Guide to the Blochman Family Collection MS 11

Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Vanoni

San Diego History Center Document Collection

1649 El Prado, Suite 3

San Diego, CA, 92101

619-232-6203

May 31, 2013

Title: Blochman Family Collection

Identifier/Call Number: MS 11

Contributing Institution: San Diego History Center Document Collection

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet (1 box)

Date: 1894-1976

Abstract: This collection contains materials related to Blochman Family history including correspondence and personal items. There is a small amount of material regarding Temple Tifereth Israel and Hyman S. Wolf.

Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.

creator: Blochman, Lawrence

Scope and Content

This collection contains materials related to Blochman Family history including correspondence and personal items. The materials consist of correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, newsletters, admission cards, photographs and an autograph album. Most of the correspondence in this collection is primarily related to Blochman family history. Many letters exist within the collection between Lawrence Blochman (Larry), his sister Nathalie Levine (Nat), his wife Marguerite (Guite) and Trudie Casper, the San Diego Historical Society volunteer who researched the Blochman family. There are many items relating to Lawrence Blochman’s writing. Little material pertains to the activities of Abraham Blochman.

There is a small amount of material regarding Temple Tifereth Israel and Hyman S. Wolf. The connection is not apparent between the Blochman family and Temple Tifereth Israel or Hyman S. Wolf other than their Jewish heritage.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number 751217 (autograph album of Mina Blochman).

Comments

The majority of correspondence in folder 1 is handwritten.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Jennifer Vanoni on March 28, 2013.

Conditions Governing Use

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Blochman Family Collection, MS 11, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Fragile papers in Folders 1, 2, 3 and 4 with some glue staining. Autograph album is in fragile condition. (March 2013).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series:

Series I: Correspondence

Series II: Blochman Family

Series III: Lawrence Blochman

Series IV: Temple Tifereth Israel/Hyman S. Wolf

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Blochmans were a prominent San Diego banking family. Led by Abraham Blochman, who arrived in San Diego in 1881, the family was involved in banking and commercial activities. Abraham was the founder of San Diego Building & Loan and the Blochman Banking Company. In 1912, the Blochman Banking Company merged with Security Commercial & Savings Bank. In addition to his banking activities, Abraham served as president of Temple Beth Israel and served as acting French Consul in San Diego for over 30 years (1882-1912).

Abraham’s grandson, Lawrence G. Blochman, was a noted author. He wrote over 40 novels and served as president of the Mystery Writers of America. Born in San Diego, he served as Sports Page Editor for the San Diego Tribune before returning to fiction. During World War I, Lawrence served in the Office of War Information and was chief of the Radio Program Bureau for Voice of America. He died in New York in 1975.

Hyman S. Wolf came to San Diego about 1901 and was a business and civic leader and a moving force in Zionism and other Jewish affairs. He was a shoe store proprietor, associated with real estate and in 1912, built the St. James Hotel with his brother and cousin. Wolf was a co-founder of Temple Tifereth Israel.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Blochman, Abraham

Blochman, Haidee G.

Blochman, Lucien

Blochman, Marguerite

Blochman, Mina

Brust, Mae

Brust, Paul

Casper, Trudie

Levine, Nathalie

Sarassin, Rabbi Leopold

Wolf, Hyman S.

Banks and banking

Blochman Banking Company

Expositions -- California -- San Diego

San Diego Building & Loan

Sarassin Family Crest

Security Commercial & Savings Bank

St. James Hotel

Temple Beth Israel

Temple Tifereth Israel

Writing

Series I Correspondence

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from G.A. Davidson (President, Board of Directors, Panama-CA Expo) to Mrs. L.A. Blochman re: Membership for Women’s Board of Panama-CA Exposition 8 Jan 1915

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Edward W. Barrett (Exec. Director, Overseas Branch) to Lawrence Blochman re: designation as Asst. Rep. of Overseas Operations Branch of the Office of War Information 8 Sept 1944

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from P.C. Kelley (VP Security First Nat. Bank of SD) to Mr. Leslie Harris re: Blochman Family History 27 May 1959

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Lawrence Blochman (Larry) to his sister Nathalie Levine (Nat) re: receipt of biological research from Leslie Harris

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Guite to Trudie re: Larry’s passing and his works and University of Wyoming 9 Mar 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Guite to Trudie re: Larry’s works to University of Wyoming 11 May 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Family houses in San Diego 16 April 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Blochmans educated in Paris 25 Apr 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Trudie to Rabbi Maxwell H. Dubin re: Blochman family history in San Diego 20 May 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Ruth Dubin to Trudie re: Rabbi Dubin heart attack and lack of Blochman family info 22 May 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Family member information 26 May 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Guite to Trudie re: Family member information 29 May 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Trudie to Mr. David May (May Company) re: May/Blochman possible family connection 10 Jul 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from David May to Trudie re: May/Blochman possible family connection reply 14 Jul 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Family member information 23 Jul 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Family member information 20 Aug 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Lehmanns in San Francisco and communication with David May 23 Aug 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Jacques C. Roos 1 Oct 1975

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Identification of photos 3 Jan 1976

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Discovery of family photos 14 Jan 1976

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Family member information 5 Feb 1976

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Guite to Trudie re: Larry’s works at University of Wyoming 26 July 1976

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Guite to Trudie re: Identification of Blochman family photo for cover of Journal of San Diego, Winter 1977

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Nat to Trudie re: Needlepoint and info about San Diego life

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Mrs. Leslie J. Harris to unknown re: family member information

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Dr. Monroe Haas (Doc) to Larry and Guite re: Photos of former Blochman residence in San Diego

Box-folder 1:1

Letter from Edward Jelenko to John Pauker re: Translation of Sarassin crest

Series II Blochman Family

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of Blochman & Smith advertisement, San Diego Sun 16 Mar 1882

Box-folder 1:2

Mina Blochman Autograph Album 1883-1888

Box-folder 1:2

Voter registration receipt for Lucien A. (L.A.) Blochman 8 Aug 1894

Box-folder 1:2

Voter registration receipt for Abraham Blochman 29 Sep 1894

Box-folder 1:2

Admission to Speakers’ Stand, Opening Ceremonies for L.A. Blochman 31 Dec 1914

Box-folder 1:2

Admission to Speaker’s Stand, Dedication Ceremonies for Mrs. L.A. Blochman 1 Jan 1915

Box-folder 1:2

Admission to Panama-CA Exposition for Mrs. L.A. Blochman 1 Jan 1915

Box-folder 1:2

Admission to Panama-CA International Exposition for Mrs. Haidee G. Blochman 1 Jan 1916

Box-folder 1:2

Invitation to production of “The Sinking of the Titanic” for Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Blochman 4 May 1916

Box-folder 1:2

Cartoon and attached San Diego City Guards calling card of L.A. Blochman

Box-folder 1:2

Various wax seals

Box-folder 1:2

Photo of Sarassin crest needlepoint created by Nat

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of Sarassin crest with note from Nat

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of sketches of coat of arms and flags

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of photo Sarassin crest

Box-folder 1:2

Copy (1) of letter re: Explanation of Sarassin crest and memories of cottage

Box-folder 1:2

Copy (2) of letter re: Explanation of Sarassin crest and memories of cottage

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of “Abraham Blochman” biography from An Illustrated History of Southern California

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of San Diego Federal full page advertisement (with envelope) published in Tribune (July 8), Union (July 11)

Box-folder 1:2

Partial copy of San Diego Federal advertisement

Box-folder 1:2

Note card re: Correction of island “CEDROS” in Illustrated History of Southern California

Series III Lawrence Blochman

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of “The Case of the Murdered Syntax” by Lawrence Blochman from California Monthly Mar 1939

Box-folder 1:2

Office of War Information travel authorization and orders from Sylvia M. Marsili (Captain, AGD Asst. Adjutant General) for Lawrence Blochman 9 Jun 1945

Box-folder 1:2

Office of War Information travel authorization and orders from William H. Wright (Captain, AGD Asst. Adjutant General) for Lawrence Blochman 27 Aug 1945

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of Lawrence Blochman biographical article “Coffee Served with Murders”, The San Diego Union 22 Nov 1964

Box-folder 1:2

Article “Let’s Remove the Stigma from LEPROSY” by Lawrence Blochman, Today’s Health Jan 1965

Box-folder 1:2

Article “The ESP Gap” by Lawrence Blochman, THIS WEEK Magazine 22 Oct 1967

Box-folder 1:2

“My Most Unforgettable Character – STANLEY STEIN: CRUSADER FOR THE LIVING DEAD” (2nd Draft) by Lawrence Blochman 10 Apr 1968

Box-folder 1:2

Article “Doctor Coffee Bones Up” by Lawrence Blochman, The Washington Post 21 Jul 1968

Box-folder 1:2

Copy of “Biography of Rabbi Leopold Sarassin” translated by Lawrence Blochman 18 Mar 1968

Box-folder 1:2

Article “Drugs for Your Memory” by Lawrence Blochman, THIS WEEK Magazine 26 Jan 1969

Box-folder 1:2

Obituaries of Lawrence Blochman 1975

Box-folder 1:2

Note written on envelope by Lawrence Blochman re: His first interview for SD High School paper “RUSS”

Series IV Temple Tifereth Israel/Hyman S. Wolf

Box-folder 1:3

Program for Tifereth Israel 30th anniversary banquet 14 May 1933

Box-folder 1:3

Talking notes for banquet speaker 14 May 1933

Box-folder 1:3

Reminiscence by Hyman S. Wolf (Orthodox Congregation Tifereth Israel) 14 May 1933

Box-folder 1:3

Article “Representative Gathering to be Present at Rose Dedication” (H.S. Wolf named), Southwestern Jewish Review 24 May 1934