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SIMON GUMBEL AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. 1490 Inventory

By Luana Henderson

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections

Special Collections, Hill Memorial Library

Louisiana State University Libraries

Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University

2005

SUMMARY

2.5 linear ft.

Size

New Orleans, La.

Geographic Locations

1851-1949.

Inclusive Dates

1922-1933.

Bulk Dates

English

Languages

Property tax receipts of the Gumbel family; business

Summary

correspondence, minutes, financial papers relating to

the administration and operation of the Sophie L.

Gumbel Home.

Physical rights and copyright are retained by the LSU

Copyright

Libraries

Simon Gumbel and Family Papers, Mss. 1490,

Citation

Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections,

LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Stack Locations

P:21-22; OS:G

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL NOTE

Simon Gumbel was born April 18, 1832 in Kircheimbolanden, Rhein, Bavaria. In

1846, at the age of fourteen, he immigrated to Pointe Coupee Parish, La., where

he worked as a peddler before opening his own merchandise store. Simon

relocated to New Orleans, La., in 1864 where he began a wholesale notions

business. He also established himself as a prominent member in the Jewish

community, and became actively involved in charitable organizations. Later in

1873, he formed the firm of S. Gumbel and Co., Ltd., commission merchants,

and served as treasurer of the Association for the Relief of Jewish Widows' and

Orphans. He married Sophie Lengsfield and together they had four sons and

seven daughters. Simon became the first man to build and conduct a cottonseed

oil mill. He invested in real estate and, at the time of his death on Aug. 14, 1909,

he was a millionaire and the biggest individual taxpayer of New Orleans. Three

sons, Joseph, Lester, and Henry administered the extensive real estate holdings

and estate of their father. Sophie Lengsfield Gumbel, wife of Simon Gumbel,

was born July 28, 1844 in New Orleans, La. to Jacob H. Lengsfield and Henrietta

Falk, both natives of Bavaria.

The Sophie L. Gumbel Home was founded in 1917 by the heirs of Sophie

Lengsfield Gumbel; the City of New Orleans donated land from the Touro

Shakespeare Almshouse the for the building site, and contributed funding for its

operation. The Home, originally named the Sophie L. Gumbel Home for the Blind

and Feeble-minded, provided education and job training for girls and young

women with mental disabilities. In 1943, the city took over its operation and

began its use as a home for neglected and abandoned children. The Home

closed in 1962, and reopened the next year as care and training center for

mentally disabled children.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Simon Gumbel and family papers are divided into two subgroups, Simon

Gumbel family papers and Sophie L. Gumbel Home records. Simon Gumbel

family papers are comprised almost entirely of property tax receipts for city,

parish and state taxes; remaining papers consists of three stock certificates and

personal legal papers. Sophie L. Gumbel Home records include business

correspondence relative to the management and financial operations of the

home, bylaws governing the Board of Managers/Directors, and minutes of their

meetings. Additional papers include city ordinances relative to the establishment

and management of the Sophie L. Gumbel Home, administrative reports, and

material related to the admission, evaluation, and activities of the residents.

Financial records document funding and itemize expenditures for operations and

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

maintenance of the Home. Printed items and graphic materials include

newspaper clippings of pictures and articles related to the Sophie L. Gumbel

Home and a sketch of a floor plan (undated). Of particular interest are the letters

of Dagny Sunne, of Tulane University, and Thomas D. Boyd, President of

Louisiana State University. Sunne reports on the varying degrees of mental

retardation found in a sample of 550 New Orleans children from different

economic and racial groups (April 5, 1919). In letters to Governor John Parker

(Nov. 1, 1923) and to Lester Gumbel (March 4, 1924), Thomas D. Boyd

discusses his resignation from Louisiana State University.

LIST OF SUB-GROUPS, SERIES, AND SUBSERIES

Subgroup 1.

Simon Gumbel Family Papers, 1851-1903

Subgroup 2.

Sophie L. Gumbel Home, 1917-1949

Series I.

Correspondence, 1917-1941, undated.

Administrative correspondence, 1917- 1941, undated

Subseries

Financial correspondence, 1917-1939, undated.

Subseries

Series II.

Administrative Records, 1917-1943, undated.

Series III.

Financial Records, 1922-1949, undated.

Petty cash, 1924-1942.

Subseries

Treasurer's files, 1922-1935, undated.

Bank statements and vouchers, 1922-1949, undated.

Subseries

General financial records, 1922-1933.

Subseries

Printed items and graphic material, 1917-1936, undated.

Series IV.

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

SUBGROUPS, SERIES AND SUBSERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Subgroup 1. Simon Gumbel Family Papers, 1851-1903.

Family papers are comprised almost entirely of property tax receipts for city,

parish and state taxes paid by F. Marcelus Sicard, Frederick Paris, Norbert

Roderigues and Simon Gumbel (1851-1895). The remaining papers consists of

three American Oil and Refining Co. stock certificates (May 28, 1901); an

unsigned affidavit confirming the payment of J. H. Mason's debt (April 24, 1903);

and a true copy of Alonzo Landry's power of attorney (Feb. 9, 1903).

Additionally, there is a conveyance transferring a lot in the Irish District of New

Orleans from Marx Meyer to Jacob H. Lengsfield (May 10, 1873), and Simon

Gumbel's voter registration certificate (1891).

Subgroup 2. Sophie L. Gumbel Home Records, 1917-1949.

Sophie L. Gumbel Home Records document the establishment,

and

administrative and business operations of the Sophie L. Gumbel Home.

Series I. Correspondence, 1917-1941, undated.

Subseries 1. Administrative Correspondence, 1917- 1941, undated.

Earliest letter confirms the Gumbel family's donation and puts forth the conditions

for the construction of the Sophie L. Gumbel Home on the grounds of the Touro

Shakespeare Almshouse (March 14, 1917); another reports on the completion of

the project (Sept. 18, 1918). The remainder of the series pertains to the

administration and management of the Home, and relates to admissions,

evaluation, organized social activities, education, household chores, and daily

activities of the residents; however, the largest portion of this series simply

announces date and time of board meetings. Letters of Rebekah B. Thompson

reports on the activities and meetings of the Auxiliary Board (1923).

Correspondence also contains requests for the discharge of individual residents,

and the Boards authorization their release to their parents or guardians, or for

placement in the workforce under the supervision of other organizations. Letters

from parents or guardians generally praise the care received by the girls;

however, one letter of complaint alleges of physical mistreatment (March 22,

1928). Letters also discuss mental abilities, physical condition, and progress of

the residents.

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

Additionally, letters contains recommendations for improvement to the premises

offered by organizations with an interest in the institution. The Board of

Commissioners of Prisons and Asylums praises the general condition of Home,

but offers assistance in improving the internal management (Jan. 23, 1923).

Caswell Ellis, Jr., chairman of the House Committee states that the building's

heating is inadequate and the vegetable garden has no water source nearby

(Nov. 29, 1927). Azzo J. Plough of the Auxiliary Board praises the excellent

condition of the Home, but comments on the worn and hazardous floors and the

need for a new refrigerator to keep perishables food (April 27, 1932). Letters

from the Louisiana Rating and Fire Prevention Bureau cite the lack of fire

protection within the building (March 29, 1928; Oct. 3, 30, 1931). Dagny Sunne,

of Tulane University, reports on the varying degrees of mental retardation he

found in a sample of 550 New Orleans children from different economic and

racial groups (April 5, 1919). Thomas D. Boyd discusses his resignation from

Louisiana State University in letters to Governor John Parker (Nov. 1, 1923) and

to Lester Gumbel (March 4, 1924).

Subseries 2. Financial Correspondence, 1917-1939, undated.

Financial correspondence relates the financial operations of the Sophie L.

Gumbel Home with respect to resources, funding and expenditures. Letters

document contributions and donations received from individuals and charitable

organizations, and public funding provided by the City of New Orleans.

Correspondence between the Sophie L. Gumbel Home and the Budget

Committee of the City of New Orleans reflects the Home's difficulty in obtaining

adequate public funding from the City (1925-1935). Correspondence includes

proposals from tradesmen for building projects, repairs, maintenance, and

improvements on buildings and grounds. Letters from vendors offer cost

estimates for coal, milk, ice, equipment, and coal. Letters also pertain to orders

and payments made for these goods and services, as well as for clothing, shoes,

household items, games and sporting equipment, and food items. In their

correspondence, insurers detail insurance coverage on buildings and their

contents, and gives information on exclusions, policy renewals, cancellations,

and premiums. Additionally, letters show payments received for the board, and

for the sale of arts and crafts produced in the Home. Of interest is a reference

made to checks drawn on Canal Bank and Trust not honored by other bank

(March 24, May 22,1933) and authorization by the National Bank of Commerce

to honor such a check (1933).

Series II. Administrative records, 1917-1943, undated.

This series, comprised primarily of city ordinances, bylaws, reports, and board

meeting minutes, relates to the establishment and administration of the Sophie L.

Gumbel Home. City ordinances stipulate the conditions for establishing the

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

Sophie L. Gumbel Home (April 21, 1917); creation the Board of Managers (Dec.

20, 1921, undated); and assigning supervision of the Home to the Dept. of Public

Welfare of the City of New Orleans (ca. Dec. 31, 1942). Ordinances also

concern the transfer of property from the Touro Shakespeare Almshouse to the

Sophie L. Gumbel Home (Aug. 10, 1922); by-laws of the Board of Managers lays

out the rules regarding meetings, election of officers and their duties, and the

composition and role of the Finance Committee and the House and Grounds

Committee (undated).

Report submitted to the Board of Managers include disbursements of funds

(June 8, 1925; Oct., Dec. 1943; Jan. 1944); Louisiana Rating and Fire Prevention

Bureau safety reports (Nov. 6, 1926; March 29, 1928; Oct. 3, 30, 1931; Oct. 26,

1932); and the superintendent's report on enrolled, health and entertainment

(Jan. 1933; Jan., March 1935). U. S. Bureau of Education reports give

information on enrollment, staffing, and the education activities provided at the

Home (June 1927). Minutes of the Board of Managers reflect discussion and

action taken regarding personnel, residents' activities, the Ladies Auxiliary

Committee, budgets, building maintain ace, bylaws, and the organization and

authority of the Board (1922-1927; 1932; 1943, undated). Other items include

recommendations on gathering applicants' medical and psychological information

(undated); schedules of classroom instruction and routine chores (undated);

inventories of furniture, household items, and laboratory equipment (July 1,

1922); and drafts of admission forms (1922-1924;1926;1928).

Series III. Financial papers, 1922-1949, undated.

Subseries 1. Petty cash, 1924-1942.

Monthly petty cash records reflect daily financial operations of the Home. They

consist of employees' monthly salaries, invoices, and lists of expenditures

showing the purchase of food, transportation, repairs, dental visit, various

sundries, and medication.

Subseries 2. Treasurer's files, 1922-1935, undated.

Monthly statements prepared by the treasurer record appropriations received

from the City of New Orleans, donations, available petty cash, and funds

distributed through the Home's bank accounts (1922-1935). Balance sheets

record city appropriations and available cash balances, and itemize expenses of

household items, utilities, salaries, coal and medical expenses (1923-1934).

Subseries 3. Bank statements and vouchers, 1922-1949, undated.

Bank statements list credits, debits and account balances. Vouchers name the

payee, the reason for transaction, and amount paid.

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

Subseries 4. General financial records, 1922-1933.

General financial records consist of bills for electricity, heating gas and phone

service; invoices, orders, shipping records, receipts from merchants,

wholesalers, and tradesmen; and bids from tradesmen and retailer for carpentry

work (April 6, 1926; Feb. 11, 1937) and installation of kitchen appliances (June

24, 1931).

Series IV. Printed items and graphic material, 1917-1936, undated.

Printed items contains an advertising brochure for Cloverland Dairy (ca. 1925), a

pamphlet of pasteurization of milk (1925), a program for the Louisiana State

Conference for Social Betterment (1927), and a blank initial status report form

distributed by the Louisiana Office of the Commissioner of Labor (1936).

Newspaper clippings include city ordinances concerning the Sophie L. Gumbel

Home and the Touro Shakespeare Almshouse (undated), along with pictures and

articles related to the Sophie L. Gumbel Home (Feb. 25, 1917) and the

observance of founder's day (undated). Graphic material consists of a drawing

of floor plan (undated) and an illustrated cover to a Christmas program (undated).

NOTE: Some highly acid papers were photocopied, and originals were removed to box

5. Photocopies are interfiled within the collection.

INDEX TERMS

Subgroup, Series,

Terms

Subseries

Almshouses--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.I.1, II, IV

American Oil and Refining Co.

Banks and banking--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.I.2; III.2,3

Boards of directors.

2.I.1, II

Boyd, Thomas Duckett, 1854-1932.

2.I.1

Building--Estimates.

2.I.1, 2; III.4

Canal Bank and Trust.

2.I.2

Child abuse--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.I.1

Conveyancing--Louisiana--New Orleans.

Developmentally disabled children--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.I.1

Developmentally disabled--Employment--United States.

2.I.1

Dwellings--Maintenance and repair.

2.I.1,2; III.4

Fire prevention--Inspection.

2.I.1; II

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

Group homes for people with mental disabilities--Louisiana--New

2.I-IV

Orleans.

Insurance policies--Louisiana.

2.I..2

Louisiana Office of the Commissioner of Labor

2.IV

Louisiana Rating and Fire Prevention Bureau.

2.I.1; II

Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.)--History.

2.I.1

Mental health surveys.

2.I.1

Ordinances, Municipal--New Orleans (La.)

2.II, IV

Selling--Handicraft.

2.I.1

Taxation--Louisiana.

Touro Shakespeare Almshouse.

2.I.1; II; IV

Women with mental disabilities--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.I.1

Wages--Louisiana--New Orleans.

2.III.1, 2

CONTAINER LIST

Stack

Location

Box

Folder

Contents

Subgroup 1. Simon Gumbel Family Papers, 1851-

1903.

1-4

Tax receipts, Papers

P:21

Tax receipts, 1871-1895.

OS:G

Subgroup 2. Sophie L. Gumbel Home Records,

1917-1941.

Series I. Correspondence, 1917-1941, undated.

1-10

Subseries 1. Administrative correspondence, 1917-

P:21

1941, undated

11-22

Subseries 2. Financial correspondence, 1917-1939,

undated.

23-30

Series II. Administrative Records, 1917-1943,

P:21

undated.

Series III.

Financial Records, 1922-1949, undated.

31-78

Subseries

1. Petty cash, 1924-1942.

P:21

1-33

Subseries

2. Treasurer's files, 1922-1935, undated.

34-49

Subseries

3. General financial records, 1922-1933.

50-58

Subseries

4. Bank statements, 1922-1949, undated;

Vouchers and checks, 1830-1849

P:22

Vouchers and checks, 1831-1840

GUMBEL (SIMON) AND FAMILY PAPERS

Mss. #1490

1851-1949

Originals removed from collection.

P:22

Series IV. Printed items and graphic material,

1917-1936, undated.

Printed items, 1917-1936; illustrated cover, undated.

Floor plan, undated.

OS:G