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E. Rosenwald and Son Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-220-BC

Scope and Content

The Rosenwald records contain business papers pertaining primarily to E. Rosenwald and Son, 1890-1915. The records include tax receipts for business transactions and property owned by the company in New Mexico and Colorado. There are stock certificates, deeds, contracts with the U.S. Army, and other papers related to the business and personal holdings of Emanuel and his son Cecilio. There are also letters concerning business dealings between Emanuel and Joseph, 1859-1860. Of a more personal nature, the collection contains correspondence between family members living in Lawrence and Leavenworth, Kansas, and Baltimore, Maryland (1859-1860). Obituaries for Emanuel and his wife Elise, Rosenwald family wills, contracts for expanding their Las Vegas house, Emanuel's militia enlistment papers, and naturalization documents are also included.

Most materials are in English; some letters are in German and a few newspaper articles are in Spanish

The collection was formerly called the Emanuel Rosenwald Records.

Dates

  • 1848-1915

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution

Biography

The E. Rosenwald and Son firm was a mercantile and freighting business owned and operated by Emanuel Rosenwald (b. 1838, in Bavaria, Germany; d. 1915, in Las Vegas, N.M.) and his eldest son Cecilio (b. 1873, in Las Vegas, N.M.; d. 1931). In the 1860s, prior to the establishment of this business, Emanuel and his brother Joseph started Rosenwald J. and Company, and the E. Rosenwald Company. These businesses were founded on food and hardware contracts with the United States government and army in New Mexico. During the 1890s and 1900s, Emanuel's business interests in Las Vegas expanded into real estate and banking. He was connected with the establishment of the San Miguel Bank and sat on its board of directors. In 1912, Emanuel created the Rosenwald Realty Company, a land holding and ranching company valued at two hundred thousand dollars. Much of the land purchased in this venture came from the sale of Cañon del Agua Land Grant in San Miguel County. The operations of E. Rosenwald and Son created close ties with other notable Las Vegas merchants, such as Charles Ilfeld, Marcus Brunswick, and Solomon Floersheim.

The E. Rosenwald and Son firm was a Rosenwald family affair. After Joseph's death in 1888, Emanuel's son, Cecilio, apprenticed with the company. Cecilio became a member of the E. Rosenwald firm in 1898 and the company name was changed to E. Rosenwald and Son. Two of Emanuel's other sons also joined the firm, with David Emanuel (b. 1877, Las Vegas, N.M.) admitted in 1902 and Gilbert Elise (b. 1885, Las Vegas, N.M.) admitted in 1910. All three sons were also members of the Rosenwald Realty Company. The E. Rosenwald and Son firm survived Emanuel's death, but succumbed to bankruptcy in 1922.

Emanuel and Joseph Rosenwald had two other brothers, Aron and Edward, who were also merchants in New Mexico. Aron and Edward established several mercantile business interests in Albuquerque, both in New Town along Central Avenue and on the plaza in Old Town.

Extent

2 boxes (.9 cu. ft.)

Abstract

The E. Rosenwald and Son Records relate to the business transactions of the E. Rosenwald and Son firm of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Also included are personal documents of Emanuel Rosenwald and his sons.

Separated Material

Photographs of landscapes and urban scenes in Las Vegas and Albuquerque, New Mexico transferred to Theodore A. Rosenwald Photograph Collection.

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Callon, Milton. Las Vegas, New Mexico: The Town that Wouldn't Gamble. Las Vegas, NM: The Las Vegas Daily Optic, 1962.
  • Coan, Charles F. A History of New Mexico, Volume 2. New York: American Historical Society, Inc., 1925:146-148.
  • Fierman, Floyd S. "Reminiscences of Emanuel Rosenwald," New Mexico Historical Review. 37(2):110-131.
  • Twitchell, Ralph Emerson. The Leading Facts of New Mexico History, Volume 4. Cedar Rapids, IA: Torch Press, 1917:233-262.
Title
Finding Aid of the E. Rosenwald and Son Records, 1848-1915
Status
For Approval
Author
Processed by Tad McIlwraith
Date
©2000
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 220 BC::E. Rosenwald and Son Records)//EN" "nmu1mss220bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451