| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Thorman Family |
| Title: | Thorman Family Papers, Series II |
| Dates: | 1904-1960 |
| Extent: | 0.20 linear feet (1 container) |
| Abstract: | The Thorman family is descended from Simson Thorman (1811-1888), the first Jew who, in 1837, permanently settled in Cleveland, Ohio. The collection consists of letters, miscellaneous family documents and programs from The Temple (Tifereth Israel) and other organizations, newspapers and newspaper clippings, real estate documents and a scrapbook of the Thorman family genealogy. |
| MS Number | MS 4780 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Simson Thorman Family members are descendants of one of the first Jews to settle in Cleveland. Born in Unsleben, Bavaria, Simpson Thorman (1811-1888) immigrated to America in l831(2?) and after travelling to Missouri while dealing in hides, settled in Cleveland in l837. Thorman was responsible (perhaps with one or two others) for the immmigration of nineteen other Jews from Unsleben. This group, which has become known as the Alsbacher party (named after Moses Alsbacher, the leader of the group) constituted the first major group of Jews to settle in Cleveland. Among those in the party, which arrived aboard the Howard in New York City in 1839, was Regina Klein, whom Thorman married soon after her arrival. Regina and Thorman had 10, 11, or 12 children (sources conflict) including two sets of twins. Also in the Alsbacher party were Thorman's siblings Meyer (Myer), Simon (Simmla or Samuel) and Rose (Ranle). Simson Thorman's grandson Harold (l893 l960), the principal family member represented in this collection, was the founder of H.M. Thorman women's coat making firm and was also associated with the brokerage firm of Joseph Mellen & Miller, Inc.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Simson Thorman
The Thorman Family Papers, Series II, 1904-1960, consist of letters, miscellaneous family documents and programs from The Temple-Tifereth Israel and other organizations, newspapers and newspaper clippings, real estate documents and a scrapbook of the Thorman family genealogy.
The collection is of value to researchers studying the earliest Jewish settlement of cities with sizable Jewish communities, and the Cleveland, Ohio, Jewish community.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should consult MS 4228 Thorman Family Papers
Separated MaterialPhotographs, including a tintype of Simson Thorman, have been removed to the photograph and print collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4780 Thorman Family Papers, Series II, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Sophie Thorman, 1995
Processed by Jane A. Avner in 1998
Thorman Family Papers, Series II 1904-1960 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence 1924 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including The Temple - Tifereth Israel confirmation program, [photocopy] 1908 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including newsletter 1909 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including wedding invitation 1921 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including syllabus for a Jewish history course 1922 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including The Temple - Tifereth Israel seat certificate [photocopy] 1925 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including membership card for the Oakmont Country Club 1930 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Miscellaneous documents including obituary of Harold Thorman 1960 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Newspaper, Jewish Independent, special edition about Cleveland Jewish history 1937 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Newspaper clippings, primarily about a 1956 fire which destroyed Thorman property 1937 1956 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Real estate title search, Thorman property 1904 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Will, Regina and Simson Thorman, typed copy 1973 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Scrapbook, newspaper clippings, and genealogical information about Simson Thorman and his descendants, compiled by Robert Gries and Sophie Thorman 1957 | |||||||||