MG 692 - Lowengard Collection
<< MG 691MG 693 >>Scope and Content
The collection contains the personal and business papers of the Lowengard family, primarily the business papers concerning the Courier Press, a printing and publishing firm with which Leon Lowengard was associated. The papers include:
Photo copies of the obituaries for Joseph Lowengard, 1901, and Jacob Lowengard, 1960, which provide biographical information on the family; family photos; correspondence of Leon Lowengard, 1918-1921; correspondence concerning the Young Mens' Hebrew Association, 1916-1917; correspondence to Leon Lowengard from charitable organizations; printed materials of many local businesses; advertisement brochures and flyers for local businesses and organizations; programs for local community and church events; papers concerning the Boy Scouts, 1919-1923; invoices, receipts, and letterhead stationery of the YMHA, 1915-1918; the by-laws of YMHA and other items of the organization; and original design advertisements for local businesses.
Additional design advertisements; mortgage and deeds relating to various properties once owned by family; various pamphlets; construction photos of building on North Third Street; invoices; notice of unfair labor dealings of the Courier; a Bill in Equity from the Court of Common Pleas, Commonwealth Trust Co. vs. Harry and Leon Lowengard, 1917; and miscellaneous items.
Specimen Book and Catalogue of the American Type-Founders Company, 1923.
Sales Demonstration Book of the United Typothetae of America, 1928.
The B'Nai B'Rith minute book of meetings in Hebrew, 1856-1866.
Minute book of the Grand Lodge of the Ancient Jewish Order Kesher Shel Barsel of the State of Pennsylvania, 1873-1891.
Thirteen bound volumes of programs and season presentations of the Majestic and Orpheum theatres, 1911-1924.
Background
Joseph Lowengard was born in Hohenzollern, Bohemia in July, 1821. He moved to Market Street, Harrisburg, below the entrance of the Pennsylvania railroad around 1851. When Verbeketown was first laid out he was the first to build above North Street, which was then the city limits. He died as a result of a fall in 1901. He was survived by his widow, Sophia, and four children, Jacob, Theresa, Harry and Leon. He was one of the founders and oldest member of Ohev Sholem congregation.
Jacob Lowengard was born in 1878 in Harrisburg. He was a merchant and president of Burns & Company, a furniture business. Mr. Lowengard was a member of B'nai B'rith Lodge, the Harrisburg Lodge of Elks, and many other business and community organizations. He was married to Isabel Goldsmith; his sons were Benjamin and Joseph G. He died in 1960.
Harry and Leon Lowengard, brothers of Jacob, were associated with the Courier Press. They published the first Sunday newspaper, the Harrisburg Sunday Courier, but during World War II, the newspaper aspect of the Courier Press quietly expired. The Courier Press, however, continued with its printing enterprise and was still in business in 1978.
Date(s): 1856-1960
Extent: 2 cartons, 4 boxes