Summary Information
Abstract
This collection documents the life of Edith Altschul Lehman, a philanthropist who
supported many social projects in New York City. Edith Lehman was the wife of New York
Governor and Senator Herbert H. Lehman.
At a Glance
| Call No.: | MS#0762 |
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| Bib ID: | 4078517 View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Lehman, Herbert H., Mrs. |
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| Title: | Edith Altschul
Lehman Papers,
1856-1976 [
Bulk Dates: 1963-1976].
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| Physical description: | 17 linear ft. ( 27 document boxes; 1 record carton; 2 file
card boxes; 4 oversize boxes)
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| Language(s): | Material is in English.
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| Access: |
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
twenty-four (24) hours in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room. This collection has no restrictions.
This collection has no restrictions.
More information » |
|---|
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into three series:
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Description
Scope and Content
This collection documents the life of Edith Altschul Lehman, a philanthropist and the
wife of New York Governor and Senator Herbert H. Lehman. It supplements files on Edith
Lehman which had been integrated into the Herbert H. Lehman Papers (MS#0763). The
majority of materials relate to Edith Lehman's philanthropic activities, such as the
construction of the Lehman Children's Zoo, contributions to the Henry Street Settlement,
and her involvement in numerous organizations including the Play Schools Association,
the American Jewish Committee, and the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Other
material concerns her marriage to Herbert Lehman and her family life. The collection is
comprised of correspondence, diaries, notebooks, speeches, photographs, audiotapes, and
memorabilia.
Series I: Subject Files, 1942-1976
The majority of the subject files document Edith Lehman's social and philanthropic
activities. Files relating to the Play Schools Association reflect her role as
president and chairman and include correspondence, reports, memos, and conference
materials. Sponsorship files contain brief notes recording her responses to event
invitations and to the many requests for her sponsorship or endorsement of
particular groups. Other files focus on particular projects, organizations, and
individuals and contain correspondence and memos. Files are arranged
alphabetically.
Series II: Condolences, 1976
This small series holds obituaries, funeral service information, and letters of
condolence sent to Edith Lehman's children and family after her death in March
1976.
Series III: Memorabilia, 1856-1976
This series holds a variety of notebooks, awards, artifacts, and other objects
representing many aspects of Edith Lehman's life. It includes elaborately bound
scrapbooks and other gifts from her uncle, Richard Altschul, which he made each
year for his niece's birthday. Consisting of family traditions and injokes, they
were known as "The Richy Classics." The series also houses family documents, the
diaries, and several photo albums documenting wedding anniversaries and trips.
Other albums cover events such as the dedication of Herbert Lehman College and the
construction of Pete’s House; most of these were given to the Lehman's as
commemorative gifts. The series contains a watercolor painting of the Lehman
Children's Zoo and two original sketches of the zoo's animal sculptures, designed
by artist Aymar Embury. Also included are social books, Christmas gift lists,
diplomas and membership certificates, and awards, medals, pins, statues, and other
items given to Edith in recognition of her philanthropic activities.
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Using the Collection
Offsite
Access Restrictions
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least
twenty-four (24) hours in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript
Library reading room. This collection has no restrictions.
More information and link to off-site request form
This collection has no restrictions.
Restrictions on Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material
from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University
Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to
publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission
rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Edith Altschul Lehman papers; Box and
Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Finding Aid available in repository and online; folder level control.
Online
finding aid available.
Related Material
Edith Lehman materials from 1910 to 1962 are integrated into the Herbert H. Lehman
Papers, Herbert H. Lehman Suite and Papers, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
Herbert H. Lehman Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Frank Altschul Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries. Rare Book and
Manuscript Library; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University
Libraries Digital Library Program Division
Processing Information
Correspondence, diaries, notebooks, speeches, photographs, tape recordings, memorabilia
Surveyed 05/--/87 Julie Miller
Papers processed in 2009 Haruna Otsuka and Carolyn Smith
Finding aid written in September 2009 by Carolyn Smith
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion
April 20, 2010
Finding aid written in English.
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Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
Genre/Form
Subjects
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History / Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Edith Louise Altschul was born in San Francisco on August 8,
1889 to Charles and Camilla Altschul. Charles, a successful banker with Lazard Freres,
moved the family to New York City in 1901. Edith attended Dr. Sach's Girls School and
Miss Jacoby's School (now the Calhoun School) and took a nursing course after
graduation. She met Herbert H. Lehman, a partner in the Lehman Brothers investment firm,
at a picnic. They were married on April 28, 1910 and would have three children, Peter,
John, and Hilda.
Edith considered her marriage her career and the most
important aspect of her life, but she was also deeply involved in social welfare and
philanthropy. She organized a social service committee to care for the family needs of
hospitalized patients. This endeavor led to the creation of Mount Sinai Hospital's first
professional social service department, and she remained closely associated with the
hospital for many years thereafter.
Lehman was also involved with the Henry Street Settlement,
which provided health care and other assistance to new immigrants and the poor living in
the Lower East Side of New York City. In 1948 the Lehman's built Pete's House, a youth
center at Henry Street Settlement dedicated to the memory of their son Peter, who was
killed in World War II. Peter had volunteered as a youth leader at the Settlement.
In 1917, Edith Lehman became a charter member of the Play
Schools Association, which promoted play as vital to the mental and physical health of
children. The organization partnered with schools, hospitals, and other institutions to
provide opportunities for creative play. Lehman would work with the organization for
over fifty years, serving as president and as Chairman of the Board from 1966 until her
death in 1976.
Edith Lehman was also involved in the Jewish communities of
New York and a member of the American Jewish Committee and the Federation of Jewish
Philanthropies, among other organizations. She was a supporter of Israel, and first
visited the country in 1949 with her husband. The Edith Lehman High School in Dimona,
Israel, was dedicated to her.
In 1961, the Lehman's built the Lehman Children's Zoo (now the
Tisch Zoo) in New York City's Central Park in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Although the zoo was renovated in 1997, the bronze Lehman Gates still stand at the
entrance.
After her husband's death in 1963, Edith Lehman established
several major endowments and institutions in his honor, including contributions to Mount
Sinai Hospital Medical School and the establishment of the Lehman Professorship in
Pediatrics at that institution; the Lehman Educational Fund, which offers scholarships
for African American college students; and the Lehman School of Ethics at the Jewish
Theological Seminary. She also supported Williams College, Herbert Lehman's alma mater,
and financed and endowed the Lehman Suite at Columbia University's School of
International and Political Affairs.
In recognition for her dedication to social causes, Edith
Lehman was awarded honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from Williams College and
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, as well as a doctor of laws from Columbia University.
Edith Altschul Lehman died on March 8, 1976, in New York City.
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