Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869

Hide Profile

Rebecca Gratz was born on March 4, 1781, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1801, at the age of 20, Rebecca Gratz helped establish the Female Association for the Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances, which helped women whose families were suffering after the American Revolutionary War. In 1815, after seeing the need for an institution for orphans in Philadelphia, she was among those instrumental in founding the Philadelphia Orphan Asylum. Under Gratz' auspices, a Hebrew Sunday School, the first of its kind in America, was started in 1838. Gratz was also one of the founding members of the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1819. Gratz died on August 27, 1869, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was buried at Mikveh Israel Cemetery. Shortly after her death, her brother Hyman founded and financed Gratz College, a teachers’ college in Philadelphia, in her memory.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Gratz family. The Henry Joseph Collection of business letters of Barnard and Michael Gratz, personal letters sent to Rebecca Gratz, and letters sent by her to her family, 1746-1797 [microform]. Brandeis University Library
creatorOf Irving, Washington, 1783-1859. Papers of Washington Irving [manuscript], 1806-1858, 1951. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Fenno-Hoffman Papers, 1780-1882 (bulk: 1789-1845) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Mordecai family papers, undated, 1771-1907, 1980 American Jewish Historical Society
creatorOf Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869. Letters of Rebecca Gratz, 1797-1860. Library of Congress
referencedIn Cohen, Miriam Gratz Moses. Miriam Gratz Moses Cohen papers, 1824-1864. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Joseph, Henry, 1899-1975,. Joseph Henry collection, 1760-1783. The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
referencedIn Hebrew Sunday School Society of Philadelphia (Pa.) Records Temple University Libraries Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869. Papers, 1797-1863. The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
referencedIn Beatrice B. Ettinger Papers, 1964-1998 Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries,
referencedIn Papers of Hannah Ruth London, 1919-1990, bulk: 1923-1980 American Jewish Historical Society
creatorOf Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances. Records, 1800-1972. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Henrietta Clay collection, 1793-1975. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Kentucky State Archives
referencedIn McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Records, 1959-2006. University of Pennsylvania, Archives & Records Center
referencedIn Gratz Family Papers, 1750-1974 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Alfred Mordecai Papers, 1790-1948, (bulk 1833-1887) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Washington Irving Collection, 1806-[1951], n. d. University of Virginia. Library. Special Collections Dept.
referencedIn Fenno-Hoffman family papers 1780-1883 1789-1845 Fenno-Hoffman William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Jewish women's archive. Women of valor : booklet and posters, 1998. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Gratz family. Papers, 1794-1919. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869. Letter, 1853 Aug. 15. The Filson Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beatrice B. Ettinger person
correspondedWith Cohen, Miriam Gratz Moses person
memberOf Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Female Association of Philadelphia for the Relief of Women and Children in Reduced Circumstances. corporateBody
founderOf Female Hebrew Benevolent Society of Philadelphia. corporateBody
associatedWith Fenno family family
correspondedWith Gratz, Anna Maria Boswell Shelby, 1808-1882 person
correspondedWith Gratz, Benjamin, 1792-1884 person
associatedWith Gratz College (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Gratz family family
associatedWith Gratz family. family
associatedWith Gratz family. family
sibling of Gratz, Hyman, 1776-1857 person
correspondedWith Gratz, Maria Gist, 1797-1841 person
associatedWith Gratz, Miriam. person
associatedWith Hoffman family family
correspondedWith Hoffman, Maria Fenno person
associatedWith Irving, Washington, 1783-1859. person
associatedWith Jewish women's archive. corporateBody
associatedWith Joseph, Henry, 1899-1975, person
associatedWith London, Hannah Ruth person
associatedWith McNeil Center for Early American Studies. corporateBody
correspondedWith Mordecai, Alfred, 1804-1887. person
associatedWith Mordecai family family
correspondedWith Rodman, Harriet Fenno, 1782-1808 person
grandchildOf Simon, Joseph, approximately 1712-1804 person
correspondedWith Verplanck, Mary Elizabeth Fenno, 1787-1817 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Lancaster PA US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Occupation
Jewish educators
Philanthropists
Women educators
Women philanthropists
Activity

Person

Birth 1781-03-04

Death 1869-08-27

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6h52fkz

Ark ID: w6h52fkz

SNAC ID: 83887834