Finding Aid to the Newmark Family Papers MS.227
Stefanie Crump, Anna Liza Posas
Library and Archives at the Autry
2010, 2013
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Newmark Family Papers
Creator:
Newmark Family
Identifier/Call Number: MS.227
Physical Description:
25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1837-2006
Abstract: The Newmarks are a pioneer Los Angeles family that have contributed to the promotion and growth of Los Angeles, as well as
to the development of Los Angeles' Jewish community. In 1848, Joseph Phillip Newmark became the first of the family to immigrate
to the United States. He was soon joined by his brother Harris Newmark. The Newmark Family Papers consists of biographical
materials, published items, correspondence, photographic material, and family memorabilia that document the lives of Sarah
and Harris Newmark and their descendants from 1837 to 2006. Newmark descendents include the Loeb, Levi, and Nordlinger families.
Language of Material: Primarily in English with some correspondence written in German and French.
Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit
https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
- Series I: Newmark Family Papers, 1837-1917
- Series II: Newmark-Loeb Family Papers, circa 1860-1986
- Series III: Newmark-Levi Family Papers, 1902-2000
- Series IV: Photo Albums, circa 1860-2004 and undated
The Newmark Family Papers consists of biographical materials, published items, correspondence, photographic material, and
family memorabilia that document the lives of Sarah and Harris Newmark and their descendants. The Papers also includes the
collected diaries and correspondence of Sarah Newmark, Rose Loeb, and Aimee Nordlinger. The biographical materials and published
items relate to Los Angeles and California history, development, and civic organizations.
The end of the Mexican-American War brought great changes to the pueblo known as Los Angeles. Roughly twenty years after California
was transferred to the United States, a handful of civically and entrepreneurially minded men began to promote Los Angeles
as the next great city, seeking to build a city akin to the likes of San Francisco. They encouraged the growth of large and
small businesses, farming and banking. Lands once belonging to a select few were gradually bought, sold and parceled. Industry
developed, as did the railway. The Newmark family is firmly rooted in this history, having contributed to the promotion and
growth of greater Los Angeles, as well as to the development of Los Angeles' Jewish community.
The Newmarks are a pioneer Los Angeles family with roots in Loebau, West Prussia. Joseph and Harris Neumark (later changed
to Newmark by Joseph Phillip) were two of six children born to Philipp and Ester (Conn) Neumark. Philipp Neumark was a merchant,
making and selling ink and blacking, and he was often on business trips to Sweden and Denmark where the family maintained
friendships and business relationships. Though their father did make his way to the United States in 1838, illness brought
him back home.
In 1848, Joseph Phillip Newmark became the first of the family to immigrate to the United States. Landing first in New York,
he stayed in the East until the call of the gold rush led him to San Francisco in 1851. In May 1853, he invited his brother
Harris (b. 1834) to join him in California. By late August of that year, Harris Newmark landed in New York, eventually reaching
Los Angeles two months later. At the time of the 1850 U.S. Census, Los Angeles had a population of 1,610— 8 of these inhabitants
were Jewish (6 of whom were natives of Germany). The Newmarks became prosperous in their new home town. Both brothers became
successful businessmen. Harris Newmark owned and operated the commissions house, H. Newmark & Company (one of the earliest
in Los Angeles). In 1865 he opened H. Newmark & Co., a wholesale grocery business. But it was in real estate where he made
the bulk of his money. He partnered with Kaspare Cohn to purchase and parcel lands that would become the town of Montebello,
and sold 8030 acres of land to E.J. "Lucky" Baldwin (Rancho San Anita). Harris Newmark was co-founder and president of the
Los Angeles B'nai B'rith Congregation, was one of the organizers of the Los Angeles Public Library, was an organizer and member
of the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Board of Trade, and was a charter member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Harris Newmark was married to his cousin Sarah Newmark on 1858 March 24 by her father Joseph P. Newmark—Los Angeles' first
lay rabbi. Five of their eleven children survived infancy. Son Maurice Harris, born circa 1859 and died in 1929, married his
cousin, Rose Newmark, 1888 July 3. Maurice (M.H.) was a great friend of Charles F. Lummis, found of the Southwest Museum,
and sat on the Museum's Board of Trustees.
Marco Ross, born circa 1878, was both a businessman and an historian. Marco (M.R.) served as Director and President of the
Historical Society of Southern California. Together, Maurice and Marco published the
1850 Census of Los Angeles City and County in 1929, and edited their father's biography,
Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913.
Harris and Sarah Newmark had three daughters, Ella, Emily, and Estelle. Ella married Carl Seligman. Emily married Jacob Loew.
Estelle married Leon Loeb. Jacob Loew and his nephew Herman Levi became the owners of the Capitol Milling Company, which was
established 1883. Herman Levi was also the son-in-law of Estelle and Leon Loeb.
The Capitol Milling Company company continued under the Levis and Loews, becoming the oldest family run business in Los Angeles
until its sale to Con Agra in 1999.
Finding aid created by Stefanie Crump, 2010. Revised by Anna Liza Posas, 2013. Final processing of collection and publication
of finding aid made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Newmark Family Papers, 1837-2006, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.227; [folder number] [folder
title][date].
Part of the collection was donated by brothers M.H. (Maurice Harris) and Marco Newmark beginning in 1917 December with subsequent
gifts bestowed in 1919, 1922, and 1927. The collection related to
The Linda Levi Collection of the Newmark and Levi Family Memorabilia, was donated 2007 August 8 by Linda Levi. The collection was maintained by the donor and her brother, John Newmark Levi,
Jr. before being received by the Braun Research Library at the Autry.
Manuscript collections from the Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West:
- MS.1 Charles Fletcher Lummis Papers, 1450-1975
- MS.207 La Fiesta de Los Angeles Records, 1894-1947
- MS.567 Workman Family Collection, 1933-1956
- MS.642 Draft of United States Census, City and County of Los Angeles, 1850, 1850-1928
- MS.725 Myer J. Newmark Journal, 1852-1853
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photograph albums
Ledgers
Scrapbooks
Clippings
Kaspare Cohn: a commemorative tribute to the founder and first president of Union Bank
Sixty years in Southern California, 1853-1913, containing the reminiscences of Harris Newmark
My seventy years in California
Account books
Diaries
Photographs
Correspondence
Business records
Jews -- California -- Los Angeles
Jews -- California
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- Sources
California -- History -- Sources
H. Newmark and Company
Nordlinger, Aimee
Loeb Family
Newmark, Harris
Newmark, Jospeh Phillip
Newmark, Sarah
Loeb, Rose
Levi, Linda
Newmark, John Levi
Nordlinger Family
Levi Family
Newmark Family MS.227.1 1837-1917
- MS.227.1.1: Newmark Family Documents and Memorabilia, 1858-1917
- MS.227.1.2: Sarah Newmark's Travel Writings, 1887-1916
- MS.227.1.3: Newmark Financial Records, 1776-1940
- MS.227.1.4: Newmark Family Histories and Related Documents, 1908-2006 and undated
Newmark Family Documents and Memorabilia MS.227.1.1 1858-1917
This subseries includes legal documents, scrapbooks, personal items, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia pertaining to the
Newmarks' civic activities and Los Angeles history. Of particular note is the collected memorabilia from the first
Fiesta de Los Angeles in 1894. The week-long event, modeled after New Orleans' Mardi Gras, was sponsored by the Merchant's Association to help
improve the city's economy after the 1893 depression. Items also include memorabilia from Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
events and the California Midwinter Exposition of 1894. Also included are commemorative memorabilia and cable car tickets.
Sarah Newmark's Travel Writings MS.227.1.2 1887-1916
This subseries includes scrapbooks and journals that describe the Newmark's travels in Europe and America. One journal provides
an account of a trip from Los Angeles to Alaska that documents the cities traveled, modes of transportation, and daily excursions.
All other materials document two sojourns to Europe, describing "Grand Tours" in 1887-1888 and 1900. There are two sets of
journals that document the 1887-1888 trip. Sarah Newmark created the original journals and bound copies for family in 1890.
Financial Ledgers MS.227.1.3 1837-1940
Newmark and Company timeline:
- 1854 associated with Newmark, Kremer and Company
- 1861 reorganized the firm as Newmark and Kremer
- after 1861, organized a as a commission house under the name H. Newmark and Company
- 1865, doing business as a wholesale grocer under the name H. Newmark and Company
This subseries consists of five ledgers, four of which document financial transactions for businesses owned or jointly operated
by Harris Newmark. One other ledger is one that was generated for an unidentified club or organization, dated 1934-1940.
Newmark Family Histories and Related Documents MS.227.1.4 1908-2006 and undated
This subseries is comprised of Newmark family trees, a monograph describing Myer J. Newmark and family's voyage from New York
to San Francisco in 1853, biographical articles, documents and other items pertaining to members of the Newmark family and
Jewish life in Los Angeles.
Materials in this subseries are part of
The Linda Levi Collection of Newmark and Levi Family Memorabilia, acquired 2007.
Newmark-Loeb Family MS.227.2 circa 1860-1986
Series includes family genealogies, correspondence, photo albums and scrapbooks.
Many items in this group were collected by Rose Loeb Levi, grandmother of Linda Levi. A majority of the Newmark related materials
were collected by Linda Levi and her brother, John Newmark Levi, Jr.
Newmark-Levi Family MS.227.3 1902-2000
- MS.227.3.1: Levi Family Documents and Memorabilia, 1891-2002
- MS.227.3.2: Rose Loeb Correspondence, 1900, 1906
- MS.227.3.3: John Newmark Levi, Sr., 1905-1972
- MS.227.3.4: Nordlinger Family, 1888, 1909
- MS.227.3.5: Linda Levi, 1950-2006
- MS.227.3.6: Capitol Milling Company, 1973-2003
Series includes material that document the lives of the Levi family, descendants of Rose Loeb and Herman Levi.
Levi Family Documents and Memorabilia MS.227.3.1 1891-2002
The Levi Family Documents and Memorabilia subseries consist of items belonging to Rose and Herman Levi, as well as two of
their children, John Levi, Sr., and Elizabeth Levi Lissner.
Materials consists of legal documents, family histories, and personal items, such as wallets, travel books, and keys belonging
to Herman Levi. Scrapbooks collected by Rose Loeb include a book of telegrams with well wishes upon the announcement of Rose
and Herman Levi's engagement and marriage. Also included are a 1903 newspaper clippings regarding Rose's brother, an album
of postcards compiled after the birth of Rose's daughter Elizabeth, yearbooks for John Levi, Sr. and wife Aimee Nordlinger
Levi, and a bound collection of the
Daily Palo Alto edited by John Levi, Sr.
Rose Loeb Correspondence MS.227.3.2 1900, 1906
Please also see in this collection "Series 4: Photo Albums, 1860s-2004 and undated" for images related to Rose Loeb's Europe
trip.
Letters are arranged in folders by date.
The majority of the letters in this subseries were written by Rose Loeb during her trip to Europe with her grandparents, Sarah
and Harris Newmark, in 1900. Most are addressed to her mother, Estelle Newmark Loeb, with a few being addressed to other family
members and to her fiancé, Herman Levi. The last two letters in this group were written shortly after the 1906 San Francisco
Earthquake.
John Newmark Levi, Sr. MS.227.3.3 1905-1972
Hillcrest Country Club was Los Angeles' first Jewish country club founded by the Newmark family. John Newmark Levi, Sr. was
one of the club's youngest members.
Subseries includes biographical articles, and personal items belonging to John Levi, Sr. The collection also includes a competition
trophy from the Hillcrest Country Club.
John Levi, Sr. was an executive at Capitol Milling Company - a family owned business begun by his father Herman Levi and great
uncle Jacob Loew in 1883.
Linda Newmark Levi MS.227.3.5 1950-2006
- Linda Levi Biographic Materials, 1935-2007 and undated
- Linda Levi Correspondence, 1956-1969, 2004
Linda Newmark Levi is the great-great granddaughter of Harris and Sarah Newmark.
Materials in this subseries consist of biographical material and correspondence that document Levi's experiences. This includes
information about her education, travels, personal relationships, and art career while living in Los Angeles, California and
New York, New York.
This subseries also contains an editorial and final published copy of her article, "Linda Levi: Growing up as a Newmark in
Los Angeles, 1935-1950" published in
Western States Jewish History, Spring 2007, volume 39, issue number 3.
Biographical material includes published materials, scrapbooks, and other personal items.
Linda Levi Artwork and Exhibit Materials, 1993-2007, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.1309.
Linda Newmark Levi Correspondence 1956-2004 1956-1969
Capitol Milling Company MS.227.3.6 1973-2003
Jacob Loeb was married to Emily Newmark. Herman Levi was married to Rose Loeb, daughter of Estelle Newmark and Leon Loeb.
The Capitol Milling Company was established 1883. The mill was owned and operated by Jacob Loew and his nephew Herman Levi.
Herman Levi took over the business in 1921 after Jacob Loew's death. The company continued under the Loew and Levi families
becoming the oldest family run business in Los Angeles until its sale to Con Agra in 1999.
Other family members involved in the business include Herman's son John Newmark Levi, Sr.; John's nephew Doug Levi; and Doug's
son, John Levi.
This series includes newspaper articles and ephemera pertaining to the Capitol Milling Company.
Photo Albums MS.227.4 circa 1860-2004 and undated
- A.161: Views of Northern and Southern California Photo Album
- A.200: Levi Family Album #1, 1860s-2000
- A.201: Estelle Newmark Loeb Family Album #1, 1874-1926
- A.202: Southern California Photo Album, 1890s
- A.203: Rose Loeb Photo Album #1, 1897-1901
- A.204: Loeb-Newmark Family Album #1, 1898-1912
- A.205: Sarah Newmark European Snapshots, 1900
- A.162: Train Vistas to Salt Lake City Photo Album, circa 1900
- A.206: Elizabeth Levi (Lissner) Photo Album, 1902-1905
- A.207: Levi Family Album #2, 1903-1997 and undated
- A.160: Scenes after the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
- A.163: Views of Oakland California Photo Album, circa 1920
- A.208: Levi Family Album #3, 1927-1969 and undated
- A.209: Wedding Album for John and Judy Ash Levi, 1955
- A.210: Linda Levi Travel Album, 1991-2004
This series comprises of family and travel albums compiled by members of the Newmark, Loeb, and Levi families. Early travel
albums include images of Europe, California and Northern Utah at the turn of the 20th Century. One album is comprised of photos
taken shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Newmarks traveled extensively through Europe, visiting family and
friends in Germany, Switzerland, and France. These travels were documented by Sarah Newmark in 1887, followed by her granddaughter,
Rose Loeb in 1900, and by her great-great granddaughter, Linda Levi in 1956.
Albums include:
- A.161: Views of Northern and Southern California Photo Album,, undated
- A.200: Levi Family Album #1, 1860s-2000
- A.201: Estelle Newmark Loeb Family Album #1, 1874-1926
- A.202: Southern California Photo Album, 1890s
- A.203: Rose Loeb Photo Album #1, 1897-1901
- A.204: Loeb-Newmark Family Album #1, 1898-1912
- A.205: Sarah Newmark European Snapshots, 1900
- A.162: Train Vistas to Salt Lake City Photo Album, circa 1900
- A.206: Elizabeth Levi (Lissner) Photo Album, 1902-1905
- A.207: Levi Family Album #2, 1903-1997 and undated
- A.160: Scenes after the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
- A.163: Views of Oakland California Photo Album, circa 1920
- A.208: Levi Family Album #3, 1927-1969 and undated
- A.209: Wedding Album for John and Judy Ash Levi, 1955
- A.210: Linda Levi Travel Album, 1991-2004
Name indexes to some photo albums and group photos as well as more detailed genealogical information related to the individuals
photographed are available from library staff.
Photographs and Prints MS.227.5 late 1800s-early 1900s
Materials include photographs of La Fiesta de Los Angeles parade, shots of Los Angeles streets and businesses, as well as
photograph cards with views of Alaska, the geysers near Calistoga, California, and the Mount Lowe Railway, late 1800s- early
1900s.
Photographs, prints, and glass plate negatives donated by Marco and Maurice Newmark, early 1900s.
An item-level inventory is available from library staff.