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Shapell Manuscript Foundation
HeadquartersHerzliya , Israel
Websitehttp://www.shapell.org/

The Shapell Manuscript Foundation (SMF) is a non-profit independent educational organization dedicated to research and the collection of historical documents and original manuscripts. The Foundation focuses on the histories of the United States and the Holy Land, with emphasis on the people and events of the 19th and 20th centuries.[1]

Collection

The Shapell Manuscript Collection is a private holding of primary source documents[2] relating to various events and historical figures in American, Jewish, and Holy Land history. Included in the Collection are signed documents, photographs and rare books. It is particularly rich with items from the Civil War era, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, and many other historical figures. Among the many noteworthy items are exceptional letters written by George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy.[3]

Website

The Shapell Manuscript Foundation's website offers a large digitized selection of the Collection online for public viewing and research. The online Collection is continuously expanding its offerings of primary source documents and historical artifacts as the digitization process continues.[4]

Shapell Roster Project

The Shapell Roster Project is the ongoing research of Jewish Civil War soldiers and their stories. As part of the Foundation's contribution to the Civil War Sesquicentennial Celebration, the Shapell Manuscript Foundation is preparing a new roster of Jewish Civil War soldiers. The Roster is based on a parallel section in Simon Wolf's book, The American Jew as Soldier, Patriot and Citizen, (1895), but uses modern research tools and technology to expand and correct the almost 120-year-old roster.

In addition, the Roster provides documentation (letters, photographs and official documents) for each soldier in the list. At the completion of the project all information and documents will be available online as well as be available in book form. The Union section of The Shapell Roster was made public and published online in 2022. The Confederate data is expected to be released by 2025.[5][6]

Jewish American Historical Research

In addition to a general focus on the historic manuscripts of universally recognized world-renowned individuals, the foundation's collection frequently relates to the history of American Jewish life. The collected manuscripts explore such topics as the lives of Jewish soldiers during the American Civil War and other topics which bring light to bear on the role of American Jews on the general society around them.[7][8][9]

Exhibitions

The documents and artifacts in the Foundation's holdings have been on display at various exhibitions internationally. While the Foundation produces its own exhibitions, it also serves as a resource for other institutions' research efforts and exhibitions. The Foundation has collaborated with various historical institutes by creating and enhancing exhibitions with items on loan, and by contributing original research.

The Foundation regularly exhibits at the National Library of Israel at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.[10] The administrative offices are located in the United States and Israel.[11]

SMF loaned items to the Library of Congress for the traveling exhibition "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition."[12] The exhibition toured from February 2009 until April 2011 and included letters written by Lincoln, signed portraits and more.[13][14]

From December 2010 to March 2013 SMF collaborated on the joint exhibition at the National Library of Israel for the exhibit: "Dreamland: American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century."[15][16][17] A sequel to that exhibition, "Dreams and Diplomacy in the Holy Land: American Consuls in Jerusalem in the 19th Century,"[18] opened in March 2013 and closed March, 2016.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibited several documents on loan from SMF at the exhibition: "Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963" held from December 2012 until September 2013.[19]

In 2015, SMF presented "With Firmness in the Right: Lincoln and the Jews" in collaboration with the New-York Historical Society and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.[20] The exhibition was produced in conjunction with the publication of the book, Lincoln and the Jews: A History, which contains original research and was co-authored by Professor Jonathan D. Sarna.[21]

Publications

  • Lincoln and the Jews: A History - By Jonathan D. Sarna and Benjamin Shapell[22]
  • Tourists, Travellers and Hotels in 19th-Century Jerusalem- by Shimon Gibson, Yoni Shapira, and Rupert L. Chapman III[23]
  • On Chariots with Horses of Fire and Iron-by Anthony S. Travis[24]
  • The Dreamland Exhibition Catalog: American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century-by Tony Travis[25][26]
  • Dreams and Diplomacy in the Holy Land, American Consuls in Jerusalem in the 19th Century-Editors: Nirit Shalev Khalifa, Dina Grossman[27][28]

Films/videos

  • Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray- Presented by SMF- An Indigo Films Production- released in 2011[29][30]
  • Lincoln's Last Days- A Journey by the Shapell Manuscript Foundation[31]
  • The Mortal Presidents[32]
  • Mark Twain and other American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century[33]

References

  1. ^ "Shapell Manuscript Foundation". Vintage Allies. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2014. The foundation's focus is on the histories of the United States and the Holy Land, with emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries.
  2. ^ "Benjamin Shapell Family Manuscript Foundation". Cargo Collective. Retrieved 8 July 2014. The Benjamin Shapell Family Manuscript Foundation foundation is a private collection of manuscripts, exploring the jewish and american relationship throughout the years.
  3. ^ "Grover Cleveland, Lover? Read the Love Letter He Wrote to His 21-Year-Old Bride". History News Network. George Mason University. February 12, 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Collection". Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. ^ Sellers, John R. (July 10, 2012). "Jewish Participation in the Civil War". President Lincoln's Cottage. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  6. ^ "About the Shapell Roster". Shapell Roster. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  7. ^ Menachem M. Grossman, CEO, Shapell Manuscript Foundation; Robert Marcus; Jim Quinlan (May 4, 2010). "Information Needed: Jewish Civil War Soldiers" (PDF). Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Einstein: Original Letters in Aid of His Brethren". Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2014. Most remarkable, perhaps, is that in this work, running what he called his own kind of "immigration office," Einstein personally saved hundreds of Jewish lives from Hitler's persecution and death camps.
  9. ^ Sellers, John R. "Jewish Participation in the Civil War". President Lincoln's Cottage. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Shapell Manuscript Foundation". Merhav. The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Shapell Manuscript Foundation in Beverly Hills, California (CA)". FAQS.org. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  12. ^ "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition". Library of Congress. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  13. ^ "The Shapell Manuscript Foundation in Conjunction With The Library of Congress Presents: With Malice Toward None: The National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition". The Free Library. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  14. ^ "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition". Library of Congress. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  15. ^ "American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century". The Jewish National and University Library. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  16. ^ "New Exhibit Highlights Famous Americans in Israel". Al Monitor. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  17. ^ Ginsburg, Mitch (July 4, 2012). "Less awe than shucks for the Holy Land's first US visitors Read more: Less awe than shucks for the Holy Land's first US visitors". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  18. ^ "Dreams and Diplomacy". The National Library of Israel.
  19. ^ "Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963". Smithsonian Seriously Amazing. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  20. ^ "New-York Historical Society: Lincoln and the Jews". New-York Historical Society.
  21. ^ Shire, Emily (26 March 2015). "Honest Abe and the Children of Abraham". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast.
  22. ^ Lincoln and the Jews: A History. St. Martin's Press. 17 March 2015. ISBN 978-1250059536.
  23. ^ "Tourists, Travellers and Hotels in 19th-Century Jerusalem". Maney Publishing. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  24. ^ "A new book in English on the Jaffa-Jerusalem Railway". Harakevet Magazine. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  25. ^ "An Exhibit: Dreamland". The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  26. ^ "The Dreamland Exhibition Catalog: American Travelers to the Holy Land in the 19th Century". Shapell Manuscript Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  27. ^ "Dreams and Diplomacy in the Holy Land: American Consuls in Jerusalem in the 19th Century". The Design Mill. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  28. ^ Aderet, Ofer (30 June 2013). "First U.S. consul in Jerusalem - a flamboyant eccentric who embraced Judaism". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  29. ^ "Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray". Indigo Films. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  30. ^ "Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray". The National Center for Jewish Film. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  31. ^ "Lincoln's Last Days - A journey by the "Shapell Manuscript Foundation"". YouTube. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  32. ^ "The Mortal Presidents - A Journey by the Shapell Manuscript Foundation". YouTube. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  33. ^ "Mark Twain and other American Travelers to the Holy *Land in the 19th century". YouTube. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
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