THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEMALE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA [WITH REPORTS AND MEMBERSHIP ROLLS FOR 1836]

Philadelphia: Printed by Lydia R. Bailey, 1836. paperback. 1st printing (of 1836 issue). Period-style half-leather over marbled boards, 8vo, 12 pages. 24 cm. Singerman 624.
Association copy, stamped "Leeser Library Hebrew Education Society" from the famous Leeser library of the Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia, itself organized July 16, 1848, largely through the efforts of Rebecca Gratz's close friend Isaac Leeser (Cyrus Adler and David Sulzberger in EJ). Interestingly, the copy owned by the University of Pennsylvania, one of three other known copies, also bears the stamp of the Leeser Library Hebrew Education Society.
Four pages comprise the Constitution and Rules and Regulations; The remainder report on the work, finances, and members of the society.
In the early 19th Century, "As public, non-sectarian schools became increasingly predominant, many Christian Sunday schools, initially established by ‘benevolent societies' to provide poor children with general as well as Christian religious educational opportunity - and to keep them off the streets on Sunday - became strictly religious institutions. By 1838, there were 8,000 Christian schools of this kind in the United States.
Consistent with this trend, American-born Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869), member of a prominent Jewish family of merchants and community leaders in Philadelphia, aided in founding the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (1819) and the Hebrew Sunday School Society (1838).
Rebecca Gratz was convinced that religious instruction for all Jewish children was imperative, particularly in the face of Christian proselytizing. One month after securing the approval of the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society for this initiative [a mere two years following this report], the Hebrew Sunday School opened with 50 students and six teachers (including Gratz, who served as superintendent)" (Graff in EJ, 2007; The Female Hebrew Benevolent Society is discussed in no fewer than 8 articles in the EJ).
In 2014, a copy of the 1825 Constitution (Singerman 428, listing 10 copies) sold for $68,750 at Sotheby's; Sotheby's notes that the "Philadelphia philanthropic organization [was] founded in 1819 to assist the Jewish indigent.
As the first non-synagogue-related Jewish charitable society in America, it would provide a national model for similar societies which would later spring up in New York and other Jewish communities. In addition to the text of the constitution itself, this exceedingly rare pamphlet includes a set of ‘rules and regulations,' the original membership roll of approximately 125 individuals, and a report on the Society's early activities, presumably written by Rebecca Gratz in her role of secretary.
In addition to Gratz, widely recognized as the prime mover in the formation of the Society, the other officers included co-directors Rebecca J. Phillips and Bell Cohen, and treasurer S. Bravo."
This 1836 issue lists the "Officers for 1836" on the inside front cover, with "Miss Rebecca Gratz" listed as secretary. Also includes a full 3 pages listing the current "Subscribers' [i.e. members'] Names for 1836", a list of nearly 100 mostly female names reflecting the most well-known family names in American Jewish society at the time: Benjamin, Etting, Hays, Hart, Hyneman, Judah, Lyons, Mordecai (Captain Alfred Mordecai himself is listed!), Myers, Phillips, Piexotta, and, of course, Gratz (listing Hyman, Rebecca, and Joseph, with the amounts paid by each).
Interestingly, this women's society constitution and reports was itself printed by a woman: "Lydia Bailey's [the printer's] mother, Elizabeth Steele, was herself born a Bailey, the sister of the prominent Revolutionary-era printers, Jacob and Francis Bailey. Francis Bailey [Lydia's uncle] is now recognized as one of the United States' first type-founders and an official printer for Congress and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.In the spring of 1797 Lydia Steele [i.e. soon Lynda Bailey] married her cousin, Robert Bailey, who was managing his father Francis's Philadelphia printing office at the time...until his death in 1808....
Bailey was able to begin her career by immediately paying off her husband's debts thanks to the important social network of which she was a part. Utilizing the connections already established by her husband and his extended family, not to mention her own blood relatives, she transformed her husband's floundering business into one of the busiest printing establishments in 19th century Philadelphia" (Wikipedia).
For more on the historical importance of the contents of Jewish institutional constitutions such as this, see "A Double Bond: the Constitutional Documents of American Jewry," edited by Daniel J. Elazar, Joanathan D. Sarna, and Rela G. Monson (Lanham, 1992).
SUBJECT(S): Jews -- Societies, etc. OCLC: 21384855. OCLC and Singerman together list only 3 copies worldwide (Penn, NYPL, & AJHS), all 3 of them in either NYC or Philadelphia. A total of 4 issues of the Society's constitution (with reports) were printed: 1825 (10 copies in Singerman-OCLC), 1836 (this item, 3 copies), 1838 (6 copies), and 1858 (6 copies), with this 1836 issue being the rarest of the four. Each issue includes financial, membership, and other reports and information for the preceding period. Indeed, NYPL lists the title as a "serial."
Some very light discoloration to a few pages, early 19th CEntury rag paper has held up very well and is strong and bright. Stunning in gorgeous leather and marbled paper binding. Very Important and Very Rare. (AMR-67-7).