Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Haas, Elise S. (Elise Stern)
- Abstract:
- Contains correspondence, personal and family papers, providing an intimate account of several generations of this distinguished San Francisco family. The bulk of the collection dates from 1893 to 1990, and focuses on the immediate family of Elise and Walter A. Haas, but also includes a significant amount of materials collected by Elise's mother, Rosalie Meyer Stern. Elise's father, Sigmund Stern, was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of the company founder. The collection spans Elise's life from birth to great grandmother; aside from a few childhood mementos, Walter's contribution to the collection begins with his courtship of Elise in 1914.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 8 boxes, 8 cartons, 4 v., 1 oversize box, 14 oversize folders, 1 oversize item Linear feet: 17
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English , French
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Elise Stern Haas Family Papers, 1789-1992, contains correspondence, personal and family papers, providing an intimate account of several generations of this distinguished San Francisco family. The bulk of the collection dates from 1893 to 1990, and focuses on the immediate family of Elise and Walter A. Haas, but also includes a significant amount of materials collected by Elise's mother, Rosalie Meyer Stern. Elise's father, Sigmund Stern, was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of the company founder. The collection spans Elise's life from birth to great grandmother; aside from a few childhood mementos, Walter's contribution to the collection begins with his courtship of Elise in 1914.
Correspondents such as Dianne Feinstein, Clark Kerr and Albert Bender reflect the Haas' interest in local politics, education and the arts. Personal papers include birth certificates and genealogy information for both the Stern and Haas families, but the focus is on Elise and Walter's life together and their philanthropic work. The Walter and Elise Haas International Fund and gifts to the University of California, Berkeley and Mills College are illustrated in detail. Their wedding anniversaries, travel and local charity and social involvements are also fully documented.
Family papers include mementos, documents and clippings collected by Elise and her mother. Most immediate and extended family members are represented; a significant amount of material regarding the Meyer family is included. Rosalie Meyer Stern was the oldest child of Eugene and Harriet Meyer, and her brother, Eugene Jr., was publisher of The Washington Post. The newspaper was family owned and managed by Elise's cousin, Katherine Meyer Graham.
Elise met Michael and Sarah Stein in the early 1950s. She purchased two major works from their collection, "Femme au Chapeau" and "Portrait of Sarah Stein" by Henri Matisse, in 1953-54. Both pieces are now part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The materials collected here focus on the period after the purchase of these paintings and includes correspondence from Matisse's granddaughter, Marguerite Duthuit and Alice Toklas. Exhibitions catalogs, miscellaneous drawings by Sarah Stein, and clippings give details about the history of the collection and the Steins friendship with Matisse.
Miscellaneous papers include personal and household accounts, as well as drafts from the French play, "The Pope and the Jew" by Edmund Fleg, which Elise translated into English, beginning in 1928.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Elise Stern Haas was born in San Francisco on October 29, 1893, the only child of Rosalie Meyer and Sigmund Stern. Her father was president of Levi Strauss and Co., and nephew of Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant who founded the firm in 1850.
Elise was raised in the family home on Pine Street and was taught to read and write at home by Miss Katherine Burke, who later founded The Burke's School. At the age of nine, Elise was sent to Pacific Heights School on Jackson Street, and she graduated from high school in May 1911.
In 1914, Elise Stern married Walter A. Haas, president of Levi Strauss and Co. from 1928 to 1955. They had three children: Walter A., Jr., Peter, and Rhoda. Under the management of their sons, the company became the world's largest apparel manufacturer. Walter A. Haas, Jr. was also the owner of the Oakland Athletic's baseball team. His son, Walter J. Haas recently retired as president and chief executive officer of the company. The Haas family includes 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Elise Haas is remembered as a civic-minded philanthropist and devoted patron of the arts and culture of the city. She served as the first female president of Mount Zion Hospital from 1938 to 1940, and led the San Francisco League of Women Voters, the Visiting Nurses Association, and Red Cross Blood Drives during World War II.
Mrs. Haas was involved with the Museum of Modern Art from it's inception in the 1930's and served as Chairman from 1964 to 1966. Under her leadership, the museum solidified its financial base and built up its permanent collection.
Mrs. Haas, along with several family members, received the Alexis de Tocqueville Society award from the United Way of America in 1985. The citation stated that the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, founded in 1952, reflected "the family philosophy that wealth is a responsibility and the sharing of it is a way of life".
Walter and Elise were married for 65 years. On their 60th anniversary, Walter said that of all their accomplishments, their children were the most significant. The Haas family continues to carry on the family legacy and makes generous contributions to educational and health institutions, the environment, and social services organizations.
Elise Stern Haas died at Mount Zion Hospital on October 20, 1990.
- Acquisition information:
- The Elise Stern Haas Family Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Rhoda Haas Goldman in 1992.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
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University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481