Mannasse (Joseph) Papers, 1854-1897

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Summary

Title:
Joseph Mannasse Papers
Dates:
1854-1897
Creators:
Mannasse, Joseph S.
Abstract:
This collection contains business papers and some personal papers of Joseph S. Mannasse, a Jewish immigrant and businessman who operated as a merchant and ran a general store in Old Town San Diego beginning in the 1850s.
Extent:
0.25 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
and English; Spanish; German.
Preferred citation:

Joseph Mannasse Papers, MS 30, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains business papers and some personal papers of Joseph S. Mannasse, a Jewish immigrant and businessman who operated as a merchant and ran a general store in Old Town San Diego beginning in the 1850s. Business papers include correspondence, legal papers, petitions, bills of sale, deeds, and promissory notes. Also included are papers from Joseph’s brother, Moses, and a copy of the divorce decree for Hannah Schiller.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Samuel Mannasse (1831-1897) was a Jewish immigrant born in Filehne, Prussia. He was the son of Samuel and Lona Mannasse and was the oldest of seven children. At the age of nineteen he left Prussia for America. He arrived in New York in 1850 and three years later he made the trip out west to San Diego. He began his career in San Diego as a merchant and opened a dry goods store in Old Town. In 1856 he joined with Marcus Schiller to open a general store. This partnership lasted until 1888 and operated under the name of J.S. Mannasse and Company.

In 1860 J.S. Mannasse got involved in real estate speculation. That same year he bought Rancho Los Encinitas and Rancho San Dieguito, upon which he raised cattle. Between Mannasse and Schiller the two owned more than 6,000 acres of land. Mannasse was active in civic activities and was appointed County Clerk from 1862-1864. In 1867 he was elected to the City Council and also served as a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1868.

Schiller’s sister, Hannah, married Joseph’s brother, Hyman Mannasse. They were eventually divorced and after the divorce Hannah married Joseph Mannasse. They had one daughter, Celita Mannasse. Joseph Samuel Mannasse died on December 26, 1897 at age sixty-six.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Andrew Wolfson on January 18, 2008 and Samantha Mills on February 22, 2017.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into two series, with materials arranged chronologically within each subject folder:

Series I: Business Papers;

Series II: Personal Papers.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
February 22, 2017
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-02-22T12:14-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

Joseph Mannasse Papers, MS 30, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website