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Melvin L. Cohen Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 1033
Finding aid note: Forms part of the Houston Jewish History Archive. Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Content Description

Pertaining to Temple Beth-El San Antonio: Melvin Cohen's Bar Mitzvah and Confirmation books, Carrizo Springs Javelin newspaper, Boy Scount Aleph Award and handmade Aleph wallet, Boy Scout Ner Tamid Award, a fraternity initiation certificate of Betty Brown, DVD of Betty Brown Cohen's funeral service and correspondence related to the history of Jews of San Antonio

Dates

  • 1941 - 2014

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for research without restriction. Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Melvin L. Cohen Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library. The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.

Biographical / Historical

Carrie Bertha Pfeiffer Brown (born August 8, 1886 in Carrizo Springs, Texas) was the second Branch President of the San Antonio Branch of the Southern Association of University Women (1910-1911, 1931-1933, and 1937-1939). She graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a B.A. degree in 1906. She played a significant role in establishing branches of the SAUW in Texas. Carrie was actively involved in the San Antonio Kindergarten Association, Immigrant Night School established by the National Council of Jewish Women, the City Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Bexar County Medical Auxiliary and the PTA. She reportedly was a pioneer of women actively participating in social life and was said to be very independent. Carrie P. Brown married Alexander A. Brown in 1908. Her daughter, Elizabeth Brown (later Brown Cohen) was born in San Antonio on December 20, 1922. She was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi fraternity. She married Melvin David Cohen, who was born in Houston on November 8, 1906. Melvin David Cohen (1906-1994) created memoirs. He repeatedly travelled to Mexico City and worked there as an engineer, travelled to Europe (and Morocco) during the 1930s, and served in the military during WWII in France, Luxembourg, and Germany. During the 1960s he traveled to El Salvador, in 1980s he visited Israel, Egypt and India. Melvin attended Rice University for two years, from 1921-1923, as well as his brother, Chester Cohen, who attended from 1917-1919, and two of Melvin’s sons - Dr. David John Cohen (B.S. 1968) and Melvin Lee Cohen (B.A. 1972). Melvin Lee was born on March 18, 1950, in San Antonio.

Extent

.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

1 box containing correspondence, newspaper articles, Temple Beth-El's journals and bulletins honouring Helen G. Jacobson, a DVD documenting Melvin Lee Cohen's Bar Mitzvah, a Bar Mitzvah photoalbum and a small Sefer Torah scroll . Documents some activities that the San Antonio Jewish community was involved in from 1941 to 2014.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection have been arranged in one series as follows: Series I: General

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Melvin L. Cohen donated the collection on December 31, 2021

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Status
In Progress
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892