Guide to the Papers of Annie Jacobs Davis, 1865-c1940
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of Annie Jacobs Davis
- Creator
- Davis, Annie Jacob
- Collection Number
- MSS#269
- Extent
- .75 cubic feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1865-c1940
- Abstract
- The Annie Jacobs Davis Papers consist mainly of short memoirs composed by Davis that chronicle various experiences and memories throughout her life. Annie Jacobs Davis, a Russian immigrant known for her active volunteerism in Pittsburgh's Jewish community, was associated with Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, the Columbian Council, and the Gusky Orphanage Ladies' Auxiliary. Davis is best known as the founder of the Hebrew Ladies Hospital Aid Society, which initiated efforts to found Montefiore Hospital. Davis' memoirs chronicle these associations, as well as day-to-day experiences about her life and family. The Annie Jacobs Davis Papers also contains a small amount of correspondence, clippings and miscellaneous records of Davis' involvement in the Jewish Home for Babies and Children.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of Annie Jacobs Davis (1865-1952)
Born in Russia in 1865, Annie Jacobs Davis emigrated at the age of eight with her mother and two siblings to the United States in 1873. The family settled in Pittsburgh. She married Barnett Davis, a watchmaker and raised ten children to adulthood. She was known for helping her neighbors and was active in the Jewish community--in the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, the Columbian Council (the precursor of the National Council of Jewish Women), and the board of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Gusky Home.
At the request of a grandchild, Annie Jacobs Davis related the story of her life from birth, in Russia in April 1865, to her old age. The narrative ends with the death of a middle-aged son when Davis was seventy-five years old. After emigrating at the age of eight with her mother and two siblings, at the age of eighteen, Davis married Barnett Davis, a watchmaker. They had a number of children of whom ten reached adulthood.
In 1898, in response to the uncomfortable conditions that existed for Jewish patients in Pittsburgh hospitals and the shortage of training opportunities for Jewish doctors, she was asked to start a Jewish hospital. She formed a committee which was named the Hebrew Ladies Hospital Aid Society. The efforts of the group were successful, and in 1908 Montefiore Hospital was opened. Annie Jacobs Davis is known as "The Mother of Montefiore Hospital."
Scope and Content Notes
The Annie Jacobs Davis Papers include the narrative of the Annie Jacobs Davis. Through the narrative, Davis details Jewish family and community life in Pittsburgh where she was active in synagogue and charity work. Her best known efforts resulted in the establishment of Montefiore Hospital, and she tells the story of how this came about. The memoirs provide a portrait of an affluent Jewish woman and her milieu during the end of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries.
Arrangement
The Annie Jacobs Davis Papers are housed in one archival box and arranged in seven folders.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This materials came in one accession in 1991.
Acc# 1991.52 Gift of Sarah Davis Abrams Accession 2014.0191, gift of Maxine Horn on December 1, 2014.
Preferred Citation
Papers of Annie Jacobs Davis, 1865-c1940, MSS #269, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Susan Melnick in July 1997.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on August 21, 2001. 2014 additions added and arranged by Nerissa Aksamit in June 2015.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Separated Materials
The wedding cape of Annie Jacobs Davis and portraits of Barnett and Annie Jacobs Davis are located in the museum.
Subjects
- Montefiore Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Columbia Council of Jewish Women (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Beth Hamedrash Hagodal Synagogue (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Mercy Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Western Pennsylvania Hospital
- J.M. Gusky Hebrew Orphanage (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hebrew Ladies Hospital Aid Society (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Federation of American Zionists
- B'nai Israel (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hebrew Institute of Pittsburgh
- Tree of Life Synagogue (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Davis, Annie Jacob (1865-1952)
- Davis, Barnett
- Ashinsky, Aaron M., Rabbi
- Jewish women -- United States -- Societies and clubs -- History
- Jews -- Charities -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Jews -- Education -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Jews -- History
- Jews -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- History
- Jews -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Social life and customs
- Jews -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh -- Societies
- Jews -- United States -- History