Series V. General Correspondence, 1900-1976, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The series contains mostly personal correspondence, including bills, receipts, condolences, and congratulations, the bulk of which is from the 1930s and 1940s. The series also includes some correspondence from or about various politicians and Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s political life.
Arrangement
The series is arranged into two subseries:
Subseries V.A Subject Files
Subseries V.B Chronological Files
Subseries V.A Subject Files, 1914-1976, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The subseries begins with condolences for Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s father's death, his mother's death, his cousin, Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo's death, his aunt's death, and finally his own death, coupled with acknowledgments for gifts made in Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s name, and obituaries/memorial papers for Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. The series then advances to congratulations, birthday wishes (including some from prominent politicians), correspondence in regards to jobs Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. held outside of politics, including with the War Trade Board and the law firm Cardozo & Nathan, and a failed attempt to secure a position as Assistant Attorney General. The subseries also contains a folder of correspondence regarding Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s sons, which includes correspondence both with and about them.
Arrangement
The subseries is arranged in original subject folders and grouped together by topic.
Condolences for Edgar J. Nathan, Sr.'s Death (3 folders), 1929-1931, inclusive
Condolences for Sara Solis Nathan (Mother)'s Death (3 folders), 1937, inclusive
Condolences for Justice Cardozo's Death, 1938, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes telegram from Charles C. Burlingham on his friendship with Cardozo.
Condolences for Esther Solis (Aunt)'s Death, 1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains one letter addressed to Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s other aunt, Elvira.
Condolences for Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s Death (8 folders), 1965, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Letters from friends and family (including many local New York politicians) addressed primarily to Edgar J. Nathan, III and Mabel Nathan (Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s widow).
Acknowledgements re: Gifts Made in Edgar J. Nathan's Name, 1965, inclusive
Obituaries and Memorial Papers for Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. (1 folder of 2), 1965, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes some correspondence re: donations made in Edgar J. Nathan's name. Also includes program for memorial services. More of this material can be found in Series VII. Memorabilia.
Obituaries and Memorial Papers for Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. (Folder 2 of 2), 1965, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Newspaper clippings of obituaries.
Congratulations on Return to Law Practice (3 folders), 1946, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Partnership with Gale, Bernays, Falk, etc.
Acknowledgements of Congratulations (2 folders), 1946, inclusive
70th Birthday Wishes (4 folders), 1914-1962 (bulk 1961), inclusive
Scope and Contents
In addition to birthday wishes, contains invitations to parties and ceremonies honoring Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. for his birthday, as well as some cards wishing Nathan a speedy recovery after surgery. Folder 22 contains birthday letters from former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, and former Governor Thomas E Dewey. Folder 24 contains pictures of birthday party, a random piece of correspondence from 1943, a photograph from 1914 of Nathan and family on the Mt. Washington Railway, and other mementos from Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s life.
Post-Death Correspondence Re: Possible Book, 1901-1976, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence between Edgar J. Nathan, III and Phyllis Stahl-Berkowitz, who was interested in writing an historical account of early Jewish American families. Also contains clippings and memorial materials about Edgar J. Nathan, Jr. that Edgar J. Nathan, III likely gave to Stahl-Berkowitz as research material.
Personal—Re: Washington (2 folders), 1918-1921, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence about Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s failed attempt at an Assistant Attorney General position and work at the War Trade Board in WWI.
War Trade Board Correspondence (2 folders), 1918-1919, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Among the documents is Nathan, Jr's will as of 1918.
Alumni Awards Correspondence (Folder 1 of 2), 1942-1958, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Correspondence related to awards and honorary degrees given to Nathan by Collegiate School, Columbia University, and Williams College.
Alumni Awards Correspondence (Folder 2 of 2), 1955
Edgar, 3rd and Frederic, 1931-1954, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Correspondence about and with Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s sons. Also includes two letters from Justice Benjamin Cardozo to one of the sons, Edgar J. Nathan, 3rd.
Cardozo & Nathan Correspondence (2 folders), 1923-1941, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains documents from Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s law practice era, including financial statements and partnership agreements. Also contains correspondence with Justice Benjamin Cardozo. Similar material can be found in chronological folders.
Subseries V.B Chronological Files, 1900-1964, inclusive
Extent
Scope and Contents
The subseries begins with two letterpress copybooks and three binders of carbon copies, which contain Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s outgoing correspondence from 1920-1931, and a folder of miscellaneous correspondence from 1900-1925, which contains both incoming and outgoing personal correspondence from Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s childhood and young adulthood. The remaining folders in the subseries primarily contain personal correspondence from family members and friends including Henry S. Hendricks, Benjamin N. Cardozo, Charles C. Burlingham, and Charles Sears, as well as extensive documents concerning routine bills, charitable donations, insurance (including lists of personal and other property owned), banking, and investments. The investments often relate to real estate and there are financial statements for the various realty companies involved (e.g., Grand Atlantic Corporation, Greenington Realty, Sunnington Realty). The subseries also contains some political materials, including brief notes from Thomas Dewey, Fiorello LaGuardia, and Herbert Lehman, invitations to Lehman and Nelson Rockefeller's inaugurations, anti-Franklin Delano Roosevelt print matter and an oversize cartoon stamp sheet, and various other documents related to Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s political and Jewish life.
Arrangement
The subseries is arranged in original chronological folder order, and within each folder remains in original rough alphabetical order, except for the "Early Life Correspondence," which was gathered from miscellaneous folders, and the 1951-1964 folders, which were found grouped together, but were not alphabetized.
Letterpress Copybook, 1920-1922, inclusive
Letterpress Copybook, 1922-1926, inclusive
Carbon Copies, 1926-1928, inclusive
Carbon Copies, 1928-1930, inclusive
Carbon Copies, 1930-1931, inclusive
Early Life Correspondence, 1900-1925, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes a letter sent to Edgar J. Nathan, Sr.
1929-1931 Correspondence and Bills (8 folders), 1926-1931, inclusive
1931-1934 Correspondence and Bills (8 folders), 1931-1934, inclusive
1935-1936 Correspondence and Bills (3 folders of 9), 1933-1936, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains a brief note from Governor Thomas Dewey in Folder 28.
1935-1936 Correspondence and Bills (5 folders of 9), 1931-1936, inclusive
1935-1936 Correspondence and Bills (Folder 9 of 9), 1936
Scope and Contents
Oversize perforated sheet of Republican Council anti-FDR cartoon poster-stamps. Informational sheet that came with stamps can be found in Box 7, Folder 5.
1937 Correspondence and Bills (6 folders), 1911-1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence related to Thomas Dewey's first campaign for governor and correspondence with Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. Also contains in the third folder an unlabeled, undated photograph (perhaps of Edgar J. Nathan, Sr. and his wife, Sara Solis Nathan, or another pair of relatives). Folder 1 holds an illustrated prospectus for Sweet's Steel Company of Williamsport, Pennsylvania (1937).
1938 Correspondence and Bills (8 folders), 1926-1938, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence and bills related to Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo's illness and death, the 1938 Constitutional Convention, Thomas E. Dewey's campaign for District Attorney (including a letter of thanks from Dewey in folder 14), as well as correspondence related to Nathan's law practice. Includes an (impersonal) letter from LaGuardia in folder 17.
1939 Correspondence and Bills (8 folders), 1936-1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains various political materials, including materials from Edgar J. Nathan, Jr.'s first Supreme Court campaign, a letter from Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (in folder 24), and an invitation to Governor Herbert H. Lehman's inauguration.
1940 Correspondence and Bills (7 folders), 1937-1941, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains anti-FDR/pro-Willkie campaign materials, including booklets and papers condemning the concept of a president running for a third term (mainly in folder 6). Folder 3 and others contains documents concerning the Greater New York Interfaith Committee's effort to get legislation passed allowing release time in public schools for religious education. Folder 7 contains affidavits of support for two people to come to the U.S. from Europe.
1944-1947 Correspondence and Bills (7 folders), 1942-1947, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Mostly contains receipts and bills. Limited World War II-related correspondence.
1947-1950 Correspondence and Bills (3 folders), 1942-1950, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Contains political materials throughout, including brief correspondence with Governors Dewey and Lehman. Also contains Supreme Court correspondence and Jewish leadership correspondence. Folder 17 contains some Manhattan Borough Presidency correspondence from 1942.
1951-1959 Correspondence and Bills, 1945-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on Nelson Rockefeller's gubernatorial campaign, including an invitation to Rockefeller's inauguration.
1960-1964 Correspondence and Bills (2 folders), 1960-1964, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Folder 20 contains undated, handwritten list of names and addresses of "Nathan friends."