How to Write the History of an American Jewish Community Page: 14
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limiting yourself to specifically Jewish sources, manuscript
or printed. From a historical point of view, or shall we say
from a statistical point of view, only a small part of the
life of the typical American Jew is reported in the Jewish
records. As an American, the major part of his time is spent
in common, in mutual relations, with his non-Jewish fellow
citizens. Much of what he does finds its historic deposit in
the city, state, and national government records.
This relationship of the Jew to his fellow-townsmen is
documented in a variety of records. Much is to be found in
the papers at the city hall or at the county courthouse. But
do not make the mistake of thinking that all your county
records are at your countyseat, for counties have been sub-
divided and countyseats have been changed. The county
records may be a hundred miles away or they may have
been transferred to an official state archival depositary. Your
county clerk will tell you where the old papers are, if they
are not in his possession.
You will want to check peddlers' licenses, marriage,
birth, and death records, and, of course, all types of deed
books. The wills and letters of administration of the early
settlers are rich in information. The wills will give you de-
tails of family, of wealth, and of charitable bequests, and
thus throw light on early institutions. From the administra-
tion papers, which frequently contain inventories, you will
be able to describe in detail how the first settlers furnished
their houses and with what comfort or discomfort they lived.
Though it is not always easy to consult and to check the
civil and the criminal court records, the results will often
be worth the trouble. (Please bear in mind, however, that
the older settlers-even your own family ancestors!-were
not always angels. If you should find that one of your an-
cestors was a horse thief, or a smuggler, there is, of course,. 14 .
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Marcus, Jacob Rader, 1896-1995. How to Write the History of an American Jewish Community, pamphlet, 1964; Cincinnati, Ohio. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1436803/m1/16/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.