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Ackerman, Charles L. family papers
SFH 94  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Related Materials
  • Biography
  • Scope and Contents
  • Accruals

  • Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English.
    Contributing Institution: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
    100 Larkin Street
    San Francisco, CA 94102
    (415) 557-4567
    info@sfpl.org
    Title: Charles L. Ackerman family papers
    Creator: Ackerman, Charles Louis
    Creator: Ackerman, Sigmund Louis
    Creator: Ackerman, Carrie (Caroline M.)
    Creator: Davis, Mortimer Barnett, Sir
    Creator: Davis, Henriette M., Lady (Henriette Marie Meyer)
    Identifier/Call Number: SFH 94
    Physical Description: (One pamphlet box) 16 folders
    Date (inclusive): 1888-1938
    Date (bulk): 1906-1909
    Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.

    Access

    The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

    Publication Rights

    All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Charles L. Ackerman family papers, 1888-1938 (SFH 94), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

    Related Materials

    See also Ackerman Family Papers, 1895-1971 at the Museum of Performance + Design, San Francisco, California, as well as the Irving Ackerman interview (1959) in Turning Point by Arthur Friedman, Department of Theatre and Arts, UCLA.

    Biography

    Charles Louis Ackerman was a prominent Jewish San Francisco trial lawyer and theater manager who married Caroline "Carrie" Meyer in 1878. Their son Irving C. Ackerman was also an attorney, as well as San Francisco theater owner and operator of the Chutes, Stage Door and Encore theaters. The firm of Ackerman & Harris managed a western theater chain later sold to Marcus Loew. Charles' brother Sigmund was at one time manager of San Francisco's Grand Opera House. Caroline Meyer's sister, Henriette, married Sir Mortimer B. Davis, Canada's "tobacco king" in 1898, divorcing him in 1924.

    Scope and Contents

    Ackerman family papers include personal correspondence of Carrie Meyer Ackerman, her sister Henriette Meyer Davis, her husband Charles L. Ackerman, and brother-in-law Sigmund L. Ackerman. The bulk of the letters are addressed to Carrie's son, Irving C. Ackerman. Carrie's letters detail family life in San Francisco and, temporarily, in San Rafael following the 1906 earthquake and fire. Henriette's letters to a man named Marcus from 1929-1931 concern her divorce from Mortimer B. Davis, as well as a rift between Henriette and Carrie, and Marcus's replies are included. Charles's letters include matters relating to management of theatre enterprises, San Francisco labor strikes, politics and the graft trials, Irving's dog shows, and to Charles's recuperation from illness in autumn 1906. One folder includes a library inventory, a vacation itinerary, and a letter of credit.

    Accruals

    Circular letter of credit, Chas. L. Ackerman and Mrs. Carrie Ackerman transferred from San Francisco History Center ephemera file, 2013.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Amusement parks -- California -- San Francisco.
    Jews -- California -- San Francisco.
    Dog shows -- United States.
    San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century.
    Strikes and lockouts -- Street-railroads -- California -- San Francisco.
    Chutes (San Francisco, Calif.)
    Ackerman family
    Ackerman, Irving C.