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

Phone:
(843) 953-8016

Title: Levy-Livingstain family papers

Collection #: Mss 1009

Dates: 1901-1990

Size: .5 linear ft.

Biographical Note: These Charleston, South Carolina, families were connected by the marriage of Theresa Levy and Leo H. Livingstain (1902-1971). Oscar Levy (1862-1936), father of Theresa, operated Levy's Boys Store on King Street in Charleston. Theresa Livingstain was president of the National Council on Jewish Women, Charleston Chapter, in 1952

Scope and Content Note:

Includes correspondence, business documents, typescripts, certificates, ephemera, booklets, realia, memo books, photographs, and clippings.

Papers contain Oscar Levy's biographical information, United States Naturalization Certificate (1916) with leather case, correspondence in Yiddish and English (1930s) and Levy's Boys Store business documents (1900s-1960s), including an envelope with South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Expo scenes. Related material includes obituaries for daughters and condolence letters from business associates. Livingstain papers contain Leo Livingstain's biographical information, family photographs (1890s-1950s), ephemera, and a letterhead from Harris Livingstain Co.

Also includes material from Charleston organizations, including Sarah Livingstain's speeches to the National Council on Jewish Women (1950s) and Hadassah (1965, regarding Jewish National Fund), Charleston Hebrew Institute reports (1948), and programs (1940s-50s) from Brith Sholom installation banquets. Miscellaneous material consists of clippings on preservation of King Street architecture (1970s-1980s) and a 1966 article on immigrants in America.

Inventory:

  1. Oscar Levy Papers

    2. Biographical information: includes 1916 naturalization certificate, obituary; condolence letters from H.A. Seinsheimer Co. and Julius Schwartz; Memoriam from Dan Lodge No. 593; 1926 bank statement, First National Bank; obituaries for Carrie Priluker and Raye Freudberg (daughters). 1/1

    Correspondence (1930s): almost all in Yiddish; originals and photocopies.1/2

    Memo books (1930s): two contain notes in Yiddish and English with dates and numbers; one has journal notes in Yiddish. 1/3

    Levy?s Boys Store (1900s-1960s): includes advertisements, printing block business correspondence (Yiddish and English), account records (1925), letter from Levy and Levy Co. re. loan repayment (1901); envelope, Levy Clothiers and Furnishings, with SC Interstate & West Indian Expo scenes; photo of 363 King (1930s). 1/4

  2. Bertha Levy Papers (1920s-1980s): include Air Raid Warden Armband, obituary, photocopy of 1923 JCC Purim Ball image (Miss Levy pictured). 1/5

  3. Leo Livingstain Papers (1890s-1950s): Scottish Rite membership certificate, Livingstain business letterhead; photo of residence; his wedding invitation (1927), family photographs, Leo ca. 1950s, Harris Livingstain and Mary Goodman Livingstain, ca. 1890s. 1/6

  4. Organization documents with Levy and Livingstain associations.

    5. National Council on Jewish Women (NCJW) 1940s-70s: contains typescript of speech given at NCJW 19th Triennial Convention, October 1949; Teresa Livingstain speech to Chas. Section of NCJW at 50-year anniversary, April 1956; June 1966 Bulletin; May 1952 Bulletin with letter from President, Theresa Livingstain. 1/7

    Hadassah 1930s-1960s; Hadassah newsletter Feb. 1956: Theresa Livingstain speech (1965) re. Jewish National Fund and Palestine; typescript of speech on Henrietta Szold (founder of Hadassah), 1935 (given by Teresa Livingstain?). 1/8

    Charleston Hebrew Institute: reports to school board submitted by Rabbi Lewis M.Tuchman, October-November 1948. 1/9

    Misc. programs 1940s-1950s: 90th and 99th Installation banquets, Brith Sholom; Bicentennial of Jewish Community, 1950; installation of Rabbi Gilbert Klaperman, 1948. 1/10

  5. Charleston newspaper clippings (1970s-1980s) on preservation of King Street Architecture once utilized by Levy or Livingstain families. 1/11

  6. Miscellaneous: articles on immigrants in America; photograph of Alvin Rittenberg; Hebrew prayer. 1/12

Note: Mrs. Leo Livingstain (Theresa Levy Livingstain) gave a taped audio interview to the Jewish Heritage Project in September 1998. Her son Allen Livingstain was also present.