The Gratz-Franks-Simon Papers contains correspondence and documents concerning the lives of two generations of three families of merchants living and working in eastern Pennsylvania. The material is primarily related to their business transactions, with some personal and family topics also present. Among the correspondents are Levy Andrew Levy, who worked with Joseph Simon in Lancaster, the trader and speculator George Croghan, and the Gratz's cousins Jacob and Solomon Henry., The Edwin Wolf 2nd Collection of Jewish Historical Documents at the Library Company holds many letters by and to members of the Gratz, Franks, and Simon families., Barnard Gratz (1738-1801) and his brother Michael (1740-1811) immigrated to Philadelphia in the 1750s. They were merchants active during the Revolutionary period, and who formed partnerships with the merchants David Franks (1720-1794) of New York and Philadelphia, and Joseph Simon (ca. 1712-1804) of Lancaster, PA. Michael Gratz's two sons, Simon (1773-1839) and Hyman (1776-1857), inherited their father's business.
Creator
McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Date
1752
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | MSS McA MSS 011, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A64563#page/1/mode/1up
Depicts a short courtyard bordered on three sides by houses. Washtubs hang on house facades, benches line house walls, wires cross the street between houses, and a lamppost sits next to a spicket on the sidewalk. McKinley's Court is located west of Second Street, east of American Street, between Noble Street to the south and Buttonwood Street to the north., Photographer's manuscript note on verso: Another view of McKinley's Court. In this little court of six houses the following nationalities are represented: Jewish, Slavish, Hungarian, Polish and Italian. Is it any wonder Israel Zengwell's titel [sic] "The Melting Pot" found favor because of its truth, yet incongruity., Gift of Margaret Odewalt Sweeney., For other views of McKinley's Court, see P.8513.117, P.8513.121, and P.8513.176., Retrospective conversion record: original entry, edited.
Creator
Wilson, G. Mark (George Mark), 1879-1925, photographer
Date
ca. 1923
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Wilson 225 [P.8513.225], http://www.lcpimages.org/wilson/wilson225.htm
