent while traveling in Quebec.

   
         

V.

 

Condolence letters on the death of General Edwin Warren Moïse, 1902:

 

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A.

From Mary H. Richardson to Mrs. E.W. Moïse

   
         
 

B.

From Harmon (a grandson) to Mrs. E.W. Moïse

   
         
 

C.

From Isabel Tobias to Marion Moïse

   
         
 

D.

From Georgie Moïse Davis to her brother (Albert or Marion); re. death of their father

   
         

VI.

 

Condolence letter from Alma to Davis Moïse re. death of his father, Major Marion Moïse, (1909?-- Undated)

 

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VII.

 

Misc.

   
         
 

A.

Poem, Truth in Parenthesis: written about a visit with the Skinner family?

 

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B.

Nones Family Tree: Descendants of Benjamin A. Nones (1757-1826) and Miriam Marks (1764-1822)

 

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