Biographical / Historical Notes
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Preferred Citation
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Processing Information
Title: Joseph Mannasse Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 30
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1854-1897
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.
Language of Materials: English; Spanish; German.
creator:
Mannasse, Joseph S.
Biographical / Historical Notes
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.
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.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series, with materials arranged chronologically within each subject folder:
Series I: Business Papers;
Series II: Personal Papers.
Preferred Citation
Joseph Mannasse Papers, MS 30, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Andrew Wolfson on January 18, 2008 and Samantha Mills on February 22, 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
J.S. Mannasse and Company.
Mannasse and Schiller.
Mannasse, Moses
Schiller, Hannah
Schiller, Marcus
General stores
Merchandising
Old Town (San Diego, Calif.)